Boston LGBT Film Fest Insiders Speak OUT

In this exclusive audio montage Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson, Host of OUTTAKE VOICES™, talks with Boston LGBT Film Festival insiders at the Splash Party held at Mantra Restaurant at 52 Temple Place Boston, MA. This is the debut kickoff party for the Film Festival and the Boston LGBT community. We talked with Kate Krosschell, Curator of the Women's Short Films that will be shown May 14th at 5:30P at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. This is another year of the best in women’s short films co-presented by Kristen Porter’s Dyke Night. Rob Morton a young filmmaker from West Bridgewater who created the teaser for the festival shared his views about how this is an important event that should be attended by everyone not just the LGBT community.

We spoke to a few filmmakers who attended the party. Shawn Cotter talked about his short “Go Faggot Go” that chronicles gay film genre from the 1960’s. This film is showing with Jake Yuzna feature “OPEN” Saturday May 7th at 8:30P at The Brattle Theatre, Cambridge. (We have an exclusive interview with Jake Yuzna next week in our audio series The LGBT Filmmakers) Dave Grotell whose feature film "Wishmakers of West Hollywood" is making its World Premier Saturday May 14th at 7:30P at the Brattle Theater in Cambridge, explained the concept for his film which is based on such 50’s classics as “Three Coins in a Fountain” and “How to Marry a Millionaire”. It’s about three young gay men who arrive in Los Angeles to fulfill their dreams and aspirations during a summer that will change their lives. In a world of YouTube celebrities, unemployment, downward mobility and socializing through Facebook, they make a wish in a fountain to find love, fame and transcendence.

We also chatted with Chris Casale from Bioscrip Pharmacy who is sponsoring David Weissman documentary “We Were Here” which was at Sundance this year and is showing May 8th at 5P at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. This must-see doc takes a deep and reflective look back at the arrival and impact of AIDS in San Francisco. It explores how the city’s inhabitants were affected by this pandemic and how they responded to the calamitous epidemic.

Jessica Flaherty, Director of Programs at BAGLY (Boston Alliance of GLBT Youth) talked about the film her org is sponsoring “FIT” May 12th at 7P at The Brattle Theatre in Cambridge. This film was created by the UK's Stonewall project to raise awareness of bullying and homophobia. “Fit” originated as a play to be performed in schools across Britain and was adapted into a highly successful film that has screened at festivals worldwide.

Gunner Scott, Executive Director of Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, gave us an update of transgender legislation making its way through the Statehouse. The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition is sponsoring the film “Open” May 7th at 8:30P and also The Transgender Shorts Program May 8th at 6P both at The Brattle Theatre in Cambridge.

Natasha Kapiz, President of Europeans in Boston and co-presenters of the European Film Series talks about how her org became involved with the Boston LGBT Film Festival. They are co-sponsor of Opening Night with Tom Tykwer's New Film "3" May 5th at 7:30P, at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston which is co-presented by The Goethe-Institute, Boston. The International Short Films are May 8th at 12:30P at The Brattle Theatre, Cambridge.
For Info & Tix: www.bostonlgbtfilmfest.org

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27th Boston LGBT Film Festival May 5-15

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with James Nadeau, Executive Director of the Boston LGBT Film Festival which celebrates its 27th year and runs from May 5th to the 15th. There are over 100 films participating in this year’s festival. The focus is New European Cinema with films from all over Europe. The series begins in grand style with opening night screening of the U.S. Premiere of Tom Tykwer’s new film DREI (THREE) at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. There are also several U.S. premiers of contemporary European films like French filmmaker Laure Charpentier’s beautiful and sexy GIGOLA and from Sweden the romantic comedy FOUR MORE YEARS and the US premiere of the fantastic German vampire film WE ARE THE NIGHT. This is a film not to be missed. From Germany comes Sabine Bernardi’s amazing film ROMEOS, the story of a trans youth’s struggle for love and acceptance in Cologne.

This struggle is a global issue. In America 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 he has for these kids, Nadeau stated, “I feel like it’s almost a cliché to say that it gets better but I think there’s truth behind that and you just have to be stronger. It’s hard to say this in retrospect, it’s hard to live in the moment and believe it will get better, but it’s simply the truth of it. I think back to my own upbringing growing up on military bases and thinking about how I was taught to be a tougher person simply because of the environment. I look back for the grace of god that I made it this far but it is tough and you have to be tougher than everybody else.”

Boston LGBT Film Festival kicked off on Monday April 25th with their annual Splash Party held at Mantra Restaurant at 52 Temple Place Boston, MA. OUTTAKE VOICES™ was there to help launch this year’s festival program and screen previews from the exciting lineup of over 100 films. The Splash party was open to all and free to attend. There was fabulous food provided by Mantra along with specialty drinks at the cash bar and lots of surprises.
Party Audio Montage: Boston LGBT Film Fest Insiders Speak OUT
The Boston LGBT Film Festival runs from May 5th to the 15th at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, The Brattle Theatre, Cambridge, and the Fenway Community Health Center in Boston. Updates to Come.
For Info & Tix: www.bostonlgbtfilmfest.org

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Malcolm Lazin on Equality Forum 2011

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Malcolm Lazin, Founder and Executive Director of Equality Forum. Equality Forum 2011 takes place April 25 to May 1st in Philadelphia. This is an important LGBT event that is dedicated to addressing our LGBT issues and concerns. Throughout the week there are also lots of dance parties, entertainment and just basic fun events. This year Latin America is Equality Forum International focus.

When asked if he thought Obama was doing a good job for our LGBT community, Lazin stated, “Well I think he scored a lot recently in terms of he and Attorney General Holder deciding not to defend the Defense of Marriage Act essentially by their concluding that we are a minority group that has been the victim of systemic and long term prejudice. Therefore under the Constitution where there are any statutes that limit our rights, those statutes need to be governed by the strictest and highest standards of scrutiny.”

At the 19th annual Equality Forum, there are over 40 programs and 25 panels including: National Religious Colloquy, A Conversation with The Rt. Rev. Mary Douglas Glasspool, the first openly lesbian Episcopal bishop on Tuesday April 26; National Seniors Panel moderated by Sage Executive Director Michael Adams, on Wednesday April 27; International Focus LGBT Challenges in Latin America moderated by former U.S. Ambassador Michael Guest, including leading Latin American activists and experts on Thursday April 28. On Saturday April 30th there are a number of panels including the National Politics Panel moderated by Washington Blade Editor Kevin Naff, with panelists Jarrett Barrios, President of GLAAD; Kerry Eleveld, Editor of EqualityMatters.org; Marty Rouse, National Field Director of HRC; and Doc Sweitzer, Cofounder, The Campaign Group. Also happening are the National Families Panel with leading experts on same-gender families and the National Youth Panel, moderated by out University of the Arts President Sean Buffington and including Daniel Hernandez Jr. and Yale undergraduate Katherine Miller, who as a West Point cadet outed herself and was discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” There is no registration fee and all panels are free.

There are also eight parties and seven special events including art exhibits and performances. The International Equality Dinner at the National Constitution Center on Saturday April 30th is honoring Lt. Dan Choi and Patrick Murphy with the 16th annual International Role Model Award and Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants with the 9th annual International Business Leadership Award, with Special Guest of Honor Daniel Hernandez Jr.
This is the largest annual national and international LGBT civil rights summit.
For More Info & Dinner Tix: equalityforum.com

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Gay Activist Erin McHugh Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with author Erin McHugh about her new must-read book “The L-Life: Extraordinary Lesbians Making a Difference” which chronicles the lives of 26 lesbian game-changers in America including Glee Actress Jane Lynch, Comedian Kate Clinton and Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin. Through fascinating intimate interviews and stunning portrait photography, McHugh uncovers rich stories of lesbians from all walks of life, capturing the incredible bravery and passion of ordinary people and celebrities that have been undisclosed until now.

Erin has been an advocate for LGBT civil rights for over 25 years. When asked what she would you like to see happen for LGBT civil rights in 2011-12, McHugh stated, “ I think in my world here, I live in New York City, we’ve had such a hard time moving gay marriage forward in New York State. We have another round of hope with Governor Cuomo. We’ll hope that happens in the next year or two but it’s been quite a disappointment. I’m originally from Massachusetts so it seems like, why can’t we catch-up with my home state.”

The L Life provides an archive of our LGBT heritage over the past 60 years. Through their intimate inspirational stories these amazing lesbian women will move you again and again, enhanced by 55 beautiful photo portraits by Jennifer May. Also appearing in The L Life are Alison Bechdel, Marjorie Hill, Amy and Elizabeth Ziff, Phyllis Lyon, Randi Weingarten, Chris Quinn, Linda Villarosa, Dr. Susan Love, Kate Kendell, Nan Buzard, Hilary Rosen, Lupe Valdez, Elizabeth Birch, Ann Bannon, Lisa Sherman, Roberta Achtenberg, Lisa Vogel, Urvashi Vaid, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, Sally Susman, Tenaja Jordan, Mary Seton Corboy and Christine Vachon. The L Life is skillfully crafted by Abrams Books.

Erin McHugh is a former publishing executive and the author of nineteen books, including the five-volume series The Portable Queer. She is currently working on her upcoming book, One Good Deed. She lives in New York City and South Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

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