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Global Movement Celebrates 35 Years

For 35 years Outright International has worked with partners around the globe to strengthen the capacity of the human rights movement by documenting & amplify human rights violations & advocating for inclusion & equality. Julie Dorf, Outright Founder stated, "When we founded Outright 35 years ago, we couldn't have imagined both how far we'd come or the ferocity of today's backlash. This anniversary isn't just a celebration—it's about transferring hard-won knowledge while learning from a new generation that's refusing to accept these rollbacks as inevitable." Maria Sjödin, Outright Executive Director added, "Since becoming Executive Director, I’ve watched governments weaponize our identities, cut funding, and try to intimidate entire communities into silence. But here’s what they underestimate: the global movement that Outright has helped build for 35 years. When crises hit, we don’t wait. We act. We get resources to those who need them, amplify voices that are being silenced & protect the progress generations fought for. Today’s backlash is real, but so is the power we’ve inherited from those who came before us & it’s what will carry us through the next 35 years." Jessica Stern, Outright Executive Director 2012-2021 & Former U.S. Special Envoy for LGBTQ Rights concluded, "As U.S. Special Envoy, I saw up close how few governments intervene when LGBTQI+ people are attacked or criminalized. That dehumanization & its normalization is staggering. It’s why strong LGBTQI+ movements are essential—not only to demand justice for our communities, but to defend anyone targeted for who they are. We deserve far more than survival. We deserve safety, dignity & joy." I talked to Jessica Stern back in 2016 about this movement in this exclusive podcast. LISTEN  
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Guitarist Sharon Isbin Concert Event

Multi-Grammy Award winner Sharon Isbin will be performing a solo concert Thursday December 18th at the 92NY Kaufmann Concert Hall at 7:30P in NYC. The program celebrates America at 250 with works including John Duarte’s Joan Baez Suite inspired by songs from her early career, Tan Dun’s Seven Desires & Bruce MacCombie’s Nightshade Rounds. Central to the program is John Duarte’s moving Joan Baez Suite written for Isbin & inspired by songs associated with one of her musical heroes including “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” “House of the Rising Sun,” “Barbara Allen” & others. Isbin stated, “It’s a joy to welcome the coming year with a solo concert this Thursday December 18th in New York City’s 92NY Kaufmann Concert Hall, 7:30pm! The program celebrates America at 250 with remarkable works composed for me, including John Duarte’s Joan Baez Suite inspired by songs from her early career, Tan Dun’s Seven Desires and Bruce MacCombie’s Nightshade Rounds. Joan Baez, who joins me in two tracks on my GRAMMY-winning album Journey to the New World which features the suite. It’s a privilege to salute her upcoming 85th birthday with this music! Other highlights include Andrew York & in homage to Spain's pivotal role in the American Revolution, works by Granados, Tárrega & Barrios.” For over 150 years the 92nd Street Y in NYC has harnessed the power of arts & ideas to enrich, enlighten & change lives & the power of community to repair the world. I talked with Sharon in this retro podcast about her American Public Television documentary “Sharon Isbin: Troubadour”. LISTEN  
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The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show ‘25 Tour

The Queens of Christmas BenDeLaCreme & Jinkx Monsoon will host a global livestream of this year’s critically-acclaimed all-new iteration of “The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show” produced by BenDeLaCreme Presents on December 23rd at 7P PST. Audiences who can’t make it to the live show in-person will get to stream the show as the award-winning comedy duo perform at the Moore Theatre in Seattle, WA. BenDeLaCreme Presents is also thrilled to announce actress & Saturday Night Live alum Vanessa Bayer as the new voice of “Rodudu” in this year’s holiday show - a Rudolph-themed Labubu-inspired toy that plays a key role in bringing Jinkx & DeLa together to explore the dangers of A.I. Also announced is that Emmy winning actor Jeff Hiller will be the voice of this year’s narrator Mr. Fir. Directed, produced & written by BenDeLaCreme this year’s tour continues now through December 30th across the U.S. & Canada in major theaters. BenDeLaCreme is an award-winning theatre & film producer, comedian, director, writer & global drag icon who continues to reshape & build the drag industry on a major scale. Jinkx Monsoon is an award-winning actress, comedian, recording artist & the first & only drag queen to win RuPaul’s Drag Race twice. Throughout the show’s 8-year history Jinkx & DeLa have met sentient Christmas treats, twisted space-time with Dickensian Ghosts, escaped the meta clutches of their own holiday traditions & led a harrowing rescue mission in the Nutcracker's Land of Sweets. Hailed by Entertainment Weekly as "the reigning queens of Christmas" this show is not only a moment of respite but a celebration of community at a time when we need it most of all. I talked to Jeff Hiller in 2018 about his work in this exclusive podcast. LISTEN
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National Black Justice Collective Grants

The National Black Justice Collective announced their 2025 Benevolence Grants as attacks on LGBTQ youth intensify nationwide this year’s Benevolence cohort represents a powerful affirmation of communal care, mutual aid & collective responsibility. Dr. David J. Johns, CEO & Executive Director of the National Black Justice Collective stated, “In the face of these escalating attacks, Benevolence grantees continue to show up for our babies, providing safe havens, affirming spaces, leadership development, emergency support, housing, mental health care, & so much more. While extremists target us with denial of fundamental human rights & political threats to freedoms, these Benevolence organizations are providing what our young people need through safety, community & love. Investing in them is how we protect our future & ensure Black LGBTQ+/SGL youth not only survive, but flourish.” NBJC’s 2025 Benevolence new grantees are All 1 Family Inc, Amaad Institute, Black Trans Youth Rising, Freedom, Inc., IYG, Lighthouse Foundation Chicagoland, Rainbow Youth Project USA Foundation, SnapCo, Southern Vision Alliance, United by Equity & YAP. Continuing Grantees are Alliance for LGBTQ Youth, BEAM, Black Star Project, Haus of Codec, Kaleidoscope Youth Center, Jasmyn, Justice for Black Girls, My Sistah’s House, Neutral Zone, The Okra Project, The Pride Center at Equality Park, The Queer Trans Project, Rainbow in Black, Sisters PGH, SMYAL, Stand with Trans, Trans Youth Emergency Project, TruEvolution, Wordplay Cincy, Youth Pride Inc. & YWCA Madison. The National Black Justice Collective (NBJC) is America’s leading civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black LGBTQ including people living with HIV. 
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Standing On The Shoulders of Heroes

Global human rights advocate & philanthropist Jon Stryker will be ceremoniously added to Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library’s “Standing on the Shoulders of Heroes” Exhibition at the Museum’s 4th Annual Fundraising Gala on February 21st. Stryker founded the Arcus Foundation in 2000 contributing more than $700M dollars to critical social & environmental justice causes around the globe. He will join other fearless LGBTQ icons featured in the nationally traveling human rights exhibit including Harvey Milk, Billy Jean King, Tony-Award Winner Larry Kramer, Congresswoman Barbara Jordan & more. Robert Kesten, Stonewall National Museum’s President & CEO stated, “Jon Stryker sets the example of what we can accomplish when we dedicate ourselves, our resources & time to building a more equitable world. We are deeply moved that Jon has accepted the honor of becoming a Stonewall Hero. It is fitting that a man who has done so much & dedicated himself to making the world a better place for humans & primates be added to this traveling exhibit. At this time in our nation & world’s history it is critically important that educational story telling travels to cities far & wide, providing a historical & cultural context for the LGBTQ+ community & the general public. Knowledge is the best tonic in fighting hate, prejudice & ignorance. Foundations like Arcus & people like Jon make that possible.” The “Standing on the Shoulders of Heroes” Exhibition has been displayed in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Philadelphia, PA, NYC; Washington D.C., New Orleans, LA, New Jersey, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Rockland County, New York, Arlington, TX, West Palm Beach, FL & continues its travels to cities & corners of this country from coast to coast. 
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Al Hirschfeld Strokes Of Genius Exhibit

Helicline Fine Art announced the continuation of “Hirschfeld Strokes Of Genius” a fabulous celebration of Al Hirschfeld’s artwork. Additional works have been added to the exhibition which includes more than 6 dozen Hirschfeld original signed & numbered drawings & lithographs depicting Broadway, Hollywood, TV, music & comedy. The exhibition is online & at their midtown Manhattan gallery by appointment as well as arrangements to zoom with specific works. Hirschfeld's infamous caricature artwork established a new visual language for modern art. His work appeared in major publications for decades including a 75-year relationship with The New York Times. His distinctive style has become recognizable to generations of art lovers & audiences. Keith Sherman, Helicline Fine Art owner stated, “Al Hirschfeld holds a very special place in my heart. Art is a second business for me, as my primary work is running a Times Square based PR firm. I represented Al for the last 15 years of his life & the Al Hirschfeld Foundation since it was formed more than two decades ago. I am over-the-moon excited about offering these classic Hirschfeld original drawings & lithographs.” Featured in the exhibition include Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, Carol Channing, Gwen Verdon, Dinah Shore, Sidney Poitier, Abbott & Costello, Charlie Chaplin, “I Love Lucy,” Cher, Elvis, Sinatra, Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers, Barry Manilow, Beverly Sills, Bob Hope, Bogart & Bacall, Humphrey Bogart, Lauen Bacall, “Cabaret” with Liza Minnelli & Joel Grey, Clint Eastwood Duke Ellington, Greta Garbo, Marx Brothers, Katherine Hepburn, Jane Fonda, Jay Leno, Laurel & Hardy, Lena Horne, Looney Tunes, Mae West, Marlene Deitrich, Mary Tyler Moore & Dick Van Dyke, Marilyn Monroe & Clark Gable, Sammy Davis, Shirley MacLaine, Stephen Sondheim & more. 
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Super Happy Fun Clown Stream Event

The Horror Collective announced that the acclaimed festival slasher film “Super Happy Fun Clown” directed by Patrick Rea will premiere exclusively on BloodStream beginning January 1st. Written & produced by Eric Winkler with Patrick Rea also serving as producer “Super Happy Fun Clown” follows Jennifer a once-celebrated child prodigy who now performs as Jenn-O the Clown. During a chaotic Halloween night she channels the personas of classic movie monsters & notorious serial killers transforming a simple side hustle into a night of catharsis, confrontation & escalating carnage. Patrick Rea stated, "This film is the result of years spent exploring the line between identity & performance. Jenn-O is raw, unfiltered & more than a little dangerous. BloodStream is the perfect home because the platform supports films that take creative risks & speak directly to genre fans." Winkler added, "We set out to make something that pushes boundaries. BloodStream’s audience embraces original voices & we are honored for viewers to make Jenn-O’s dream of ‘fortune and glory’ come true. Infamy equals immortality!" BloodStream’s Heidi Honeycutt concluded, "My years in festival programming taught me how quickly a film with a strong voice can ignite genuine excitement. Super Happy Fun Clown has that spark. Supporting filmmakers with proven festival presence & giving sales partners a platform that champions discovery is exactly what BloodStream was built to do." BloodStream is the dedicated streaming service from The Horror Collective & Studio Dome. Following its BloodStream premiere January 1st the film will expand to additional platforms later in 2026. The Horror Collective is the genre label of Entertainment Squad founded by producer Shaked Berenson. 
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Global Movement Celebrates 35 Years

For 35 years Outright International has worked with partners around the globe to strengthen the capacity of the human rights movement by doc...

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