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Actress Loni Anderson Passes (AUDIO)

Very sad to hear that actress Loni Anderson has passed away. Anderson will always be remembered for her iconic role from the hit sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati” but I will remember her as a beautiful woman always trying to do the right thing. I talked with Anderson in 2017 about her sitcom on tello films & her spin on our issues. As a fierce ally when asked how she sees our community moving forward in the last Trump administration Anderson stated, “Needless to say I’ve had my hysterical moments over the election & I have a granddaughter who’s a junior at UCLA & we have had many spirited discussions about our feelings. I think after you get over being hysterical, but I don’t know if you do, that you try and move forward the best you can & hope that we do not slip backwards. I was a 60’s girl; I went to high school and college in the 60’s. So I marched and I always said my political party is I’m a card-carrying member of the civil rights party. So I didn’t think as a grandmother I would be facing this. Somehow when I was a college student I didn’t think this would come up when I got to be a grandmother. I naively I guess thought it would be all taken care of but as I said to my granddaughter, if need be I’m still ready to march.” Loni earned 2 Emmy nominations & 3 Golden Globe nominations. Anderson was married 4 times & was happily married to Bob Flick from the folk music group The Brothers Four since 2008. She had 2 children. Anderson's autobiography My Life in High Heels was published in 1995. LISTEN
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Ty Herndon & Ashley McBryde Sing Out

Country music icon Ty Herndon has teamed up with Grammy winning powerhouse vocalist Ashley McBryde to breathe new life into his 1998 hit “A Man Holdin’ On (To a Woman Lettin’ Go)” a haunting ballad about love, loss & the moment two hearts go their separate ways. The track is set for release on Friday August 8th & is the second single from Herndon’s highly anticipated new double album “Thirty” a landmark project honoring his three-decade journey through country music set to be released in two installments. Herndon stated, “This song has always been one of the most emotional songs in my catalog. To revisit it with someone as fearless & gifted as Ashley was both humbling & electric. We didn’t just sing the song — we lived it.” Volume One will be out this fall & feature reimagined versions of Herndon’s most beloved hits each reinterpreted as collaborations with some of the genre’s most dynamic voices. Penned by Gene Dobbins, John Ramey & Bobby Taylor “A Man Holdin’ On” became one of Herndon’s signature songs in the late ’90s. With McBryde’s raw edge & Herndon’s trademark heartfelt delivery this new rendition brings even greater emotional depth to the classic, capturing the pain, poetry & power of letting go. Released through Club44 Records the track also marks Herndon’s next step in an exciting new chapter with the Nashville-based label known for championing bold vocalists & genre-defying artistry as part of a 3-album deal announced recently with the label. I talked to Ty about his annual Concert for Love & Acceptance in Nashville in this exclusive podcast. LISTEN
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Fenway Institute Health Partnership

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has partnered with Fenway Institute to further enhance the visibility, availability & usefulness of educational resources & training for licensed healthcare professionals serving the LGBTQ population. The DPH/Fenway Health Training Initiative will offer educational & training opportunities focused on delivering culturally competent affirming care for LGBTQ individuals & others who rely on these services. Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD stated, “As a physician, I have seen firsthand that gender-affirming care is more than just affirming – it can be lifesaving. Far too often, LGBTQIA+ individuals experience stigma, bias & discrimination when seeking care. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity & to have access to health professionals who are knowledgeable, respectful & prepared to meet their specific needs. These training materials will help reinforce & embed those standards of care across the workforce in Massachusetts.” Jordina Shanks, Chief Executive Officer of Fenway Health concluded, “This initiative represents a powerful step forward in ensuring that LGBTQIA+ people receive care that is not only competent but deeply affirming. At Fenway, we know that training is not an optional enhancement - it’s an essential component of equitable care. We’re proud to partner with DPH to bring this work to scale across Massachusetts & set a national example for inclusive health education.” The Fenway Institute has over 25 years of experience training healthcare staff on providing skilled & affirming healthcare. Founded in 2001 Fenway Institute is one of the most preeminent LGBTQ health & HIV research, education & policy orgs in the world. 
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Lambda Literary Awards Finalists

The Lambda Literary Awards have announced the finalists for this year’s Lammy awards marking 37 years of outstanding LGBTQ voices in literature & storytelling. Eighty judges participated in the reviewing & deliberating 1,339 submissions over the past six months included literary critics, academics, librarians, students, poets, independent & traditionally published authors & other avid readers representing a bright & bold spectrum. J Clapp Lambda's New Executive Director stated, “This year's shortlist represents the voices & resilience of LGBTQ+ people in a time when our stories are under attack through legislation & misinformation. Standing with the truth & determination of our authors, Lambda Literary is proud of the vulnerability our writers have shown by continuing to use their pen (or keyboard) to move hearts, minds & missions. More than ever, this year's Lammys represents the importance of our work—we must elevate LGBTQ+ stories to give hope for a future where we are all free while reminding us of the paths blazed by our elders & ancestors. We at Lambda Literary remain immensely thankful for the ongoing support & reminders of our mutual investment in the presence and success of LGBTQ+ writers.” The Lammy Awards ceremony has traditionally taken place in NYC. Winners receive a plaque & the coveted Lambda Literary Award sticker for the covers of their award-winning book. The Lammys celebrate more than 150 LGBTQ writers across 26 categories spanning a number of genres, lived identities & experiences. They continue to proudly recognize works by self-published authors & independent academic presses alongside works supported by traditional big 5 publishers. 
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Argentina Leads In Workplace Equality

Argentina revealed that 93 organizations including 75 private companies, 16 universities & two embassies have implemented inclusive policies benefiting 285,600 employees a 27% increase from the previous year. Even amidst political tensions in Argentina where the national government has actively opposed key principles that drive business, including diversity, equity & inclusion policies Argentine companies are still making remarkable strides in LGBTQ workplace inclusion. Shawnie Hawkins, Senior Director of the HRC Foundation’s Workplace Equality Program stated, "Even in the face of political resistance to diversity & inclusion in Argentina, businesses are not just holding the line. They are setting the standard. A 13% increase in participation with 45 new organizations joining this year is something to celebrate. It shows that companies in Argentina are stepping up & saying yes to inclusion, yes to equality & yes to creating workplaces where LGBT+ people can thrive. This kind of progress is not only inspiring, it’s a powerful reminder that when businesses lead with values, everyone benefits." Dolores Covacevich, HRC Equidad AR Implementing Partner concluded, “One of the major advances in this edition was the inclusion of 16 national universities in the HRC Equidad AR index. This achievement not only broadens the territorial & federal scope of the measurement, but also reflects the strong commitment of the public university system to building inclusive, safe & respectful educational spaces for sexual & gender diversity. Universities are key actors in shaping new generations & driving the cultural transformation of our society. The fact that we can now measure their policies & support them in this process means opening doors for thousands of students & education workers to be part of institutions where their identities are respected & valued.” 
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Darwin Del Fabro New Solo Play In NYC

A new play “Lili / Darwin” written & performed by Darwin Del Fabro opens for a limited 12 performance engagement beginning Saturday August 2nd at The Tank in NYC. It’s a poetic solo performance exploring the intimate overlapping journeys of Lili Elbe & Darwin Del Fabro inviting the audience into a raw unflinching world of identity, memory & becoming through voice, projection & powerful language. Darwin brings to life the blurred lines of self & story from history to present day. Lili Elbe was the Danish painter whose life inspired the 2015 Academy Award-winning film “The Danish Girl” starring Eddie Redmayne & a 2023 opera by Tobias Picker. Darwin Del Fabro is a Brazilian writer, performer & producer based in New York who appeared in Blumhouse Productions' “They/Them” directed by John Logan. After years of creative work in theater & music “Lili / Darwin” marks her return to the stage following her gender transition. Darwin Del Fabro stated, “I’ve always written to survive, to see myself clearly. Lili / Darwin is the most personal work I’ve ever brought to the stage. It’s not just a play — it’s a reintroduction to myself & an homage to the woman who helped me find the courage to begin.” The play is presented by Madalena Productions & directed by The Tank’s Artistic Director Meghan Finn. “Lili / Darwin” will be a featured mainstage show as part of The Tank's annual LimeFest which invites new works by creative teams who identify as women, nonbinary or gender non-conforming to make way for more gender parity in the performing arts. A few years ago I talked to Darwin about the film “They/Them” & more in this exclusive podcast. LISTEN    
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Torch Song Trilogy Robe On Display

Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library announced that Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein’s ‘Torch Song Trilogy’ robe has been added to their expansive collection of Broadway memorabilia. Robert Kesten, SNMAL’s President & CEO stated, “As one of the first openly gay celebrities in the U.S., Fierstein has helped transform how Americans see LGBTQ+ life. He helped make it recognizable, not exotic. His contemporary storytelling, enjoyed by millions globally, made us seem like relatives, friends & neighbors. His work proves that our community is very much like other communities in our society & his unabashed acceptance of his identity serves as a reminder of community strength during our ongoing battle with people elected to protect us. ‘Torch Song Trilogy’ broke incredible ground in the theater world, challenging audiences both straight & gay to sympathize with someone they simply never thought about before. It paved the way for greater LGBTQ+ representation in film, television & theatre, though there is still much to be done. Fierstein’s message is still all too relevant as we fight back against national efforts to dehumanize our community. We are grateful for the opportunity to preserve this piece of history & highlight Fierstein’s legacy in our archives for all.” Released in 1982 & written by Fierstein after years of discrimination for his sexual orientation ‘Torch Song Trilogy’ play went on to win Fierstein several awards including two Tony Awards (Best Play, Best Actor), two Drama Desk Awards (Outstanding New Play, Outstanding Actor in a Play) & the Theatre World Award. Recently Fierstein was awarded 2025 Lifetime Achievement Tony Award. 
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