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American Revolution 250th Anniversary

In the midst of America’s Constitutional Crisis, in Massachusetts where our freedom in this country began, we're celebrating our historic 250th anniversary of the first battles of the American Revolution on this epic Patriots’ Day Weekend. Massachusetts is celebrating this milestone with events that honor unity, history & the enduring spirit of revolution & liberty. Governor Maura Healey stated, “This anniversary is a chance for Massachusetts to remind the world where the fight for liberty began. Patriots’ Day weekend invites us all to reflect on our past, honor those who stood for freedom & celebrate the values that continue to shape our democracy today. We welcome everyone to experience this historic occasion and take pride in the state’s enduring legacy as the place where liberty lives.” Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll added, “This Patriots’ Day, we’re not just looking back, we’re rallying together to celebrate the revolutionary spirit that still defines Massachusetts. It’s a chance for all of us to share in the story, the energy & the pride of being part of something bigger.” Kate Fox, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism concluded, “Massachusetts will be the place to be this Patriots’ Day weekend. Whether you are stepping back in time at a Revolutionary War reenactment, diving into our vibrant cultural celebrations or cheering on runners at the iconic Boston Marathon, there’s no better time to explore all the history, energy & hometown pride our state has to offer. Come be a tourist in your own backyard or make Massachusetts your Revolutionary destination.” The 250th American Revolution Anniversary weekend events include reenactments, parades & the 129th Boston Marathon, the world's oldest annual marathon concludes the weekend 250th anniversary celebration on Monday April 21st.

New Book Addressing Solidarity (AUDIO)

This week I talked with award-winning writer Sarah Schulman about her new book “The Fantasy & Necessity of Solidarity” published by Penguin Random House. Schulman is a longtime social activist from the fight for abortion rights in post-Franco Spain to NYC’s AIDS activism in the 1990s to campus protest movements against Israel’s war on Gaza & beyond bringing her own experience growing up as a queer female artist in male-dominated culture industries. In these challenging times with our democracy at a moral crossroad this must-read book couldn’t be more timely. For those who seek to combat injustice, solidarity with the oppressed is one of the highest ideals yet it does not come without complication. In this searing yet uplifting book Sarah delves into the intricate & often misunderstood concept of solidarity to provide a new vision for what it means to engage in this work & why it matters. Here in America with the new administration we’re beginning to understand & realize that the only people that will save us from this authoritarian regime are ourselves. Drawing parallels between queer, Jewish, feminist & artistic struggles for justice Schulman challenges the traditional notion of solidarity as a simple union of equals arguing that in today’s world of globalized power structures true solidarity requires the collaboration of bystanders & conflicted perpetrators with the excluded & oppressed. Currently in America we are learning that action comes at a cost & it is not always as effective as we would like it to be but doing nothing is far more dangerous. I talked to Sarah about these current issues & her inspiration for writing “The Fantasy & Necessity of Solidarity”. LISTEN  

San Francisco Show Of Hope Gala Event

San Francisco Community Health Center’s Show of Hope Gala fundraising event takes place on Friday April 18th at Hyatt Regency San Francisco, CA. This will be a fabulous & unforgettable evening honoring community, cultivating resilience & inspiring hope. Funds will benefit San Francisco Community Health Center’s lifesaving services. The event will honor Toni Newman with their Health Justice Champion Award. Toni is a celebrated author, advocate & inspirational figure whose life & work has left an indelible mark on our community & beyond. Juanita More! & Mr. David Giamamore will receive the Arts & Activism Award. Juanita has helped raise over a million dollars for local charities & Code Tenderloin will receive the Community Impact Award for their work breaking down employment barriers for marginalized communities in San Francisco. Since 2015 Code Tenderloin has helped 18,000+ individuals gain skills, find jobs & build brighter futures. There will be a special performance by Ada Vox & the Gala Emcee will be ABC7’s Reggi Aqui. San Francisco Community Health Center attends to the health & wellness of the communities that define San Francisco including immigrants & communities of color, queer, trans, unhoused people & all of us who are most impacted by oppression through comprehensive medical, dental & mental health services. They believe that healthcare starts with healing justice & meeting the basic needs of our communities. Their culturally informed services are designed by the very people they serve. More important than ever this is a time to come together & celebrate our community moving forward in these challenging times. 

Community Servings New AMPL Institute

Community Servings is launching the AMPL Institute combining the nonprofit’s 35 years of expertise & excellence in providing medically tailored nutrition with rigorous research, policy work & provider education. The launch reception event takes place April 29th at the Markell Conference Center at Mass General Brigham at Assembly Row in Somerville MA from 3:30P to 6:30P. David B. Waters, CEO of Community Servings stated, “Through the AMPL Institute, we will build on our decades of experience serving the community & add to our bounty of research showing the health & economic benefits of medically tailored meals. We will explore new ideas & find new ways of serving as we continue to advocate strongly for system change that will increase access to nutrition for those in need, regardless of their illness, location or ability to pay.” The event will feature a keynote from Dr. Toyin Ajayi, Co-founder & CEO of Cityblock Health along with an expert panel discussion on the state & future of Food is Medicine with leading voices in research, healthcare & policy. Jean Terranova, Senior Director of Policy & Research at Community Servings concluded, “Along with our ongoing service work that gives us a deep understanding of the individual needs of the communities we serve, we are equally focused on the broader health landscape through our commitment to impacting policy & our partnerships with others in healthcare, academia, community service & government. Above all, the evidence that access to healthy, nutritious foods can improve health, change lives & reshape the way we treat chronic illness in America is what motivates our work.” I talked to David B. Waters about the work of Community Servings back in 2011. LISTEN  

Heart Royal Flush Tour Rocks Boston

I’ve been a big fan of Heart since my brother gave me their “Dreamboat Annie” album & I taught myself Nancy Wilson’s lead guitar licks to “Crazy On You” on my telecaster. When I saw that they were performing in Boston last summer I was so sorry to hear that the tour has been cancelled due to Ann Wilson’s cancer diagnosis but was very relieved to hear of her recovery & that the tour was rescheduled for 2025. I bought tickets for their performance at Agganis Arena in Boston & last night for 2 hours I forgot all my problems & rocked out with thousands of fans that filled the venue. Ann Wilson is now cancer-free & her voice along with sister Nancy Wilson were stellar for these Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees. I was blown away by their performance beginning with Bebe Le Strange, Never, Magic Man, Love Alive, Little Queen, Straight On / Let's Dance, These Dreams, Crazy on You, Dog & Butterfly, Dreamboat Annie, Going to California (Led Zeppelin cover), 4 Edward (Nancy Wilson cover), Mistral Wind & Alone / What About Love followed by an encore of Sand (Lovemongers cover), The Ocean (Led Zeppelin cover) & closing the show with Barracuda with an extended guitar intro. The band Heart has sold over 35 million records & Heart Royal Flush Tour features Nancy Wilson, Ann Wilson, Ryan Wariner, Ryan Waters, Paul Moak, Tony Lucido & Sean T Lane. Special guests include bands Cheap Trick, Squeeze & Lucinda Williams. This is Rock Royality indeed so don’t miss this tour. 

The Center Visibility Rose Room Event

The Center is hosting a fabulous celebration of artistry, community & the power of visibility with an unforgettable night as The Rose Room will be transformed for an exciting fundraiser on April 24th from 6P to 9P in NYC. This unforgettable night of glamour, allure & celebration will present a dazzling burlesque show in honor of Lesbian Visibility Week bringing together fierce performances, dazzling costumes & electrifying energy featuring Medianoche, Witch Tulips, Miss Frankie Eleanor, Kalon Wilde & DJ Hi-Jinx. The Center’s first-ever burlesque event is set to be an unforgettable night as part of their ongoing commitment to expanding women-focused programming. The Rose Room is more than a show as this exciting fundraiser will shine a spotlight on the LGBTQ community with proceeds from the evening helping to ensure that The Center can continue to provide support to our community. The Center was established in 1983 at the height of the AIDS crisis to provide a safe & affirming place for LGBTQ New Yorkers to respond to the urgent threats facing the community. Over the past 40 years The Center has grown to meet the changing needs of New York’s LGBTQ community delivering services that empower people to lead healthy successful lives. Operating in-person & virtually The Center provides recovery & wellness programs, economic advancement initiatives, family & youth support, advocacy, arts & cultural programming & space for community organizing, connection, & celebration. The Center is located at 208 West 13th Street in NYC & tickets for The Rose Room fundraising event start at $50. 

Elton John AIDS Foundation Polo Benefit

The second annual Polotini Wigstock Party benefitting the Elton John AIDS Foundation takes place Friday April 25th at the Museum of Polo & Hall of Fame in Palm Beach County, Florida. Last year’s event raised more than 100K with proceeds directly supporting the Foundation’s global mission to end AIDS particularly through its Rocket Fund which focuses on aiding those most at risk including members of our LGBTQ community. Chip McKenney, GPL Founder & President stated, “Since our inception, the GPL International Gay Polo Tournament has championed inclusivity in sports while fostering a sense of belonging for LGBTQ+ athletes & fans worldwide. Our continued partnership with the Elton John AIDS Foundation underscores our dedication to leveraging sport as a vehicle for positive social change and awareness.” Lucretia Gilbert, Chief Philanthropy Officer of the Elton John AIDS Foundation concluded, “We are excited to be the charitable beneficiary of the Gay Polo League for the second year in a row. We share a vision of a world where the LGBTQ+ community can be inspired & empowered to be who they are, no matter where they are - whether it's on the world stage or the Polo field.” As nearly 2,000 people converge in Palm Beach County to attend Lexus International Gay Polo Tournament’s whirlwind of events that runs April 24th to 26th Polotini WIGSTOCK! stands out as one of the most unique & exciting highlights of the season with a dazzling array of fashion, entertainment & culinary delights merging a fun-filled celebration with a profound social impact. 

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