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LGBTQ Black Women Leaders & Allies

To celebrate Black History Month 2024 the San Francisco Bay Times & The Academy SF will honor LGBTQ Black women leaders & allies from throughout the Bay Area & Wine Country. The Divas & Drinks: Honoring LGBTQ+ Black Women Leaders & Allies event will take place at The Academy SF at 2166 Market Street in San Francisco, CA on Friday February 23rd from 6P to 10P PST. Featured guests will include National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director Imani Rupert-Gordon & San Francisco AIDS Foundation CEO Dr. Tyler TerMeer. The event will honor author, poet & playwright Jewelle Gomez whose latest play opens next month at the New Conservatory Theatre & Theodora Lee of Theopolis Vineyards who is the first Black woman to own a vineyard in Northern California. Guests will also enjoy a new show celebrating Black women composers Tracy Chapman, Alicia Keys & many more produced & performed by Dr. Dee Spencer founder of the jazz studies program at San Francisco State University & a talented composer in her own right & the phenomenal powerhouse singer Renée Lubin of "Beach Blanket Babylon" fame. The event will be emceed by Donna Sachet & DJ Rockaway will be spinning presented by Olivia Travel. There will be beverages for purchase & limited complimentary bites will be available & well drinks complimentary for Members. Food will also be available for purchase through The Academy. The event is sponsored by The Academy, the San Francisco Bay Times, Bacardí, Olivia Travel & San Francisco Federal Credit Union. I talked to Jewelle Gomez in this exclusive podcast in 2018. LISTEN  
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Criminalizing Healthcare Across America

We're barely into the New Year & a new slate of hatred has already been introduced in states across the USA with a terrifying 300 Anti-LGBTQ Bills introduced in 2024. Multiple states have passed bans on abortion & transgender health care & Texas continues to intimidate or otherwise punish physicians or facilities in other states who provide such essential care to their residents. However eleven states including Massachusetts, Connecticut & the District of Columbia have passed health care shield laws to protect providers & patients & ensure their states remain desirable places to practice medicine. In Rhode Island last week legislators introduced the “Health Care Provider Shield Act,” (SB2262/HB7577) to protect Rhode Island’s health care system, doctors & other medical care providers & patients from hostile out-of-state laws that could negatively impact delivery of care in the Ocean State. Sponsored by Senator Dawn Euer & Representative John G. Edward the Health Care Provider Shield Act will ensure that Rhode Island health care providers aren’t penalized under the laws of other states that have banned access to established, standard-of-care reproductive & transgender health care & that patients can continue to receive quality, legal, essential medical care in Rhode Island. Senate Judiciary Chair Euer stated, “The Health Care Provider Shield Act is about protecting established, best-practice medical care that is legal in Rhode Island & ensuring that our local providers & our health care infrastructure aren’t negatively impacted by hostile laws in other states. Politicians in multiple U.S. states are engaging in alarming government overreach, banning access to essential medical care & instituting civil & criminal penalties on providers for practicing medicine in line with the professional standards of care. This bill will ensure that these out-of-state laws aren’t used against health care providers in Rhode Island.” 
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Shanks New Fenway Health Interim CEO

The Fenway Health Board of Directors announced that it has hired its Chief Operating Officer Jordina Shanks as Fenway Health’s Interim CEO when Manny Lopes steps down from the role on March 15th. Scott Walker Fenway Health Board Chair stated, “The Board has every confidence in Jordina’s ability to lead Fenway Health as the search for a permanent CEO continues & making this decision in advance of Manny’s departure ensures a seamless leadership transition. Since joining Fenway Health in 2021, Jordina has expertly overseen operations across clinical & non-clinical areas. She’s directed the implementation of a patient-centered, team-based care model at Fenway Health. She has also led efforts that have improved access to care for our patients & clients & is executing strategies to improve the financial performance of the organization.” Shanks concluded, “I’m inspired every day by the incredible skill & passion that Fenway clinicians & staff in our health centers & public health clinics bring to their work when caring for our patients & clients. I’m equally inspired by the scientists, researchers & educators who are bringing new knowledge to the fields of gender affirming care, HIV treatment & prevention & health equity. I’m incredibly honored to be called to lead & serve Fenway Health in this capacity. We have made much progress coming out of the pandemic & it’s imperative that we continue to build on that momentum as we look to the future in service to LGBTQIA+ people, BIPOC individuals, people living with HIV & other underserved communities.” The Board also announced that it has hired Liliana Silva to serve as Fenway Health’s Interim Chief Operating Officer. 
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Suede Returns To Scullers Jazz Club

Back by popular demand Suede will be performing at Scullers Jazz Club Friday February 16th at 7P with her longtime trio of pianist Freddie Boyle, Rich Hill on bass & Steve Langone on drums. A New York critic once said Suede's like Adele meets Diana Krall meets Bette Midler. Come see why she was Joan Rivers' opening act. Check out this Pop/Jazz/Blues vocalist & multi-instrumentalist who tours nationally & internationally filling the best rooms from Feinstein’s in San Francisco to Birdland in NYC to Blues Alley & The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC & beyond. Suede stated, “Me & my band are really thrilled to be coming back to Scullers this world-renowned club in Boston & to step on that stage we've been on many times. Every time I do step on it I think about the incredible musicians & the Masters of music who have been there before. We've played there many times including recording my DVD there live which was aired on 54 stations to date for PBS fundraising. It's a very cool Club in a very cool City, all housed in the Doubletree Suites Cambridge so people can make a whole long holiday weekend of it & be swooned by us on Friday just after Valentine's Day.” Direct from a national tour & another sold out show at Birdland, Bistro Awards magazine calls her a "masterful entertainer at the peak of her powers." Suede was a most popular headliner on Charter line Olivia Cruises for 3 decades & co-headliner with Melissa Etheridge & Sarah McLachlan on Melissa Etheridge Cruises. So Don't Miss OUT... Scullers Tickets run from $40 to $45. 
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Michael J. O’Loughlin To Head Outreach

The LGBTQ Catholic ministry Outreach has announced that Michael J. O’Loughlin has been appointed the organization’s first executive director. James Martin, S.J., who began Outreach will continue to guide the organization in his new role as founder. Father Martin stated, "Everyone at Outreach is overjoyed. With his years of journalistic experience, his theological background, two books to his credit & his deep knowledge of the LGBTQ community, I can think of absolutely no one better suited for this job. This is the perfect job for Mike & Mike is the perfect person for this job." O’Loughlin will help grow the organization which publishes a news & analysis website & hosts an annual conference for those engaged in LGBTQ ministry. O’Loughlin added, “I have seen firsthand the vibrant faith active in the LGBTQ Catholic community, which provides essential energy in our parishes, schools & nonprofits. I’m looking forward to highlighting these stories & fostering community at Outreach, so that all LGBT Catholics & their families, know that they are both welcome & needed in the church today.” Sam Sawyer, S.J., editor in chief of America Media concluded, “In the two years that Outreach has existed, we’ve already seen a significant outpouring of support & a deep unmet need for its ministry of encounter & welcome to the Catholic LGBTQ community. Mike’s deep involvement with & concern for the life of the church has always been evident in his writing for America & we are excited to see how he will help more people, parishes & organizations across the church connect with the resources & opportunities for dialogue that Outreach offers.” I talked with Father Martin a few years ago on OUTTAKE VOICES™ in this exclusive podcast. LISTEN  
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LGBTQ Centers Org New Board Members

Celebrating its 30th anniversary CenterLink the community of LGBTQ Centers has announced its 2024 Board of Directors & Board Officers. The CenterLink Board of Directors has elected Michelle Kristel, Partner, McCormack+Kristel, as Co-Chair, joining ongoing co-chair Marvin Webb, Executive Director, Nonprofit Financial Commons. Lance Toma, CEO of San Francisco Community Health Center was re-elected Treasurer & Jay Maddock was elected as Board Secretary. Denise Spivak, CEO of CenterLink stated, "We are very excited about the broad representation on CenterLink’s Board of Directors. This roster of seasoned professionals possesses a tremendous amount knowledge, experience & expertise. As we celebrate CenterLink’s 30th anniversary this year & look ahead to the future of our organization, we feel very lucky to have this group of directors charting the path. I look forward to working with the board to advance the work of CenterLink & support our ever-expanding network of LGBTQ Community Centers.” The other continuing members of the CenterLink Board of Directors are Sarah Anderson, Consultant, Campbell & Company; Chris Bartlett, Executive Director, William Way LGBT Community Center; Robert Boo, CEO, Pride Center at Equality Park; Cece Cox, CEO, Resource Center, Dallas; Caroline (Cara) Dessert, Esq., CEO, The San Diego LGBT Community Center; Earl D. Fowlkes, Jr., President/CEO, Center For Black Equity; Phyllis Harris, Executive Director, LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland; Joe Hollendoner, MSW, CEO, Los Angeles LGBT Center & Tandra R. LaGrone, CEO, In Our Own Voices; Paul Moore, Executive Director, David Bohnett Foundation; Stacie Walls, CEO, LGBT Life Center. Since 1994, CenterLink has strengthens, supported & connected LGBTQ community centers. The org now serves over 350 LGBTQ community-based organizations nationwide & internationally.
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LGBTQ Task Force Miami Winter Party

The National LGBTQ Task Force’s Winter Party Festival 2024 returns to Miami Beach for its 31st anniversary celebration from February 28th to March 5th. Winter Party is an annual dance & music festival featuring a week-long series of events benefiting both local & national LGBTQ+ organizations. This year’s festival features a diverse mix of music, community programming & entertainment. The Winter Party Festival brings in over 10,000 attendees annually & hosts 14 events across nine exhilarating world-class Miami & Miami Beach venues. Guests will be treated to upbeat tunes from 17 international DJs including Calagna, Deanne, Sagi Kariv & more. Winter Party passes are now available. Since 1994 Winter Party has provided a safe haven for our LGBTQ & allied communities to celebrate & live freely. The National LGBTQ Task Force donates a significant portion of the proceeds raised at Winter Party & its sister event the National LGBTQ Task Force Gala to like-minded community advocacy groups in South Florida through the LGBTQ+ Equity Fund, a philanthropic collaboration between the Task Force, Our Fund & The Miami Foundation. The Task Force has given back more than $3.6 million & supported over 100 community organizations in South Florida since 2005 & will directly fund social justice causes locally & nationally. Winter Party brings nearly $4.2M in revenue to Miami, supporting over 800 local jobs in hospitality, food & beverage, retail, recreation & entertainment. Guests are encouraged to reserve tickets to this year’s fabulous events all designed to capture the energetic spirit that is Winter Party. 
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