Jonathan Allen Sings “AMEN”

Jonathan Allen the openly gay semifinalist of “America’s Got Talent” Season 8 that we talked to on OUTTAKE VOICES a few years ago has premiered his brand new single titled “AMEN” that’s now available on iTunes, Spotify & other major digital distributors. This is the singer’s first release since his appearances at Radio City Music Hall on the hit TV show. Allen stated, “AMEN was primarily arranged & produced in my home & speaks to the many trials & tribulations that we all face, but is an LGBT liberation song at its heart. The song touches on several issues that surround the community in day-to-day life & in the political realm. The song attempts to chip away at many issues by starting a dialogue that shows people we all can believe the same things, deal with the same things & be torn apart by the very same things that should bring us together. Despite the title, AMEN is a song that transcends any one belief system. It is not so much about Christianity as it is about breaking free from hatred & celebrating love on this Earth in the highest form possible.” For the last year Jonathan has based himself out of Albuquerque, New Mexico where he has established his business & worked on his music. Since his appearance on the show he has matured in his musical endeavors. Combined with strikingly original music & euphoric live performances he has become recognized as one of the most captivating artists around. In this exclusive audio byte I talked to Jonathan about his music: LISTEN
For More Info: officialjonathanallen.com
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Worst Colleges For LGBT Youth

Campus Pride released its 2016 “Shame List” highlighting for the first time a national list of “The Absolute Worst Campuses for LGBTQ Youth.” The national listing includes 102 campuses that openly discriminate against LGBTQ youth in policies, programs & practices as documented on the site listing. Shane Windmeyer, Executive Director of Campus Pride stated, “Most people are shocked when they learn that there are college campuses still today that openly discriminate against LGBTQ youth. It is an unspoken secret in higher education, how they use religion as a tool for cowardice & discrimination. This lists uncovers the religion-based bigotry that is harmful & perpetuated against LGBTQ youth on these campuses. Ultimately these campuses are dangerous for vulnerable LGBTQ youth & others. All families & youth deserve to know this information & so do corporations who do business with these campuses from those who hire & recruit, vendors who contract food service, sell books, make donations & in any other way provides goods or services to a college or university.” Since then the United States Department of Education has published online the letters of campuses related to Title IX exemptions, Campus Pride spent the last six months compiling a database & researching all public records related to anti-LGBTQ policies, programs & practices at these campuses. The criterion to be the “absolute worst” campus includes either of the following: 1) Received & or applied for a Title IX exemption to discriminate against LGBTQ youth &/or 2) Demonstrated past history & track record of anti-LGBTQ actions, programs & practices. This is the first time Campus Pride has released a listing of the worst anti-LGBTQ campuses across the country. Every year Campus Pride releases a “Best of the Best” listing highlighting college campuses with the most inclusive LGBTQ-friendly policies, programs & practices.
 For Info & List: campuspride.org

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Palm Springs Women's Jazz Festival

Grammy & Tony winner Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ann Hampton Callaway & Pamela Williams will headline at the 4th Annual Palm Springs Women's Jazz Festival that takes place Labor Day Weekend September 2nd to the 4th at the Annenberg Theater, Indian Canyons Golf Resort & Hard Rock Hotel in Palm Springs, California. Over 30 of today’s jazz greats & rising stars will come together to perform emphasizing the great stylistic & thematic diversity of women in jazz by featuring straight-ahead jazz, smooth jazz, contemporary jazz, blues & more. Ann Hampton Callaway stated, “I am excited to kick off the 4th annual Palm Springs Women’s Jazz Festival with a blockbuster show that celebrates the iconic ladies of vocal jazz & great women songwriters while sharing the stage with a stellar all women jazz quintet. It’s great to put goddess energy front and center this Labor Day weekend!” Ann will be performing with Lesa Terry on Violin/MD, Jane Getz on Piano, Carol Chaikin on Sax, Chelsea Stevens on Bass, Maria Martinez on Drums & with Music Director Sweet Baby J'ai on Vocals on opening night Friday September 2nd at the Annenberg Theater following the fabulous Dee Dee Bridgewater who performs at 5P. On Saturday Pamela Williams, The Saxtress will perform on September 3rd with a Cool Soul Jams set at Indian Canyons Country Club & the festival concludes on September 4th with a Divas Brunch at Hard Rock Hotel with a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, Rickie Lee Jones & other great women of jazz. We talked to Ann about what she would like to accomplish with her work in this exclusive sound byte: LISTEN:
For Info & Tix: palmspringswomensjazzfestival.org
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Women's Equality Day 2016

Thanks to Congresswoman Bella Abzug who successfully introduced & passed the resolution in 1972 making August 26th Women's Equality Day to celebrate the anniversary of the 19th Amendment when women finally achieved the right to vote in 1920 in the USA. Then 96 years later finally a woman has become the democratic candidate for president. Stacey Long Simmons, Director of Public Policy & Government Affairs, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund stated, “In so many ways, today’s on-going struggle for women’s equality calls to mind the line from A Tale of Two Cities…’It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...’ We have seen recent victories in the U.S. Supreme Court that protect vital reproductive rights; we cheered the record-breaking wins of women athletes at the Olympics that are in no small part due to the impact of Title IX & other civil rights laws; & we’ve collectively witnessed the historic moment when a woman has finally won the presidential nomination of a major political party. But far too many challenges remain for women in this society. Women still lack paid leave, face workplace discrimination, are persecuted for exercising their constitutionally protected freedoms & live under the ever-present threat of physical violence. For women of color & trans women of color, the disparities are greater and the conditions are even more dire.” So we’ve come a long way baby but there’s still much more to be done.
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Calling For Federal Equality Act

After marriage equality became the law of the land The Equality Act of 2015 was presented to the United States House of Representatives & the Senate that if passed would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include protections that ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity & sex in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations but nothing ever happened. Well the California Legislature has passed a resolution AJR 45 calling for the Federal Equality Act that urges Congress to pass the updates to 1964 Civil Rights Act to protect LGBT Americans. Rick Zbur, Executive Director of Equality California stated, "When more than 200 pieces of anti-LGBT legislation have been introduced in state legislatures in the past year across the nation, AJR 45 puts the state of California in support of strong federal LGBT protections. LGBT people in a majority of states can be fired from their jobs, turned away by doctors when they need care, or evicted from their homes because of their sexual orientation or gender identity & they have little or no recourse. It is time to pass the federal Equality Act to make sure that all LGBT Americans are protected equally & that LGBT Californians don't leave their rights at the border when they leave our state." With a growing number of states passing or are considering enacting so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Acts or similar legislation to justify discrimination against our LGBT community. The Equality Act would maintain exemptions for religious organizations & schools, but would make clear that religion cannot be used to justify refusal of service based on a person’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Let’s get this done.
(Symbol by Richard Emmanuel )
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GMHC To Honor Javier Muñoz

Javier Muñoz, Broadway star of "Hamilton: An American Musical" will be honored with Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) 2016 Howard Ashman Award for his activism in the fight against HIV/AIDS. In 2002 Javier was diagnosed with HIV & he continues to speak out about his status-particularly in the media-because of the stigma directed at people living with HIV/AIDS. Muñoz stated, "I am truly moved by the honor from GMHC. As a gay man living with HIV, I know how important treatment & support are in order to have a healthy life. That's why I am committed to using my voice to raise awareness about HIV-related stigma & other barriers that block people from seeking care. GMHC's life-sustaining services & programs are vital to all of us." Kelsey Louie GMHC CEO concluded, "We applaud Javier Muñoz's success on Broadway and are thankful for his openness about being HIV-positive. We know that the consequences of stigma & discrimination are far-reaching for those living with & affected by HIV/AIDS…Stigma & discrimination undermine HIV prevention efforts by making people afraid to seek prevention, testing & care. In order for us to end the AIDS epidemic, we must end stigma. For over 30 years, members of the Broadway community have been some of our most devoted allies, advocates & fundraisers in this fight. The GMHC family is honored to celebrate & thank Javier with this year's Howard Ashman Award." The event takes place on September 19th at Joe's Pub at 425 Lafayette Street in NYC.  
For Info & Tix: gmhc.org
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California Transgender Update

The California Legislature passed a bill Monday by a bipartisan vote of 55-15 after clearing the Senate on August 18th that would establish the nation’s most inclusive restroom access law. The bill will require single-occupancy restrooms in California businesses, government buildings & places of public accommodation to be universally accessible to all genders starting March 1, 2017. Rick Zbur, Executive Director of Equality California stated, "This is a common-sense proposal. Our home restrooms are already all-gender. So are restrooms on airplanes & at many hospitals & gas stations. The benefits of this simple change will enable all Californians to use restrooms in a way that is more safe, fair & convenient." Kris Hayashi, Executive Director of Transgender Law Center stated, “This law is a simple measure that will make everyone’s lives easier. Having restrooms open to all genders will mean less hassle for everyone going about their day & will allow people who don’t fit neatly into expectations of what it looks like to be male or female to use the restroom without fear of harassment.” The bill now moves to Governor Jerry Brown for his signature or veto before the end of September. This advancement comes on the same day that a Texas federal judge ruled to prevent the U.S. Department of Education from implementing guidelines requiring school districts to allow transgender students to use restrooms that correspond to their gender identity, confirming once again that there’s still much more work to be done.
For More Info: eqca.org
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