GLAAD Celebrities Speak OUT (AUDIO)

In this exclusive audio montage Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson, Host of OUTTAKE VOICES™, talks with celebrities on the Red Carpet at the 22nd GLAAD MEDIA Awards in NYC. Ricky Martin received the Vito Russo Award. We had the opportunity to talk to Ricky about coming out and his spin on the Obama administration fast-forwarding some LGBT issues. Martin stated, “I think it’s amazing. They’re awesome. It’s very difficult. The pressure is really intense from people who don’t like us. So I think little by little doing what they need to do and of course there’s always more that needs to be done. Equality is a very important word but I think Obama is doing a good job, little by little we’re doing it. It’s going to be great.”
We also talked to celebrities about their personal commitment to LGBT Civil Rights and the following celebrities gave intimate spins on our issues: Headline News Jane Velez-Mitchell who also presented the GLAAD Media Award in the Outstanding Digital Journalism, Bravo’s Executive Vice President of Original Programming Andy Cohen who also hosted the event, Bravo’s Top Chefs: Just Desserts Gail Simmons, VH1 "Transform Me" star Laverne Cox, Nathan Williams from the GLAAD Media Award-nominated "Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys", and Producer partners Neil Meron & Craig Zadan who presented the Vito Russo Award to Ricky Martin and who previously won two GLAAD Media Awards for their movies "Serving in Silence" starring Glenn Close and "What Makes a Family," was also nominated for their third GLAAD Award for the movie "Wedding Wars," and was nominated for another GLAAD Award for their hit Lifetime TV show "Drop Dead Diva. They also produced the blockbuster movies "Footloose," "The Bucket List," "Hairspray" and the Oscar winning "Chicago." They’re currently producing the Broadway revival of "How To Succeed in Business" starring Daniel Radcliffe. They shared with us entertainment dish and their long commitment to LGBT issues.

In addition the following celebrities also shared their LGBT insights and stories: GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios, Logo's "The A-List: New York" Celebrity Photographer Mike Ruiz, Bravo’s Real Housewives of New York City Sonja Morgan, Young LGBT advocate Bianca “Nikki” Peet, who fought to have a GSA in Corpus Christi, Texas, Emperor XIX Jack and Empress XXIV Farrah Moans, top fundraisers for LGBT orgs, Stars of Planet Green’s The Fabulous Beekman Boys Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge, Actor Wilson Cruz, GLAAD National Board of Directors Co-Chair Roxanne Jones, and Essence.com writer Bobbi Misick, managing editor Emil Wilbekin, Essence Mag First Lesbian Brides Aisha & Danielle Moodie-Mills who received the GLAAD Media Award in the Outstanding Digital Journalism – Multimedia category.

Rev. Al Sharpton also presented the Excellence in Media Award to pioneering entrepreneur and philanthropist Russell Simmons. The 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards was presented by ROKK Vodka at New York's Marriott Marquis. Additional GLAAD Media Awards will be announced during events in Los Angeles on April 10 at the Westin Bonaventure; and in San Francisco at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis on May 14.
For More Info & Tix: glaad.org

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Gay Activist David Waters Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with David Waters, CEO of Community Servings a nonprofit food and nutrition program providing services throughout Massachusetts to individuals and families living with critical and chronic illnesses. Community Servings delivers 377,000 free, home-style meals to 1,450 people per year who are too sick to cook for themselves or their families. They currently care for clients with 35 different life-threatening illnesses. Their service includes a customized, nutritionally-packed lunch, dinner, and snack for sick clients, their caregivers and dependent children.

When asked how he got involved with Community Servings Waters stated, “Community Servings started over 21 years ago as a program in the HIV community back when there were no drugs available to care for people that we loved who had HIV. We figured out as a community you could keep someone alive a little longer while we were waiting for the first drugs to come online by feeding them because your body needs fuel to fight off the virus. And as a young gay man, HIV came along just as I was coming out and it was terrifying to sort of see love and relationships directly tied to illness and death. Community Servings was a way for me as a food professional to find a role and to make sense of HIV. We started feeding 30 people a day 21 years ago and we have now provided about 4.5 million meals to people with HIV and other illnesses.”

Under David Waters leadership, Community Servings has expanded its mission to feed those with other acute, life-threatening illnesses, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, amyothrophic lateral sclerosis and liver disease. Community Servings has also introduced a food service job training program and nutrition education classes for its clients who become well enough to leave the program and for members of the community. The agency has also taken a leadership role and partnered with the Association of Nutrition Services Agencies in reaching out to Ikamva Labantu, an agency struggling to provide nutrition support in fighting AIDS in South Africa.

LifeSavor 2011 Community Servings Annual Spring Gala will be held on Thursday, March 31, 2011. LifeSavor is an ideal way for Boston chefs, caterers, and restaurateurs to support Community Servings' clients. Through their generosity, LifeSavor is now Boston's premier "Dinner Party with a Conscience" which raises 16% of Community Servings' annual operating budget. This is a fabulous event and a great way to help support this outstanding organization.
For More Info & LifeSavor Tix: servings.org

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Gay Activist Jan Donley Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with author Jan Donley about her must-read debut novel The Side Door, which addresses LGBTQ teens and the high school coming out experience. The Side Door is a sensitive portrayal of gay teen suicide and sends an empowering and positive message to LGBTQ youth and allies.

LGBTQ teens are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. Over the past year numerous teens have taken their own lives after facing bullying incidents. When asked what advise she would have for these kids, Donley stated, “The advise that I have and I didn't have this when I was that age, is find an adult that knows you and believes in you and likes you, loves you, just the way you are, and keeps affirming that in you. And keep that adult presence in as many ways possible. It seems to me that the message is pretty clear that kids who have at least one adult who really supports them and stands by them fare a lot better. So I would urge them to seek people out even if it means going to organizations that deal with LGBTQ stuff and actually talking to people, to not to be isolated, to figure out a way to feel like you’re not alone, because you’re not, but sometimes it’s hard not to believe that. And find someone to be in your corner.”

Jan Donley is also a playwright and occasional poet. Donley is currently working on a sequel to The Side Door and teaches writing courses at Berklee College of Music. She lives in Boston where she is legally married to her partner Diane. The Side Door was nominated for a Lambda Literary Award in the LGBT Children’s/Young Adult category and the book is published by Spinsters Ink.
For More Info: JanDonley.com

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