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Black LGBTQ Hate Crime Murder In NYC

Brooklyn Dancer O'Shae Sibley who was fatally stabbed recently for voguing at a gas station with friends was one of at least five LGBTQ people who have been murdered in recent weeks with the rise of anti-LGBTQ hate crimes. Dr. David J. Johns, Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) stated, “As we mourn the stolen life of O'Shae Sibley, a vibrant & talented Black same-gender loving dancer from Brooklyn, we must confront the alarming reality that anti-Black & anti-LGBTQ+ hate disrupts & destroys the lives of our community members. O'Shea Sibley's life was cut short by an act of violence that should never have happened – dancing at a gas station, or anywhere for that matter, should never be a death sentence. Being Black & queer should not be a death sentence….The National Black Justice Coalition extends our deepest condolences to his family & friends. The pain & loss they are experiencing are unimaginable & our hearts & policy change efforts are with them…We welcome the swift announcement that the NYPD has opened a hate crime investigation into the murder of O’Shae Sibley & demand that his killers be held accountable.” Sibley was a dancer & choreographer who had performed at Lincoln Center with an all-queer dance group as well as Alvin Ailey & the Philadelphia Dance Company in his hometown. The murder is being investigated as a hate crime. The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is America’s leading civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+ & same-gender loving (LGBTQ+/SGL) people including people living with HIV/AIDS. For More Info… 

 

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MBCC Against The Tide Athletic Events

Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) is hosting its annual statewide Against the Tide athletic fundraising events both in-person & virtually as they celebrate their 24th year. The in person event takes place on Saturday August 12th at DCR’s Nickerson State Park in Brewster, MA. The morning-only in-person event includes 1-mile recreational & competitive swims, a USMS-Sanctioned 1-mile swim, a ½-mile recreational swim, a 3-mile fitness walk & USATF-Certified 5K & 10K runs. MBCC’s virtual Against the Tide takes place now through August 12th with a 1-mile recreational & competitive swims, a ½-mile recreational swim, 5K & 10K runs & a 3-mile walk. Virtual participants will receive a virtual bib from Second Wind Timing. Cheryl Osimo, MBCC's Executive stated, "I feel so honored to invite everyone to support MBCC's mission of breast cancer prevention in person once again after meeting so many dedicated supporters throughout the years. Funds raised for Against the Tide are used to continue & expand our unique programs to prevent breast cancer. We collaborate with research organizations, both local & national & academic professionals, to identify & educate about toxic chemicals in our environment that may cause breast & other cancers. We make our webinars & educational modules available free. We also advocate for changes to public policy in order to eliminate these chemicals from the places where we work & live. We strive to change the legacy of breast cancer for future generations. People from all over New England & the country come to the Cape to support MBCC's work & the athletic components offered at Against the Tide & you can too!” 
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LGBTQ Supporters Arrested In Malaysia

Over the weekend in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia eight members of Ahmadi Religion of Peace & Light were arrested during a protest in solidarity with our LGBTQ community. Their protest outside the downtown Sogo shopping mall on Saturday July 29th was prompted by the recent public caning of two alleged lesbians & other crackdowns on our LGBTQ community in Malaysia. The Ahmadis were arrested & are being detained at Dang Wangi police headquarters without access to lawyers or families. Hadil El-Khouly, the Human Rights Outreach Coordinator of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace & Light UK stated, “They have been detained for over 24 hours for protesting in support of LGBT+ human rights. They are now awaiting a court order to charge them. During detention, they were interrogated by police about their religious beliefs. This protest was a response by believers from the Ahmadi Religion of Peace & Light to the persecution of the LGBTQ+ community by the Malaysian government, which has escalated recently. We do not support the oppression of LGBTQ+ people. Our doors are open to everyone. We have many members of the LGBTQ+ community. Some of them have been jailed in Turkey, Iran & Egypt.” London-based human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell who has supported Malaysian human rights campaigns & the rights of Ahmadi Muslims for many decades concluded, “This is a laudable brave example of one persecuted minority supporting another. Ahmadis are an oppressed religious minority in Malaysia. Unlike mainstream Muslims, the Ahmadi Religion of Peace & Light accepts LGBT+ people & supports their human rights. What they did was very courageous. I fear they will pay a heavy price under Malaysia’s draconian anti-protest laws.” I talked to Peter in this exclusive podcast about global LGBTQ rights in 2018. LISTEN   
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Callaways Play Provincetown Art House

The Tony-nominated Callaway sisters Ann Hampton Callaway & Liz Callaway will be performing Wednesday August 2nd to Saturday August 5th at 6P at The Art House, in Provincetown, MA presented by Mark Cortale. Back by popular demand don’t miss their fabulous new show As Long As We're Together which earned them the 2023 MAC Award for Best Duo Show. Bringing their cool sizzle to the summer Liz & Ann Hampton Callaway raise the roof with Broadway showstoppers, standards & pop classics from their hit shows Sibling Revelry, Boom! & Broadway the Calla-way! as well as some special surprises. Liz stated, "Nothing makes me happier than singing with my sister, Ann & what could be better than singing together in one of our favorite places on the planet- P-town!” Ann concluded, “Singing great songs with my beloved sister in a place that has the most openhearted audiences we know is a recipe for madcap fun, inspiration & joy.” Accompanying the Callaways is their one man-orchestra Alex Rybeck as they infuse new life into songs from Stephen Sondheim to Harold Arlen to Carly Simon as Anns sultry, jazz-flavored sound compliments Liz's clear bell tones. Expect a rousing Ptown night of harmony, hilarity & the soaring sounds of this legendary sister act. For those Callaway virgins Ann Hampton Callaway is a Tony® nominee & was recently voted by Broadway World as "Performer of the Year" & "Best Jazz Vocalist". Liz Callaway is a Tony® nominee & Emmy Award-winning actress, singer & recording artist. Tickets are selling fast & run from $50 for General seating to $100 for VIP. 

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Kids Online Safety Act Not So Safe

A new version of KOSA (Kids Online Safety Act) was introduced by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) & Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) that actually makes the bill worse, not better. KOSA has always been a bill that makes kids less safe not more safe by empowering rightwing attorneys general to cut kids off from lifesaving information & online. In the Blackburn substitute the section that was already too weak to prevent the bill from being weaponized against LGBTQ content has been weakened further. Her version of KOSA still allows state attorneys general to dictate what content can be seen by younger users & this would be a disaster for LGBTQ rights, abortion rights, education rights & free expression. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) & Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) brought up concerns about KOSA’s threat to LGBTQ online communities. Their remarks echoed problems that LGBTQ, civil rights & digital rights advocates have been raising since KOSA was first introduced. Senator Markey stated, “I would like to say that over the past few months I’ve heard concerns from my constituents & civil rights groups about the Kids Online Safety Act & its potential impact on LGBTQ youth & other online communities. I commend the authors for their work on the bill, but I want to continue to work to modify the bill to help fix the concerns that the LGBTQ community has been raising. More work needs to be done.” Senator Cantwell Concluded, “I’ve heard some advocates, particularly in the LGBT community, about continuing concerns with this legislation. We will continue to work with them on this.” 
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Michigan Law Protects LGBTQ Youth

Governor Whitmer signed a bill prohibiting licensed therapists in Michigan from subjecting minors to conversion therapy, the dangerous practice that seeks to change a young person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. In June 2021 the Governor issued an executive order barring the use of state funds for conversion therapy. The new law both codifies that directive & prohibits state-licensed therapists from subjecting minor patients to conversion therapy. Mathew Shurka Born Perfect Co-Founder stated, “We are thrilled that Michigan is taking this important step to protect LGBTQ youth & their families from this deadly practice, which has been rejected as unethical & harmful by every leading medical & mental health organization in this country. This is a huge step forward for LGBTQ people in Michigan & sends a much-needed message of recognition & support to LGBTQ youth at a time when they are under attack in many states.” Now 27 states protect our LGBTQ youth from this deadly practice, whether by legislation, regulations, or executive actions. Conversion therapy has been rejected as unnecessary, ineffective & harmful by every major medical & mental health organization in the country including the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association & the American Academy of Pediatrics. According to The Trevor Project’s 2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Youth 15% those who had reported being subjected to the practice were more than twice the rate of attempting suicide in the past year. Born Perfect is a survivor-led campaign created by the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) in 2014 to end conversion therapy by passing laws across the country that protect LGBTQ children & young people. 
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New Film august at twenty-two (AUDIO)

Lady Parts Productions presents “august at twenty-two” an extraordinary 84-minute gem of a film that’s helmed in front & behind the camera by a team of queer female & nonbinary storytellers in their early twenties that’s now available to rent & buy on all TVOD/Digital platforms across North America by Gravitas Ventures. The feature film is the directorial debut for Latina director Sophia Castuera & stars Ali Edwards who plays Cal an actress floundering after college & is shocked to discover that her childhood soulmate has a serious girlfriend Em (Lilli Kay) who Cal unexpectedly falls in love with. As Cal gets swept up in her new social life she begins neglecting her best friend Bobby who is becoming increasingly concerned about her rapidly changing focus. As Bobby & Cal's friendship disintegrates so does Cal's sense of self. Meanwhile her relationship with Em develops in unexpected & incendiary ways. The film addresses multiple coming of age stages then coming out the other side feeling the glow of self-realization & newfound confidence which this film embraces. “august at twenty-two” is also written by Ali Edwards, produced by Mary Elizabeth Monda with director of photography Melina Valdez & edited by Amir Mosallaie. Lady Parts Productions was founded by Ali Edwards, Mary Elizabeth Monda & Sophia Castuera who are three fierce advocates for creating positive social change through their work that explores the queer & female perspectives. I talked to director Sophia Castuera & writer/actress Ali Edwards at the Provincetown International Film Festival about the inspiration behind “august at twenty-two” & their spin on our LGBTQ issues. LISTEN  
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