OUTTAKE BLOG™

New LGBT Liaison for Team Obama

Gautam Raghavan, a former Pentagon official who was instrumental in the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has been named the Obama administration's new LGBT liaison. Raghavan, the Department of Defense’s former deputy White House liaison will replace Brian Bond who in August announced that he was leaving his post to become the new director of constituency outreach at the DNC. Raul Alvillar, the associate director for public engagement at the Office of the Vice President had been serving as the interim LGBT liaison following Bond’s departure. Don't you just love LGBT musical chairs...:) Congrats Gautam!!

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Best Gay Friendly New TV Show Canceled

The Playboy Club has been canceled. This was the only new show of the 2011-12 TV season that really provided our LGBT community with strong & intriguing characters. As a feminist I thought the show would be insulting to women but instead the show really provided a realism that brought back a similar genre like Mad Men. NBC pulled the plug on The Playboy Club following the airing of its 3rd episode on Monday night which attracted only around 3.5 million viewers. Of course there was no mention that it was up against Monday Night Football. Censorship strikes again. Hopefully The Playboy Club finds a new home on cable so we can find out what happens at The Mattachine Society as it grows in size showing how our LGBT community had to hide their existence in 1960’s....Reruns of “Prime Suspect” will fill its Monday night slot until a newsmagazine hosted by NBC anchor Brian Williams takes over Oct. 31.

Exclusive Audio Chat with Malcolm Lazin, Founder of Equality Forum. October is LGBT History Month honoring LGBT leaders & icons. Check OUT the Video & More.....
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Patti Austin Spokesperson for Social Change

The Foundation for Social Change (FSC) has announced that gay ally & Grammy-winner Patti Austin will be the official Spokesperson of the Foundation for Social Change. Last winter when Patti was on OUTTAKE VOICES™ she was very outspoken & inspirational for our listeners. On October 5th-6th Austin will participate in the annual Global Conference for Social Change & the Women & Girls Education Summit: Driving Economic Progress for Gender Equality in New York. The event is produced in conjunction with the United Nations Office for Partnerships. Louise M. Guido, Founder & CEO of the Foundation stated, “We are deeply honored to have Patti join our mission. Her legacy in the music business & status as a respected global citizen defines who she is as a person, a woman & a true leader. Patti’s values & core beliefs align with ours. That is, to help women & girls in need receive life and business skills training to become economically & socially empowered.” Congrats Patti!!
OUTTAKE VOICES™: Gay Ally Patti Austin Speaks OUT

Exclusive Audio Chat with Malcolm Lazin, Founder of Equality Forum. October is LGBT History Month honoring LGBT leaders & icons. Check OUT the Video & More
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Why Margaret Cho Defines Herself as Queer

UPDATE: OUTTAKE VOICES™: CHO DEPENDENT with Margaret Cho
When Margaret Cho was on OUTTAKE VOICES™ last year we asked her whether she wanted to be referred to as a Gay Activist or Gay Ally. She said she refers to herself as queer & said she preferred Gay Activist. This was in the midst of Prop 8 being found unconstitutional by Federal Judge Ware in California. She was outraged at the last minute decision to put gay marriages in that state on hold once again. The important thing about Margaret is that she’s a fierce advocate for LGBT equality. She was very brave speaking out against LGBTQ teen bullying when she was on "Dancing With The Stars" last year. In a recent Huffington Post article she reveals that she is married to a man but defines sexual orientation as queer. We’re all made up of male & female characteristics. Cho believes in being true to herself. This is reflected in her act that to plays to a very gay male oriented audience. I talked to her about this after her show in Provincetown a few summers ago just to remind her there were lesbians in the audience too. She got it & smiled..:) Margaret Cho's 6th concert film of "Cho Dependent" debuts on Showtime on Saturday, Oct. 15th.
For More Info: MargaretCho.com
OUTTAKE VOICES™ Gay Activist Margaret Cho Speaks OUT

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Gay Elderly Housing Planned For Spain

We’ve talk about this a lot. In this country our LGBT seniors are being forced back into the closet in nursing homes in fear of homophobia by other residents & health care workers. Besides the fact that we are not entitled to our spouses social security benefits in America it’s very difficult to find gay-friendly facilities for LGBT seniors. This is changing in Spain where gay marriage has been legal nationally since 2005. Dealing with the same aging issues a new retirement home for gay people is in the works in Spain by the December 26th Foundation. A short train ride from central Madrid, a vacant site is being transformed into Spain's first ever retirement home for gay & lesbian residents designed by Touza Architects. The December 26th Foundation were given a low-cost 75-year lease on the land to provide affordable housing for LGBT seniors living on their pensions. The above is a picture of how the facility will look that will provide 115 apartments, a gym, spa & restaurant. We need to address this issue in America now so that our LGBT seniors will have housing options tomorrow.
OUTTAKE VOICES™ Archive on LGBT Aging Crisis
Updates to Come …:)

Exclusive Audio Chat with Malcolm Lazin, Founder of Equality Forum. October is LGBT History Month honoring LGBT leaders & icons. Check OUT the Video & More...@ OUTTAKE VOICES™

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Obama Talks the Talk at HRC Dinner Event

Obama gave a great speech at the national HRC dinner last night. There were even times I felt my eyes water up a little. Yes he has done more for our LGBT community than any other president. Under his leadership "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was repealed, hate crime legislation was passed, we gained hospital visitation rights for our loved ones & DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act was declared unconstitutional & indefensible. However when it comes to marriage equality he still believes that ‘separate but equal’ is ok. Even if DOMA is repealed he doesn’t support marriage equality. This is very disappointing especially coming from a black man who you think would be more evolved than that... Updates to Come….:)

Exclusive Audio Chat with Malcolm Lazin, Founder of Equality Forum. October is LGBT History Month honoring LGBT leaders & icons. Check OUT the Video & More...@ OUTTAKE VOICES™

Hear Audio Interviews w/ LGBT Leaders @OUTTAKE VOICES™
SUPPORT OUR QUEST @ OUTTAKE™ EQUALITY STORE...:)
View Our Historic Short Trailer on Gay Marriage

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New Court Ruling on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

We still have some “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” drama in California. The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has struck down Federal Judge Virginia A. Phillips ruling last year that DADT is unconstitutional. The unanimous ruling by a 3 judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is frustrating Log Cabin Republicans efforts for the 14,000-plus discharged gay service members to be reinstated or compensated for lost wages & promotions who were effected by DADT prior to September 20, 2011. The judges stated, "The Supreme Court & our court have repeatedly held that a case is moot when the challenged statute is repealed, expires or is amended to remove the challenged language." Lead plaintiff's attorney in Log Cabin Republicans v. United States, Dan Woods of White & Case, emphasized that the case is not over, saying, "We are, of course, disappointed by today's ruling but we will continue to fight on for the constitutional rights of all people impacted by Don't Ask, Don't Tell. This is an important issue for all Americans & we anticipate seeking re-hearing before the full Ninth Circuit."

Exclusive Audio Chat with Marlee Walchuk, Producer of RightOutTV's 1st Music Video Awards for LGBTI musicians Deadline is Friday Sep 30th for Submissions...more
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