MassEquality Beacons Of Light Event

MassEquality's Beacons of Light Dinner & ICONS Award Ceremony takes place on Thursday April 25th at the Marriott Courtyard Downtown at 275 Tremont Street in Boston, MA from 6P to 10P. This year's honorees are Massachusetts LGBT legislators & the Yes on 3 Campaign. Valerie Fein-Zachary, MassEquality Education Fund Board Chair stated, “MassEquality is working hard in 2019 to pass 3 important bills - one to Ban Conversion Therapy, another that supports adding a third gender marker choice to state documents & the Healthy Youth Bill to support LGBT youth & teach comprehensive sex education. With the help of our legislative champions & allies, we are off to a great start! Already this year, the House & Senate have passed bills to Ban Conversion Therapy & the bills are in conference!” MassEquality’s Beacons of Light dinner & Icon Award ceremony provides an opportunity to celebrate the exceptional leadership, voice & advocacy of individuals & organizations who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to bettering the lives LGBTQ people in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This year the Political Icon Awards go to OUT LGBTQ Members of the Massachusetts Legislature including Senator Jo Comerford, Senator Julian Cyr, Representative Natalie Higgins, Representative Kate Hogan, Representative Jack Patrick Lewis, Representative Liz Malia, Representative Sarah Peake & the Yes on 3 Campaign. MassEquality is the leading statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization in Massachusetts. They believe that everyone deserves to be treated equally, to have the opportunity to reach their full potential & to be free from discrimination and oppression based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Beacons of Light VIP tickets are $250 & include the cocktail reception with legislators & Dinner/Award Ceremony tickets are $175.
For Info & Tix…
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Defeating Trump’s Trans Military Ban

The House voted to pass Congressman Joseph Kennedy III’s resolution denouncing Trump’s ban on transgender service members. The measure will not reverse the policy that’s set to go into effect April 12th but Kennedy hopes it sends a strong message to the White House, the Pentagon & those serving in the military. Congressman Kennedy stated, "I’m hoping to show that there is a bipartisan rejection of a policy that was put forth by tweet. If our country stands for one thing, it’s that here everybody counts & we see you for who you are & we are going to protect you. We are going to celebrate you & we are going to treat you with the honor & dignity you deserve.” Vanita Gupta, President & CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights concluded, “Trump claims to value our military but treats it with disregard & contempt. From diverting military funding, to supporting his vanity wall project, to banning brave & patriotic transgender Americans from serving, his actions speak louder than his words. The transgender military service ban not only undermines military readiness & national security, it is a violation of fundamental American values of fairness & equality. We applaud the House for speaking out & urge Trump to support all qualified individuals who volunteer to serve in our armed forces.” We participated in a conference call with Kennedy who chairs the Equality Caucus’s Transgender Equality Task Force & Transgender Advocates last January. LISTEN
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Boston Leaders Attend LPAC Event

Arline Isaacson, President at Isaacson Political Consulting & Co-Chair Massachusetts Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus along with Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey attended a very special cocktail party benefiting LPAC the only national Political Action Committee whose mission is to build the political power of LGBTQ women. Stephanie Sandberg, LPAC Executive Director stated, “I was so honored to be in Boston with LPAC tonight, particularly with Maura Healey -- who both personifies LPAC's mission & is such a passionate advocate for our work. We were happy to also have so many supporters who turned out to support our mission as well! Building a political voice for LGBTQ women is easier when the community has your back & Elyse Cherry is of course the consummate host!” Also in attendance were LPAC Board Members Diane Felicio & Shari Weiner & hosting the event included Elyse Cherry, Jan Donley, Joanna Hochman, Jeanne Leszczynski & Diane DiCarlo. This is a very exciting time for LPAC with 4 lesbian mayoral candidates positioned to win their run-off or critical primary elections in April that would make LGBTQ history. Three mayoral candidates Lori Lightfoot in Chicago, Satya Rhodes-Conway in Madison, Wisconsin & Jolie Justus in Kansas City have elections on April 2nd & on April 23rd Jane Castor will compete in a run-off that will decide the next mayor of Tampa. The next LPAC special event takes place on April 11th when Laura Ricketts, Chair of the LPC Board & her wife Brooke Skinner Ricketts will host a cocktail reception & baseball game to benefit LPAC at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
For More Info: teamlpac.com
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Americans Support LGBT Civil Rights

PRRI has released a new landmark national survey of over 40,000 Americans including results for all 50 states that found approximately 7 in 10 Americans support nondiscrimination protections for our LGBT community. The survey also finds nearly 6 in 10 Americans oppose allowing small businesses to refuse services to gay & lesbian people based on religious objections. More than 6 in 10 Americans also support marriage equality. Not surprising the only major groups that oppose marriage equality are white evangelical Protestants & Republicans. Robert P. Jones PRRI CEO stated, "The broad support for laws to protect LGBT people from discrimination represents a rarity in our polarized politics today—an issue that actually brings Americans together across partisan, religious & geographic lines." Approximately 7 in 10 or 69% of Americans including majorities in all 50 states favor laws protecting LGBT people from discrimination in jobs, public accommodations & housing, virtually unchanged from 2017 levels of 70%. Though support is highest in Northeastern states at 72% & Western states at 72%, majorities in the Midwest came in at 68% & in the South 65% are also supportive. Even in states with the lowest levels of support, such as South Carolina at 58% & Arkansas at 56%, solid majorities support these policies. Another good statistic is that nearly 79% young Americans ages 18 to 29 support marriage equality with only 16% opposed & even among seniors ages 65 & older, nearly half 49% favor marriage equality today compared to 43% who are opposed. PRRI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to conducting independent research at the intersection of religion, culture & public policy. (Graphic by Richard Emmanuel)
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Velvet Ibiza Fifth Anniversary Event

Velvet Ibiza, Europe’s most epic queer women party is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year & taking the festivities to the next level for this all-inclusive 5-day/5-night party that’s happening May 7th to May 12th 2019 in idyllic Ibiza, Spain. From the pool parties, sports tournaments, club nights & now the infamous duck race to the top female DJs from Europe & America dropping the sickest beats & live music from Sarah Bettens, the openly gay artist best known as the smoky voice of Belgian nineties rock band K’s Choice, Velvet Ibiza has it all! Carine De Mesmaeker creator & producer stated, “I am so excited to be celebrating Velvet Ibiza’s Fifth anniversary! This year we’re going back to the hotel where it all started. It’s definitely going to be one for the books. The party is going to be epic. I am thrilled to be hosting the Birthday bash at The Club Punta Arabi because it is the location of the historical Hippie Market - one of the few places in Ibiza where you can still find today the peculiar & unique hippie essence & most importantly the event imparts such a palpable sense of community & belonging. I absolutely love how we all come together in such a natural & organic way. It truly is a magical weekend.” The all-inclusive nature of the event with tickets including 5 nights in a bungalow, all 3 meals, day & night activities & parties, transportation from airport to resort & all drinks until 11P creates a safe & unique environment that imparts a palpable sense of belonging - a real “family” event.
For More Info & Tix… 
LISTEN: Shawn Cotter Talks Boston's Wicked Queer Film Festival
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Meow Meow & Thomas Lauderdale

International singing sensation Meow Meow along with Thomas M. Lauderdale & accompanied by members of Pink Martini are on a fabulous week long tour across America performing songs from their new album Hotel Amour! On Sunday March 24th they’ll begin at Berklee Performance Center 136 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston, MA at 7:30P. The Hotel Amour tour marks the musical love affair between Lauderdale, Pink Martini’s founder, composer & pianist & Meow Meow the queen of chanson. Thomas M. Lauderdale stated, “The new album, Hotel Amour, features several songs we wrote, as well as guest appearances by Rufus Wainwright, Barry Humphries (aka Dame Edna Everage), the von Trapps & pianist/composer Michel Legrand. I was hired to be Meow Meow's accompanist for Portland Institute for Contemporary Art's Time-Based Art festival in 2005. Since then, we have performed & composed across the globe from the Sydney Opera House to Royal Albert Hall in London to Mary's Strip Club & Darcelle XV in Portland, Oregon! The release of "Hotel Amour" is the culmination of 15 years of love, curiosity & friendship.” NPR's Ari Shapiro concluded, "Funny, sexy, timeless & beautiful, spending time with Meow Meow in “Hotel Amour” is like getting a private invitation to the most glamorous new underground club in a city you’ve never been to." The week long tour continues after Boston on Monday March 25th they’ll be at Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, March 26th at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, Thursday March 28th at Sony Hall in New York City, Friday March 29th at Space in Evanston (Chicago), Sunday March 31st at the Triple Door in Seattle & Monday, April 1st at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall with the Oregon Symphony in Portland.
For More Info & Tix: pinkmartini.com
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The Dinah Promotes L Word Sequel

The L Word sequel is coming soon & SHOWTIME® will be in the house at the The Dinah that’s celebrating 29 years & takes place in Palm Springs, California from April 3rd through April 7th. SHOWTIME will be poolside at The Dinah promoting the upcoming The L Word sequel & the buzz has been reaching a crescendo as millions of fans anticipate the sequel of this groundbreaking series. While we wait, The Dinah is thrilled to announce that SHOWTIME will be present at The Dinah 2019 bringing with them exclusive The L Word promotional items that we all need to have. The Dinah has always had a close relationship with SHOWTIME when scenes from Season One of the original series of The L Word were filmed at The Dinah exposing this annual queer girl mecca to the entire world. In past years cast members have appeared on the red carpet & judged as Dinah attendees acted out scenes from the show. We were there when Kate Moennig brought her DJ skills & Leisha Hailey's band Uh Huh Her has also performed. Don't miss your chance to win some The L Word swag & receive discounts on a SHOWTIME subscription so you can see your favorite show once again all this only at The Dinah 2019! Maybe some of the new cast members will pop up…you never know what happens at The Dinah. I was there a few years ago when I came face to face with Lady Gaga. Ticket discounts end on April 1st so don’t wait. I talked to Mariah Hanson about what's happening at The Dinah 2019. LISTEN

For Info & Tix: theDinah.com
LISTEN: Billie Lee Talks Vanderpump Rules & LGBTQ Issues
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