LGBTQ & BIPOC Youth Led COVID Study

Out Boulder County in partnership with El Centro AMISTAD & Unwoven Ventures with the leadership of LGBTQ & Black, Indigenous & People of Color (BIPOC) youth have created the nation’s first LGBTQ & BIPOC youth-led survey on COVID-19 vaccination uptake, acceptance, hesitancy & resistance. A key finding of the survey is that economic disadvantage & race make a meaningful impact on vaccination rates & levels of acceptance. Mardi Moore, Executive Director of Out Boulder County stated, “LGBTQ+ & BIPOC young people are too often ignored by the medical establishment & society. It was important to Out Boulder County & our partners to have youth lead the survey & to elevate voices in these too often ignored communities. Understanding their views & attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination is crucial to managing & ending this pandemic.” There were 420 respondents who met the criteria for inclusion in the survey. It consisted of 37 questions targeting youth ages 12 to 17 & young adults between the ages of 18 to 24. Michal Duffy, Director of Education & Research at Out Boulder County concluded, “Studying vaccination rates as well as views, attitudes & barriers to vaccination at these intersections of identities revealed valuable data that should inform efforts to promote vaccination. The data clearly reveal that a person's socio-economic status & identity impacts their views toward vaccination & their successful uptake of the vaccine.” When it comes to understanding COVID-19 vaccine reluctance this information is crucial to an effective community vaccination program which requires participation by people of every age group & demographic. Read Full Report…

LISTEN:Susie Mosher Talks Hosting “The Lineup” At Birdland

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Golden Globe Winner Mj Rodriguez

Michaela Jae “Mj” Rodriguez has made history as the first openly transgender actor to win a Golden Globe for her role as Blanca on the FX series “Pose”. With the Golden Globes show on social media this year after it was boycotted by the industry accused of racism, sexism, bullying & corruption, Rodriguez accepted the award on Instagram stating, “OMG OMGGG!!!! @goldenglobes Wow! You talking about sickening birthday present! Thank you! This is the door that is going to Open the door for many more young talented individuals. They will see that it is more than possible. They will see that a young Black Latina girl from Newark New Jersey who had a dream, to change the minds others would WITH LOVE. LOVE WINS. To my young LGBTQAI babies WE ARE HERE the door is now open now reach the stars!!!!!” David Johns, Executive Director of the National Black Justice concluded, “I am thrilled to see the incredibly talented Mj Rodriguez recognized for her talent and groundbreaking leadership. Pose has offered essential representation for the Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+ & same-gender loving (LGBTQ+/SGL) community, with Mj playing a leading role in helping to curate positive, affirming & diverse stories about our communities. It is powerful to see a show that celebrates us & our history continue to receive acclaim. I hope this continues to serve as a testament to the fact that we have always been here & will continue to show up and show out. As Mj said, this visibility shows our babies that we are here, we are thriving & anything is possible for us. Let us continue to lead on behalf of our babies.”

LISTEN:Susie Mosher Talks Hosting “The Lineup” At Birdland

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The Lineup At Birdland In NYC (AUDIO)

This week I talked with actress/singer Susie Mosher about her fabulous live weekly show The Lineup at the world famous Birdland at 315 West 44th Street in New York, NY Tuesday nights at 8:30P. The Lineup is a wild anything-goes variety show featuring entertainers from the Broadway, cabaret & comedy scenes. Mosher hosts this spontaneous extravaganza Tuesday nights & each week the show is unique & promises to deliver an unforgettable night of quintessential NYC entertainment. Susie has been performing professionally since she was sixteen & obtained her childhood dream of being on Broadway when she was cast in Hairspray playing Prudy Pingleton for the last two years of its amazing six-year run. Broadway veteran Jim Caruso approached Mosher & asked if she would be interested in creating an original show at Birdland & Susie jumped at the opportunity. A contrast from Caruso’s Cast Party the long running songfest that plays Birdland every Monday night, The Lineup has a hand-picked roster hosted by the multitalented & hilarious Mosher with musical director Brad Simmons & featuring Jon Miller on bass & Clint De Ganon on drums. The next show is on Tuesday January 18th with Donna Vivino, Gianmarco Soresi, Christina Wheeler, Connor Antico, Ari Axelrod, Benny Benack The III, Pascal Pastrana & Robbie Rozelle. There’s a $20 cover & $20 minimum so come & enjoy their food & beverage menu. Birdland is a fully vaccinated venue & all patrons must bring & show proof of vaccine to attend the show. I talked to Susie about her inspiration for creating The Lineup & her spin on our LGBTQ Issues. LISTEN  

  

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Pete Buttigieg Bobblehead Unveiled

For National Bobblehead Day the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame & Museum has unveiled the first bobblehead of United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. We all know Buttigieg’s story from a little known Mayor from South Bend, Indiana to his Presidential bid for the White House & his Biden Administration appointment as the first openly LGBTQ Cabinet member in U.S. history as U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Now you can purchase the Pete Buttigieg bobblehead. Phil Sklar National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum Co-founder & CEO stated, "We are excited to release the first bobblehead of Pete Buttigieg on National Bobblehead Day. While he is currently the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, he will always be known as ‘Mayor Pete’ to the people in his hometown of South Bend, Indiana.” Elected mayor of his hometown of South Bend, Indiana at age 29 Buttigieg served for eight years before shifting his focus to national politics. The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame & Museum provides access to the world’s largest collection of Bobbleheads to advance an understanding of the historical role Bobbleheads play in American culture & to celebrate the fun & quirky side of collecting. Check out my exclusive interview with filmmaker Jesse Moss about his documentary “Mayor Pete” now on Amazon’s Prime Video. The film takes viewers inside Buttigieg’s historic campaign as the first openly gay democratic Presidential candidate’s bid for the highest office of the United States from the earliest days of the campaign to his unexpected triumph in Iowa & how it impacted the lives of those involved. LISTEN 

   

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Billy DeFrank LGBTQ Center Event

Billy DeFrank LGBTQ Community Center’s 12th annual Gaylapalooza 2022 event takes place January 9th at the Hammer Theatre Center 101 Paseo De San Antonio in San Jose, CA from 3P to 6P. Kick off the New Year with live musical performances from the most exquisite singers, dancers, drag queens & musicians galore including San Francisco’s counter tenor performing opera arias in full drag, symphony virtuoso string quartet, Opera San Jose, the best musicians from the San Francisco Gay & Lesbian Freedom Band, the Rainbow Women’s Chorus & more. Cindy Weintraub stated, “I am vaccinated, boostered & have a mask for every occasion so I hope you will join me for Cindy's Final Tour -- GAYLAPALOOZA 2022! I've been leading my colleagues in arms at the Silicon Valley/San Francisco LGBTQ ERG Alliance since 2008 & this is my 12th year producing the Annual Alliance Benefit for the Billy DeFrank Community Center. To date we've raised over $210,000 for the Center & will add to that total with a packed Gaylapalooza 2022 event! I wanted to go out with on a high note & this is the perfect time to do so. We have assembled over 85 of the best Bay Area artists & musicians in a fabulous mix of sophistication & camp! Starting at 3P on Sunday January 9th at the Hammer Theatre in downtown San Jose, it's a rollicking 3-hour show that will entertain & thrill the sold-out crowd. So grab your tickets ($45-150) today with all proceeds going to the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Center to ensure that it remains a mainstay of the community for years & years to come.” For Info & Tix…

LISTEN: Urvashi Vaid Talks LGBTQ Women’s Community Survey

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Venture Capitalists Seeking Diversity

With the Biden administration just about ending their first year in office LGBTQ activists & allies have been busy undoing most of the harm the last administration inflicted on our community. Now is the time with at least 3 more years of breathing room to advance diversity in this country. Movies, broadcast TV & streaming networks are moving forward with diversity clauses in their hiring but there is still a lot of catch up to be achieved in their storytelling. To fund this advancement we need more venture capitalists to step up to the plate with a strong commitment to diversity especially when it comes to telling our LGBTQ stories. As we reported last month across America books by LGBTQ authors & Black authors are being protested & removed from schools & public libraries. Texas lawmakers have created a hit list of 850 targeted books which two-thirds are LGBTQ-related & 9 states have passed laws restricting teachers from including accurate information in schools related to race, sex, gender & LGBTQ people. Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President & CEO stated, “Every LGBTQ young person needs to see themselves in stories about their lives, to let them know they belong just as they are. Every American needs stories about LGBTQ people, Black people, queer people of color & all marginalized groups to better understand each other's experiences.” Let’s make 2022 the year that venture capitalists make a major difference & increased diversity more proactively not only within the workplace but by backing brave storytellers that have something important & original to say. For All Inquires...

LISTEN: Urvashi Vaid Talks LGBTQ Women’s Community Survey

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LGBTQ Community Is Streaming In 2022

With the COVID variances continuing to wreak havoc on the entertainment industry we find ourselves in 2022 once again staying home & trying to find something watch on TV. Now that the holiday season has passed & the barrage of XMAS themed movies & productions have ended whether vaccinated or not attending an indoor venue for a meal, concert or movie is a challenging choice. So let’s explore what viewing alternatives our LGBTQ community has these days. First of all many mainstream broadcast networks have added a character to their programs that is lesbian, gay, bi, transgender, queer or non-binary to fulfill their diversity clauses. It’s no surprise that some are more successful than others. Longtime advocates of LGBTQ issues are producers Michael Patrick King & Darren Star delivering a new spin to their HBO "Sex and the City" franchise with “And Just Like That…” by adding more diversity. The new series moves beyond the all-white cast by adding two Black women Nicole Ari Parker & Karen Pittman who play Lisa Todd Wexley & Dr. Nya Wallace as well as Indian actor Sarita Choudhury who plays Seema Patel. Additionally the series added its first nonbinary character in Che Diaz played by nonbinary actor Sara Ramirez who develops a relationship with Cynthia Nixon. Where it goes we’ll just have to tune in & watch. Kristin Davis’ character Charlotte is also faced with a timely issue when her daughter changing her name from Rose to Rock insisting to be referred to as them. So though we seem to be once again in a semi-lock down this winter at least the entertainment industry is beginning to offer programming that reflects our changing world.

LISTEN: Urvashi Vaid Talks LGBTQ Women’s Community Survey

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Hear Audio Chats w/ LGBTQ Leaders @OUTTAKE VOICES