In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Kate Clinton our favorite political humorist about her annual LGBT year end review and chat about what 2016 will bring. This has definitely been the year for marriage equality with the Supreme Court ruling finally making gay and lesbian marriage legal in all fifty states. Now we’re focusing on ENDA the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and transgender rights as Caitlyn Jenner and others have advanced these long overdue issues to the forefront. Kate also talked about how fabulous that more LGBT stories have found their way into mainstream media including the Tony Award winning musical “Fun Home” on Broadway and Phyllis Nagy’s latest screenplay “Carol” starring Cate Blanchett that recently won the New York Film Critics Circle for Best Screenplay and Best Film. We talked to Kate about how even though we have accomplished marriage equality in America we still have a lot more work to do to achieve full LGBT equality.
When asked what she would like to see happen for LGBT civil rights in 2016 Clinton stated, “What I would like to see for LGBT rights in 2016 is a continuation of what I see as a whole exciting new generation of LGBT leaders, and they wouldn’t even say they’re leaders because they don’t have a hierarchical idea of what they do. They’re activists, they’re feminists, and the people who are moving for example the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement and these are young black feminists, some gay some straight and they’re involved in that and fearless, absolutely fearless work in immigration. So I think there’s this incredible new generation of LGBT activists who are in so many other wonderful social movements like the movement for climate change, the movement for women’s reproduction rights and I’m very excited and I want to see a continuation of that into 2016 because they are great activists, great strategists, they’re unbelievably hopeful and joyful and not stung by the outrageous slings of the internet. They just go on and they really make a difference in everyday people’s lives. In immigration some young people are doing voter registration and telling people ‘Well I can’t vote because I’m undocumented. I know you don’t care about voting but would you vote for me if I were voting?’ I think it’s fabulous. I’m very excited about what’s happening and hoping that we can make the connection with electoral politics. Just two words, Supreme Court. I’m done…”
Clinton is also very involved with NCLR (The National Center for Lesbian Rights) and LPAC (Lesbian Political Action Committee) conceptualized by her wife Urvashi Vaid to give lesbians a real and meaningful seat at the political table. LPAC is a political action committee (PAC) that builds the political power of LGBTQ women by electing candidates who champion LGBTQ rights, women’s equality and social justice. With 2016 being a presidential election year it is crucial that we elect candidates that support women’s rights and our LGBT community. Currently Kate is working on a new book of essays and about to launch her new show WAKE UP CALL she’ll be performing nationally in 2016.
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ReplyDeleteI love and look forward to these end of the year Kate Clinton wrap-ups. They're always funny and thoughtful and hopeful.
Thanks for this annual series.