Tales of the City 20th Anniversary

Gay icon Armistead Maupin’s historic mini series Tales of the City has been released in a 20th Anniversary DVD Edition. This fabulous PBS miniseries was the first times our LGBT community was honestly depicted on television when it debuted in 1994. The new DVD from Acorn returns with SDH subtitles, exclusive footage & more featuring a star-studded cast including Olympia Dukakis, Parker Posey Laura Linney, Billy Campbell, Paul Gross, Thomas Gibson & more. Based on the groundbreaking novel by Armistead Maupin, Tales of the City follows a fabulous gay & straight cast of characters living at 28 Barbary Lane in sexually charged San Francisco in the 1970’s. Besides being a brilliant dramatic series the fashion alone is a like a trip in the gay time machine. If you don’t know the story here’s a tease… It’s about Mary Ann Singleton (Laura Linney) who arrives in sexually charged 1970s San Francisco & quickly realizes just how far from Cleveland she really is. She moves into a funky house at 28 Barbary Lane where her landlady (Olympia Dukakis) welcomes her with a joint. Mary Ann befriends the other residents & finds a good-natured home filled with drugs, drama & debauchery in a “if it feels good do it” kind of way. The DVD 2-disc set includes all six episodes, plus bonus audio commentaries with the writer, director & stars Olympia Dukakis, Laura Linney & Barbara Garrick, 36-min. of behind-the-scenes location & rehearsal footage & more. The San Francisco Chronicle called Tales of the City “Exquisite” & Entertainment Weekly called it “One of the 10 best miniseries”…:)
For Info & DVD: acornonline.com 
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Florida Disputes Anti Gay Russia

Equality Florida has called upon all Florida cities to suspend their Sister/Friendship City relationships with Russian cities due to the passage of extreme anti gay legislation & the alarming increase in anti gay violence in Russia. They have sent letters to the mayors of Gainesville, Orlando, Sarasota, St. Petersburg & Tallahassee requesting to take action. Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida stated, “One important goal of the Sister City relationship is to encourage travel & cultural exchange amongst the citizens of our cities. The anti gay laws & lawless violence now being encouraged in Russia negate this promise, not only for Florida's LGBT citizens, but also for all who believe in equality, diversity & tolerance. By continuing Sister/Friendship City relationships with Russian cities, we are turning a blind eye to the atrocities that are occurring in Russia. It is time to take action & in doing so, to let the Russian government know that their treatment of the LGBT community is unacceptable.” As we have been reporting Russia’s anti gay laws state that anyone organizing a Pride parade, any health official distributing information regarding safe sex between same gender partners, or anyone talking to a child under the age of 18 about anything LGBT-related can be subject to arrest or fine. The cities of Gainesville, St Petersburg & Tallahassee have responded to Equality Florida’s call to action by stating that they are currently reviewing the request. Updates to Come…:)
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Sochi Olympics Remain Anti Gay

Over the weekend over 2,000 gay rights supporters protested in Amsterdam's largest square condemning the Russian government's anti gay policies. This comes after the International Olympic Committee has accepted Russia’s argument that their new anti gay laws are in keeping with the Olympic Charter’s protections against discrimination. As you know in June the Russian Parliament approved anti gay laws that made homosexual love, or approval of or information about homosexuality illegal. The IOC has gone even further by warning that any athlete who is seen holding hands with a member of the same gender or wearing a rainbow pin at any point during the games in Sochi would not only face potential fines, jail time & deportation under Russian law but also punishment from the International Olympic Committee. If this isn’t discriminatory then the IOC should also rule that heterosexual couples are also not allowed to hold hands or show any sort of affection towards each other during the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014. Perhaps if straight couples were to experience the same treatment as our LGBT community they may realize that discrimination is just a larger word for hate. Since big money is invested in the Sochi Winter Olympics we know that they’re not about to be canceled or changed to another country but the International Olympic Committee needs to wake up & take a positive stand against this blatant homophobia & stand on the right side of history. Updates to Come…:)
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NYC Dance Party Extravaganza

If you’re in New York City over Labor Day weekend you must check out the ultimate dance party. Nightlife mogul Brandon Voss & Masterbeat are excited to announce that Saturday August 31st from 10P to 6A the greatest party in the world is flying into the greatest city in the world for a once-in-a-lifetime special event. WE Party: Airlines lands into New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom where the legendary concert hall will be transformed into an airport with check-in counters, gates, concessions & special lounges. Brandon Voss stated, "I'm really excited to partner with We Party to bring this incredible event to New York. Their events have really raised the bar in nightlife production worldwide & together we're planning to produce the biggest WE Party yet for its debut in New York City." Victor Pallas of WE Party Madrid added, “This will be the first time New Yorkers will actually enjoy going through security. Once past the friendly T&A Screening, passengers can choose between stepping into the pressurized, climate controlled cabin and embarking on the flight of a lifetime, or relaxing in the Mile High Club airport lounge for some special on the ground services. In both areas, specially trained flight attendants will attend to the every need of passengers, before, during and after departure.” WE Party’s resident DJ’s take their first flight together in the USA with Spain’s hottest export Manuel de Diego joined NYC’s own superstar Brett Henrichsen in the cockpit to provide beats for the flight along with the fabulous DJ Susan Morabito. Thousands of party-goers will arrive from around the world to spend a night flying on WE Party Airlines. Don’t miss OUT!! :)
For Flight Info & Tix: wepartyairlines.com 
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International LGBT Business Expo

The 3rd International LGBT Business Expo presented by LGBT Confex will take place in the city of Guadalajara, Mexico from September 5 to 7, 2013. Ruben Sandoval, CEO of LGBT Confex stated, "LGBT Confex started in Puerto Vallarta three years ago & we are a company that is based in the Jalisco state. Last year our International LGBT Business Expo event was in Cancun so we are very excited to be returning to Jalisco state in Guadalajara for this year's event.” Sponsored by the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board & the state of Jalisco’s Ministry of Tourism this year’s conference will feature international speakers including Ian Johnson, CEO of Out Now, Joel Simkhai, CEO of Brinder & Blendr & George Carrancho, Manager of Diversity Markets & American Airlines ground breaking Rainbow Team. Travel industry professionals interested in participating in this conference can apply for the Jalisco’s Ministry of Tourism’s hosted buyer & media program for a fully-funded visit which aims to enhance coverage & business connections between the state’s infrastructure & LGBT tourism in an effort to increase the number of LGBT tourists visiting the state of Jalisco from Mexico, Brazil, USA & other key international markets. Puerto Vallarta made its debut as a tourism destination in the 1960s when celebrity visits by Elizabeth Taylor & Tennessee Williams launched the destination into the eye of international media & has since developed into the country’s leading LGBT destination. The world's largest LGBT market research program, the Out Now Global LGBT2020 Study, shows that Mexico is one of the most popular destinations in a total global market for LGBT tourism that is measured in billions of dollars.
For More Info: lgbtbusinessexpo 
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Miss Richfield Tours Philadelphia

Gay friendly Philadelphia is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its award-winning “Get Your History Straight & Your Nightlife Gay®” campaign by releasing a new 30-second TV promo entitled “Miss Richfield’s Selfie Tour of Philadelphia.” The fabulous Miss Richfield 1981 embarks on her Philadelphia tour, visiting landmarks all over the city while snapping photos of herself & new friends along the way. Decked out in her red, white & blue finery she starts at Independence Hall & the Liberty Bell, runs the Rocky steps yelling “Yo, Adrian!” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, admires the views along the Schuylkill River, dines alfresco over food & wine, dances at a crowded nightclub & finally, collapses onto a hotel room bed. The spot was produced by GPTMC (Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation). Meryl Levitz, president and CEO of GPTMC stated, “Ten years ago, Philadelphia was proud to officially ‘come out’ as a gay-friendly destination when we invited LGBT travelers to visit. With our new commercial, we’re going beyond our history roots & reiterating our invitation, celebrating both the city’s evolution into a premier destination and the LGBT community’s progress over the last decade.” This September & October, GPTMC will air the new commercial through Comcast on the Bravo & Style networks in the Philadelphia & Washington, DC markets & on Logo TV nationally. Pretty interesting considering that Pennsylvania has yet to pass marriage equality. Watch Video….
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Studio Movies Lack LGBT Roles

Perhaps you have noticed that there is quite an absence of LGBT characters in studio films these days. GLAAD, the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender (LGBT) media advocacy organization has released its first annual Studio Responsibility Index (SRI), a report that maps the quantity, quality & diversity of images of LGBT people in films released by the six major motion picture studios during the 2012 calendar year. According to their report of the 101 releases from the major studios in 2012, fourteen of them included characters identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Mostly these characters were no more than cameos or minor roles. None of the films tracked contained transgender characters. Universal Pictures leads studios in 2012 LGBT-inclusive theatrical releases. GLAAD's Wilson Cruz stated, “As a major influence in American culture & one of our nation's largest media exports abroad, the lack of LGBT characters in big-budget films needs to change. Until LGBT characters are depicted in these films in a substantial way with more regularity, there will remain the appearance of LGBT bias on the studios’ part. Whether it's an action hero or a supporting character, moviegoers should be able to see LGBT people as integral players in the stories told by leading Hollywood studios.” View Full Report: glaad.org/sri 
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