About Me

New Horror Film “They/Them” (AUDIO)

This week I talked with Brazilian actor & musician Darwin Del Fabro about the new horror film “They/Them” (pronounced “They Slash Them”) he’s featured in. The slasher film is written & directed by John Logan & produced by Blumhouse Productions. “They/Them” had its World Premier at the Outfest film festival in Los Angeles last month & will have its streaming premier on Peacock beginning August 5th. “They/Them” is a queer empowerment story set at a controversial LGBTQ conversion camp & stars Kevin Bacon as Owen Whistler the camp director, Carrie Preston as Dr. Cora Whistler Owen’s wife, Anna Chlumsky as nurse Molly & joined by seven campers played by Theo Germaine, Quei Tann, Anna Lore, Monique Kim, Darwin, Cooper Koch & Austin Crute. The campers come from all different backgrounds. Kim (Anna Lore) & Stu (Cooper Koch) come from affluent families & are reluctant to address their sexual orientations. Then there’s Quei Tann’s Alexandra who faces being disowned by her family unless she successfully completes the camp’s regiment & Toby (Austin Crute) who negotiated a free trip in trade for his stay as camper Veronica (Monique Kim) attempts to work through her bisexuality while Gabriel (Del Fabro) wants to feel accepted after being bullied for so long. As the camp's methods become increasingly concerning & extremely unsettling the campers must work together to protect themselves especially when an axe murderer begins covertly claiming victims & they must figure out if this butchering culprit could be one of them. I talked to Darwin about what he hopes “They/Them” will accomplish & his spin on our LGBTQ issues. LISTEN  
No comments:

States Suing Over Title IX Inclusion

With less than 100 days until the midterm elections it’s time to do what you can do to make equality the name of the game. Neo-Nazi movements combined with other White Supremacist groups are organizing & mobilizing to do everything possible including arming themselves against peace loving citizens. Last month Attorney Generals from over 20 states including Tennessee, Indiana, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia & West Virginia had a federal judge put a temporary hold on the Biden Administration’s correct application of LGBTQ & Trans nondiscrimination laws under Title IX. For these states $29 billion in school lunch funding depends on the schools complying with the new rules surrounding gender identity & sexual orientation in schools. Last week in "Don't Say Gay" Florida a memo from Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz has been distributed to disregard federal Title IX protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation & gender identity becoming the latest weaponization of state agencies by the DeSantis Administration against LGBTQ Floridians. It’s just common sense that all students no matter their background, sexual orientation or gender identity deserve to feel safe & welcomed in schools. Transgender youth must be included in Title IX protections as well as our LGBTQ kids. If you live in one of the states mentioned above contact your representatives & let them know you stand for equality & in November vote for compassionate forward-thinking people & remove these hatemonger bullies from public office.
No comments:

Passing The Respect For Marriage Act

It’s time to protect Marriage Equality from the biased rightwing US Supreme Court bobbleheads & pass the Respect for Marriage Act (RMA). It’s now in the hands of the US Senate after passing in the House of Representatives & our LGBTQ community has worked too hard & too long to have our federal marriage rights & protections at risk by radically conservative Supreme Court Justices. Kierra P. Johnson, Executive Director National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund stated, “This window of opportunity to protect marriage equality through federal legislation is the result of right-wing justices on Supreme Court using their powers to again take away constitutional rights already decided and enjoyed by millions. Too many are suffering & at risk because of the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, where the threat to marriage equality by our high court was named & as we know, we have been battling a wave of anti-trans & anti-LGBTQ legislation in the states. And biggest threat is this: widespread efforts by right-wing zealots take away our constitutional rights and undermine our Democracy.” Overturning our right to legally marry the person we love & to protect our families would only be the beginning. None of the hard-fought rights that we have won in the courts are safe including the right to work or to be recognized as the legal parents of our children. Let’s make sure we all vote in November & return some sanity to this country which will include finally passing the Equality Act. Call your Senators & let's get this done. 
No comments:

SAGE Announces New Board Members

SAGE the world’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ elders has expanded its national Board of Directors with four new members. They are Lorraine Carlson, Jonathan Carter, Rahul Culas & Roy Jimenez. These new directors join a talented & dedicated group of advocates & philanthropists who strive to enhance the lived experiences of LGBTQ elders in the United States & aboard. Michael Adams SAGE CEO stated, “As we’re seeing more anti-LGBTQ+ attacks across the country, it’s essential that we continue to deepen & expand SAGE’s volunteer leadership. I have no doubt that the experience & passion of each of our new Board members will lead to bettering the lives of LGBTQ+ pioneers across the country.” Lorraine Carlson added, “I am truly energized & honored to be serving on SAGE’s Board of Directors in 2022 & beyond, because this is such a momentous & pivotal time in SAGE’s 40+ year history to keep advocating for and advancing the rights, needs & dignity of LGBTQ+ elders across our nation & throughout the world.” Jonathan Carter continued, “I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to serve on SAGE’s national Board of Directors & to support SAGE’s crucial mission to celebrate, empower & improve the lives of our LGBTQ+ elders.” Rahul Culas added, “SAGE is a powerful advocate for meaningful aging for all & I couldn’t be more excited to join the Board & to support this fantastic organization. I’m honored to take part in this important work.” Roy Jimenez concluded, "I am excited to help in the mission of SAGE & spread information about SAGE’s work & the issues facing our LGBTQ+ elders to the greater Los Angeles area.” 
No comments:

Restoring LGBTQ Healthcare Protections

The Biden administration has issued a new rule under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Section 1557 that prohibits discrimination in federally funded health programs & facilities. In 2020 the Trump administration literally erased LGBTQ people from the regulations & added sweeping religious exemptions for healthcare providers who wished to turn people away. Biden’s rule reinstates those critical protections & adds additional HHS programs like Medicare Part B & making clear that reproductive healthcare is covered. Julianna S. Gonen, NCLR Federal Policy Director stated, “This new proposed rule from HHS is a great step forward. The ACA’s core promise of healthcare for all, free from discrimination, has been stymied by those – including the prior administration – who would deny care to LGBTQ people simply because of who they are. We are thrilled to see that the Biden Administration intends to implement section 1557, the ACA’s nondiscrimination provision, consistent with federal sex & religious liberty discrimination law & without creating sweeping new exemptions that would endanger healthcare for all. We support the proposed rule enthusiastically & look forward to its final adoption.” Nicole Lee Ndumele, Senior Vice President for Rights & Justice at the Center for American Progress concluded, “The U.S. Supreme Court’s egregious decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has not only denied the right to an abortion but also put a variety of privacy & bodily autonomy rights at risk. Robust action such as these go far to protecting individuals’ rights to make critical decisions about their health & futures. Amid persistent attacks by MAGA extremists against LGBTQI+ rights & attempts to ban transgender people from accessing best-practice healthcare, we applaud the Biden administration for upholding these explicit civil rights protections in the country’s landmark healthcare law.” 
No comments:

An Artist's Mission To End Hate (AUDIO)

This week I talked to artist Jumper Maybach whose mission is to be a part of the solution to help end hate, bullying & intolerance worldwide. Jumper believes that a person’s trauma defines the individual. Maybach’s journey came to a head in 2010 after suffering decades of emotional abuse & being marginalized for his sexual orientation. He found himself on the brink of an emotional precipice which was instrumental & vital to his healing process by releasing his pain as well as his joy into his artwork. The art is a constant evolution of color & complete abandonment of the paint. The complexity of the abstract style comes from deep within. Jumper is unashamed to teach the world a lesson in compassion. Maybach’s art is about turning darkness into light. Not long after Jumper began his career as an artist he started to receive national & international recognition for his work. In 2013 Jumper held his first gallery show which ultimately led to an invite to attend Art Dubai 2013 as a VIP guest. Jumper exhibited in Dubai, UAE in 2015 & in 2017 at the prestigious Alliance Française. It was there that he received a documentary film opportunity & was dubbed the Jackson Pollock of the 21st century. Now Maybach has partnered with 4 distinct companies in an effort to expand their product line across multiple consumer retail segments as well as bringing new audiences to the brand & mission. The companies are BIG LOViE, Ahdorned, OPR Eyewear & V. Fraas with retail products launching now through September 2022. I talked to Jumper about what he hopes to accomplish with his work & his spin on our LGBTQ issues. LISTEN  
No comments:

LGBTQ Southerners Rise To The Moment

In the wake of the appalling Dobbs Supreme Court decision Campaign for Southern Equality has launched a new mobilization strategy for LGBTQ Southerners entitled “Meeting the Moment”. The new campaign will strategically harness Southern Equality’s resources & power – including staff, funding, infrastructure, supporters & their communications program to respond to new attacks of LGBTQ rights, continue to advance LGBTQ rights, help people protect their rights & access care & ensure that LGBTQ Southerners feel connected, loved & supported. Reverend Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Executive Director of the Campaign for Southern Equality stated, “In the first half of 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade & all but invited challenges to LGBTQ rights, more than two dozen anti-LGBTQ bills became law & the far right continued to weaponize faith to attack our community. There’s no question that we are entering a new chapter in the movement for LGBTQ equality – one where the far-right political movement feels more emboldened than ever to roll back fundamental American rights & freedoms. All of this is happening despite growing public support for LGBTQ equality, especially here in the South, where communities continue to pass nondiscrimination ordinances & polls track higher & higher support. We must work harder than ever to mobilize these supporters to put pressure on their elected officials to stop attacking LGBTQ people & start building a country where everyone can thrive.” Campaign for Southern Equality promotes full LGBTQ equality across the South. Their work is rooted in commitments to equity in race, gender & class. I talked to Amberlyn Boiter Southern Equality activist last April about her spin on our LGBTQ issues. LISTEN  
Hear Audio Chats w/ LGBTQ Leaders @OUTTAKE VOICES  
No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Featured Post

Ode To Legendary Vicki Wickham

I was sad to hear that Vicki Wickham the iconic English talent manager, entertainment producer & songwriter has passed. Wickham was a pr...

Popular Posts

  • Ariana Grande Launches Foundation
    Ariana Grande has announced the launch of The Brighter Days Ahead Foundation that champions justice & equity through 4 core funds to ...
  • MBCC 27th Against the Tide Event
    Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) will hold its 27th annual Against the Tide Athletic Fundraising Event at DCR's Hopkinton ...
  • Gay Character Joins Star Wars
    It’s been announced that the official "Star Wars" universe is getting its first openly gay character. A lesbian governor appears...