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Total Great Eclipse Last Minute Madness

The Great North American Eclipse takes place today April 8, 2024 visible across New England. In Boston where we’re based there will be a 90% total eclipse but then we realized that we didn’t have eclipse glasses. After checking online unsuccessfully we took to the highway at 6:45A on a mission to obtain the elusive must-have eclipse glasses. First stop was our local CVS that were all out. Then to Home Depot on the VFW Parkway without success. On to Lowe’s on Route 1 with the same result & then continuing south to Walmart in Walpole we stopped on the way to another Home Depot that was also out of eclipse glasses but told us that there was a pop-up at a mini mall in Mansfield, MA a few miles away. Heading there thankfully going the opposite of rush hour traffic the GPS of course took us on a wild goose chase but eventually we made it finding the vendor at Chauncy Street in Mansfield, MA. Not only were we able to buy eclipse glasses for a fair last minute price of $5 each but we both got commemorative t-shirts for $20 a pop. So now we’re trying to find the best place near Boston to observe this natural phenomena that takes place from 2:16P to 4:39P. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth & the Sun blocking the image of the Sun for a viewer on Earth. This will be the last total solar eclipse visible in North America until August 23rd 2044. Happy Great North American Eclipse viewing everyone. If you were unable to hunt down eclipse glasses as we did there are other ways to view this not to miss event at the link below. 
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Ella Matthes Lesbian Icon Publisher Dies

Ella Matthes the longtime award-winning publisher & editor of Lesbian News Magazine has passed at 81. Matthes successfully ran Lesbian News Magazine from 1975 until 2022. The Lesbian News known as the LN had the distinction & responsibility of being North America’s longest running lesbian publication. Founded in 1975 in Southern California LN began as the lone voice for lesbian issues & evolved throughout the years to become the nation’s foremost voice for lesbians of all ages. Some of the iconic cover stories have included names such as Melissa Etheridge, kd lang, Ellen DeGeneres, Marlee Matlin, Hillary Clinton, Toni Braxton, Lady GaGa, Katy Perry, Judith Light & Janet McTeer. At the young age of fifteen Ella went to work at Great Western Savings in the print shop & developed a passion for printing. Then in her twenties she purchased Superior Printers & ran it for decades. She wanted to address the lack of support & visibility for our lesbian community so in 1975 she purchased Lesbian News Magazine from Deborah Bergman who had recently acquired it from its original owner Jinx Beers. Ella Matthes built a mission statement around her vision for all lesbians stating, “The editorial vision of the LN has always been to inform, entertain & be of service to women who love women of all ages, economic class & color. We hope women from all walks of life will not only find something of themselves in the LN, but also be accepting of those with differing opinions. Lesbian News is our small contribution to the lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender liberation movement.” Rest In Power Ella Matthes...
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GLSEN Calls For Action Day of Silence

GLSEN the fabulous national org that champions safe & affirming schools for our LGBTQ youth announced its plans to reinvent its nationally recognized Day of Silence initiative. With more than 470 anti-LGBTQ bills already introduced in state legislatures nationwide this year GLSEN is calling on supporters to speak out & take action during the Day of (No) Silence. Instead of continuing with a silent protest LGBTQ youth, educators & allies are encouraged to make their voices heard by Rising Up & Taking Action next Friday April 12th. Melanie Willingham-Jaggers GLSEN Executive Director stated, “Education is the cornerstone of our democracy, yet it's under attack by those with the loudest voices pushing hateful agendas, using trans & queer students as pawns. From bathroom bans to book bans, the attacks on our education system are relentless & widespread. It's on us, as adults, to rise up for every child's right to a safe & inclusive education. That's why this year, we refuse to remain silent. We're rising together, using our collective voices to fight back against these injustices. While some students are silenced by censorship laws or unsafe school environments, if you can, I urge you to join us. Speak up, vote, use your platform & support GLSEN programs. Together, let's build a future where every student can thrive.” The Day of Silence was introduced in 1996 urging peers to go through the school day without speaking. GLSEN is encouraging participants this year to vocalize the need for a strong bench of legislators who vow to support & protect our LGBTQ community. 
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Uganda Court Ruling Fails LGBTQ People

Uganda's Constitutional Court invalidated only a few provisions of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023 while leaving the rest intact. The Court categorically declined to nullify the Act in its entirety or issue a permanent injunction. This decision falls short of the necessary action to protect the rights & lives of our LGBTQ community in Uganda. Maria Sjödin Outright International Executive Director stated, "LGBTQ people in Uganda deserve full protection & equal rights under the law & the partial invalidation of the law is not enough. The Constitutional Court's ruling, which relegates queer people to second-class citizenship, must not be the last word. It is now incumbent upon Uganda's parliament to repeal this law. The authorities must engage in a meaningful dialogue with LGBTQ organizations & activists & work towards creating an inclusive society that respects & upholds the rights of all people in Uganda." The court's decision comes after the petitioners argued that the law was enacted without sufficient public involvement & violated constitutional rights & freedoms. The limited ruling finds unconstitutional sections of the law that criminalize the owner of premises being used for the purposes of homosexuality or anyone who knowingly allows the use of such premises (sections 9 and 11(2)(d). It also eliminates the duty to report (section 14), which turned everyone in Uganda into an arm of the police. The ruling does not address other provisions including the death penalty for some consensual same-gender acts, the prohibition on freedom of expression related to the rights of LGBTQ persons, the ban on human rights organizations that “normalize” sexual & gender diversity & the ban on funding such organizations. 
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Newark LGBTQ Film Festival Returns

The Newark LGBTQ Film Festival returns for its second year with a full line-up of films, panels & special events at various venues throughout downtown Newark, New Jersey from April 26th- 28th. This year’s Festival is once again a celebration of Queer BIPOC Films & Filmmakers who are often overlooked in mainstream media. Denise Hinds, Newark LGBTQ Film Festival Co-Chair stated, “To know that folks in the LGBTQIA+ community & our allies will get to have this amazing experience right in our backyards means everything – being able to show the works of so many unseen BIPOC Queer Filmmakers & to do it in Newark a place with such rich Queer history is so fitting.” Beatrice Simpkins, Executive Director Newark LGBTQ Community Center concluded, “The stories, imagery, imagination & creativity moves my heart & inspires my work - I am sure that you will find something or someone to connect to & that you will be touched in some way by these films. Come out & see stories of struggle, renewal, love, freedom & triumph...OUR stories on the big screen – you don’t want to miss it!” The festivities commence with an Opening Reception on Friday April 26th from 5P to 7P at the historic Newark Museum of Art at 49 Washington Street. The reception is free to the community with advance registration. Immediately following the festival’s opening night feature is “The Stroll” directed by Zackary Drucker & Kristen Lovell. The screening will conclude with a special panel discussion featuring director Kristen Lovell & moderated by Jack Mizrahi known for their work on the TV show Pose & as co- executive producer of “Legendary” on HBO. 
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Transgender Day of Visibility Goes Viral

They say that any publicity is good publicity or there's no such thing as bad publicity & thanks to rightwing news outlets President Biden's social media post celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility that fell on Easter this year ignited a new wave of backlash from conservative hatemongers. Biden’s innocent posted on X formerly Twitter stated "Today, on Transgender Day of Visibility, I have a simple message to all trans Americans: I see you. You are made in the image of God & you're worthy of respect & dignity." Last Friday we got an email from the White House formality marking the annual event proclaiming March 31st 2024 as Transgender Day of Visibility. Biden stated, "Today, we send a message to all transgender Americans: You are loved. You are heard. You are understood. You belong. You are America & my entire Administration & I have your back." Note that the same rightwing outlets seemed to accept the reality that it was okay for a former president to hock bibles during holy Easter week to raise cash for his enormous legal debts becoming the opening skit for Saturday Night Live. What a world we’re living in but let’s end this issue on a high note. Dr. Admiral Rachel L. Levine Assistant Secretary for Health stated, “On this Transgender Day of Visibility, we must continue to make focused & ongoing efforts to end inequities, eliminate the impacts of injustice & improve access to care for everyone. Today & all days, I stand proud & visible with my fellow Transgender Americans. Happy Transgender Day of Visibility.”
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LGBTQ Women Candidates New Survey

LGBTQ Victory Institute & Loyola Marymount University have published a new report summarizing the results of a nationwide survey of LGBTQ women political candidates. The “Experiences of LGBTQ Women Candidates: A Report from the When We Run Survey” found that 1 in 4 LGBTQ women were discouraged to run because of their gender or gender identity which is 4 times higher than gay & bisexual men. LGBTQ women also worry about harassment or attacks before running in higher proportions than gay & bisexual male candidates with 4 in 10 LGBTQ women facing attacks based on their appearance or the way they dress. LGBTQ women also faced media challenging their qualifications to a larger degree than men. Annise Parker, president & CEO of LGBTQ+ Victory Institute stated, “LGBTQ+ women are woefully underrepresented in public office & the results of our survey shed light on why that is. The data is clear: compared to LGBTQ+ men candidates, LGBTQ+ women candidates are more likely to be discouraged from running for office based on their gender, are more likely to be attacked for their appearance & face greater media bias. Despite the obstacles, LGBTQ+ women must continue to claim their seat at the table by running for office. It’s on all of us to help level the playing field for LGBTQ+ women candidates by recruiting & supporting them, calling out media bias & holding bigots accountable.” The report was written by Elliot Imse, executive director of LGBTQ+ Victory Institute & Gabriele Magni, assistant professor of political science at Loyola Marymount University. 
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