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Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Virginia’s Gay Marriage Legal Team Speaks OUT (AUDIO)









In this exclusive audio broadcast Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson Host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ participated in a conference call immediately following the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Virginia’s Bostic v. Schaeffer marriage equality case. This marks the second favorable federal appeals court ruling since last year's historic Windsor decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. The call was hosted by Adam Umhoefer, Executive Director of American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and joined by Virginia’s Attorney General Mark Herring and Bostic’s co-counsel Ted Olson and David Boies. Gregory Nevins, Supervising Senior Staff Attorney at Lambda Legal and James Esseks, ACLU Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Bisexual Project were also on the call. This historic decision represents a major milestone towards marriage equality in this country as the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Va. affirmed the District Court decision in Bostic v. Schaefer that found Virginia’s ban on marriage for gay and lesbian couples unconstitutional. The decision also paves the way for West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina to strike down their marriage bans since those states are under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Maryland, the fifth state in the Fourth Circuit passed marriage equality in January 2013.

The Virginia Decision Stated: "Civil marriage is one of the cornerstones of our way of life. It allows individuals to celebrate and publicly declare their intentions to form lifelong partnerships, which provide unparalleled intimacy, companionship, emotional support, and security. The choice of whether and whom to marry is an intensely personal decision that alters the course of an individual's life. Denying gay and lesbian couples this choice prohibits them from participating fully in our society, which is precisely the type of segregation that the Fourteenth Amendment cannot countenance." Ted Olson, Plaintiffs’ lead co-counsel stated, “Today’s decision stands as a testament that all Americans are created equal and denying loving gay and lesbian couples the opportunity to marry is indefensible.” David Boies Plaintiffs’ lead co-counsel added, “Today’s decision recognizes that marriage is one of the most fundamental rights – if not the most fundamental right – of all Americans. This court has affirmed that our plaintiffs – and all gay and lesbian Virginians – no longer have to live as second class citizens who are harmed and demeaned everyday.”

In November 2006 voters in Virginia amended the Virginia Constitution to define marriage as solely between one man and one woman and ban recognition of any legal status “approximating the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage” for gays and lesbians. Bostic was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in July 2013 on behalf of Tim Bostic and Tony London of Norfolk and Carol Schall and Mary Townley of Richmond challenging the constitutionality of these laws on the grounds that they violate the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. This decision is a major step forward for our LGBT families.
For More Info: afer.org


Monday, July 21, 2014

Maura Healey’s Historic Bid For Massachusetts Attorney General









In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ revisits Maura Healey candidate for Attorney General in Massachusetts who was recently endorsed by HRC (Human Rights Campaign), the nation’s largest LGBT civil rights organization. Healey who is openly gay is currently leading the democratic primary polls by a narrow margin. Maura served as Assistant Attorney General under Attorney General Martha Coakley for the last seven years where she achieved monumental victories to protect consumers, homeowners and championed LGBT equality. As Chief of the Attorney General’s Civil Rights division Healey spearheaded and argued the first successful challenge to DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act). We talked to Healey about her historic campaign, the recent US Supreme Court’s ruling supporting religious exemptions as in the case of Hobby Lobby that will affect the current version of ENDA and her spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what her personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Healey stated, “My commitment to LGBT civil rights is deeply personal and it’s deeply professional. As a gay person myself I’m acutely aware of discrimination and how that plays out when it comes to housing, employment, education and hate crimes. We still see LGBT people victimized on a daily basis and we read about that in the news and so we obviously have more work to do and certainly as Attorney General, as somebody who’s going to be in charge of enforcing the laws I’m going to fight to make sure that every LGBT person in our state feels safe, that we promote diversity and inclusiveness and that we support and make real Equality and equal treatment under the law.”

Maura Healey will be in Provincetown attending the GLAD (Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders) 33rd annual Summer Party on Saturday July 26th at the Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum. Then on Sunday July 27th there will be an Outer-Cape Fundraiser/Kick-Off Party hosted by comedian Kate Clinton at The Harbor Lounge 359 Commercial Street Provincetown, MA. This is a perfect opportunity to learn how Maura’s bid for Attorney General will be a real game-changer over the next 4 years. If you can’t make it to Provincetown this weekend there will be another fundraising event on Friday August 29th. Kick off the Labor Day Holiday Weekend in style with small plate samplings from some of the most celebrated epicurean masters on the East Coast including Top Chef Tiffani Faison and Iron Chef Mary Dumont at Sage Lounge 336 Commercial Street Provincetown, MA. Kate Clinton will be hosting this event as well.
For More Info & Contribute: maurahealey.com


Monday, July 14, 2014

Gay Filmmaker Marina Rice Bader Speaks OUT









In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with writer/director Marina Rice Bader about her new film ANATOMY OF A LOVE SEEN, premiering on July 18th at Outfest in Los Angeles. Marina who served as executive producer of the iconic lesbian films ELENA UNDONE and A PERFECT ENDING makes her directorial debut in ANATOMY OF A LOVE SEEN. The film stars Hollywood newcomers Sharon Hinnendael, Jill Evyn and Constance Brenneman. This very intriguing film explores love in all its painful and messy glory. Six months ago Zoe and Mal fell for each other while filming a love scene, which led to an intense, whirlwind affair, followed by a devastating breakup. Things get complicated when the two have to meet once again on set to re-shoot that fateful sequence. Marina also appears in the film portraying the director. We talked to Marina Rice Bader about ANATOMY OF A LOVE SEEN and her spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what her personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Marina stated, “I have unwavering commitment to the LGBT community to keep telling their stories, which are our stories and the stories of women which show the rest of the world that we’re all walking the same walk. We love, we have kids, we struggle with relationships, money, our place in the world and every human being goes through the same thing. I think that the more that our stories are out there people can watch them and go hey you know there’s a little less fear. I mean we’ve had pastors, straight men send us messages that say ‘You know it wasn’t until I watched your film (we had a lot of that with ELENA UNDONE) that I really understood and it took a little of the confusion away, my eyes are open.’ And what more can you ask for?”

As the driving force behind Soul Kiss Films, her independent film company, Bader’s artistic direction is focused on one goal: to create evocative, entertaining, and compelling movies by women, for women and about women. Later this year she’s releasing RAVEN’S TOUCH starring Dreya Weber and Traci Dinwiddie with a new film set to shoot in December. After the July 18th premiere of ANATOMY OF A LOVE SEEN at Outfest it will immediately be released worldwide as a streaming rental, breaking outside and bypassing the traditional Hollywood distribution channels. The trailer has already gone viral with over 715,000 views. The film will be available for $5 on Vimeo via the film’s website anatomyofaloveseen.com. In addition, subtitled versions for a number of foreign languages will also be made available including Spanish, Portuguese, French and German. 
For More Info: soulkissfilms.com

WATCH TRALER

Monday, July 7, 2014

Rick Murray Brings Entertainment Icons to Provincetown









In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Rick Murray, president and general manager of The Crown & Anchor in Provincetown, Massachusetts which is an inn, restaurant and unsurpassed for entertainment and nightlife in P-town. Over the years The Crown & Anchor has been home to legendary entertainers and the 2014 Season is over the top with a new series called "Turn up the Volume" as well as their The Broadway Series with partial proceeds of all the shows raising funds for the Trevor Project. This summer The Crown is bringing 19 Tony winners to their venues and Town Hall including Daniel Nardicio production of Liza Minnelli and Alan Cumming at the Paramount Theatre accompanied by Billy Stritch on the piano. Both shows sold out in 24 hours but there are still tickets for the iconic Carol Channing and Tommy Tune, Broadway Diva Linda Eder and a performance of The Leading Ladies of Broadway with Andrea McArdle from "Annie", Donna McKechnie from "A Chorus Line" and Faith Prince from "Guys and Dolls" accompanied by musical director John McDaniel. We talked to Rick about The Crown’s fabulous summer entertainment line-up and his spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what his personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Murray stated, “I was influenced by this one woman named Alice Foley who was the town nurse here in Provincetown. My partner and I met her back in the 1980’s when we bought our first property back in 1986. She was very active with the AIDS Support Group here in Provincetown. During the AIDS crisis my partner was on the board of AIDS Support Group of Provincetown when it was PASG way back when and we became very involved in Helping Our Women going to all their auctions and supporting them as well. So we’ve been pretty much on the forefront here in P-town supporting all the gay and lesbian organizations. This year especially we’re basically partnering with The Trevor Project with James Lecesne and his co-workers in LA and in New York to raise funds for The Trevor Project. The events that are associated with that are Leslie Jordan concerts, Liza Minnelli and Alan Cumming, they’re going to be donating a great portion of their fee to The Trevor Project in August and the same with Carol Channing and Tommy Tune event at Town Hall on August 7th; part of all the proceeds will also go to The Trevor Project. Our goal is to try and raise anywhere between twenty and thirty thousand dollars for The Trevor Project throughout all of our shows this summer.”

Also appearing at The Crown & Anchor this summer are Kate Clinton, Sandra Bernhard, Miss Richfield 198, Dina Martina, Coco Peru, Jessica Kirson, Grammy award winner Matt Alber and the prolific author of Tales of the City, Armistead Maupin. In the Central House Piano Bar Tony Nominee, Sharon McNight, Bobby Wetherbee and the dynamic duo from Key West, Deborah and Patrick will be performing throughout the summer. Then there’s the Illusions Drag Revue, Summer Gay Camp, a new exciting young group of NYC actors who will appear in July & August and a brand new weekly variety show called Audition.
For More Info & Tix: onlyatthecrown.com