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Digital LGBTQ Hate Campaigns Ramp Up

In a new report released by the Human Rights Campaign & the Center for Countering Digital Hate, extremist politicians are ramping up harmful anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric ahead of the 2022 elections by 400%. Joni Madison HRC Interim President stated, “As social media platforms fail to enforce their own standards extremists are wielding dangerous influence, seeking to radicalize Americans, incite hate against LGBTQ+ people & mobilize the extremists within their base ahead of the midterm elections. But the rise of this online vitriol doesn’t just have political implications — there are deadly, real-world consequences as violent rhetoric leads to stigma, radicalization & ultimately violence. Nearly one-in-five of any type of hate crime is now motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ bias & the last two years have been the deadliest for transgender people, particularly Black transgender women. HRC, along with our partners at the Center for Countering Digital Hate, urgently calls on social media companies to act swiftly & transparently to stop the spread of extremist & hateful misinformation, including the grooming narrative.” Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate concluded, “We’re in the middle of a growing wave of hate & demonization targeting LGBTQ+ people – often distributed digitally by opportunistic politicians & so-called ‘influencers’ for personal gain. Online hate & lies reflect & reinforce offline violence & hate. The normalization of anti-LGBTQ+ narratives in digital spaces puts LGBTQ+ people in danger. Facebook & Twitter claim in their rules to prohibit this kind of targeted hate & harassment but they simply don’t enforce those rules on bad actors — rules which are designed to protect others’ rights. The clear message from social media giants is that they are willing to turn a blind eye. LGTBQ+ rights have been transformed after decades of hard-won progress, but progress is fragile unless you continue to defend it.” 
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ClexaCon Convention & Festival Events

ClexaCon is presenting its sixth in person event that takes place in Anaheim, California from August 26th to 28th at the Anaheim Marriott 700 West Convention Way in Anaheim, CA. ClexaCon brings together thousands of diverse LGBTQ+ fans & content creators from around the world to celebrate positive representation for LGBTQ+ women, trans & non-binary communities in the media. There will be networking events connecting filmmakers, actors & industry professionals with panels, workshops & autograph sessions for fans. ClexaCon aims to empower media creators to produce & distribute more positive LGBTQ content providing educational resources for the community to push for better representation. ClexaCon strives to lay the foundation for improved visibility within the media while encouraging more LGBTQ women to participate in creating the stories they desire. There will also be virtual access. The events schedule beginning on Friday August 26th kicks off with their Community day, evening welcome events, speed friending, optional add-on ClexaCon at Disneyland Day. Then Saturday August 27th there will be celebrity panels, meet & greets, autographs, photo ops, general panels, workshops, artist alley & the vendor floor with a special event Saturday night. On Sunday there will be more celebrity panels, meet & greets, autographs, photo ops, general panels, workshops, artist alley & a day on the vendor floor. Also during the festival will be the Pool Party, Game Night featuring Queeraoke. Some of the celebrities will include Caity Lotz & Jes Macallan (Legends of Tomorrow) on stage together & Katie Cassidy (Black Canary on Arrow) will be at ClexaCon for her first time so you’ll want to have the opportunity to purchase autographs, photo ops, meet & greets or experience a virtual one on one. 
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Provincetown Swim For Life 2022 Events

Celebrating 35 years as a community tradition the Provincetown Community Compact is presenting their annual Provincetown Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla fundraiser on September 10th. The 35th anniversary of this event takes place along the East End shoreline of Provincetown Harbor & will begin at 11A on the beach at the Breakwater & Harbor Hotels & ends at the new Cannery Wharf Park. A parallel Swim for Life also takes place September 10th at Wellfleet’s Great Pond. Jay Critchley, Director of The Compact stated, “We are thrilled to be back at the town’s new spectacular waterfront park & welcome swimmers, kayakers, volunteers, safety boaters & our fans from across the country.” The Provincetown Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla fundraiser has raised over $6M for AIDS, women’s health & the community. Last year it attracted over 250 swimmers including 33 swimmers “Swimming in Place” around the country. Over 100 volunteers are invited to assist on land & sea including kayakers. Transport to the start will be provided by the Funk Bus & the famous Mermaid Brunch will be catered by Far Land Provisions with the world-traveling Zoe Lewis providing the music. Watch parties along the shore are organizing to cheer the swimmers on. The finish line at the big white tent will feature the Prayer Ribbons Garden a 150-foot half circle installed on the beach in front of the retaining wall to celebrate & memorialize our loved ones. The public is invited to share this post-Labor Day tradition along the shore & greet swimmers at the finish line at Cannery Wharf Park where there will be food, beverage and entertainment. You can also register to swim in your own favorite place on your own schedule. 
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LGBTQ Task Force Queer The Vote Drive

With the November midterm election approaching way too fast the National LGBTQ Task Force's Queer the Vote campaign is ramping up. Queer the Vote campaign was created to educate & mobilize LGBTQ+ rights supporters during key election cycles & fight the assaults on our LGBTQ+ community. This year state lawmakers have proposed a record 238 bills that would limit the rights of LGBTQ+ people. Queer the Vote is on the frontlines as a dynamic vehicle for power-building & transformative legislative wins but they cannot do this without you. Please sign up now with the Task Force's field program for opportunities to learn about how to build campaigns, become an organizing leader in your community & create & run phone banks & text banks. You can do this remotely & in-person & your time will help build lifelong skills in organizing & community advocacy. In 2022 our LGBTQ community has been dealing with the largest wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in recent memory. Despite all the progress we’ve made to end discrimination millions of LGBTQ people face barriers in every aspect of their lives including housing, employment, healthcare, retirement & basic human rights. So if you are an LGBTQ+ person or an ally interested in being a part of seismic change across the country the National LGBTQ Task Force is driving Queer the Vote to educate & mobilize LGBTQ rights supporters to train & mobilize millions of activists across our nation & build a world where you can be you. Sign-up deadline is August 10th. 
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Persecution Of Brittney Griner (AUDIO)

Since March we have been covering this unfortunate situation & we knew with Russia’s homophobic agenda Brittney Griner did not have a chance for a fair & just trial. Now with her excessive sentence of 9 years in a Russian prison it’s time for the U.S. government to do everything they can to bring Brittney home. It's outrageous that Griner who has played professional basketball for both countries including leading Russia to win championship league trophies as well as helping this country win Olympics gold be stripped of her human rights & be cast off to a Russian jail for a misdemeanor charge. Kierra Johnson, Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force stated, “We all know the real reason for this trial & the way Russia had handled her detention: their transparent attempt to give themselves legitimacy & threaten the U.S. & other countries they are in conflict with by holding her for as long as necessary & refusing to negotiate any return. Brittney Griner has been caught in the middle of the conflict & sanctions imposed on Russia. With tensions between the U.S. & Russia are at the highest they have been in decades we have seen the lives of Brittney & others like Paul Whelan have their futures & lives held on the whim of a government that is using them as leverage to retaliate against sanctions & the international condemnation for their actions. We will not stop advocating for her release & return to the U.S., now in the heads of the Biden Administration & the State Department. Bring Brittney home!” Last March I talked to Aron Solomon chief legal analyst at Esquire Digital about Griner’s detainment in Russia. LISTEN
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West Virginia Transgender Medicaid Win

In Charleston, West Virginia federal District Court Judge Robert C. Chambers ruled that West Virginia’s Medicaid program could no longer discriminate by excluding coverage for gender-confirming surgical care for transgender West Virginia Medicaid participants. The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by Lambda Legal, Nichols Kaster, PLLP & the Employment Law Center, PLLC challenging West Virginia’s exclusion of coverage for gender-confirming surgical care. Plaintiff Shauntae Anderson stated, “I am excited to finally have access to the healthcare I deserve. The exclusion negatively affects my health & wellbeing as well as the health & wellbeing of other transgender Medicaid participants in our community. Gender-confirming care is healthcare & it is lifesaving.” Plaintiff Christopher Fain added, “This is a victory not only for me but for other transgender Medicaid participants across West Virginia. This decision is validating, confirming that after years of fighting to prove that gender-confirming care is medically necessary, we should have access to the same services that West Virginia Medicaid already provides to cisgender participants. Transgender West Virginians should never feel as if our lives are worth less than others.” Avatara Smith-Carrington, Staff Attorney at Lambda Legal concluded, “We applaud Judge Chamber’s decision to remove the discriminatory barrier to accessing medically necessary, gender-confirming surgical care for all transgender West Virginia Medicaid participants. Protecting & advancing health care for transgender people is vital, sound & just. Transgender West Virginia Medicaid participants deserve to have equal access to the same coverage for medically necessary healthcare that cisgender Medicaid participants receive as a matter of course.” 
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Ann Hampton Callaway Sings Peggy Lee

RESCHEDULED: July 29, 2023 
Tony nominee Ann Hampton Callaway one of the leading pop/jazz singers of our time has created an exciting night of songs & stories in celebration of her inspiration & one of America’s most beloved artists, Peggy Lee. Callaway is bringing her fabulous one woman show “Fever—The Peggy Lee Century” to The Music Room in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts on Sunday August 7th at 7P. The show celebrates the 100th birthday of this trailblazing woman who gave the world “Fever” through six decades of iconic songs from sultry to sizzling. Fall under the spell of love songs from Peggy’s swinging Benny Goodman days through decades of hits from film & recordings that earned this iconic singer songwriter her powerhouse nickname, “The female Frank Sinatra.” This show comes after 2 sold out performances at The Art House in Provincetown with Ann & her sister Liz so don’t miss the opportunity to take in this exceptional intimate event that was written & will be performed by Ann accompanying herself on the piano. Callaway stated, “I am excited to bring my celebrated one woman show “Fever: The Peggy Lee Century” to The Music Room Cape Cod this Sunday at 7PM. I record my Peggy Lee CD this week & this show will be a celebration of not only one of America’s most iconic & brilliant singer songwriters, but also a celebration of a dream come true- to give Peggy the centennial party she deserves! Last year, the place was packed & I can’t wait to spoil my Cape Cod fans this year with some sizzling Fever!" 
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