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Ending Trans Veterans Affirming Care

The new administration has announced that it is phasing out providing gender-affirming care for veterans through the Veterans Administration. Kelley Robinson HRC President stated, “Transgender veterans share the same commitment & the same love of country as all other veterans. They made the same sacrifices & are owed the same respect & care after their service. Despite this, the VA has decided to turn its back on transgender veterans who committed their lives to serving in our armed forces—complying with an Administration hellbent on harming & scapegoating the transgender community. We must continue to stand up for our transgender servicemembers & veterans. We must push back against these attacks until our nation’s policies reflect the values of honor, respect & duty that our transgender veterans embody.” This is just the latest action from the new administrations that abandons our servicemembers & veterans simply because of their gender identity. Earlier this year Trump signed an executive order banning trans people from serving in the military & last month HRC, Lambda Legal, GLAD & NCLR have filed numerous federal lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the ban on military service by transgender people. Research has consistently found that receipt of gender-affirming care can significantly improve the lives of people who receive it. Every major medical & mental health organization including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics & the American Psychological Association recognizes that gender-affirming care is medically necessary to support people in affirming their gender identity. Treating American transgender veterans differently simply because of who they are is out of touch with the values of the American people.
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“Black Bag” Smart Adult UK Spy Thriller

It so refreshing to catch a new film to escape from American politics for a few hours. “Black Bag” from director Steven Soderbergh is a gripping spy drama set in the UK & Zurich about legendary British intelligence agents George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) & his beloved wife Kathryn (Cate Blanchett). The film begins as Woodhouse is given a week by his superior Meacham (Gustaf Skarsgård) to investigate the leak of a top-secret software program code named Severus & one of 5 suspects is his wife Kathryn (Blanchett) who is also an intelligence officer. He invites the other 4 suspects who are also fellow spies over for a dinner party. The 4 suspects are satellite imagery specialist Clarissa (Marisa Abela) her boyfriend Freddie (Tom Burke) agency psychiatrist Zoe (Naomie Harris) & her boyfriend James (Regé-Jean Page). Dinner turns into a bit of a “Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” scene that adds to the mystique of the film. Pierce Brosnan also has a role as Arthur Stieglitz the agency boss. The intelligence leak in question is around who is in cahoots with the Russians selling info that could cause a nuclear meltdown killing thousands of innocent people. In this film the Russians are still the bad guys & the CIA are still the good guys which under the current political landscape is sadly refreshing. Directed by Steven Soderbergh “Black Bag” is written by David Koepp, produced by Casey Silver & Gregory Jacobs & disturbed by Focus Features. It’s beautifully shot by cinematographer Peter Andrews & edited by Mary Ann Bernard. It’s a smart sexy movie with lots of twists & turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat now in theaters. Watch Trailer
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Wicked Queer Boston’s LGBTQ Film Fest

Boston’s 41st Wicked Queer Film Festival takes place April 4th to 13th with this year's theme “Community is Resistance”. The 2025 program includes over 120 films from around the world acknowledging that through joy, love, education & laughter we can create hope in these dark times together. Screenings will take place at the Brattle Theatre, Coolidge Corner Theater, Museum of Fine Arts, ICA, Mass Art, BFSR Emerson, & Boston University. The Opening Night selections are Allan Deberton’s “The Best Friend” & Todd Verrow & Charles Lum's “Memoriabilia” will screen at the Brattle on April 4th at 6:30P & 9P. Since its inception in 1984 Wicked Queer has been a safe haven for our LGBTQ community to gather, discuss ideas, learn our histories. Most importantly Wicked Queer Film Festival is an opportunity to see ourselves & our lives on the screen. This year’s program acknowledges the vibrancy of our community’s experiences & reminds us that our combined strength is our power. Wicked Queer champions the belief that Queer love & joy is revolutionary & that we will not disappear despite the attempts to eradicate us. The Closing Night selection “Outerlands” from director Elena Oxman screens at the Brattle on April 13th at 6P. Founded in 1984 by film programmer George Mansour Wicked Queer is Boston's LGBTQ Film Festival is the 4th oldest running LGBTQ film festival in North America. So come be a part of Wicked Queer: Boston’s LGBTQ Film Fest & be part of the ongoing story. Tickets go on sale March 28th but you can view the selection now. 
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NYWIFT 45th Muse Awards Gala Event

New York Women in Film & Television present their 45th annual Muse Awards gala luncheon on Wednesday March 26th at Cipriani 42nd Street in NYC. The event begins at 11A celebrating the vision & achievements of women who work in the entertainment industry. Each year remarkable & accomplished women are honored with this prestigious award. It is NYWIFT's flagship fundraising event a highlight in the entertainment industry & is attended by an enthusiastic audience of over 1,200 leading executives from every major studio, broadcast & cable network & film production facility. This year's honorees include the fabulous Pamela Anderson actor, author & host, Marissa Bode actor & activist with the Loreen Arbus Changemaker Award, director & producer Lisa Cortés, producer Celia Costas Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment “Made in NY” Award, Amy Entelis, EVP Talent, CNN Originals & Creative Development CNN Worldwide & Versha Sharma Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue with the Enid Roth Award for Excellence in Journalism. For 44 years New York Women in Film & Television has presented the Muse Awards annual gala luncheon celebrating women of vision & achievement. New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) advocates for equality in the moving image industry & supports women in every stage of their careers. As the preeminent entertainment industry association for women in New York NYWIFT energizes women by illuminating their achievements, presenting training & professional development programs, awarding scholarships & grants & providing access to a supportive community of peers. NYWIFT is a nonprofit 501c3 public charity & contributions are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law. It is governed by a board of directors elected by the membership. 
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America’s Gender Agenda Obsession

You have to wonder why the new administration has such an obsession with sexuality & gender. Since taking office Trump has signed not only discriminatory executive orders bent on taking away years of civil rights by eliminating diversity, equality & inclusion but also targeting our transgender community. These orders include federal agencies to only recognize a biological, binary definition of sex & authorizing the Pentagon to bar transgender soldiers & sailors from serving. As these discriminatory executive orders are being challenged with 10 lawsuits in the Federal Courts our advocates continue to work to protect our transgender community as bills are being passed across the country attempting to vilify America transgender citizens. In West Virginia Senate Bill 154 recently passed the Senate aiming to restrict instruction related to sexual orientation & gender identity in public schools. In Texas HB 3817 was introduced that would make it illegal for a person to present to an employer or a governmental agency as different from their birth sex. The bill defines this as gender identity fraud. Other legislation concerns the use of pronouns including Oklahoma House Bill 1361 that prohibits students & school personnel from using certain pronouns or alternate names in certain situations & in Missouri House Bill 1085 prohibits public school staff from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity in the classroom. However there is some sanity to report. In Massachusetts Worcester officials approved a measure declaring the second-largest city in the state a sanctuary city for the transgender community & the Cambridge City Council unanimously passed a resolution declaring Cambridge a sanctuary city for transgender & nonbinary individuals.
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Queer Expression Film Fest Spring 2025

Chicago’s Queer Expression Film Fest announced its slate of LGBT-themed feature, mid-length & short films in March, April & May with both in person & streaming events. Now in its 12th year Queer Expression Film Fest announced 11 films with 4 programs streaming between April 9th & May 13th. The films come from eight countries including France, Canada, Iran, Bangladesh, Mexico, Denmark, Serbia & the United States. Queer Expression Film Fest continues in-person screenings during the last week of each month with “Block Pass” from France screens at Facets on March 25th & “Cherub” from Canada screens at Facets on April 29th located at 1517 W Fullerton in Lincoln Park, IL. with both screenings at 7P & are followed by a Q&A talk back in the Facets Lounge. “Block Pass” directed by Antoine Chevrollier is a coming of age film about childhood friends Willy & Jojo who never leave each other’s side. Training at the motocross track is their way to beat boredom. One evening everything changes in this portrait of fathers & sons & best friends forever. Other programs included Best of Fest Shorts April 9th to 22nd, Best of Fest Mid-Length Films April 16th to 29th, Best Of Fest Feature Warm Film April 23rd to May 6th & Best of Fest Feature It’s Always Been me April 30th to May 13th. During these challenging times it’s crucial to support our LGBTQ community. Queer Expression Film Fest is sponsored by Open Space Arts. Tickets for in-person screenings are $15 & tickets for streaming events are $12. 
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Conversion Therapy Heads To SCOTUS

The Supreme Court has decided to hear a case challenging local & state laws banning so-called “conversion therapy” for our LGBTQ youth. This challenge was filed by Alliance Defending Freedom an org classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center & is behind numerous targeted legal attacks against our LGBTQ community. The case will be heard next Supreme Court term that starts in October 2025 with a decision expected in 2026. This case comes out of a Colorado law enacted in 2019 that prohibits licensed mental health professionals from engaging in the dangerous practice of “conversion therapy” for youth in an attempt to change their sexual orientation or gender identity & currently over 20 states have similar laws. Kelley Robinson, Human Rights Campaign President stated, “The Supreme Court’s decision to take up this case isn’t just about so-called 'conversion therapy' – it’s about whether extremists can use our courts to push their dangerous agenda, in an effort to erase LGBTQ+ people & gut protections that keep our kids safe. There’s no debate: so-called ‘conversion therapy’ is a dangerous practice, not therapy & it has no place in our communities. These bans exist to protect LGBTQ+ children from harm—period. Attacks on LGBTQ+ rights are the entry point to attacks on all of our rights. The same people trying to legalize abuse under the guise of ‘therapy’ are the ones banning books, ripping away reproductive rights & undermining our democracy. The Supreme Court must uphold the 10th Circuit decision finding that these laws are constitutional.” As we all know kids are especially vulnerable & conversion therapy can lead to depression, anxiety, drug use, homelessness & suicide.
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