OUTTAKE BLOG™

MTPC New Steering Team Chair

The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) announced the election of Maxwell Ng as the new Steering Committee Chair. Maxwell Ng is a graduate of Boston University & has lived in the area for almost 20 years. Besides his work with MTPC he also serves on the Steering Committee for QAPA (Queer Asian Pacific-Islander Alliance.) He’s passionate about visibility for Queer Asians & strives to bring the complex issues that impact our enriched & intersecting LGBT communities to the forefront. Ng stated, “I’m humbled to serve as Chair of the MTPC Steering Committee. The work that this organization does has been empowering & challenging & I am excited to further serve in this capacity.” Nancy Nangeroni, MTPC’s Chair Emeritus added, “I’m pleased & honored to remain a part of this important & effective organization & I’m excited to see Maxwell take on this new role which truly reflects the energy he is already bringing to MTPC.” The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) was founded in 2001 & works to end discrimination on the basis of gender identity & gender expression. MTPC educates the public by advocating with state, local & federal government. MTPC engages in activism & encourages empowerment of community members through collective action. MTPC is a member of the Trans Advocacy Network, the Equality Federation & the Massachusetts Transgender Equal Rights Coalition.
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Florida Rules For Gay Marriage

A state trial court in Monroe County issued a decision striking down Florida’s ban on marriage for gay & lesbian couples & ordering Monroe County to allow gay & lesbian couples to marry. The Court’s order provides that the Monroe County Clerk can begin issuing marriage licenses to for gay & lesbian couples on July 22, 2014. Nadine Smith, CEO, Equality Florida Institute stated “This is a monumental step forward for Florida. Today’s historic ruling affirms what the majority of Florida residents already know to be true: All couples & their families deserve to be treated equally by their government.” On July 7, 2014, Judge Luis Garcia, Monroe County Circuit Court heard oral argument in the case. The couples argued that Florida’s ban on marriage equality cannot stand in light of the United States Supreme Court’s ruling in June 2013 that the federal “Defense of Marriage Act” violates the federal constitutional guarantees of equal protection & due process. The case was brought by Key West residents Aaron Hunstman & William Lee Jones. They are represented by Bernadette Restivo of the law firm Restivo, Reilly & Vigil-Farinas LLC. Equality Florida Institute in partnership with several Florida organizations will hold gatherings throughout the state to celebrate. These Decision Day gatherings will give an opportunity for all fair-minded Floridians to voice their support for the freedom to marry. Plaintiff couples, members of the legal community & local leaders plan to be at rallies. Congrats Florida!!
For Rally Info: eqfl.org/decisionday
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Gay Filmmaker Ira Sachs Honored

NewFest announced that filmmaker Ira Sachs (“Love is Strange,” “Keep the Lights On,” “Forty Shades of Blue”) will receive the 3rd annual NewFest Visionary Award. NewFest is the New York-based LGBT film festival that runs July 24th to July 29th with the Film Society of Lincoln Center. Sachs stated, “To be able to make films with gay characters at their center is as hard today as it was when I first started making movies in 199. Without community events like NewFest, I don’t think we’d have a queer cinema in America. If ‘visionary’ means a belief in the continued future & importance of LGBT cinema, I’m deeply honored to accept.” The Visionary Award is NewFest’s highest honor & is presented in recognition of a body of work that has made a significant contribution to LGBT film & media. The Achievement Award will be presented to Sachs prior to the NewFest Opening Night Gala screening of “Futuro Beach” on Thursday July 24th at the Walter Reade Theatre. Sachs’s latest film, “Love is Strange,” starring John Lithgow & Alfred Molina is about a couple forced to live apart after 38 years together. Marisa Tomei & Cheyenne Jackson play their extended family & it's scheduled for release by Sony Pictures Classics on August 22nd. Ira’s previous work includes the landmark queer film “The Delta,” “Forty Shades of Blue” which won Sundance’s Grand Jury Prize, “Married Life” starring Chris Cooper, Patricia Clarkson & Rachel McAdams, & “Keep the Lights On,” which was nominated for four Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Feature & Best Director. I talked to Ira Sachs About “Keep the Lights On” & LGBT Issues on OUTTAKE VOICES: LISTEN:

For More Info: newfest.org
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N.H. Bill Protects Gay Couples

New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan has signed a bill that fixes several legal gaps & obstacles for gay & lesbian couples who married or who plan to marry in that state. Although New Hampshire passed a marriage equality bill years ago problems remained in ensuring equal treatment of gay & lesbian couples who married or sought to marry in the state. Janson Wu, GLAD Senior Staff Attorney stated, “When it passed the marriage equality act, the legislature intended for same-sex married couples to be treated just like different-sex married couples. Unfortunately, because of conflicting laws, that has not always been the case. We applaud Governor Hassan & the bill’s lead sponsor, Senator Bette Lasky, for their work on this important bill.” Most importantly the bill, SB 394, repeals the state’s “reverse evasion law,” which had prohibited out-of-state couples from marrying in New Hampshire if their home state would not recognize the marriage. For those out-of-state couples who nonetheless were able to marry in New Hampshire this retroactive repeal removes any legal uncertainty about the validity of their marriage. Now any gay & lesbian couples can come to New Hampshire to marry, regardless of where they live. The law also clarifies that all New Hampshire’s family, marriage & divorce laws apply equally to both gay & straight couples regardless of any gendered language that might still remain in the law. Also N.H. couples who had entered into a civil union in another state no longer have to dissolve that civil union first before they are allowed to marry the same person in New Hampshire.
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LGBT Business Leadership Summit

The 2014 National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce National Business & Leadership Conference will take place at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada from July 29th to August 1st. It's expected that more than 700 business owners from across the U.S. & globally will connect with Fortune 100 companies as well as learn about federal government contracting opportunities. Participants include directors & supporters of an extended network of local affiliated chambers. Justin Nelson, NGLCC co-founder & CEO, which is the business voice of the LGBT community stated, “More than 140 major corporations work directly with NGLCC to access certified LGBT suppliers & this conference is an important way to make those connections. We also will be reviewing the latest research about the $800 billion spending power behind LGBT consumers. Most importantly, this is a premier networking conference. Business owners go away with new leads that directly help their bottom line.” The conference will feature a keynote address from fitness guru and LGBT entrepreneur Shaun T, celebrity trainer & creator of the “INSANITY” workout and “Focus 25.” His breakthrough “INSANITY” program debuted in 2009 & continues to be the No. 1 selling infomercial on TV. Marcus Lemonis, American businessman, investor, television personality & philanthropist, will also deliver remarks. He is the star of CNBC’s Primetime hit reality series “The Profit,” where he lends his expertise to struggling small businesses & helps turn them around.
For More Info: nglcc.org
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Budget Funding For LGBT Youth

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick approved a new budget that funds LGBTQ homeless programs & services for youth. Included in the budget for fiscal year 2015 is $150,000 for the Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Commission which conducts studies of the barriers to service for homeless youth under the age of 18 & young adults between 18 & 22; nearly 40 percent of whom identify as LGBTQ. The budget also includes $300,000 for the LGBT Youth Commission an independent body that investigates how public & private resources support LGBTQ youth across the Commonwealth. The budget is also funding for the Home & Healthy for Good LGBTQ pilot program run by the Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance. The $200,000 allotment will help the MHSA provide housing & support services for homeless LGBTQ youth. More than just a housing placement program the initiative will provide assistance to clients in their transition from homelessness into a stable living situation. Kara Coredini, Executive Director of MassEquality stated, “MassEquality applauds the Governor & the Legislature for once again holding LGBTQ issues as a top priority in our Commonwealth. The state's support for these vital programs is central to addressing the serious issues of homelessness & the provision of comprehensive services for LGBTQ youth. We are grateful to the champions of LGBTQ equality in the House & Senate who generated, pushed for & voted in favor of these key items in the budget. Their leadership will improve lives.”
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Historic Pioneer Lesbian Emmy Winner

The 2014 Emmy nominations have been announced. My friend Laverne Cox has become the first transgender person nominated for an Emmy award for her role in “Orange is the New Black”. This is another fabulous sign how far our LGBT community has advanced over the last few decades. I remember when I won my Emmy Award in 1982. At the time I was working at CBS New York & to actually admit that you were gay back then could result in being fired on the spot. I left CBS in 1984 because I was tried of pretending & never looked back. Things have changed since then but have they? Only 21 states have made it illegal to fire or harass someone based on sexual orientation or to deny a raise or refuse to hire on that same basis. This week our LGBT community had another set back because with the US Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision the current version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) allows religious organizations to discriminate based on sexual orientation & gender identity. Our LGBT leaders have rightfully rejected this current bill. So let’s celebrate with Laverne Cox today & hope that in the future discrimination against our LGBT community will just become part of our country’s unfortunate history.

Laverne Cox was honored with GLAAD’s Stephen F. Kolzak Award in LA in April. I talked to her on the Red Carpet at the NYC GLAAD Media Awards about how she was dealing with her fabulous career in this exclusive audio byte: