Rep. Joe Kennedy & Transgender Advocates Talk Equality (AUDIO)

In this exclusive audio podcast Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ participated in a media conference call hosted by Congressman Joe Kennedy III and advocates fighting for transgender equality. The call followed an organizational meeting hosted by Kennedy with colleagues and representatives from organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, National Center for Transgender Equality, the Palm Center, PFLAG and Human Rights Campaign to discuss the Trump Administration's efforts to ban trans troops, erode protections for trans students and workers and take away health care for trans patients. Kennedy has been Chair of the Congressional LGBTQ Equality Caucus’s Transgender Equality Task Force since 2017 and was outraged at the Trump administration attempt to erase the identities of approximately 2 million people in the country who are transgender by proposing that the U.S. Health & Human Services (HHS) legally define sex under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to only be by the sex they are born with. Kennedy in his opening remarks talks about how the Trump administration from day one has been targeting our LGBTQ community especially members of our trans community including our youth in schools and strategically attacking trans soldiers by attempting to redefine our trans community out of existence.

First Congressman Kennedy introduced Luc Athayde-Rizzaro from the National Center for Transgender Equality, Policy Counsel who advocates to ensure transgender people can access life-affirming, nondiscriminatory health care at the federal and state level. Then we heard from Aaron Belkin, Founding Director of the Palm Center one of the most effective LGBTQ rights organizations in the United States who addressed the transgender military issue and more followed by Sharon McGowan, Lambda Legal, Chief Strategy Officer and Legal Director who talked about Lambda Legal’s efforts to resist any attempt by the Trump Administration or any other opponent of LGBTQ equality to roll back our community’s progress. Next we heard from Ian Thompson, American Civil Liberties Union, Senior Legislative Representative who works to advance the organization’s civil liberties and civil rights agenda in Congress and the executive branch by focusing on LGBTQ rights, HIV/AIDS and sex education. Thompson talked about the Amy Stevens Case twice delayed by US Supreme Court. Then David Stacy, Human Rights Campaign, Government Affairs Director talked about why the Equality Act should be a priority for the new Democratic Majority in the House of Representatives come 2019. Stacy leads HRC’s federal policy team including advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill and the executive branch. The call concluded with openly trans Diego Miguel Sanchez, PFLAG, Director of Advocacy, Policy & Partnerships who talked about the crisis facing our transgender youth in our school systems. Since 1973 PFLG has been advancing LGBTQ equality through its mission of support, education and advocacy. (Graphic Design by Richard Emmanuel.)

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Michael Petry Talks New Book “The Word Is Art” (AUDIO)

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Michael Petry, author, artist and Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art in London about his new book “The Word Is Art” that addresses how contemporary global artists incorporate text and language into their works that speaks to some of the most pressing issues of the 21st century. In the digital and online age words have become more important than ever with text becoming information and information striving to become a free form of expression. “The Word Is Art” looks at the work of a diverse range of artists including Annette Messager, Barbara Kruger, Cerith Wyn Evans, Christian Marclay, Christopher Wool, Chun Kwang Young, eL Seed, Fiona Banner, Ghada Amer, Glenn Ligon, Harland Miller, Jenny Holzer, Kay Rosen, Laure Prouvost, Martin Creed, Rachel Whiteread, Raymond Pettibon, Roni Horn, Tania Bruguera, Zhang Huan and many more interpreting how the digital and online age have made words more important than ever. “The Word Is Art” takes us on a fascinating and richly illustrated tour interpreting these trending global art forms. We talked to Michael about his inspiration for creating this book and his spin on our LGBTQ issues.

When asked what his personal commitment is to LGBTQ civil rights Petry stated, “I’m one of the ancients who’s been around fighting for LGBTQ rights since the early eighties and I’ve been involved in so many different ways over the years. I consider myself queer because I think that is a broader term that for me represents who I am and what I think and part of that commitment as a queer who is an artist and who also is an author and a curator is to try and bring queer artists to the foreground of the art world. We only have to think back a few years to realize that LGBTQ artists were very marginalized and that’s still the case for many people. In the LGBTQ movement every year I curate a Pride Exhibition in London which I really hope to introduce LGBTQ artists not only to that community but to the straight community and I work within all the structures that are available whether that’s museums or the corporate structure to get that recognition for LGBTQ people because I think what is at issue in the broader political sphere is this notion of fear. Fear of others and of course that fear is not limited to the general public. It’s also in the art world.”

Michael Petry has written a number of books, including “Installation Art”, “The Art of Not Making: the new artist/artisan relationship”, “Nature Morte: Contemporary Artists Reinvigorate the Still-Life Tradition” and his most recent work “The Word Is Art” all published by Thames & Hudson. In 2019 he will be speaking and exhibiting his work worldwide.
For More Info: michaelpetry.com

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