New LPAC Leader Stephanie Sandberg Speaks OUT (AUDIO)

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Stephanie Sandberg the new Executive Director of LPAC which is the country’s only political action committee that is committed to empowering and engaging LGBTQ women. Now in its sixth year LPAC builds the political power of LGBTQ women by electing candidates who champion LGBTQ rights, women’s equality and social justice issues. LPAC achieves its mission by increasing the political power and engagement of LGBTQ women and their allies. With the 2018 Midterm elections in November it is crucial to back candidates that support our LGBTQ values and stop the Trump administration’s attempt to erase the progress our LGBTQ community has achieved. LPAC has successfully raised millions of dollars to reach these goals and on June 20th at The Town Hall in NYC they will be presenting “Levity & Justice For ALL” a comedy benefit for LPAC. For the past three years LPAC has honored a true Champion of Change who embodies the values of their organization and this year they will be honoring equality activist and tennis legend Billie Jean King. Melissa Etheridge will be the special guest presenter and their stellar entertainment line up will include comedians Chaunté Wayans, Judy Gold, A. B. Cassidy, Pat Brown, Kate Clinton, the musical group Betty and more. The event is produced by Barbara Gaines, Bruce Roberts and Urvashi Vaid. We talked to Stephanie about what she hopes to accomplish at LPAC and her spin on our LGBTQ issues.

When asked how she sees our LGBTQ community moving forward in this Trump administration Sandberg stated, “First of all we’re not moving forward in terms of rights and protections, we’re moving backwards and with this administration doing everything from trying to ban trans soldiers in the military to literally erasing the community from federal websites not to mention implicitly or explicitly supporting states’ rights to discriminate against our community. That said, it’s fired us up; I’m fired up. I was thinking this morning if it wasn’t for Trump I wouldn’t be quite so angry when I get out of bed every morning and I’m sure a lot in the community share that. So I think we really need to use this moment to channel our energies towards stemming the anti-LGBTQ agenda of this administration and of course I think that LPAC is one terrific outlet for women in particular seeking to engage in that fight and that’s the only way we’re going to move forward.”

Stephanie Sandberg brings a diverse set of business, political and organizing experience to LPAC. Most recently she was Managing Director of OUT leadership the first global business providing companies ‘Return on Equality’ by helping them optimize their strategic LGBTQ inclusion efforts. Prior to her work with Out Leadership Stephanie served in a variety of executive leadership roles in media and consulting from the Los Angeles Times, Newsweek and the New Yorker to The New Republic where she served as President and Publisher. Funds raised by “Levity & Justice for All” on June 20th at The Town Hall in NYC will be used for political education, organizing and mobilization efforts to support LPAC endorsed candidates.
For More Info & Tix: teamlpac.com

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Creators Talk “Jewel's Catch One” Now On Netflix (AUDIO)

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with filmmaker C. Fitz and LGBTQ pioneer Jewel Thais-Williams about their fabulous documentary “Jewel's Catch One” that’s available on Netflix. The film tells the story of Jewel Thais-Williams and her legendary “Jewel’s Catch One” nightclub often referred to as the Studio 54 of the West. It was a hub for cutting edge fashion and music for over 42 years in LA before it closed last year. When Jewel opened her club in 1972 to all races and sexual orientations the club became a target of racism and homophobia especially during the AIDS crisis. She even turned her parking lot into a soup kitchen during that time to make sure people could get care when so many were being ostracized. Jewel became a civil rights leader and then ultimately a healer who has now saved countless lives through her Village Healthcare Foundation. The film is narrated by NCIS New Orleans’ CCH Pounder and features exclusive interviews with Sharon Stone, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Thelma Houston, Sandra Bernhard, Bonnie Pointer, Thea Austin, Jenifer Lewis and more as well as fabulous vintage footage that includes Madonna’s 2000 album release party where it was rumored that she learned to Vogue at the club. We talked to Fitz and Jewel about their inspirational must-see documentary and their spin on our LGBTQ issues.

When asked how she sees our LGBTQ community moving forward in a Trump administration Jewel stated, “United and on all fronts I feel is the key to it as well as being supportive of other groups. I think that we saw during the Civil Rights Protests and Campaign embrace every aspect of the human conditions and so we had folks joining from various and slightly different groups to support that cause and I feel if we can get that kind of support around our LGBTQ issues and we’re finding hope with millennials. We see them protesting things like Black Lives Matter and they might be Asian, Indian and Caucasian, whatever, this is the kind of support we need to face anything that is happening politically to us now. We all have to join together every facet of our Americana especially those people that are being discriminated against and of course we’re one of the main ones of that. If we all come together there’s power in numbers.”

Filmmaker C. Fitz met Jewel after volunteering to direct a 3-minute short for charity and realized there was a much greater story to tell. She has spent the last six years bringing “Jewel's Catch One” a labor of love and inspiration to fruition. Fitz is also a television and marketing veteran who through her creative agency “Dancing Pictures” has worked with many clients including HBO, Pepsi, FOX, Disney and Showtime where she has conceptualized and produced hundreds of international and domestic broadcast and social media campaigns. Early in her career Fitz was the producer behind the launch of the BRAVO series, “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” where she helped introduce the ground-breaking new format as an international brand. In the late 1990’s Jewel Thais-Williams at age 56, driven by an overwhelming need to make a difference, enrolled in Samra University of Oriental Medicine and received a Master of Science degree. She went on to pass the state and national boards and is currently a Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist at her new clinic at 4077 Pico Boulevard in Los Angeles, California under the same name Village Health Foundation. She opened her new clinic next door at 4077 Pico Boulevard under the same name Village Health Foundation.
For More Info: jewelscatchonedocumentary.com
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