OUTTAKE BLOG™

NOH8 Campaign 3rd Annual Anniversary

Three years since its inception the NOH8 Campaign has grown to over 18,000 faces & continues to grow at an amazing rate. Celebrities came out to celebrate the NOH8 Campaign 3rd Annual Anniversary at the House of Blues in West Hollywood. Rocker chic(k) new music artist Erica Chase, right, has been in the studio with producer/metal legend Dana Strum but took a break to join actor James Corp (left) & NOH8 co-founder Adam Bouska (center) on the red carpet in support of The NOH8 Campaign 3rd Anniversary Celebration to support gay & lesbian civil rights. Additional celebs included recording artists LeAnn Rimes, Dave Navarro & Anthony Improgo as well as Lea Thompson (Back to the Future), Louis van Amstel (Dancing with the Stars), Ashley Fink (Glee), Fernanda Rocha (Real Housewives of Orange County), Carla Ortiz (Che Guevara), Jodi Sweetin (Full House), Mackenzie Phillips (One Day at a Time), Jai Rodriguez (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy), Dave Coulier (Full House), Becky O'Donohue (American Idol) & Pauley Perrette (NCIS). Congrats For All Your Great Work!!
For More Info: noh8campaign.com

Exclusive Chat with Director Dee Rees & Actress Adepero Oduye about their new must-see film PARIAH. They talk about the film, LGBT Teen Bullying & more…
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China Forbes Rejoins Pink Martini on Leno

Last June we reported that my friend China Forbes the lead singer for the band Pink Martini was headed for vocal surgery & was taking a leave of absence from the group. This was very scary since similar surgery permanently destroyed Julie Andrews voice. The good news is that China has recovered & will be returning tonight Dec 19th on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" on NBC at 11:35 P EST. (Sandra Bullock & Diablo Cody will also be appearing.) Pink Martini has continued performing globally in China’s absence with special guest vocalists. This past weekend they played to sold-out audiences for 2 fabulous nights with vocalists Storm Large, Ari Shapiro, Cantor Ida Rae Cahana & special guest Japanese 60’s Pop Star Saori Yuki at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston. After the Leno gig they’ll be appearing at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA for New Years. Welcome Back China!!

For More Info: pinkmartini.com

Exclusive Chat with Director Dee Rees & Actress Adepero Oduye about their new must-see film PARIAH. They talk about the film, LGBT Teen Bullying & more…
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United Nations Make Pro LGBT Stand

This is a nice way to head into the holidays. An official United Nations report recognizes the rights of our LGBT community around the globe as human rights. In a public report released December 15th the UN clearly states the violence experienced by our LGBT community are at the global level & is more violent than that faced by any other group of people. The report details findings related to cases reported involving violence against our lesbian gay, bisexual & transgender population worldwide, the impact of these attacks & patterns present in these attacks. Among the findings in the report, the UN made recommendations for changes in laws that currently make living as a gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender person a crime. We have a long way still to go but this is definitely a step forward. Updates to Come…:)

Exclusive Chat with Director Dee Rees & Actress Adepero Oduye about their new must-see film PARIAH. They talk about the film, LGBT Teen Bullying & more…
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Hear Audio Interviews w/ LGBT Leaders @OUTTAKE VOICES™

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Marriage Equality Groups Merge

This is an interesting development in our LGBT community. Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA) & Marriage Equality New York (MENY) have agreed to merge, bringing together 2 of the strongest forces in our movement. MENY will continue as a fully functioning chapter within MEUSA. “This is a very exciting day for the grassroots movement to achieve full civil marriage equality nationwide,” stated David Janis-Kitzmiller, MEUSA™ Board Chair. “Considering the changing landscape on this issue, as well as the work that still needs to be done, we believe this decision is a logical & positive step toward achieving our shared mission & goals,” added Brian Silva, MENY Executive Director. The message to both organization members stated, “This agreement comes after over a decade of partnership & successes between the two organizations. Our teams have worked together on numerous projects including local actions on Valentine’s Day & Tax Day as well as Wedding Marches across bridges in San Francisco, Brooklyn, Albany, Rochester & Buffalo.” Updates to Come...:)

Exclusive Chat with Arline Isaacson, Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus on Barney Frank retiring in 2012, Mitt Romney's gay rights flip-flop & LGBT Teen Bullying & more
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WWE Video Against LGBT Teen Bullying

Well the tough wrestlers of the WWE are now on board with the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation & our community with a new anti-bullying PSA with WWE Superstars & Divas Eve Torres, Kelly Kelly, Alicia Fox, Sheamus & Kofi Kingston. This is all part of the "Amplify Your Voice" PSA, produced with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). The PSA urges viewers to take a stand against anti-LGBT bullying & direct viewers to GLAAD.org for resource kits offering best practices to parents, teachers & students. The free kits feature resources from AFT, GLSEN, the National Center for Transgender Equality & The Trevor Project, among others. In October 2011, GLAAD unveiled its "Amplify Your Voice" PSA series featuring dozens of celebrities speaking out against anti-LGBT bullying. Participating talent includes NBA Legend Shaquille O’Neal, Russell Simmons, Vinny Guadagnino, Rev. Al Sharpton, Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Chaz Bono, Tori Spelling, Naya Rivera, Mario Lopez & Dustin Lance Black, just to name a few...:)
For More Info: glaad.org

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Oxymoron: Mitt Romney & Gay Rights

First of all none of the top presidential GOP candidates support gay rights. Quite the opposite as a matter of fact. Romney has a history of toggling between polar opposite views on many important public policy questions depending on what office he is running for & the location of that office. This phenomenon was evident around the debate over civil unions when he was governor of Massachusetts. He was "kinda" for it (rather than have us be allowed to marry) before he was firmly against it. The historic Romney position was when he was running in the 90’s against Ted Kennedy for the US Senate seat, Romney declared to gay-only audiences that he would fight for 'gay rights' & be a stronger gay advocate for us than Kennedy. Yet a few years later, when Romney was Governor & eyeing national office, he led the charge against allowing LGBT's the same marriage rights as other citizens in Massachusetts in either marriage or civil unions. If you’re for LGBT equality vote for Obama. Updates to Come…:)

Exclusive Chat with Arline Isaacson, Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus on Barney Frank retiring in 2012, Mitt Romney's gay rights flip-flop & more
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Gay Navy Petty Officer Reinstated

Good news from Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) & the law firm of Morrison & Foerster today. Petty Officer 2nd Class Jase Daniels, discharged in April 2005 & again in March 2007 under the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) law has been reinstated in the U.S. Navy & will return to active duty as a linguist. He was sworn in on Monday, December 12, 2011. “Today, I took an oath, & affirmed to defend the Constitution of the United States of America. I am humbled as I am reinstated to the job I love & by the enormous support I have received on this momentous day. I look forward to returning to the Defense Language Institute & ultimately, my career in the military,” Daniels stated. Daniels, now 29, entered the military 5 months before the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center & the Pentagon & served his first tour of duty with the Ceremonial Guard in Washington, D.C., where he represented the U.S. at official White House ceremonies & during state & military funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. From his post at Arlington, he watched the Pentagon burn that day, an experience he says reinforced his desire to serve. He completed Hebrew linguist training & was stationed at Fort Gordon, Georgia, where he came to terms with his sexual orientation & outed himself to his commander. Updates to Come…:)

Exclusive Chat with Arline Isaacson, Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus on Barney Frank retiring in 2012, Mitt Romney's gay rights flip-flop & more
@ OUTTAKE VOICES™