Gay Entrepreneurs New Crowdfunding Site

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson, host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Wendy Robbins and Karen Paull about their new venture Red Capes, the first lesbian owned and operated global crowdfunding site. In addition to helping businesses, products and ideas reach their full potential they saw a need for nonprofit organizations and causes to be able to increase their financial capabilities. They have implemented ways to take crowdfunding to a whole new level. Red Capes believes in supporting every worthwhile project regardless of whether the immediate monetary goal has been met. Wendy Robbins, CEO, states, "Red Capes is a power to the people, paying it forward fundraising platform where a large group gives small donations in exchange for unique gifts so everyone gets to be a superhero." We talked about this and their spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what their commitment is to LGBT civil rights Karen stated, “I’ve always been an activist. I spent most of my years in San Francisco and marched and signed petitions and got involved with all the dyke marches and Dykes on Bikes. Wendy and I also got married in New Mexico and we can’t wait for it to be legal here but we had a ceremony here six years ago. Our families came and supported us and as an example of loving each other freely and openly we hope to create a great impact for people that are coming out or are having trouble coming out and personally it makes sense. I can’t believe it’s taken so long. At least California is jumping to the front and we certainly hope our state jumps in line as quickly as possible so we can finally have a legal marriage.” Wendy added, “Take a look at our site; it has a variety of different channels essentially and in those channels one of them is ‘rights.’ It’s because we do want people to speak out and create actions towards rights whether its gay rights, human rights, women’s rights, children’s rights, animal rights, we’re into rights. Also on coming out it’s funny because our publicist asked ‘Do you really want to play the gay angle?’ And we were like yeah because it’s important, because it gives people an opportunity if they’re kind of hiding in the closet or whatever; they’re just going to feel safe on our site and we want to bring that out". Karen concluded, “We have a lot of younger people come up to us in their teens and early twenties saying you guys are such a great example of being who you are and being proud of it and it’s such a time for us to have a revolution of equal rights for all.”

Wendy Robbins, CEO and founder of Red Capes.com co-invented and marketed The Tingler head massager, selling a million to 6000 stores and online, that received massive press. She co-starred with Kelly Ripa on Discovery/TLC on the TV series, "Homemade Millionaire." Wendy also coached women inventors how to pitch and bring products to HSN and wrote the bestseller, "Why Marry A Millionaire? Just Be One!" Co-Founder and CMO Karen Paull is the founder and CEO of Sales Guru Consulting, LLC. Her company serves over a dozen mid to large sized internet and mobile companies where she acts as their out-sourced advertising agency. She is the former Vice President of Sales for Snapfish and she helped orchestrate an acquisition bringing millions of dollars in advertising and bringing the company to profitability. Utilizing the latest technology, Red Capes has created a format where many users can see their project take life in five minutes with full access to Red Capes’ social media contests, PR, advertising and marketing help, weekly training about top fundraising tips, global warehouses for fulfillment of perks and an online store to sell popular funded projects. Red Capes takes a processing fee of 5% in the backend if you reach your goal and 10% if you don't.
For More Info: redcapes.com 

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Edie Windsor Joins GLAD Summer Party Event

UPDATE: Gay Marriage Pioneers Celebrate
In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson, host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Jennifer L. Levi, Director of GLAD (Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders) Transgender Rights Project. GLAD is the organization that brought gay marriage to America by winning the historic Goodridge v. Dept. of Public Health decision in 2003. They also filed the first two DOMA challenges even though their cases were not heard before the US Supreme Court. GLAD coordinated the amicus strategy and briefs as well as party briefs for Windsor v. United States, the DOMA case that did reach the Supreme Court. We talked to Jennifer about the US Supreme Court marriage equality decisions and about GLAD’s Summer Party Event with special guest Edie Windsor that takes place in Provincetown on July 27th.

When asked what her personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights, Levi stated, “I’ve worked at Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders for fifteen years. I came to that work as an attorney from having been an advocate and activist on the grassroots level. I think that this work is, as many have said publicly, the civil rights movement of our time. I think that we’re seeing family dynamics shifting across the country and this work is really critical to ensuring equal treatment and dignity for all families. I also direct the Transgender Rights Project and a focus of that work is to secure protections for transgender people who remain among the most marginalized within our community. They’re tremendously at high risk of discrimination in employment, in housing and at risk of violence on the street and that’s really the focus of my work at this point.”

 GLAD hosts its 31st annual Summer Party on Saturday, July 27th from 4P to 7P outside in the heart of Provincetown on the grounds of Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum. Special guest will be Edie Windsor, plaintiff in Windsor v. United States – the case that successfully brought down DOMA at the Supreme Court. The Summer Party is a fabulous time to mingle with other GLAD supporters, enjoy the view of the harbor, chat with GLAD attorneys and hear GLAD’s Executive Director Lee Swislow talk about the exciting work ahead to create a just society free of discrimination based on gender identity and expression, HIV status, and sexual orientation. The event features complimentary summer fare by Above & Beyond Catering, Ben & Jerry’s, Konditor Meister and ScottCakes. Cocktails will be provided by Bacardi, Barefoot Wines and Samuel Adams. Award-winning political humorist Kate Clinton will be returning as auctioneer extraordinaire and MC of the event. The live auction will feature tickets to a taping of The Daily Show, South African Safari, a Costa Rican vacation, a Virgin Islands trip, 10 Kimpton travel packages, plus restaurants, massages and much more.
The silent auction is now online, including a preview of live auction items. 
For More Info & Tix: glad.org 

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Gay Author Richard Bowes Speaks OUT

 

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with author Richard Bowes about his new autobiographical novel “Dust Devil on a Quiet Street” just released by Lethe Press. Born in Boston, Richard Bowes has lived in Manhattan for almost his entire adult life. “Dust Devil on a Quiet Street” takes you on an amazing ride. It’s like traveling in a time machine spanning over 50 years of gay life in New York City. Bowes shares everything from coming to terms with his sexuality to his struggle with overcoming years of substance abuse. David Pratt, Lambda Literary Award-winning author stated, “From the Bowery to Times Square, from The Saint to Saint Vincent’s, from Sleepy Hollow to Hoboken, Richard Bowes takes us on an eerie, bittersweet, wonderfully nostalgic tour of a slightly bygone (and very haunted!) New York, New York. It’s like hanging in West Village bar with a gay Joseph Mitchell or Jimmy Breslin. A delightful read for anyone ever captivated by Gotham, by art, by youth, or by the spirits that lurk within ever-shifting cityscapes.” We talked to Richard about his new book and his spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what his personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights, Bowes stated, “You know it use to be easier and clearer. I mean if you just said ‘I am gay’ you were doing the work. Now it requires more thought, it requires more action and it requires a lot more donations. I remember in the early days of gay liberation knowing that I had to march in that parade. People took an enormous risk being in the parade because there would be pictures and their dear mother wherever she was would see these and realize. That would be their coming out. I always felt because of where I was and because of what I did, I worked in the library at New York University and nobody there cared if I was gay or straight. I think in fact with guys it was more or less assumed that you were gay. I had an easy life in those ways and I’ve tried to remember that and give something to those who are in my opinion on the frontlines.”

Richard Bowes has won two World Fantasy Awards, the International Horror Guild and Million Writers Award. By the end of 2013 he will have published six novels, four short story collections and seventy stories. This year Lethe Press republished his Lambda Award winning 1999 novel “Minions of the Moon”. His modern fairy tale collection “The Queen, the Cambion and Seven Others” appeared in March 2013 from Aqueduct Press. A collection of new and old stories, “If Angels Fight” will be published by Fairwood Press this October. 
For More Info: rickbowes.com 

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Celebrity Filmmakers Get Real In Provincetown

In this exclusive audio montage Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with gay and straight celebrity filmmakers at the 15th annual Provincetown International Film Festival press luncheon. First, cinematographer Ed Lachman (FAR FROM HEAVEN, ERIN BROCKOVICH, DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN) talked about his films, receiving the Faith Hubley Career Achievement Award at the PIFF this year and his spin on our LGBT issues. Then director John Waters (PINK FLAMINGOS, HAIRSPRAY, SERIAL MOM) shared intimate film stories, especially about Divine and hopefully we’ll talk to him again when his new book entitled “Car Sick” is published. John’s been instrumental with the PIFF since its start and was the first recipient of the Filmmaker on The Edge Award in 1999. Then legendary director Brian De Palma (CARRIE, DRESS TO KILL, SCARFACE) talked about his new film PASSION starring Rachel McAdams and how he thinks that our LGBT community should have the same rights of any American citizen. Next, Killer Films co-founder and producer Christine Vachon (FAR FROM HEAVEN, BOYS DON’T CRY) conversed about the future of telling LGBT stories in mainstream cinema. She also talked about her upcoming films including KILL YOUR DARLINGS that stars Daniel Radcliffe as a young Allen Ginsberg. Christine was the second winner of the PIFF Filmmaker on The Edge Award in 2000.

Then we sat down with director Mary Harron (I SHOT ANDY WARHOL, AMERICAN PSYCHO, THE NOTORIOUS BETTIE PAGE). Her latest Lifetime TV film ANNA NICOLE lured in 3.3 million viewers. Harron talked about her films and as a fierce straight ally had a lot to say about LGBT equality. Mary won the PIFF Filmmaker on The Edge Award in 2005. Next we spoke with Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman who together produced and directed the Oscar winning documentary COMMON THREADS STORIES FROM THE QUILT and Emmy Winning THE CELLULOID CLOSET. Their first dramatic narrative film was HOWL starring James Franco and this year they opened the PIFF with their latest film LOVELACE starring Amanda Seyfried and Peter Sarsgaard and featuring Sharon Stone, Robert Patrick, Hank Azaria, Bobby Cannavale, Chris Noth, Debi Mazur, Eric Roberts and more. The film is about the first porn superstar Linda Lovelace and is scheduled for national release on August 9th. They talked about how this stellar cast came together and their spin on our LGBT issues. They’re currently working on a documentary about the Oscars and a biopic about Anita Bryant starring Uma Thurman.

Next we chatted with director Malcolm Ingram whose documentary CONTINENTAL takes viewers back in time to the sexually charged New York of 1968 when Steve Ostrow opened the Continental Baths. When they added entertainment this is where Bette Midler, Barry Manilow, Patti LaBelle and Peter Allen, just to name a few, took center stage. Ingram talked about the difficulties of making LGBT films and writer Michael Musto who appears in the film added his concern for the future of LGBT stories being told by major studios. Musto’s example was BEHIND THE CANDELABRA that took straight director Steven Soderbergh 10 years before he found a home for it on HBO. We concluded our audio montage with director Jeffrey Schwarz (VITO) whose documentary I AM DIVINE is a fabulous tribute with archival footage of John Waters muse Divine. Jeffrey talks about his film and LGBT filmmaking. His next film is TAB HUNTER CONFIDENTIAL about the iconic screen legend who came out in his memoir Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star in 2006.
For More Info & Tix: ptownfilmfest.org 

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