Trump’s Mass Destruction Weapon

Trump's first 100 days has been marked with an agenda of executive orders designed to destroy lives & our country. Many of these policy decisions have a direct impact on our LGBTQ community not only in the United States but around the world. Jessica Stern, Executive Director of OutRight Action International stated, “President Trumps first 100 days in office have been harmful for many communities. He has tried to institutionalize xenophobic, anti-Muslim, anti-refugee, anti-women & anti-immigrant policies that perpetuate discrimination & promote divisiveness. All of them have an impact on LGBTIQ people who hold intersecting identities as parts of all of these groups. Apart from keeping intact protections for federal workers against LGBTIQ based discrimination, it is hard to keep up with the list of illogical policies that President Trump has put forth in his first 100 days in office. From appointing hate group C-Fam to an official government delegation to the United Nation’s annual conference on women, to reinstating the Global Gag Rule, which prevents organizations that receive US funding from providing comprehensive sexual reproductive healthcare to women, he has shown that he has no regard whatsoever for women’s rights. Instead of investing in policies that promote peace & global engagement, this administration has preached building walls, calling for a Muslim ban -- albeit in the form of naming specific countries & expanding the military budget. Lowering the ceiling on refugee admissions by over 50%, Trump’s decision means that so many more individuals are denied safety & protection in the US. All of these decisions impact countless LGBTIQ people who live as immigrants, as Muslims & live in places where their lives are in constant jeopardy…If President Trumps first 100 days are an indication of what we should expect from this administration in the next four years, we are in danger of setting back the clock on human rights in this country & globally. We must continue to resist all forms of discrimination & stand up for inclusion & tolerance. President Trump needs to understand that having an “America First” policy is no justification for failing to meet international human rights obligations. Above all he must put people first.”
For More Info: outrightinternational.org
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Dining Out For Life 2017 (AUDIO)

Dining Out For Life is a fabulous HIV/AIDS fundraising event that takes place on Thursday April 27th. More than 3,000 participating restaurants in nearly 60 cities across North America donate a generous percentage of that day’s proceeds to support service providers in their region to fund care, prevention, education, testing, counseling & other essential HIV/AIDS services. An estimated $4 million will be raised in just one day of dining. Ted Allen, Dining Out For Life Spokesperson & host of “Chopped” stated, “I love working with Dining Out For Life because it’s just such a cool, very low overhead operation that raises more than $4 million for American HIV & AIDS service organizations in a single day. It also helps restaurants & chefs get new people coming in to try what they’re doing. It just seems like such a win-win-win for everybody.” Alan Bethke, Subaru of America Vice President of Marketing that hosts the event added, “We have been the host sponsor of Dining Out For Life for a decade; however, the struggle to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic continues on. Subaru is proud to be part of an event that spreads awareness for such a worthy cause & also encourages people to support those who need it most in their local communities.” Volunteer spokespeople also included include actor Pam Grier (Foxy Brown, Jackie Brown), designer Mondo Guerra, winner of Lifetime’s Project Runway All-Stars & chef Daisy Martinez from Food Network’s Viva Daisy! Listen: Ted Allen Talks Dining Out For Life In This Exclusive Audio Byte:
For More Info: diningoutforlife.com
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Alabama Passes Discriminatory Bill

The Alabama House of Representatives has passed HB24 deceptively named the Alabama Child Placing Agency Inclusion Act on an 87-0 vote with 6 abstaining. The bill now heads to Governor Kay Ivey’s desk. Alex Smith, Board Chair of Equality Alabama stated, “The Alabama House of Representatives proved today that they don’t have the best interest of the nearly 5,000 children in Alabama’s child placing systems in mind. This bill robs these children of a loving home & gives the state’s seal of approval to unnecessary religious exemptions that open the door to discrimination. If Governor Ivey signs this bill into law, my husband Michael & I & so many other LGBTQ couples – could be discriminated against by child placing agencies and their employees.” Fran Hutchins, Equality Federation’s Deputy Director added, “As someone who was in foster care & adopted in Alabama, I am dismayed to see HB 24 pass. All children deserve a loving forever home, but this bill stands in the way of that. Governor Ivey has an opportunity to veto this harmful bill & have a positive impact on the lives of kids who are waiting for a home.” HB24 would create a broad license to discriminate in the placement of children in state care, allowing child placement agencies & workers to discriminate with taxpayer dollars & put their religious beliefs ahead of the best interests of children.
For More info: equalityal.org
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Wicked Queer Film Festival Kudos

Wicked Queer Boston’s LGBT Film Festival which celebrated its 33rd year has announced their 2107's Best in Show. Jury Award Narrative Feature went to “Heartstone”. Audience Award Narrative Feature went to “Thirsty.” Audince Award Short Film Best of the Fest went to “Sisak”. Best on Program Trans was “Walk For Me’, Women's “Pool” (Piscina) Students & First Timers was “Moving-On”, Current Mood: Youth was “Dare & Truth”, Qwocmap “Que Siga La Cumbia” Social Justice/Sex Workers was “The Night Cleaner” International was “Seeing through the Eyes of Crocodiles” & Shorts Spotlight: España was “My Brother” (Mi Hermano) Jury Award Documentary went to “Small Talk” & Audience Award Documentary went to “Jewel's Catch One”. When I talked to James Nadeau, Executive Director of Wicked Queer Boston’s LGBT Film Festival last month about how he sees our LGBTQ community moving forward in a Trump administration Nadeau stated, “What I’m seeing within the filmmaking community is that it’s really sparked an activism that I haven’t seen in a really longtime. For those of us who are of the generation who grew up with friends dying of AIDS I think we’re seeing a resurgence of political activism in the community that is not about to give up the freedoms we fought for which I find very heartening. It’s clearly in reaction to Trump and I think that’s a good thing. I think we need to get fired up & be a more active, politically active community.”
For More Info: wickedqueer.org
Listen: Filmmakers Talk “Jewel's Catch One” Winning Documentary
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NCLR 40th Anniversary Event

The National Center for Lesbian Rights was founded in 1977 with the commitment to advance the civil & human rights of our LGBTQ community & their families through litigation, legislation, policy & public education. Their 40th Anniversary Celebration Dinner & Party with both take place May 20th at Innovation Hangar at The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. The evening will feature Executive Director Kate Kendell & will celebrate 40 years of NCLR’s victories & accomplishments in the movement for LGBTQ equality. Last year when I asked her what personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Kendell stated, “I feel like it’s been such an enormous privilege to really interweave the personal & the political. I mean I am a lesbian; I identify as a queer woman in a longtime relationship, married to my wife & raising two kids. So I feel everyday I have to walk the talk of what it means to do this work at the highest level, at the most effective level. I am part of the very community that I am serving so I feel particularly accountable. I feel accountable to my soul at the same time I feel accountable to my community to really always be a very fierce advocate & even though I live in a relative privilege as a white woman with a decent job with a good income & a good education I know a lot of people in our community don’t have that & I feel like our charge doing these jobs is to be there for the vulnerable in our community. So it feels every day very personal to get it right.”
For More Info & Tix: nclrights.org 
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Day of Silence Against Bullying

The Day of Silence is coordinated nationally by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) & this year takes place April 21st. It’s a day in which students from around the country take a vow of silence to bring attention to the anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender name-calling, bullying & harassment faced in schools by students, teachers & other school staff. Over 500,000 students from nearly 6,500 junior high & high schools in all 50 states & Puerto Rico have participated over the years. Participating students take a vow of silence to call attention to and signify the prevalence of the silencing of those in the LGBTQ community. The first Day of Silence was held in 1996 at the University of Virginia, was started as a way to illustrate how bullying & harassment can silence those affected. Students in middle school all the way through college are encouraged to take part. Those who sign up for the Day of Silence hand out cards to others explaining their silence & why they have chosen not to talk. In part, these cards say: “My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by harassment, discrimination & prejudice. I believe that ending the silence is the first step towards fighting these injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing today. What are you doing to end the silence?” What started as a class project with 150 participants has now expanded to a worldwide demonstration involving thousands of schools across the country & globally.
For More Info: nationaltoday.com
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National Honor LGBT Elders Day

“National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day” is May 16th when we pay tribute to the contributions of our LGBT older adults who have moved our community forward through their persistence & sacrifices. Throughout the country we will honor the challenges, struggles & triumphs that older LGBT adults have made to bring our community closer to equality. The day of recognition was inaugurated by The LGBT Health Resource Center of Chase Brexton Health Care in Baltimore in 2016 to pay tribute to the sacrifices & successes of LGBT older adults & thank them for leading the fight to expand LGBT rights. There are an estimated 3 million LGBT adults over the age of 55 throughout the U.S. Nate Sweeney, Executive Director of The LGBT Health Resource Center of Chase Brexton Health Care stated, “Whether they fought quietly or stepped into the spotlight, LGBT elders have made a difference for all LGBT people. We’re proud to offer a chance for LGBT communities across the country to thank these individuals for what they’ve given us. The gains made in recent years toward LGBT equality are a direct result of those who came before us. More than ever, it’s important that our community hear their stories, learn from their experiences & carry their example forward as we continue the fight for equality.” National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day was added to the National Day registry in 2016 by The LGBT Health Resource Center.
For More Info: chasebrexton.org
Listen: Filmmakers Talk “Jewel's Catch One” Must-See Documentary
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