Gay Character Joins Star Wars

It’s been announced that the official "Star Wars" universe is getting its first openly gay character. A lesbian governor appears in the upcoming novel "Lords of the Sith". We all know that the "Star Wars" characters have always hinted at diversity but this will be the first out character & we can’t wait to see who will be playing her down the road when the book is made into a movie. This means that finally there will be the first gay action hero figure in the movies, television shows, comics & books approved by Star Wars franchise owner Disney according to Shelly Shapiro, Editor of "Star Wars" books at Random House imprint Del Rey Books. This is not quite unprecedented since a previous "Star Wars" book series & a few video games have featured gay relationships but those characters aren't considered to be part of the "official Star Wars" world outlined by Disney last year. Shapiro stated, "There's a lot of diversity; there should be diversity in 'Star Wars’. You have all these different species & it would be silly to not also recognize that there's a lot of diversity in humans." Although we don't know much about the storyline of the new "Star Wars" movie due out late this year there hasn’t been any buzz of a gay character but with "Lords of the Sith" the LGBT inclusion of a lesbian character should really shake-up the franchise & serve as a long overdue role model for our LGBT youth.
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LGBT Homeless Youth Fundraiser

There will be a fundraiser for New Alternatives a safe place for homeless LGBT youth on Thursday March 12th at the historic Stonewall Inn in NYC from 6P to 9P. Lillian M. Vinci organized the Meetup event in memory of Leelah Alcorn the transgender girl whose suicide attracted international attention in 2014. Alcorn was raised in a conservative Christian household in Ohio who at age 14 came out as trans to her parents who refused to accept her gender identity. When she was 16 they denied her request to undergo transition treatment instead sending her to Christian conversion therapy. In her suicide note Alcorn stated, "Please don't be sad, it's for the better. The life I would've lived isn't worth living in ... because I'm transgender. I could go into detail explaining why I feel that way, but this note is probably going to be lengthy enough as it is. To put it simply, I feel like a girl trapped in a boy's body & I've felt that way ever since I was 4. I never knew there was a word for that feeling, nor was it possible for a boy to become a girl, so I never told anyone & I just continued to do traditionally 'boyish' things to try to fit in." She committed suicide by walking out in front of oncoming traffic on the Interstate 71 highway. Jill Soloway the writer of television show Transparent dedicated her Golden Globe award for Best Television Series to Alcorn. The fundraising event will have 7 entertainers including a special performance by New Alternatives client Sasha Washington. There will also be complimentary appetizers & 2 for 1 drink specials. Stonewall Inn is at 53 Christopher Street in NYC. A $5 Donation is Suggested.
For More Info: newalternativesnyc.org
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LGBT International Women’s Day

The first International Women’s Day took place in NYC in 1909. It was organized by the Socialist Party of America in remembrance of the strike organized by the International Ladies’ Garment Workers union the year before. The UN theme for International Women's Day 2015 is "Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture it!". Governments & activists around the world will commemorate the 20th anniversary year of the Beijing Declaration & Platform for Action, an historic roadmap that sets the agenda for realizing women's rights. The International Woman’s Day theme for 2015 is ‘Make It Happen’ with a dedicated hashtag for social media. The only LGBT IWD celebration we could find was the San Diego Multicultural LGBT Literary Foundation will host "We Alive: A Celebration of Black Lesbian Womanhood" on Sunday, March 8th from 6P to 8:30P. The event will feature the acclaimed Black lesbian performance poet Lenelle Moïse & the award winning novelist Chinelo Okparanta. Also the San Diego Multicultural LGBT Literary Foundation has pledged to donate 50 books written by Black lesbian women to women's prisons throughout California. A reception will be held at 6P followed by the reading & performance. The event will be held at the Diversionary Theatre, located at 4545 Park Blvd. in University Heights.
So wherever you are celebrating.....
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY....:)
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Albert Maysles Audio Interview

We’re saddened to hear that Albert Maysles the pioneering filmmaker has died at 88. In 2011 we interviewed Maysles at the Provincetown International Film Festival where he was recipient of the Career Achievement for his amazing documentaries including GIMME SHELTER, GREY GARDENS & SALESMAN that he created with his late brother David. When I asked what he thought about the way GREY GARDENS came back the way that it did Maysles stated, “I should have expected that it would have that kind of reaction. When the film first came out there were dozens of gay men having GREY GARDEN parties all over the country & even in England where gay men would dress up as Edie & have their parties & it’s still going on. Then of course there was the HBO feature film, the Broadway Musical & also a book that my daughter published all about GREY GARDENS with lots and lots of drawings & a CD of an hour and a half of sound of the two women talking when the camera wasn’t running.” Maysles then went on to direct THE LOVE WE MAKE with Paul McCartney that addressed 9/11 as well as McCartney’s subsequent Concert for New York City. Albert Maysles was a pioneer of Direct Cinema who along with his late brother David was the first to make nonfiction feature films where the drama of life unfolds as is without scripts, sets, interviews or narration. Called "the dean of documentary filmmakers" by The New York Times, Albert received a Guggenheim Fellowship, two Peabody Awards, three Emmy Awards, five Lifetime Achievement Awards, the Columbia Dupont Award & an Academy Award nomination for LALEE’S KIN. Eastman Kodak saluted him as one of the world's 100 finest cinematographers. Listen to this exclusive interview Albert Maysles at the Provincetown International Film Festival talking about GREY GARDENS & LGBT issues:
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Cris Williamson In Concert

Cris Williamson the legendary feminist singer-songwriter & LGBT icon will be performing at Me & Thee Coffee House in Marblehead, Massachusetts on Friday March 13th at 8P. Williamson stated “I am so looking forward to playing Me & Thee. It's truly one of my favorites. People come to listen & listen they do. I love the piano there & the pulse & feel of it there. Every musician I know loves the chance to perform their music in this room. I am so glad to have this chance, once again! Come & listen, sing along with friends, old & new. See you soon!” Forty years ago a collective of young radical lesbians who became Olivia Records released a record album that was to become the soundtrack of a movement. In 1975 Williamson's The Changer & the Changed became one of the best-selling independent releases of all time & the music genre that would become known as Women's Music was born. Bonnie Raitt described her voice as “like honey on a cello” & The Boston Globe has praised Williamson as “a brilliant composer & lyricist.” Cris performs tasteful covers, inspirational originals & with her activism have made her a force in the American music scene for over 40 years. Birdsong at Morning will open the show. Me & Thee Coffee House is at 28 Mugford Street in Marblehead, Massachusetts.
For Info & Tix…
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LGBT Military Conference Event

Outserve-SLDN will present its 4th Annual Leadership Conference entitled “Hall of Heroes” from March 26th to March 29th in San Diego at the W Hotel. The conference was created to bring together individuals over the course of 3 days to have discussions on current issues, examine existing concerns, participate in professional networking, share best practices, formulate strategies & future plan for the LGBT military community. Matt Thorn, Interim Executive Director stated, “We are looking forward to our 4th annual leadership conference in San Diego. This conference is about producing a global forum on creating an environment of respect in the military with regards to sexual orientation & gender identity. Our 4th annual conference will bring together attendees who are an honor roll of actively serving & retired service members, advocates, supporters & experts whose efforts have fundamentally changed experiences for LGBT military personnel. With collaborations, such as this, our work for the LGBT community advances far more rapidly.” The conference will feature speakers: Brett Jones, author of Pride: the Story of the First Openly Gay Seal; Steve Snyder-Hill, author of Soldier of Change from the Closet to the Forefornt of the Gay Rights Movement; Kristen Beck, author of Warrior Princess: A US Navy Seals Journey to Coming Out Transgender & Joan Walsh, MSNBC Political Analyst & Salon.com Editor-At-Large.
For More Info: outserve-sldn.org
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Gay Marriage In Nebraska

Nebraska may become the 38th state to recognize marriage equality. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Bataillon struck down Nebraska's unconstitutional ban on gay & lesbian marriage Monday that was unfortunately appealed within an hour by their homophobic attorney general's office. The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska had sued the state in November on behalf of 7 gay & lesbian couples challenging the ban, which also prohibits civil unions & legalized domestic partnerships. Judge Bataillon stated in his 34-page ruling, "All of the plaintiffs have further demonstrated psychological harm & stigma, on themselves & on their children, as a result of the non-recognition of their marriages. The plaintiffs have been denied the dignity & respect that comes with the rights & responsibilities of marriage. The notion that some children should receive fewer legal protections than others based on the circumstances of their birth is not only irrational — it is constitutionally repugnant." One of the plaintiffs Susan & Sally Waters of Omaha have been together for 17 years & were legally married in California in 2008. They returned to their native Nebraska in 2010. Sally Waters was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 2013 & stated that without formal recognition of their marriage, her spouse won't receive the same tax & Social Security benefits to care of the couple's children as well as having to pay an 18% inheritance tax on half of the property they share including their family home. Judge Bataillon did not issue a stay on his ruling while the case is being appealed but ordered it not to go into effect until March 9th. With gay marriage headed to the US Supreme Court in the next few months hopefully this will be a win for marriage equality.
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