About Me

Chicago Media Outlets Joint Fundraiser

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take a toll on businesses, in Chicago 43 independent media outlets have joined forces to raise funds in a month long campaign after facing drops of revenue as high as 85 percent. The for-profit & nonprofit organizations represent a wide cross-section of authentic community media in the city & nearby suburbs. Tracy Baim, publisher of the Chicago Reader & Windy City Times stated, “We who are in independent media find ourselves in a unique & dangerous economic situation. In response to COVID-19, national news outlets are tallying death tolls & assessing the situation globally. While that coverage is important, it leaves the average citizen confused & unsure of how to proceed within their community.” Yazmin Dominguez, CIMA project coordinator added “Local media outlets deliver authentic, community-driven journalism, reporting on the stories that matter most for communities largely affected by this & future, health crises. Unfortunately, community media outlets are not getting the resources they need & are thus facing the real possibility of closure. This includes media serving African American, Latinx, Asian American, immigrant, LGBTQ & other Chicago communities.” CIMA is a national partner with the Center for Community Media (CCM) at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism in CUNY. While CIMA is focused on boosting local media it has the potential to inform the nation on Chicago’s media landscape via its partnership with CCM. The Chicago Independent Media Alliance is made up of more than 60 outlets covering the African American, Latinx, Asian American, immigrant, LGBTQ & other Chicago communities. CIMA believes there is no better way to reach the city’s most marginalized & underserved communities than through community media outlets for & by those communities. CIMA stands for information, accessibility & equity. The public can give June 5th 2020.
For More Info: savechicagomedia.org
LISTEN: Robert Lo Talks Alset App To Reboot Gig Economy
No comments:

Lesbian Couple HHS Challenge Advances

As the Trump administration attempts to chip away LGBTQ equality, a U.S. District Court has denied the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) & the state of South Carolina from dismissing a lawsuit filed on behalf of Eden Rogers & Brandy Welch a married lesbian couple by Lambda Legal, the ACLU, the ACLU of South Carolina & South Carolina Equality. The couple was turned away by a government-funded foster care agency because of their sexual orientation. Brandy Welch & Eden Rogers stated, “We are very excited to hear our case is going forward in court. There are many children in South Carolina that need foster homes & we remain hopeful that couples like us can provide children a lovely home without being rejected or discriminated against.” Miracle Hill Ministries, South Carolina’s largest state-contracted foster care agency denied Eden & Brandy’s application to serve as foster parents after South Carolina requested & HHS granted a waiver of federal nondiscrimination rules for federally funded agencies. In doing so HHS & the State authorized & enabled taxpayer-funded foster care agencies to use religious criteria to exclude families based on their faith & sexual orientation. Currey Cook, Counsel & Director of the Youth In Out-Of-Home Care Project at Lambda Legal concluded, “This is great news & we look forward to Eden’s & Brandy’s day in court. No child in foster care who can’t safely be with their family should be denied the opportunity of a loving & nurturing foster home simply because the prospective parents don’t meet a taxpayer-funded agency’s religious litmus test. Eden’s & Brandy’s faith & sexual orientation have no bearing on their suitability to provide a home for children in need.”
For More Info: lambdalegal.org
LISTEN: Robert Lo Talks Alset App To Reboot Gig Economy
No comments:

New Title IX Rule Jeopardizes Students

The U.S. Department of Education has finalized a rule that will put students at greater risk of sexual harassment & assault. Osub Ahmed, Senior Policy Analyst for Women’s Health & Rights with the Center for American Progress’ Women’s Initiative stated, “The rule does a grave injustice to survivors of sexual harassment & assault by forcing them to satisfy unreasonably stringent standards when trying to pursue their cases & making it easier for schools to ignore complaints altogether. By raising reporting thresholds & changing grievance procedures, schools will likely investigate fewer incidents of sexual harassment—an impact that the Education Department even acknowledges in its rules—which will have a chilling effect on reporting of sexual harassment & roll back the clock on efforts to ensure gender equity in schools. We know that 1 in 5 women report experiencing some form of sexual assault during their time in college & survivors have relied on the protections afforded by Title IX to safely report these incidents for decades. These rules deliberately undermine these vital protections & threaten the rights and safety of survivors.” Frank J. Bewkes, Policy Analyst for the LGBTQ Research & Communications Project at the Center concluded, “This is an unacceptable contraction of survivors’ rights that is especially concerning for the LGBTQ community. CAP research has found that allegations of harassment appeared more frequently in Title IX complaints based on LGBTQ identity than in the general population, with nearly 76 percent of such complaints alleging sexual or gender harassment. From her move to eliminate guidance on protecting transgender students to today’s rule, Secretary Devos has consistently demonstrated a clear refusal to uphold the rights of LGBTQ students. This rule is an attempt by Secretary DeVos & her Department of Education to further shirk their duty to enforce the protections Title IX offers for all students.”
READ MORE…
LISTEN: Robert Lo Talks Alset App To Reboot Gig Economy
No comments:

Alset App Reboots Gig Economy (AUDIO)

This week I talked with Robert Lo, CEO & Founder of Alset the game changing gig economy app where people can barter or charge for their services or offer them as a favor. With the arrival of COVID-19 & stay-at-home orders for nonessential workers our personal lives & careers have been altered. The impact of this pandemic has financially destroyed a large percentage of gig workers in the entertainment industry as well as hair stylists, caterers, party planners, trainers & more as their income has ceased to exist. Now is the time to reconsider what we thought we knew about work & the economy as we create a new normal. Life as we knew it will never be the same. This is an opportunity to take advantage of this universal reset & create a better world. The Alset app was invented to give local communities a chance to expand globally by connecting individuals through the beneficial exchange of their gifts, talents & contributions. If we can redistribute wealth in this country & globally & help enable people to advance their experience perhaps we can shift some cultural norms & hopefully transform our current economic system into a better future. That is what the Alset app is attempting to do. No one can say how long this pandemic will last. However we must choose our collective health over our financial security in order to defeat this pandemic. I talked to Robert about how the Alset app could help reshape our economy in these challenging times & his spin on our LGBTQ issues. LISTEN
For More Info: yourealset.com
1 comment:

PFLAG Virtual Mother’s Day Brunch

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues PFLAG is presenting a special virtual Mother’s Day event on Sunday May 10th when they’ll air a celebration of motherly love with the “PFLAG Virtual Mother’s Day Brunch" starting at 2P EST/11A PST. This free online special event will raise awareness & funds for PFLAG National which is the largest organization in the country serving our LGBTQ community, families & allies with deep roots in 400 small towns & big cities nationwide. Appearing on this virtual event will include Belinda Carlisle & James Duke Mason, Alec Mapa, Bright Light Bright Light, the “Boss Baby” JP Karliak, Rachel & Karen Mason of the hit Netflix documentary CIRCUS OF BOOKS, OneUp Duo, Malia Civetz, PFLAG families & more. The event will be presented by executive producers Michelle Robinson & Philip D’Amour, coordinating producer Sophia Bonhomme & graphics by Five by Five Global. The idea for PFLAG began in 1972 when Jeanne Manford marched with her son Morty in New York's Christopher Street Liberation Day March, the precursor to today's Pride parade. After many gay & lesbian people ran up to Jeanne during the parade & begged her to talk to their parents she decided to begin a support group. The first formal meeting took place on March 11th 1973 at the Metropolitan-Duane Methodist Church in Greenwich Village now the Church of the Village. Approximately 20 people attended. Today with over 400 chapters & 200,000 members & supporters crossing multiple generations of families in major urban centers, small cities & rural areas across America, PFLAG is committed to creating a world where diversity is celebrated & all people are respected, valued & affirmed.
For More Info: pflag.org
LISTEN: Michelle Clunie Talks “Queer As Folk” Reunion 
No comments:

Global Response To COVID-19 May 5th

#GivingTuesdayNow is a global day of unity in response to COVID-19. This is a day when we can all come together to recognize, celebrate & give thanks for the incredible outpouring of compassion we’ve witnessed during this worldwide crisis. On Tuesday May 5th 2020 we’re asking our global LGBTQ community & allies to share a message of thanks on social media or a heart in their front window as a sign of gratitude to all essential workers supporting our global communities. This is also an opportunity to make a donation to an organization or fund to help those affected by COVID-19 if you’re in a position to do so. This worldwide gesture is a chance to show our gratitude for what so many have been doing over the past few weeks & months on the frontline of this pandemic to ensure our safety. Especially to honor medical staff, cleaners, laundry staff & caterers, all food chain staff, delivery drivers, trash collectors, public transport workers, teachers, care workers, postal workers, emergency services, community volunteers, workers making PPE & all the generosity of those donating their talent to raise funds to fight this pandemic. #GivingTuesdayNow is also a day to celebrate & support the organizations that have stepped up & reached out to support our LGBTQ family, friends & communities during this difficult time. They especially need us now to help make sure they will still be there in the future. OUTTAKE MEDIA is supporting CenterLink serving over 250 LGBTQ community centers across the country in 45 states, Puerto Rico & the District of Columbia as well as centers in Canada, China & Australia.
For More Info: CenterLink.org
LISTEN: Michelle Clunie Talks “Queer As Folk” Reunion 
No comments:

ClexaCon Virtual Film Festival Event

With the COVID-19 pandemic ClexaCon Film Festival will go virtual Sunday May 10th to Sunday May 17th with 8 days of films, Q&A's with filmmakers, panels & networking. Films will be available to watch for free from Sunday May 10th to Sunday May 17th at a dedicated channel on Tello Films. Films can be viewed from the U.S. & most other cities. Q&A's, panels & networking will all happen through Zoom & they will also be livestreaming the events from their Facebook page. Celebrate opening night of the ClexaCon Virtual Film Festival with a re-watch & dance party of their favorite Black Mirror episode, San Junipero on May 10th. Your hostess for this event is the CCFF Programing Team’s Lisa B. Afterwards make sure you are in your best 80's gear & join in for a live 80’s dance party via YouTube or RSVP & you can also attend onscreen via Zoom. Industry Panels will provide an opportunity to learn from industry experts about everything from making your own content to distributing it. You can also engage in conversations with panelists about representation in media. There will be Watch Parties & Q&A's that you can tweet along with as they screen 20+ CCFF2020 Shorts & Series. After each watch party they’ll have a Q&A with the cast & crew of each project. One of the highlights will be a “Season of Love” event with the cast & crew Q&A on Wednesday May 13th at 7P. Director, Christen Baker & cast members will include Emily Goss, Jessica Clark, Sandra Mae Frank, Laur Allen, Janelle Marie & Dominique Provost-Chalkley. You can check out a list of events on their website.
For More Info: clexacon.com/
LISTEN: Michelle Clunie Talks “Queer As Folk” Reunion 
No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Featured Post

Outright International Annual Summit

Outright International’s 14th annual summit event takes place Friday November 6th from 9A to 5:30P in NYC & virtually. This year’s globa...

Popular Posts