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Inside Out Toronto LGBTQ Film Festival

The 31st annual Inside Out Toronto LGBTQ+ Film Festival will go virtual globally May 27th to June 6th via Apple TV & Roku showcasing 143 films including 33 feature films & 5 episodic series. Lauren Howes Inside Out Executive Director stated, “United, we come together-apart for Inside Out’s Covid Edition 2.0 Having pulled off the 30th anniversary Covid Edition in October 2020, our team has worked tirelessly to bring us a stellar festival line-up & return to our sweet spot on the May calendar.” Andrew Murphy Inside Out Director of Programming added, “This past year hasn’t been easy. We miss you & we miss our filmmaking family around the world. That’s why we set out to curate a festival to help us all feel something & maybe feel a little less alone.” Emerging & established filmmakers will follow guidelines from the city of Toronto who remain in lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Films within the premiere category will launch daily during the festival & the festival will host a digital library available for pass holders that will be available throughout the festival, with capped attendance. The festival’s opening night film will be the Canadian premiere of Natalie Morales’ socially distant platonic love story LANGUAGE LESSONS, which won the coveted audience award at this year’s SXSW Film Festival after premiering at the Berlin Film Festival. Closing the festival will be the Charli XCX documentary ALONE TOGETHER, which follows the famous pop musician in 2020 as she writes, records & releases a full album in 40 days while confronting mental health issues & connecting with vulnerable LGBTQ+ fans in need. Both films will stream live in the evening to ticket & pass holders. For More Info…

Hear Audio Chats w/ LGBTQ Leaders @OUTTAKE VOICES™
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New Trans Workplace Memoir (AUDIO)

This week I talked to activist & author Stephanie Battaglino about her new memoir “Reflections From Both Sides of the Glass Ceiling: Finding My True Self in Corporate America” published by L’Oste Vineyard Press. After many years in the corporate world struggling to find her true self Battaglino went on to become New York Life’s first transgender officer. Stephanie’s memoir explores her journey to fulfillment both personally & professionally advocating for gender equality & calling to attention the work that is ahead. Stephanie now leads Diversity & Inclusion workshops, presentations & trainings sharing over 40 years of professional experience working with & within Fortune 100 companies. Retiring in 2019 from her position as Corporate Vice President at New York Life Insurance Company she is well versed in the ways of corporate America & has become a leader in the conversation surrounding workplace equality for transgender & non-binary people. Unfortunately the reality still remains that many of our LGBTQ community must make a choice between coming out in the workplace & assuring their job security. “Reflections From Both Sides of the Glass Ceiling: Finding My Authentic Self in Corporate America” is part memoir & also part cautionary tale of what it is like to experience a career on both sides of the gender divide. Stephanie's honest & intimate storytelling paints a vivid picture of what the intersection of gender & gender identity looks like from a decidedly unique point of view. I talked to Stephanie about her inspiration for writing “Reflections From Both Sides of the Glass Ceiling" & her spin on our LGBTQ issues. LISTEN  

For More Info: stephaniebattaglino.com 

Hear Audio Chats w/ LGBTQ Leaders @OUTTAKE VOICES™
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Social Media Unsafe For LGBTQ Users

GLAAD has found in its 50-page inaugural Social Media Safety Index (SMSI) report that Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube & TikTok fail to adequately protect LGBTQ users. Sarah Kate Ellis GLAAD CEO & President stated, “At a time when talk of regulation around content & ads on social media is rapidly escalating & social media platforms consider the critical & urgent calls for transformation from other marginalized communities, the unique needs of LGBTQ people have largely been invisible or fall low on the priority list. The spread of misinformation & disinformation over social media is a leading barrier to full LGBTQ equality & acceptance. The tech industry must realize its obligation to protect LGBTQ users & tech executives must harness their power as innovators to ameliorate the unsafe environments that have far too long persisted across social media.” Jenni Olson GLAAD Senior Project Consultant added, "The amount of dehumanizing & dangerous anti-LGBTQ hate on social media platforms is astounding. Research shows that social media companies have effective solutions they could be implementing, but they continue to prioritize profits over public safety. Ongoing pressure like GLAAD's Social Media Safety Index is necessary until LGBTQ people are safe on these platforms.” The Social Media Safety Index was based on an in-depth review of industry research & publicly available content & ad policies including interviews with advisory committee members & reporting & testing of LGBTQ policies across each of the platforms. The Social Media Safety Index was created with support from the Gill Foundation & Craig Newmark Philanthropies. 
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Biden Restores Anti-Bias Protections

The Biden Administration announced that it will restore protections against discrimination in healthcare based on gender identity & sexual orientation. Erin Uritus, CEO of Out & Equal Workplace Advocates stated, “Every American deserves access to health care. It was especially cruel for President Trump to roll back health protections for LGBTQ individuals one year ago in the midst of a pandemic. I am thankful that President Biden has put an end to this absurdity. It's one more proof point that he is standing up for the LGBTQ community. This, however, is not enough. We need to see Congress pass laws that will prevent future administrations from taking away our rights.” Michael Adams SAGE CEO added, “We at SAGE applaud the Biden administration’s public declaration from the Department for Health & Human Services prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation & gender identity under section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. These protections are critical to the health & well-being of millions of LGBT elders across the country. While this is an important step forward, we must urge the Senate to take action and make the Equality Act the law of the land. LGBT elders have already waited too long for the broader non-discrimination protections that the Equality Act affords.” Dr. Susan R. Bailey, President, American Medical Association concluded, “The Biden administration did the right thing by terminating a short-lived effort to allow discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation when seeking health care…This move is a victory for health equity & ends a dismal chapter in which a federal agency sought to remove civil rights protections.” 

Hear Audio Chats w/ LGBTQ Leaders @OUTTAKE VOICES™

 

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Lambda Literary Awards Go Virtual

The 33rd annual Lambda Literary Awards ("Lammys") will take place virtually on Tuesday June 1st from 7P to 9P EDT via Zoom. This is a free event. Usually the Lammys are held in person in New York City but this year they will be presented virtually for the first time ever making it available to LGBTQ book lovers everywhere. The award ceremony created over 30 years ago recognizes the crucial role LGBTQ writers play in shaping the world & the Lammys celebrate the very best in LGBTQ literature. Sue Landers, Executive Director stated, "For over 30 years, the Lammys have celebrated authors who bring necessary, urgent & artful writing into the world & these honorees are truly exceptional in this regard. We are grateful for their work & look forward to celebrating them at this year's Lammys." This year’s virtual event will be hosted by Rakesh Satyal & presenters will include John Paul Brammer, Katherine V. Forrest, Alex Gino, Alan Hollinghurst, Cyrée Jarelle Johnson, R.O. Kwon, Carmen Maria Machado, Ryan O'Connell & Torrey Peters. There will also be a performance by Meshell Ndegeocello. For over 30 years Lambda Literary has championed LGBTQ books & authors. No other organization in the world serves LGBTQ writers & readers more comprehensively than Lambda Literary who nurtures & advocates for LGBTQ writers elevating the impact of their words to create community, preserve our legacies & affirms the value of our stories & our lives. This is a free event however with registrations & donations of $75 you will receive a virtual gift bag full of digital goodies & registrations with donations of $125 & above you will receive a virtual gift bag + a special gift. For Info & Registration…

Hear Audio Chats w/ LGBTQ Leaders @OUTTAKE VOICES™
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Rufus Does Judy At Capitol Studios

This fabulous virtual concert event will star Rufus Wainwright backed by a four-piece band performing Judy Garland's entire 1961 Carnegie Hall set in front of a micro-audience comprised of 2 time Academy Award-winning actress Renée Zellweger winner of last year’s “Best Actress” Oscar for her performance as Garland in "Judy". Wainwright will also be joined by award-winning star of stage & screen Kristin Chenoweth in person at Capitol Studios with his sister Martha Wainwright remotely from Montreal on June 10th, which would have been Judy Garland’s 99th birthday. Wainwright stated, “The American Songbook & Judy Garland’s famed 1961 Carnegie Hall concert gave me a lot of hope after 9/11 & lead to the idea for my first song by song recreation of that show at the same venue. It felt fitting to do the entire set again as the dazzling finale of my Rufus-Retro-Wainwright-Spective & hopefully the beginning of the finale of this global pandemic. Once again, these songs revealed their healing power. To be able to sing them in front of Renée, to sing with Kristin Chenoweth & still have my sister Martha be part of these shows was particularly meaningful although to sing them into the very microphone that Judy used for her recordings at Capitol Studios was the most mind-blowing.” Kristin Chenoweth concluded, “I’ve been wanting my moment with Rufus for forever. It’s finally happening!” There will also be a limited edition Rufus Does Judy at Capitol Studios t-shirt created by Michael Kors benefiting the LGBTQ human rights organization OutRight Action International available through June – Pride Month 2021. The Rufus Does Judy At Capitol Studios virtual event will be aired globally at 3 separate times on June 10th via veeps.  For More Info & Tix…

Hear Audio Chats w/ LGBTQ Leaders @OUTTAKE VOICES™
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Provincetown International Film Fest

The Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF) will take place June 16th to 25th virtually & in Provincetown, Massachusetts. The hybrid festival will open with Jon M. Chu’s “In The Heights” at the Wellfleet Drive-In on June 16th. The festival will close with Emily Branham’s BeBe Zahara Benet documentary “Being Bebe.” Writer/director Richard Linklater will be honored with The Filmmaker on the Edge Award & will accept the award in a virtual conversation with John Waters. The festival also announced that actor/filmmaker Natalie Morales will receive the Next Wave Award which celebrates those who have exciting, new & distinctive voices. Lisa Viola, PIFF’s Artistic Director stated, “We are thrilled to present a robust slate of bold, new films from incredibly talented filmmakers – many of whom faced significant challenges in having their work be seen. We are eager to introduce these passionate stories as we continue to support emerging artists & with our signature awards, we are proud to honor the accomplishments of universally acclaimed filmmakers Richard Linklater & Natalie Morales.” This year’s festival will included virtual screenings in conjunction with safely-distanced indoor spaces & outdoor venues including the Wellfleet Drive-In. Festival goers will also have the choice of attending limited-capacity screenings at Waters Edge Cinema or renting out the cinema for private screenings. Blythe Frank, PIFF’s Executive Director concluded, “We’re excited to be welcoming filmmakers & audiences back together after the disruption of the COVID pandemic. This year, as we build back, we’re able to offer both in-person events under the guidance of a COVID compliance expert & a rich virtual experience spanning 10 days.” For More Info…
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