National LGBTQ Give OUT Day

Hundreds of nonprofits are participating across the U.S. for Horizons Foundation’s Give OUT Day the only national day of giving for our LGBTQ community. The 24-hour online fundraising event brings together the LGBTQ communities & their allies across the United States April 18th now until Midnight. Roger Doughty, President of Horizons Foundation stated, “We are thrilled to be working with over 600 organizations on Give OUT Day. Participating organizations rely on the support of our community & this year we hope that Give OUT Day will make history & break the $1M mark for the first time. We continue to live in turbulent times for LGBTQ people, from the courts to the streets, but this year, as we mark 50 years since the Stonewall uprising, attention to our past, present & future remains critical. Give OUT Day has grown annually & this year we plan to break through the $1M dollar ceiling as we raise more funds & increase visibility for all of our participating organizations. This year, we will again reach thousands of LGBTQ individuals & our allies & support the organizations at the front lines of pride, dignity, justice & joy.” Give OUT Day has provided vital unrestricted operating funds to organizations since its inception in 2013. Over 45,000 individual donors have contributed nearly $5million & supported more than 600 different organizations in every part of the country. Give OUT Day is a project of Horizons Foundation. Founded as a community foundation of, by & for LGBTQ people, Horizons has been supporting LGBTQ nonprofit organizations, leaders & donors for nearly 40 years.
For More Info: giveoutday.org 
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Trans Asylum Seeker Must Succeed

There will be a press conference calling to free Alejandra a transgender asylum seeker to stop her deportation on Wednesday, April 17th at Scales of Justice by the District Court 400 Lomas Blvd NW in Albuquerque, NM at 10A MST. Bekah Wolf, attorney to Alejandra stated, “Alejandra should have been released on parole over a year ago. It is outrageous that she faces deportation after being denied fair access to protection & being kept in inhumane conditions. There is no reason why she should be in this devastating situation today. Alejandra spent over ten years defending the rights of trans people in El Salvador. It is time for all of us, including the local community & human rights activists, to come together to support her. She should be free to do the life-changing work she has done for so many years.” A coalition of national & local organizations including TransLatin@ Coalition, Amnesty International & the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center have called on Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) to stop the deportation of Alejandra, the longest detained trans woman at the Cibola County Correctional Center. Alejandra fled El Salvador in 2017 to escape repeated extortion, threats & attacks. She was sexually assaulted by members of a transnational criminal gang as well as the Salvadoran military because of her transgender identity. Fearing it is not safe for her to return to El Salvador, Alejandra has been exercising her right to seek asylum to stay in the United States. She hopes to be reunited with her trans niece, who has already won asylum in the US.
For More Info: nmilc.org
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Pete Buttigieg Makes It Official

Pete Buttigieg becomes the first LGBTQ Democratic presidential candidate in U.S. history & the second openly gay candidate to make a bid for the White House. In 2011 we talked to Fred Karger on OUTTAKE VOICES™ who was the first openly gay GOP presidential candidate in American history. He was on the GOP ballot in New Hampshire & Michigan & received confirmation that his name would appear on the ballot in California, New York, Maryland, North Carolina & Puerto Rico. Fred Karger announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for President of the United States on March 23rd 2011. Mayor Pete Buttigieg officially launched his presidential candidacy before a crowd of thousands in his hometown city of South Bend, Indiana Sunday afternoon. Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund stated, “Mayor Pete shattered a lavender ceiling once thought unbreakable, becoming the first openly LGBTQ Democratic presidential candidate in American history & our first real shot at the Oval Office. There is enormous power in an openly gay presidential candidate stumping at town halls in Iowa & speaking to Americans from the presidential debate stage – it changes perceptions of our community & raises the bar for candidates who seek LGBTQ support. While Mayor Pete’s candidacy is historic & a milestone moment for our community, his meteoric rise is most notable for the support he’s receiving from diverse groups of voters. There are enormous minefields & hurdles to running as an openly LGBTQ candidate & so far, Mayor Pete has gracefully leapt over them on the world’s largest political stage. He’s the real deal.”
For More Info: victoryfund.org
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“Cabaret” Rocks The Footlight Club

There is a performance of “Cabaret” at The Footlight Club in Jamaica Plain in Boston that shouldn’t be missed. Unfortunately tonight is the last night of this stellar production. The Footlight Club is America’s oldest community theater that has produced performances every year since 1877. I was totally wowed by this production. The set was perfect, the actors were flawless & the orchestra rocked. The play began with the Emcee performed by David Rodrigues that set the tone. From there it just got better & better & could have rivaled any New York production. The story is a bit too close to our current political climate set in 1931 Berlin as the Nazis are rising to power. Cabaret focuses on the nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub & revolves around young American writer Cliff Bradshaw & his relationship with English cabaret performer Sally Bowles. There are three versions of Cabaret based on the book by Joe Masteroff & the play by John Van Druten & Stories by Christopher Isherwood. In the Original 1966 version there is no suggestion that Cliff might be gay or bisexual. Then in the revised 1987 version where his bisexuality begins to emerge but in the 1998 version that Alan Cumming brought to life Cliff is clearly gay or bisexual. This was definitely the 1998 version. The play also stared Alexander Boyle as Clifford Bradshaw & Perry Albert as Sally Bowles. The featured cast included Matthew Finn, Susan Picillo, Jim Foster, Gill Lovegood, Todd Rinehart, Hugo Lindsay, Ally Rzesa, Nick Osborne, Lucas Brooks, Julia Bandini, Heather Jue-Wong, Alicia Powell & Stacy Sherman. It was directed by Vincent S. Ratsavong & Music Director was David Wright.
For Info & Tix; footlight.org
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NYC Pride March Grand Marshals

NYC Pride, the official host of World Pride 2019 & Stonewall 50 have announced its five Grand Marshals slated to lead both the 50th NYC Pride March on Sunday, June 30th & this year’s commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. The cast of POSE, Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, Gay Liberation Front, The Trevor Project & Monica Helms will head this year’s celebration. POSE cast members Dominique Jackson (Elektra), Indya Moore (Angel) & MJ Rodriguez (Blanca) will represent the show. Phyll Opoku-Gyimahis is a community builder & organizer; a Kaleidoscope Trust Trustee; an Albert Kennedy Trust patron; Diva Magazine columnist & public speaker focusing on race, gender, sexuality & class. Gay Liberation Front was the very first LGBTQ activist organization formed after the Stonewall Rebellion. The Trevor Project is the world's largest suicide prevention & crisis intervention organization for our LGBTQ young people. Monica Helms is a transgender activist, author & veteran of the United States Navy, having served on two submarines. She is also the creator of the Transgender Pride Flag, in 1999 & subsequently donated the original flag to the Smithsonian Institution in 2014. Julian Sanjivan, NYC Pride March Director stated, “In a world where LGBTQIA+ people continue to experience profound oppression, the NYC Pride March is a beacon of hope & community. This June 30th, that beacon will shine the brightest it ever has when POSE, Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, Gay Liberation Front, The Trevor Project & Monica Helms lead 115,000 marchers in the largest display of LGBTQIA+ pride the world has ever seen.”
For More Info...
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Boston Pride Grants Announced

Boston Pride announced 24 recipients for their 2019 Boston Pride Community Fund with grants totally $43,610, a record amount. The Community Fund was established to provide grants to small grassroots nonprofits & other groups that support the LGBTQ community. Since 2016 Boston Pride has awarded almost $100,000 to approximately 60 local organizations, supporting its mission of promoting social justice for the LGBTQ community. The announcement was made at Boston Pride’s Annual Spring Open House held on April 9th at the Pride office in Boston. Kristen Porter, Boston Pride Community Fund Chair stated, “The Boston Pride Community Fund recognizes the innovative intersectional work happening at the local community-based & grass roots level. By supporting these efforts, we celebrate the impact being made across marginalized subgroups & through creative approaches, while safeguarding our history & embracing what is possible for the future of the LGBTQ community.” Linda J. DeMarco, Boston Pride President concluded, “Boston Pride has grown tremendously. As an organization that creates programming, events & forums for the LGBTQ community, we also are dedicated to helping strengthen grassroots organizations that serve our community & where much of the work on the ground is being done.” Boston Pride produces events & activities to achieve inclusivity, equality, respect & awareness in Greater Boston & beyond. Fostering diversity, unity, visibility & dignity, they educate, communicate & advocate by building & strengthening community connections. Boston Pride Week 2019 takes place May 31st to June 11th.
For More Info: bostonpride.org
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Lawyer Ava Benach To Be Honored

The American Immigration Council will honor immigration lawyer Ava Benach with its Stephen K. Fischel Distinguished Public Service Award which recognizes individuals or organizations who exhibit an outstanding commitment & dedication to America’s heritage as a nation of immigrants & to the struggle for fair and humane immigration policies in the United States. The award will be presented at the D.C. Immigrant Achievement Awards Reception on April 11th at  The Capitol View at 400 during the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s (AILA) National Day of Action in Washington, D.C. Beth Werlin, Executive Director of the American Immigration Council stated, “We are thrilled that this year we will celebrate the Immigration Justice Campaign—our joint initiative with American Immigration Lawyers Association to fight for a fair day in court for detained immigrants & our partners who make the Campaign a success. Ava Benach is one of those partners. She is a fearless lawyer who has generously shared her experience & expertise with volunteers representing detained asylum seekers. Most recently, she has stepped up to provide mentorship in urgent cases on behalf of transgender women detained in Texas.” Benach has taken a lead role in representing transgender asylum seekers before the asylum office & the immigration courts. She has pioneered an innovative collaboration with Whitman Walker Health to provide quality representation to transgender immigrants while training the next generation of lawyers in representing LGBTQ immigrants. The Council has recognized the achievements of many outstanding immigrants & their advocates. Past honorees include General Colin Powell, Senator Daniel Inouye, the Southern Poverty Law Center, TheDream.Us, & Gerda Weissman Klein.
For More Info: immigrationimpact.com 
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