Gay TV Network Reboots in New York

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Josh Rosenzweig, Senior Vice President of Original Programming and Development at Here Media about the new shows on here! TV and the timely move to increase production in New York as the state passes marriage equality. The newest addition to their schedule is “Threesome” which premiered on here! TV this month. This show consists of 24 half-hour episodes hosted by Stoya and features an expert panel of guests including Cherie Lily and Will Wikle with special guest Dr. Frank Spinelli. “Threesome” is here! TV’s roundtable discussion addressing sex, dating, and relationships. The show includes celebrity panelists who answer viewers’ questions. Each episode features a new panel of experts lending their advice to the here! TV audience.

When asked what new TV trends were on his radar, Rosenzweig stated, “In the end of 2010 and when Here Media decided they were going to move the majority of production from Los Angeles to New York our CEO Paul Colichman came to me and said ‘Hey look, we need to breathe life into our TV network again. We’ve had a low boil for a year and a half while we utilized resources on the magazines and websites. Now we need to put some energy into the television network with some really exciting original programming!’ And I said to Paul, for me, what I think we need to do is not make it edgier but a little younger, a little hipper, more fun, just add some comedy stuff to it, just make it a little more modern, exciting programming that utilizes people from various walks of life. Whether it’s entertainment, media or news just add a younger hipper edge to it.”

Some of the new here! TV original series include: “Behind the Bar”, an insider’s glimpse at the best mixologists working today, “This Gay House”, a tour of the stunning homes of the hottest LGBT tastemakers, “Dinah Girls”, a sizzling behind-the-scenes tour of Club Skirts The Dinah, the music series “Boombox” with DJ Cazwell, “Face to Face” and “Just Josh”, a new talk show hosted by Josh Rosenzweig. Note: This interview was recorded prior to New York passing marriage equality.
For More Info: www.heretv.com

CHECK OUT OUR NEW STREAMING SITE

VISIT OUR OUTTAKE™ EQUALITY STORE

OUTTAKE VOICES on iTunes

Gay Ally Kathleen Turner Speaks OUT

UPDATE: 2012 Interview With Director Anne Renton
In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with the fabulous Kathleen Turner about her starring role in THE PERFECT FAMILY directed by Anne Renton, the new comedy/drama that opened the Provincetown International Film Festival. In this family themed film Turner plays a devout Catholic and New Jersey suburban mom who is confronted by her religious beliefs. She learns she’s a candidate for “Catholic Woman of the Year.” This is where it gets interesting. The church must interview her family in order to make their decision. Her daughter played by Emily Deschanel (from the hit Fox TV Series Bones) plays her lesbian daughter who’s about to marry her partner but Mom is in denial that the relationship even exists. Her son played by Jason Ritter wants to get a divorce and Michael McGrady portrays her recovering alcoholic husband who has just had about enough of all the deceptions. The stellar cast also includes a rare performance by Richard Chamberlain as Monsignor Murphy. This film deals with positive LGBT family issues and whether you’re Catholic or not you must see this movie.

As a New Yorker Turner supports gay marriage and when asked about how this LGBT themed movie came about Kathleen stated, “Well I think it’s very much part of the writer’s and everyone’s lives. I mean the director has a wonderful partner and the producers are two women who are married. So it is something they were all open to and receptive towards. For me I think that a family is a family and love is love and I really don’t need to draw distinctions based on gay or lesbian issues. My question is: Is it a committed solid relationship, not are they both lesbian, gay or straight. Is it a marriage? That’s what I find compelling.”

THE PERFECT FAMILY, written by Paula Goldberg and Claire V. Riley and produced by Certainty Films, is playing the festival circuit and will be at Outfest LA in July. It will be released May 4th 2012 in NYC, LA and on demand with a wide release on May 11th.
Listen to Part Two with John Waters
Listen to Part Three with Albert Maysles
Listen to Part #4: with Actress Jackie Monahan
For More Info: theperfectfamilymovie.com

CHECK OUT OUR NEW STREAMING SITE

VISIT OUR OUTTAKE™ EQUALITY STORE

OUTTAKE VOICES on iTunes

Gay Vet Advocate Speaks OUT on DADT

 



UPDATE: Fed Appeals Court Rules Against DADT
In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Aubrey Sarvis, Executive Director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. Despite Obama signing the bill last December authorizing the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT), it is still unsafe for service members to come out until 60 days after certification by President Obama, Secretary Gates, and Admiral Mullen. Recently Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stated that he is prepared to move forward on the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) repeal certification before he leaves office at the end of June.
Update: Defense Secretary Robert Gates, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) in an interview on June 23rd that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) repeal would not be certified before he retires June 30, instead coming from his successor Leon Panetta in late July or early August.

When asked where we stand with the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and when it will finally take effect, Sarvis stated, “Unfortunately we’re in a holding pattern right now on the repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’. Repeal has not happened. ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is still the law. We’re pushing the White House, pushing the Pentagon to get certification which is an important part of the process. To get certification by the President, Defense Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, to get those three together this month in June before Secretary of Defense Gates leaves. There’s some signs that certification may slip, may not happen this month and if it does slip that certification could well be in July or later. Then there’s another part of the process. Once we have the certification, an additional 60 days has to run before we have repeal of the statute known as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ finally goes away. All of this could come together by mid or late September or October. So unfortunately we have several more months to go before this law is gone entirely. In the meantime we caution and advice service members to be careful, to serve in silence, until we have this final repeal.”

While we are in this holding pattern the House Republicans have attached ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) to the National Defense Act. Obama has stopped short of specifically stating that he would veto the final bill when it is passed by both the House and Senate if that bill includes the current House language. Openly gay Representatives Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin, Jared Polis and David Cicilline stated in a letter to Obama, “Because this issue is so important in so many ways, we think it would be the best course for you to reaffirm your strong support of the end of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ by making it explicit that you would veto a bill in the unlikely event that it came to you, which undermined the decision that you led us to make last year – namely a military that does not discriminate unfairly and does not turn away patriotic, productive Americans seeking to serve their country.”
This is an extremely important issue for our LGBT community. We must not become complacent and make sure this archaic legislation is removed once and for all.
Update: Senate Armed Services Committee’s markup of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 which was completed June 17th, contained none of the reactionary and distracting amendments related to the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law that were inserted into the House version of the bill and also would repeal the outdated and widely ignored prohibition on sodomy between consenting adults.
For More Info: sldn.org

CHECK OUT OUR NEW STREAMING SITE

VISIT OUR OUTTAKE™ EQUALITY STORE

OUTTAKE VOICES on iTunes

Provincetown International Film Fest 2011

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Connie White, Artistic Director of the Provincetown International Film Festival that takes place in Provincetown, Massachusetts June 15th through June 19th. The Opening Night Film will be THE PERFECT FAMILY directed by Anne Renton with the stellar cast Kathleen Turner, Jason Ritter, Emily Deschanel and Richard Chamberlain. The festival will close with MASTER HAROLD AND THE BOYS. The Friday Spotlight Selection is CIRCUMSTANCE and the Saturday Spotlight Selection is SPLINTERS. Career Achievement Award will be given to director Albert Maysles who created the amazing documentaries GIMME SHELTER, GREY GARDENS and SALESMAN. The 2011 Filmmaker on the Edge Award will be awarded to writer/director Darren Aronofsky, BLACK SWAN and THE WRESTLER. The Excellence In Acting Award will be presented to Vera Famiga, UP IN THE AIR, DOWN TO THE BONE and HIGHER GROUND.

Other highlights among the 50+ films programmed this year include the East Coast and New England Premiers of TOMBOY and ON TOUR. There are award-winning international favorites such as ANOTHER EARTH, JANIE JONES and HAPPY, HAPPY. Acclaimed documentaries include BECOMING CHAZ, THE LAST MOUNTAIN, PAGE ONE: INSIDE THE NEW YORK TIMES and TABLOID. Of course there will be the annual A NIGHT AT THE DRIVE-IN which will be in the horror genre with ALIENS and TROLLHUNTER. This year the Youth & Diversity Program will include the timely film THE BULLY PROJECT.

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 at risk kids, White a mother and gay ally stated, “I would just say to find your passion. Whether that’s art, music, cooking or movies, and you’ll find your community. And just know that you’re not alone. I think that finding community is probably the most important.”

Connie White has been with the Provincetown International Film Festival since it began thirteen years ago. Under her direction, the PIFF has hosted and honored such acclaimed independent filmmakers as Gus Van Sant, John Waters, Mira Nair, Christine Vachon, Todd Haynes and Quentin Tarantino. The Provincetown International Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing new achievements in independent film and honoring the work of acclaimed and emerging directors, producers and actors. PIFF is equally devoted to expanding the audience for independent film and to serving the Provincetown community and reflecting the community’s rich diversity in America’s oldest art colony. This is the fifth year we’ll be covering the festival for OUTTAKE VOICES™.
For More Info & Tix: ptownfilmfest.org

CHECK OUT OUR NEW STREAMING SITE

VISIT OUR OUTTAKE™ EQUALITY STORE

OUTTAKE VOICES on iTunes

Boston Pride 'EQUALITY No More No Less'

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Keri Aulita, Deputy Director of the Boston Pride Committee, about this year’s events. Boston’s LGBT Pride celebration starts June 3rd and runs through Sunday June 12th. In celebration of the 41st anniversary of Boston Gay Pride this year’s theme is ‘EQUALITY No More No Less’. The 2011 Boston Pride Theme reminds us to continue the fight for full and true equality, with no exceptions and no concessions. Equal treatment under the law, in our schools, at work, in our neighborhoods and in the religion of our choice. We expect to be treated with respect and fairness by our peers, families, elected officials, doctors, landlords, employers, neighbors and religious leaders. We must insist on the same rights, dignity, protection, access and opportunities in our towns, cities, countries and worldwide. All people. All places. All ways. ‘EQUALITY No More No Less’.

When asked what her reaction was to the violence that broke out at the recent Moscow Pride Parade, Aulita stated, “Boston Pride is a member of the International Association of Pride Committees. We know the organizers of the Moscow Pride. We have an annual conference every year and we get together with pride colleagues from across the globe. Moscow has been struggling for a long time to get a permit to have a parade. What’s my reaction, it’s disgusting. Part of why we do what we do is people question ‘is pride still relevant especially in Massachusetts?’ It is because things like this still happen, because David Kato was murdered in Uganda this past winter. This is why we continue to do it. The Moscow struggle was documented in the documentary made by the Vancouver Pride Society in Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride. In that documentary you saw a piece on Moscow and how they struggle just to walk down the street. It’s unfortunate and it’s why the people in the pride movement are so committed and why we in Boston are so committed. We want to have parties and parades but we want to really try and get the word out there that there’s a reason why we are so demanding on visibility. It’s just so unfortunate that violence happens anywhere.”

The annual Pride parade is on Saturday June 11th with over 30 events and parties happening all week long. Happy Pride Everyone!!
For More Info: bostonpride.org

CHECK OUT OUR NEW STREAMING SITE

VISIT OUR OUTTAKE™ EQUALITY STORE

OUTTAKE VOICES on iTunes