About Me

OUTTAKE MEDIA Timely Truth (AUDIO)

We're closing out 2023 on a high note by thanking our loyal global audience & contributors for supporting OUTTAKE MEDIA’s mission to always deliver the truth especially all the LGBTQ leaders, filmmakers, actors, authors & allies who appeared on OUTTAKE VOICES our audio podcast series in '23 now syndicated on over 25 podcast platforms worldwide. Thanks to writer-filmmaker & fierce LGBTQ ally Joe Gantz, BGMC documentarian Craig Coogan, LGBTQ pioneer activist Virginia (Ginny) Apuzzo, LGBTQ Victory Fund CEO Annise Parker, Campaign for Southern Equality Emma Chinn, founder of Velvet Ibiza Carine de Mesmaeker, National Black Justice Coalition’s Victoria Kirby York, Publisher of Boston Spirit Magazine David Zimmerman, author Boze Hadleigh, KindRED Pride Foundation’s Alison Burgos, Provincetown International Film Festival’s Andrew Peterson, Latina filmmaker Sue Zarco Kramer & cast of “Swipe NYC” including Lisa Edelstein & Richard Schiff, director Sophia Castuera & writer Ali Edwards, producer Fermin Rojas & director Mike Syers, director Sam Shahid, actors Jason Stuart & Mitch Hara, Drag Diva Randy Roberts, founder & producer of The Dinah Mariah Hanson & Red Carpet celebrities, executive producer Paula S. Apsell, author Laury A. Egan & Rev. Richard Emmanuel. We also wish to thank publicists Mona Elyafi at ILDK Media, Cathy Renna at Target Cue & Mark Umbach at Lucky Break PR for providing us with fabulous voices. As we head into 2024 with over 600 anti LGBTQ bills in states across the country, women's rights continue to be on the chopping block, antisemitism & hate crimes on the rise & all as we head towards the presidential election, we've lined up some amazing guests to address these issues with lots of exciting projects TBA. We Wish Everyone A Safe & Healthy New Year. LISTEN
1 comment:

Ohio Transgender Health Ban Vetoed

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has vetoed HB 68 bill that would have banned medical care for transgender adolescents. Gov. DeWine stated, “It is the parents who know their child best.” As you know across the nation federal district courts have enjoined similar bans enacted by other states finding that they violate parents’ fundamental right to make medical decisions for their children & also unlawful discrimination against transgender people. However, both the Eleventh Circuit & the Sixth Circuit recently reversed federal district court decisions in Alabama, Tennessee, & Kentucky. Shannon Minter NCLR Legal Director concluded, “Governor DeWine’s veto marks a major turning point in what has become a tragically politicized battle. Research has shown that the public overwhelmingly believes that parents, not the government, should make medical decisions for their families. This attack on safe, effective & well-established medical care has already caused enormous anguish & harm to Ohio families, who can now breathe a sigh of relief that their children can continue to receive the healthcare they need. Governor DeWine did the right thing by listening to parents, doctors & young people & taking the time to understand the facts, rather than catering to political expedience. He has given other elected officials a powerful example of how to respond to these dangerous & harmful bills with similar courage, integrity & deliberation.” NCLR represents transgender adolescents & their parents in Alabama & Kentucky & has asked the Supreme Court to review the Sixth Circuit’s decision. Attorneys representing transgender youth & their parents in Tennessee have made a similar request. 
No comments:

American Society on Aging & SAGE USA

SAGE the world’s oldest & largest non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ elders announced its curation of a new special edition of the American Society on Aging (ASA) Generations Journal 2023 that addresses our LGBTQ elders. According to the ASA the quarterly Generations Journal is devoted to bringing together the most useful & current knowledge about a specific topic in the field of aging, with emphasis on practice, research & policy. This year’s special edition focuses on breaking down the barriers of ageism & focusing on a case against structural ageism in our society. Michael Adams SAGE CEO stated, “The decision by SAGE to curate a special collection of articles on ageism for the American Society on Aging’s Generations Journal is particularly timely. Our essay collection analyzes ageism as a systemic bias – like racism & sexism & explores its deep links to ableism, given that bias about age is often linked to bias about disability. The essays reflect a reality that is often overlooked: that aging, ageism & ableism affect different socio-economic groups differently. That’s why organizations like ours exist.” Leanne Clark-Shirley, ASA interim President & CEO concluded, “We’re seeing ‘ageism’ & ‘ableism’ appear more frequently in media & advocacy, but learning the terms is not enough to solve either of these problems. ASA is so proud to publish this issue of Generations Journal that not only defines, but articulates the intersection of ageism & ableism with other social ills, while putting forth concrete examples of how we can dismantle their root causes.” Founded in 1978 & headquartered in NYC SAGE is a national organization that offers supportive services & consumer resources to LGBTQ older people & their caregivers. 
No comments:

Las Vegas LGBTQ Classic Sports Event

The annual Sin City Classic Sports Festival takes place over Martin Luther King Weekend January 11th to 14th in Las Vegas. Each year the festival brings together our LGBTQ community for a weekend of competition & camaraderie. The Greater Los Angeles Softball Association announced that at least 19 sports will be participating in the 17th annual Sin City Classic Sports Festival with additional days of competition & a new exhibition in Rodeo. Jason Peplinski, Sin City Classic Co-Executive Director stated, “The Sin City Classic has become a staple of the LGBTQ+ sports community. Each year we work hard to create a safe space for our athletes to gather for a weekend of competition, fun & mostly importantly – community. As the festival grows & evolves with a diverse roster of both sports & participants, this year we’re welcoming the LGBTQ+ Rodeo to show off their sport to our attendees.” Additional sports competitions at this year’s festival include Bowling, Bridge, Cheerleading, Cornhole for Charity, Soft Tip Darts, Steel Tip Darts, Dodgeball, Flag Football, Golf, Indoor Rowing, Kickball, Pickleball, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Ultimate Frisbee, Indoor Volleyball, Sand Volleyball & Wrestling & Grappling. For the past 16 years the tournament has grown to include 24 sports & approximately 10,000 athletes & fans. Each January during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend the festival kicks off with the Opening Night Registration Party held at the Flamingo Las Vegas. Competitions & nightly social events then take place around the city with the weekend culminating in the Closing Party. This year’s Closing Party takes place at the LINQ Promenade’s Brooklyn Bowl. The annual Sin City Classic Sports Festival is presented by Lexus. 
No comments:

Federal Trans Healthcare Trial In Florida

A federal trial concluded challenging Florida’s SB 254, the first state law attempting to deprive transgender adults of healthcare. Florida SB 254 & related Boards of Medicine rules restrict access to medical care for transgender adults & criminally ban medical care for transgender adolescents. Plaintiff Lucien Hamel testified that SB 254 has prevented him from being able to access necessary care for himself as an adult anywhere in Florida. Hamel stated, “Being forced to abruptly stop my medical care this summer has been devastating for both me & my family. I received my care from a competent medical provider that I really trusted. Then I was told that Florida law suddenly won’t let APRNs & Nurse Practitioners provide the care I need. I can’t get an appointment with a physician anywhere in the state. There’s no medical basis for this change – it’s just preventing transgender Floridians like me from getting care. I’m scared & frustrated because I know my health will continue to decline the longer I have to wait, putting incredible stress on me, my wife & our child.” Shannon Minter, Legal Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights concluded, ”As the testimony presented in this trial overwhelmingly showed, there is no medical basis for this dangerous & unprecedented law, which has taken the extreme step of restricting medically necessary care even for adults & imposing criminal penalties on doctors & other health care professionals simply for doing their jobs. This is massive government overreach & it should be permanently enjoined.” Plaintiffs’ attorneys included GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), Southern Legal Counsel (SLC) & Lowenstein Sandler LLP 
No comments:

Missouri Transgender Youth Health Ban

LGBTQ advocates have launched an emergency program to help Missouri families navigate the implementation of SB49 which prohibits healthcare professionals from providing gender-affirming hormone therapy & puberty blockers for trans youth until they turn 18. Susan Halla, Board President of TransParent stated, “Every parent wants what is best for their child, & for many parents of transgender youth, the best thing for our children is accessing this best-practice medical care. It’s disgusting that extreme politicians in Missouri have inserted themselves into our families’ private medical decisions, leaving us to scramble for options that support & affirm our children. We are honored to support the launch of this project in Missouri & join in solidarity with every family who is working their hardest to love and care for their children.” Katy Erker-Lynch Executive Director of PROMO Missouri added, “Within two weeks of SB49 taking effect, hundreds of patients across the state lost access to life-saving, medically necessary health care. These same bodily autonomy rights will be under attack in the upcoming legislative session with multiple bills already filed targeting queer, nonbinary & trans communities. It is imperative we implement creative new strategies like the Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project to ensure families can continue to access the care they need.” Allison Scott, Director of Impact & Innovation at the Campaign for Southern Equality concluded, “This has been a devastating year for so many families of transgender youth & we are honored to work with partners across Missouri to connect families with funding and provider information to preserve continuity of care for as many people as possible. No law can stop the transgender community from charting our paths to thriving & living authentically our community will make sure of that.” 
No comments:

Catholic Church LGBTQ Policy Evolves

As Massachusetts celebrates the 20th anniversary of Marriage Equality in 2024 Pope Francis continues LGBTQ policy changes in the Catholic Church now allowing priests to bless same gender unions. In a document released by the Vatican the Pope confirms an expanded definition of “blessing” that clears the way for recognition of same gender couples. Though the new policy change stops short of allowing priests to perform marriage ceremonies or civil unions it does makes clear that blessings should not be denied outright to couples seeking them. Perhaps the new policy will prevent some sectors the Catholic Church from demonizing our LGBTQ community but they’re still running about 20 years behind. Marianne Duddy-Burke, Executive Director of DignityUSA stated, “It is clear from this statement that sacramental recognition of same-sex relationships is not yet on the table. However, the Pope has expressed support for civil unions & legal protections of same-sex couples & our families. Perhaps even more importantly, significant majorities of Catholics in many countries already believe that same-sex couples’ relationships are holy, blessed & equivalent to marriage. It may take time, but we fully expect that the official church will achieve this recognition, as well. We encourage pastors across the country & around the globe, to take advantage of this new permission to bestow blessings on same-sex couples who ask for this sign of affirmation. It will help many feel more supported by our church.” DignityUSA has blessed same-gender relationships since the 1970s & has called for equal access to marriage for LGBTQ people for over 25 years. 
No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Featured Post

Valley Film Festival 818 Day Event

After 25 years The Valley Film Festival is evolving to quarterly one-day screenings. The first of 2 free screenings of its signature “Made i...

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 ...
  • Most LGBTQ Supportive NFL Teams Fans
    Since I won my Emmy Award from CBS Sports NFL Today that helped carve out the most amazing career I could possibly ask for this story caug...