Boston Pride Stronger Together

Boston Pride announced “Stronger Together” for its 2017 theme chosen by the LGBTQ community through an online vote. It focuses on the current climate of political uncertainty & marginalization of LGBTQ people. “Stronger Together” stresses the imperative that the diverse groups that comprise the LGBTQ community stand together & fight for civil rights for all. “Stronger Together” will be used for all Boston Pride events throughout the year, culminating with Boston Pride Week to be held from June 2nd to June 11th. Sylvain Bruni, Boston Pride President stated, “Our 2017 theme, ‘Stronger Together’ is a call to action for all in the LGBTQ community & for our allies. The great strides that our community has made locally & nationally are threatened by the current poisoned political climate that seeks to replace equal rights with discrimination. We will not be silent, we will not be divided; we will be loud & united to show the world that the LGBTQ community will fight for the civil rights of all disenfranchised communities. Boston Pride is more energized than ever with great enthusiasm among our volunteers & the community. We look forward to having new groups join us for the Parade & Festival to make this year’s Boston Pride Week one of the biggest outpourings of celebration & activism for the LGBTQ community, showing everyone that we are truly Stronger Together.” Boston Pride produces events & activities to achieve inclusivity, equality, respect & awareness in Greater Boston & beyond. Fostering diversity, unity, visibility & dignity, they educate, communicate & advocate by building & strengthening community connections.
For More Info: bostonpride.org
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LGBT Moonlight Wins Oscar Gold

Moonlight won the Oscar for Best Picture but was robbed of its moment by a screw-up by PricewaterhouseCooper. Best Picture presenters Faye Dunaway & Warren Beatty were mistakenly given Emma Stone’s envelope & they declared La La Land the winner. It was an upsetting moment that will go down in Oscar history. Moonlight is the brilliant story that follows a gay black man, Chiron, through three stages of his early life, along with his struggles with self-acceptance, bullying & his mother's addiction to crack cocaine. Rarely do black gay men get this kind of screen portrayal that shows them with haunting & joyful complexity & received such glowing reviews from top critics. Moonlight addresses poverty, the school-to-prison pipeline, homophobia & real issues that affect our LGBTQ community. The film received eight nominations & won Best Supporting Actor for Mahershala Ali & Best Adapted Screenplay Barry Jenkins & Tarell Alvin McCraney. Openly gay McCraney who wrote the original source material in the play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue dedicated the award "to all those black & brown boys & girls & non-gender conforming who don't see themselves" in his acceptance speech. Barry Jenkins concluded "All you people out there who feel like there's no mirror for you, that your life is not reflected ... we have your back.”
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Next Massive Women’s Rally

On International Women’s Day, Wednesday, March 8th Women Workers Rising are rising at a massive rally in Washington D.C. Women workers will come together & rise for dignity, equality & respect at & surrounding the US Department of Labor in DC. Organizers are calling all women & allies to come & be in solidarity with women workers for an end to workplace violence & harassment & to promote pay equity, one fair living wage, paid leave & labor rights at work. This rally will be on the day & in solidarity with women around the world rising for women’s rights, including the International Women’s Action & The Women’s March: A Day Without a Woman. The event will feature live testimony & rallying cries from a diversity of voices, performances, videos, a flash mob, poetry, music & much more. Through an artistic uprising, collective expression & creative resistance, women workers & artists will share personal powerful moving testimonies experienced on the job. They will come together to witness & listen to women workers who hold this country up but often remain invisible. The free event will take place at the Department of Labor 200 Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C. from 3:30P to 5:30P & will honor the sacred & valuable work of women around the world in all its forms by demanding safe violence-free workplaces
For More Info: womenworkersrising.org
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Trump Protest At Stonewall Inn

As you know by now the U.S. Department of Education & U.S. Department of Justice rescinded the guidance issued by the Obama administration on accommodating transgender & gender nonconforming students under Title IX. Protests are organizing throughout the nation to protest this travesty the ignorant Trump administration is attempting to implement & enforce on our LGBTQ youth. Last night there were major protests at the White House in Washington DC. Tonight in NYC at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village there will be a rally from 5:30P to 7:30P. Mel Wymore Executive Director TransPAC stated, “Join us tonight at Stonewall to protest Trump's draconian rollbacks & stand with transgender youth! TONIGHT 5:30P to 7:30P at the Stonewall National Monument. It's our moral obligation to protect the safety & dignity of ALL of our youth.” So if you’re in the NYC area please attend & show this administration that they won’t get away with bullying our LGBTQ youth or any minority. This is America & we’re going to stand up & fight for what we believe in & not allow a few small minds in Washington DC dictate & attempt to remove the civil rights we have worked so hard to gain. As GLSEN’s Executive Director, Dr. Eliza Byard stated, “Supports for transgender students in K-12 schools change & save lives & hurt no one. President Trump’s reversal of federal guidance affirming Title IX protections in schools undermines the settled expectations & protections afforded by federal law, hurts transgender students & impedes the progress we have made creating safer & more inclusive learning environments for all.” Stonewall Inn is at 53 Christopher Street in NYC.
For More Info: glsen.org
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Protect Transgender Students

This unacceptable repeal of crucial transgender protections in our public schools by the Trump administration restricts the civil rights of an entire group of the most vulnerable Americans. In recent years our LGBTQ community have made great strides in increasing social justice & this intolerant & ignorant executive order attempts to diminish that progress. We must continue to make our voices heard to ensure schools remain safe spaces for all children, regardless of the gender they identify with. Jennifer L. Levi, Director of GLAD's Transgender Rights Project stated, “The withdrawal of Department of Education guidance is a devastating step back for transgender students, who today are receiving the message that the federal government will not vigorously defend their right to an education. This unfortunate reversal of protections reflects crass, unprincipled political pandering. The American people support fairness & equal treatment of all students & do not think vulnerable young people should be made pawns of a political drama being played out by the current administration. The sudden reversal by the Education & the Justice departments does nothing to change the fact that the law protects transgender students’ right to an equal education. But it does mean that state & local efforts must be redoubled to ensure full and equal inclusion of transgender students in school. This guidance has provided practical & important advice to schools about how to foster positive learning environments for transgender students which has been especially critical in local communities where schools & districts have not been able to develop such policies on their own.”
For More Info: glsen.org
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FLIM-FLAM World Premiere Play

We all need a little comic relief these days & if you’re in the San Francisco Bay we have a treat for you. Theatre Rhinoceros presents FLIM-FLAM a World-Premiere comedy, written & directed by John Fisher about three desperate actors who take to the road in search of roles. Along the way they encounter highway hooligans, porno shoots, offended politically-correct youths & “all the crazies” of America. All the world's a stage & it's an actor's nightmare in this comedy about America “trying to be great again.” The run beings February 24th through March 18th with Opening Night on Thursday March 2nd at the Eureka Theatre 215 Jackson Street in San Francisco at 8P for a limited 4 week engagement with only 19 performances. It features Daniel Chung (Endin), Kevin Copps (Harrible), Donald Currie (Dobbins), Playwright/Director John Fisher Aaron), Krystel Piamonte (Zika Mom) & Jesse C. Vaughn (Hammer.) Flim-Flam replaces the previously announced play Ding-Dong because of the current changing nature of the American political landscape. John Fisher the playwright feels that FLIM-FLAM & its subject are more germane to the previously announced show. Ding-Dong will be presented in a subsequent season when & if things calm down politically. Theatre Rhinoceros was founded in 1977 & is the longest running LGBT theatre in the nation. They develop & produce works of theatre that enlighten, enrich & explore both the ordinary & the extraordinary aspects of our queer community. Their emphasis is on new works, works about under-represented members of the larger queer community & revivals of lesser known queer classics. FLIM-FLAM Tickets are $15 - $40.
For More Info & Tix: therhino.org
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GMHC To Honor Bill Clinton

The Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) announced that they will honor President Bill Clinton, Founder of the Clinton Foundation & 42nd President of the United States at their 35th Anniversary Spring Gala on Thursday March 23rd at Highline Stages, 440 West 15th Street in New York City at 6:30P. Distinguished honorees also include Jes Staley, Chief Executive Officer of Barclays and Peter Staley, HIV/AIDS & LGBT Rights Activist. Proceeds will benefit GMHC’s services for thousands of people living with & affected by HIV/AIDS. Kelsey Louie GMHC CEO stated, “It is a privilege to honor President Bill Clinton at GMHC’s 35th Anniversary Spring Gala. The Clinton Foundation has been battling the epidemic since 2002, saving the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. During this tumultuous time, it is more important than ever to honor those who are fighting & advocating for affordable, accessible healthcare, equal rights for all & an end to the epidemic.” GMHC’s history can be traced to the very beginning of the AIDS epidemic, 35 years ago. This milestone anniversary is a tribute to GMHC’s legacy as the world’s first AIDS service organization & the beginning of the agency’s next chapter of providing comprehensive life-saving services. The gala will incorporate a cocktail reception, luxury auction & dinner program featuring a presentation of the prestigious Larry Kramer Activism Award, Corporate Partner Award, & the Judith Peabody Humanitarian Award.
For Info & Tix: gmhc.org
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