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SAGE 38th LGBTQ Annual Toys Party

SAGE is hosting its 38th Annual Toys Party to celebrate the holiday season while supporting LGBTQ elders & children in need on Sunday December 10th from 5P to 9P at the Chelsea Piers, Pier 60 between 23rd Street & West Side Highway. Michael Adams SAGE CEO stated, “The Toys Party to celebrate the holidays supports our community’s elders & brings some joy to children in need collecting thousands of toys donated to numerous LGBTQ-friendly children’s charities.” So don’t miss out on NYC's largest LGBTQ+ charity event of the holiday season. Dress up in your most festive attire & get ready to celebrate the holidays with an open bar, specialty cocktails & dancing featuring DJ Johnny Dynell. Please bring an unwrapped toy & or a donation to SAGE. Toys from the event will be distributed to the following charities: 9th Police Precinct Community Center, Camp Felix, Ali Forney Center, Brooklyn ACE Integration Head Start, Grace Baptist/Faith Mission, The Iris House and UEW Jericho Project/Brick Church & UEW Jericho Project/Brick Church. The event is hosted by Chris Kann, David Tufts & Cris Dovich with the host committee Bandar Alturkmani, Mylik Ganey, Scott Malone, Brent Miller, Josue Santiago & Joey Wasserman. SAGE is the world’s largest & oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ older people. SAGE is a national organization founded in 1978 that offers supportive services & resources to LGBTQ+ seniors & their caregivers. SAGE also advocates for public policy changes that address the needs of LGBTQ+ elders, provides education & technical assistance for aging providers & LGBTQ+ community organizations through its National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging & cultural competency training through SAGECare. 
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Outright International Hybrid Summit

Outright International’s 9th annual OutSummit takes place on Monday December 4th in Washington DC including a hybrid format for virtual global attendees. OutSummit brings together global advocates, activists & allies to strategize & accelerate positive change for our LGBTQ community around the world. OutSummit has been held for the past nine years around Human Rights Day on December 10th to acknowledge the human rights of LGBTQ people that are still criminalized in 67 countries with 13 countries criminalizing transgender people & another 37 countries targeting transgender people through vagrancy, prostitution, morality or other laws. Presently only 5 countries ban sexual orientation & gender identity change practices which often use brutal psychological & physical force to attempt to change, suppress, divert or reorient someone's sexual orientation or gender identity. Matuba Mahlatjie Outright International Communications & Media Relations Manager stated, “In a year marked by a surge in anti-human rights backlash, the LGBTIQ community has found itself at the forefront, defending its rights & dignity. OutSummit takes place on December 4th in a hybrid event, so anyone from anywhere in the world can reserve their seat. This conference serves as a solution-driven platform, providing a wealth of resources & stories that must be told thoughtfully.” Outright International works with partners around the globe to strengthen the capacity of the LGBTQ human rights movement & advocates for inclusion & equality. The first virtual OutSummit brought together more than 1600 people from 100+ countries. For over 30 years OutRight International has documented, defended & advanced human rights for our global LGBTQ community. 
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Celebrating Pink Friday In Provincetown

Instead of spending Black Friday in the malls we’re renewing our Pink Friday LGBTQ tradition heading to Provincetown with many of the stores having their end of season sales & lots of pop-up craft fairs. The Provincetown Business Guild encourage our LGBTQ community & friends to support small businesses in Ptown on Pink Friday November 24th with hundreds of unique shops, galleries & attractions. Also check out Pink Friday Bingo hosted by Austin & Mackenzie taking place at the Crown & Anchor from 3P to 5P supporting the Provincetown Business Guild. Then the weekend's nightlife includes Tina Brurner’s: I’d Rather Be Naughty Than Nice & The Petty Four: Just Desserts Holiday Tour for Friday & Saturday performances both at The Crown. On Saturday November 25th catch the Lighting of the Lobster Pot Tree a Provincetown tradition to ring in the holiday season. In 2004 artist Julian Popko designed the Lobster Pot Tree in Lopes Square to recognize the hard-working local lobstermen. The tree is built from real lobster traps & is decorated with lights & bows. At dusk the community gathers to sing carols, drink hot cocoa & count down for the lights to be illuminated. If you’re up for theater check out Provincetown Theater’s presentation of Heidi Schreck’s play What the Constitution Means to Me. This Tony Award nominated & Pulitzer Prize-finalist Broadway play runs now through December 3rd at 238 Bradford Street in Provincetown, MA. starring Anne Stott & directed by Rebecca Berger with performances Thursdays through Saturdays at 7P & Sunday matinees at 2P. 
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What The Constitution Means To Me

The Provincetown Theater is presenting the Cape Cod Premiere of Heidi Schreck’s Tony Award nominated & Pulitzer Prize-finalist Broadway play “What the Constitution Means to Me” now through December 3rd at the company’s playhouse at 238 Bradford Street in Provincetown, MA. Starring Anne Stott & directed by Rebecca Berger performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 7P & Sunday matinees at 2P with the exception of Thanksgiving Day November 23rd. “What the Constitution Means to Me” is a hilarious, hopeful & achingly human new play that reveals a profound relationship between four generations of women & the founding document that shaped their lives. Director Rebecca Berger stated, “I think this is the most produced play in America this year because the constitution has moved back into the spotlight. With the old & new Supreme Court drama, Roe being overturned & the fourteenth amendment being used to keep Trump off the ballot in multiple states, I think the constitution has moved to the forefront of people's minds. I want audiences to walk away from this play with a sense of empowerment & hope. We may not all be written into the Constitution, but we have the power to make ourselves seen & heard.” The creative team also features scenic design by Ellen Rousseau, lighting design by Stephen Petrilli & stage management by Sami Parazin. The Provincetown Theater’s mission is to enrich, entertain & educate by providing quality theater, events & programming celebrating their historic legacy in the birthplace of American theater & providing a safe & creative outlet for illuminating their common goal on Outer Cape Cod & beyond. 
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San Francisco Dance Along Nutcracker

The Dance Along Nutcracker is one of San Francisco’s most treasured LGBTQ holiday events that takes place at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on December 16th & 17th. This year theme is “The Nutmare Before Christmas” as Clara & Fritz who have only known Christmas Town decide after their uncle visits from Halloween Town sneak away Christmas Eve to investigate Halloween Town for themselves. Get ready to meet several spooky inhabitants & of course learn some important life lessons along the way. Through it all you’ll enjoy music from The Nutcracker ballet performed live by the 75-piece San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band the Official Band of San Francisco. Part comedy musical, part dance-it-yourself ballet & part symphonic concert the Dance-Along Nutcracker features the holiday fun & tradition everyone has come to expect from this San Francisco favorite. Each year the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band presents its award-winning Dance-Along Nutcracker & also performs at numerous parades & civic events throughout the Bay Area with Artistic Directors Pete Nowlen & Mike Wong. The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band was founded in 1978 by Jon Sims at the height of Anita Bryant’s anti-gay crusade & credited as the first openly-gay music organization in the world. The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band has inspired the formation of many LGBTQ choruses & performing troupes globally. Named the “Official Band of San Francisco” in 2018 the band has promoted visibility & understanding. Dance Along Nutcracker truly exemplifies their mission to promote LGBTQ equality & for 45 years has built bridges among communities through public performances. 
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Drag Continues In Florida During Appeal

The Supreme Court won’t allow Florida to enforce its new law targeting drag shows while the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s order stopping the law from being implemented. The district court found that the law likely restricts free speech & couldn’t be enforced anywhere in the state. Florida had asked SCOTUS to allow its anti-drag show law to be enforced everywhere except at the Hamburger Mary’s restaurant in Orlando which has challenged the law’s constitutionality. Drag Diva Randy Roberts currently performing in Florida stated, “On one hand I'm thrilled with the decision, I'm also aware that there are three justices who would voted for it. With a few adjustments, it could be put in front of them again. There is the possibility that the other two conservative justices could change their minds. Today, I'll put on my high heels & go to work. Desantis will put on his & stumble...thankful for small things!” The horrendous new law championed by DeSantis will punish venues for allowing children into what it called “adult live performances.” Though it did not mention drag shows specifically the sponsor of the legislation said it was aimed at those performances. Venues that violated the law face fines & the possibility that their liquor licenses to be suspended or revoked. Individuals could be charged with a misdemeanor crime. Randy Roberts is performing at La Te Da in the Crystal Room Cabaret in Key West, FLA. to 18 year or older audiences. I talked to Randy in this exclusive audio chat about drag & other LGBTQ issues last summer. LISTEN  
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Book Banning Heats Up In Florida

In Florida the Collier County School District has taken more extreme measures to suppress students’ freedom to read by removing more than 300 titles from its school libraries including Toni Morrison, Stephen King, Ernest Hemingway & Mary Higgins Clark. The move is an effort to comply with Florida’s obscene new legislation expanding the so-called ‘Don’t Say LGBTQ+’ law. HB 1069 gives the district the grounds for removal of content that broadly “depicts or describes sexual conduct.” Melanie Willingham-Jaggers GLSEN Executive Director stated, "Politicians & school boards in Florida have chosen to withhold students’ access to education & history; limit their rights & stifle their opportunities to participate in our multiracial democracy. Inclusive school curriculum including access to books about LGBTQ+ people & people of color can act as a window for students into the diverse world around them, as well as a mirror to reflect their own experiences & identities. We must speak out against book bans & vote for down-ballot candidates like school board members & state legislators who support inclusive education." Chris Schmeckpeper-Kobzina, GLSEN Collier County Co-Chair concluded, "Banning books because they contain LGBTQ+ content, or cover issues of race or ethnicity, is an explicit attempt to silence the stories of communities that already face an onslaught of legislative attacks, especially in Florida. This generation of students will be seriously impacted by this district’s policy & over-interpretation of the law." For over 33 years GLSEN has championed LGBTQ issues in K-12 education & with LGBTQ youth under attack across the nation GLSEN is fighting book bans through their Rainbow Library Program. 
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