US Open Celebrates LGBTQ Pride

The US Open tennis tournament has always been an LGBTQ inspiration since champions like Billie Jean King & Martina Navratilova took center court & won their titles. In 1983 I produced the theme music for CBS Sports coverage of the US Open with a talented composer Sharon Stone who was also lesbian which was the first year Martina won the US Open. Now decades later in front of a packed house at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center US Open Pride arrived with 'Love All: An Open Conversation" hosted by sports commentator & journalist Nick McCarvel bringing together seven athletes from four sports genres with over four decades of stories to tell about their lives as athletes & members of the LGBTQ+ community. The panel consisted of tennis legend & WTA co-founder Billie Jean King (who was also a Grand Marshal of the Stonewall 50th NYC Pride Parade), former NBA player Jason Collins, former MLB player Billy Bean, former ATP player Brian Vahaly, Olympic figure skating medalist Adam Rippon & active WTA players & partners Greet Minnen & Alison van Uytvanck from Belgium. The group reflected on a host of topics centered around LGBTQ+ participation in sports, including their own coming-out stories & their hopes for future generations. Thankfully we’ve come a long way since Billie Jean King lost all her sponsorships & what she went through in her coming out process but unfortunately we still have a long way to go.
For More Info: usopen.org
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MassEquality On Straight Parade

In Boston a group known as Super Happy Fun America has planned a Straight Pride March at noon on Saturday August 31st beginning in Boston’s Copley Square & ending at Boston City Hall Plaza. Robb Johnson, MassEquality Acting Executive Director stated, “MassEquality works to ensure that everyone in the Commonwealth can thrive without discrimination & oppression based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. That language is inclusive. The non-discrimination & hate crimes laws that LGBTQ people fought long & hard for protect straight people too. If a straight person feels targeted or excluded based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, they now have avenues to pursue justice. Straight rights are indeed human rights & they’re already protected. We absolutely reject the idea prominently featured on the Parade organizers’ website -- that straight people are oppressed. Straight people’s rights are not diminished when society makes room for LGBTQ people. There is space at the table for all of us. MassEquality supports a vision where we live together in peace. That said, MassEquality does support the right of all Americans to lawfully assemble, whether that be in peaceful protest or in celebration. We also support the right of counter demonstrators to gather to peacefully express concern about the motives or message of those assembled. Unfortunately we live in a time where we’re witnessing the rise of forces that seek to stamp out diversity in this country. It serves us all to be vigilant.” MassEquality is the leading statewide grassroots advocacy organization working to ensure that everyone across Massachusetts can thrive from cradle to grave without discrimination & oppression based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
For More Info: massequality.org
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New LGBTQ Happiness Survey

TAIMI the world’s first LGBTQI+ dating & social network is joining efforts with the LGBT Foundation & The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS’s (UNAIDS) groundbreaking study on LGBTI Happiness to help fill the data gap on the mental well-being of LGBTQ people. The goal is to create better conditions & improve health services. The survey aims to evaluate happiness, sex & quality of life for our LGBTQ community. The collected data will help address immediate concerns & advocate for improvement when it comes to treatment & services provided to LGBTI people. Gunilla Carlsson, UNAIDS Executive Director stated, Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender & intersex (LGBTI) people face stigma & discrimination daily in education, work, health & social settings. We want to understand how this affects wellness, including mental well-being & also their responses & resilience.” TAIMI’s Head of Business Development Halyna Virt underlines the importance of such groundbreaking studies concluding, "TAIMI is very glad to be joining efforts to promote the UNAIDS & LGBT Foundation’s study on global LGBTI happiness. It is our mission to make sure all people are treated as equal regardless of where they are on the gender & sexuality spectrum. It is crucial for all LGBTQI+ people to respond to this study so together we can make an impact & push for the necessary improvements around the world." TAIMI prides itself on being a reliable & safe network where users can freely post their opinions, create groups & form communities.
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Tennessee DA Homophobic Acts

Lambda Legal, Tennessee Equality Project & Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Center of Rutherford County have filed a formal complaint with the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility calling for the investigation & disbarment of Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcott following Northcott’s public statements that he does not file domestic assault charges if the violence occurred between gay & lesbian spouses because he does not recognize “homosexual marriage” & would not prosecute Tennessee county clerks who deny marriage licenses to gay & lesbian couples. Ethan Rice, Senior Attorney for the Fair Courts Project at Lambda Legal stated, “Coffee County DA Craig Northcott has denied the validity of same-sex marriages & the equal protection of the law to LGBT people. Such conduct violates ethics rules protecting citizens from bias & has no place within the very office designated to enforce the law of the land…District Attorney Northcott’s public comments revealed not only a bias against LGBT people but that he has made discriminatory charging decisions against an entire class of people & intends to continue to do so.” Christopher K. Sanders, Executive Director of Tennessee Equality Project & Tennessee Equality Project Foundation concluded, "LGBTQ people experiencing domestic violence are among the most vulnerable populations in Tennessee. Prosecutors have a duty to treat their cases with the same gravity as all other cases. Discrimination in prosecution endangers our community & erodes the public trust in the criminal justice system. We join Lambda Legal's complaint out of a solemn obligation to the LGBTQ community in Coffee County & a hope for equal protection of the laws."
Read Complaint…
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Harbor To The Bay AIDS Ride

The 17th annual Harbor to the Bay is a one-day bike ride from Boston to Provincetown, MA & takes place on Saturday September 14th with 100% of all pledges going directly to fight HIV/AIDS. Harbor to the Bay began in 2003 with an idea by the late Michael Tye, a group of Boston’s Club Café staff & dedicated friends who shared the dream to launch the 126-mile AIDS bike ride. Their idea was simple, a one-day ride from Boston (Harbor) to Provincetown (Bay) staffed completely by volunteers & a commitment that all rider pledges go directly to defeat HIV/AIDS. With millions of dollars being raised over the last 17 years this year their goal is $500,000. Jim Morgrage, Harbor to the Bay President stated, “Let us acknowledge that our fight is not yet over. Without an increased effort on our part, we risk having to take steps backward & begin to turn away those who need our help most. Thousands of you have honored the life of Michael Tye & the thousands of New Englanders who have lost their lives to HIV. We also know that those who look down on us are smiling & grateful for all you have done over these past 17 years. This year let’s raise more money, double our efforts & ensure that no one who needs our help is turned away.” All proceeds from Harbor to the Bay will support Fenway Health, AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, Community Research Initiative, AIDS Action Committee & The Harbor to the Bay General Fund. Note that rider registration ends on September 2nd. 
For More Info: harbortothebay.org
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One Night Only Benefit Cabaret Event

The Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation (REAF) presents a special One Night Only Benefit Cabaret event entitled Protest! Revel With Some Rebels featuring cast members from the San Francisco based touring cast of the Broadway show HAMILTON for an Evening of music & dance on Monday  September 16th at Marines’ Memorial Theatre 609 Sutter Street in San Francisco at 7:30P. The Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation has worked with over 60 touring casts to date to produce "One Night Only Cabaret" events. To date, REAF has distributed well over $3.5 million to AIDS service agencies, hunger programs & programs for homeless youth. Philanthropy & stellar entertainment take center stage as the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation (REAF) presents a special one-night-only benefit cabaret to raise funds for The Richmond /Ermet Aid Foundation & Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Special guest emcees will be Judd Winick & Pam Ling best known from their appearance on Real World San Francisco in 1994. The two met on the show & later married but have been AIDS/HIV activist ever since, continuing to legacy of Pedro Zamora an HIV positive AIDS educator & activist. Judd went on to become a popular cartoonist & has written many popular Super Hero comic books. Pam works in HIV research & the couple are both speakers about HIV/AIDS. Tickets are: $35 for the Balcony, $60 for rear or side orchestra & $100 for VIP front orchestra which includes cocktails & desserts after party with the cast. Note that songs from HAMILTON will not be performed.
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Provincetown Harbor Swim For Life

Celebrating its 32nd year the Provincetown Harbor Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla takes place Saturday September 7th. Since 1987 thousands of swimmers, kayakers, volunteers & the public have been participating in this fabulous Provincetown fundraising tradition presented by the Provincetown Community Compact. This year due to the appearance of white sharks the course of this important Provincetown tradition & fundraiser will move closer to the town’s shoreline. Walkers will be invited to participate as well. In addition to the Provincetown Harbor Shoreline Swim there will be a “Satelite Swim” in Great Pond in Wellfleet pending approval by the town. This fresh water swim is approximately a mile & will follow the shoreline of the pond. Jay Critchley, Director of the Provincetown Community Compact (The Compact), sponsor of the Swim for Life stated, “The Swim was created to honor the pristine harbor, which is the lifeblood of the town. The increased presence of seals & sharks in our waters is a harbinger of changes in the environment & swimmer safety is paramount. These changes continue our celebration of the harbor’s ecology. This is about the resilience of the Swim, the community & the planet.” Swimmers across the country will swim to benefit the following community organizations & projects: AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod (ASGCC), Helping Our Women (HOW), Outer Cape Health Services, Provincetown Rescue Squad Association, Lower Cape Ambulance Association, Soup Kitchen of Provincetown (SKIP), Provincetown Schools, The Compact Community Fund, Accessible Provincetown, West End Racing Club & Cape Cod Children’s Place.
For More Info: swim4life.org
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