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Thursday, May 28, 2009

America's Road to Gay Marriage (Audio)















It took 10 years for gay activists led by Arline Isaacson, Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus, to pass gay marriage in Massachusetts. In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson discusses America's Road to Gay Marriage with Arline Isaacson as Massachusetts marks its fifth anniversary of the legalization of gay marriage. Isaacson brings clarity to the circumstances leading up to the historic Goodridge Decision. She revisits the behind the scene strategies that were implemented in order to succeed in this civil rights evolution. “We knew that if the ban went to the ballot in 2002, 2004, or 2006 - we would definitely have lost by a large margin. Had it gone to the ballot in 2008 - the odds might still have been stacked against us. We needed to delay and delay (procedurally in the legislature) until we had the votes to guarantee that it wouldn't go to the ballot” Isaacson states. When asked about Prop 8 she replied “We're not quite out of the woods just yet. Our opponents tasted blood with PROP 8. Now they want more. There is a possibility they'd come back to Massachusetts to try one more time. (They've discussed doing this.) Their thinking is that if they can win in 'oh so gay California' they can win in Massachusetts if it goes to the ballot.” With gay marriage about to pass in 6 states Isaacson replied, “Time is on our side. With the passage of time, we find increased support or at least acceptance of our marriage rights. People see how unthreatening it is to them and the younger demographic cohorts that support us are aging and with each passing year they vote more and more.”
OUTTAKE VOICES™: Massachusetts & Gay Marriage 6 Years Later
For More Info: mglpc.org







Dr. Sam Goldfarb & his husband Stephen Pepper were one of the first gay couples to be legally married in Massachusetts. We documented their marriage in our short film "OUTTAKE " which was narrated by Arline Isaacson. Listen to a recent audio interview with Goldfarb on married life & his thoughts about gay marriage in America...

Monday, May 25, 2009

Unzipped Media's Erotic Vision (Audio)









Edwin Seth Brown is Director of Business Development for Unzipped Media which consists of the most recognized multi-platform brands in the gay adult industry, including Men, Freshmen, and Unzipped magazines. In this exclusive audio interview, Brown talks about joining Unzipped Media after recently working with Berlin-based international men’s luxury magazine MATE and his recent appointment as Ambassador to Germany for the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA). Prior to his tenure at MATE, Brown worked for Unzipped Media’s former parent company, LPI Media, as part of the West Coast ad team. In his position at LPI he helped grow advertising sales for the company’s western territory. (Unzipped Media is now part of Regent Media. ) Brown got his start in gay media at Genre magazine, as well as
G Society
and In Los Angeles magazine. Brown began his career in entertainment as a modern dancer where he acquired his love for travel and adventure. “I think of these publications as ‘sexually forward,’” said Brown of Unzipped Media’s titles. “They share the beauty of masculinity, fun, and all the knowledge of today’s active male, helping us live a life with a healthy attitude. These publications are delivered to the public with style and polish, which will keep us in the forefront of history. We are the sexual record keepers for generations to come. We can celebrate our freedom through our expression, which is what makes a society great and healthy! For me, having fun is the key to my success; learning and caring about our customers gives me an advantage. I believe each day is a new adventure.” The Unzipped Media brands are available at newsstands and on the shelves of retailers including Barnes & Noble, Waldenbooks and Borders bookstores.







OUTTAKE VOICES on iTunes

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Hilary Duff Walks for HIV/AIDS (Audio)









Update: AIDS WALK NEW YORK RAISED $5.6 MILLION…:) The World's Largest AIDS Fundraising Event Attracted 45,000 Participants & the Results Defied Fundraising Expectations In Midst of Recession. The Opening Ceremony featured actress and singer Hilary Duff, Carson Kressley ("How to Look Good Naked," "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy"), Brooke Smith ("Grey's Anatomy," "The Silence of the Lambs") and Michael Urie ("Ugly Betty"). The crowd was energized as Broadway star Norm Lewis ("The Little Mermaid," "Les Miserables") sang "We Live on Borrowed Time" from his debut album "Here's to Life." Sarah Dash ("Labelle") performed an inspiring and emotional rendition of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "You'll Never Walk Alone," which closed the Opening Ceremony. Check OUT our audio interview as Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson discusses with Kenneth Cox, Director of Special Events at GMHC, the current challenges the organization faces in the treatment, prevention & education of HIV/AIDS in these challenging economic times. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is far from over, especially with the number of new cases among young Afro-American men who do not identify with being gay & bring the infection home to their wives. We talked about GMHC’s new campaign for Woman of Color: “We're Not Taking it Lying Down” that addresses this problem. There’s also an increase in HIV/AIDS among people living in poverty. Cox stated that their average client lives on an income of eleven dollars a day. Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) is a nonprofit, volunteer-supported & community-based organization committed to national leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS. They provide prevention & care services to more than 15,000 men, women & families that are living with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS in New York City & advocate for scientific, evidence-based public health solutions for hundreds of thousands worldwide. Their Mission is to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic & uplift the lives of all affected.










Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Clinton Speaks OUT on Gay Rights (Audio)








 “Let me just say how exciting it is not being able to keep up with all the gay things that are happening. When I started doing comedy (21 years ago) if something gay happened you could talk about it for 5 years.” In this audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson talks to gay political humorist Kate Clinton about her latest book “I Told You So” & the future of LGBT Civil Rights in America. This must-read book is a collection of hilarious, bittersweet & politically acute short essays that Kate has written for Huffington Post, the Advocate, numerous Blogs & exclusively for “I Told You So.” It’s an easy read & an honest time capsule of the last few years of American Politics concluding with the inauguration of President Obama. We also got Kate’s spin on Gay Marriage, DOMA, the Military’s DADT (Don’t Ask Don’t Tell), U.S. Representative Virginia Foxx's remarks calling Matthew Shepard’s death a hoax, the passing of the LGBT inclusive Federal Hate Crime Bill in the House, the fabulous work of openly gay Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin & what LGBT Civil Rights Ms. Clinton would like to see pass in 2009. Kate Clinton will be appearing all Summer @ the Crown & Anchor in Provincetown. If you can’t make it to the Cape to see her live pick up a copy of “I Told You So” & have a fabulous laugh OUT loud @ home.
Buy Book & More: KateClinton.com



DOWNLOAD INTERVIEW

OUTTAKE VOICES on iTunes





 





Thursday, May 7, 2009

HIV/AIDS Plays on in America...(Audio)










If HIV/AIDS was getting as much attention around the world as Swine Flu maybe we would be further along on the cure. In this audio interview, Emmy Award winning Producer & Gay Activist Charlotte Robinson chats with Keith Orr of AIDS Action Committee in Boston about the present HIV/AIDS situation in America & their annual AIDS walk fundraiser that takes place Sunday. June 7th. AIDS Action Committee provides free confidential services to 2,500 men, women & children living with HIV/AIDS. Founded in 1983, AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts is a non-profit, community-based health organization whose mission is to stop the HIV/AIDS epidemic by preventing new infections & optimizing the health of those already infected. Keith Orr is also the well-known Boston radio Co-Host of WFNX Radio's award-winning "One in Ten," the nation's first LGBT radio program. Orr joined AIDS Action Committee as Marketing Manager, focused on increasing visibility & support for agency initiatives to gay men. According to Orr there is a significant rise in new infections among young gay men & many new cases of HIV /AIDS in America are occurring amongst young Afro American males who do not identify being gay but instead as MSM, men who have sex with men. Interestingly, Obama recently named Dr Eric Goosby as the new U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. Goosby, who is straight & Afro American replaces gay physician Mark Dybul, who was appointed by President George W. Bush & who has been credited with putting in place the multi-billion dollar U.S. Global AIDS program initiated by Bush & approved by Congress. For more information about the Boston AIDS Walk: aidswalkboston.org












Sunday, May 3, 2009

LGBT Hate Crime Bill Passes US House



(Video) Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin made this statement on the House Passage of H.R. 1913. The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 which passed the House Wednesday by a bipartisan vote of 249-175. Congresswoman Baldwin said, “The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act gives state, local & federal law enforcement authorities the necessary resources & tools to combat violent crimes based on prejudice & intended to terrorize an entire group or community. Equally important, this legislation sends the clear message that hate-based violence targeting women, gays & lesbians, transgender individuals & people with disabilities will no longer be tolerated. Hate crimes demand a strong, federal response because this country was founded on the premise that all people should be free to be who they are – without fear of violence. This legislation adds the categories of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity & disability to existing protections for crimes based on race, color, religion & national origin. We passed this bill not to provide a group of people with “special protection,” but because of a history of heinous, violent crimes intended to terrorize individuals who share these characteristics. I’m gratified by my colleagues’ bipartisan support for this measure & look forward to swift Senate passage and Presidential signing in the coming months.”



Congresswoman Baldwin Audio Excerpt
For More Info: Baldwin Archive Interview

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

2012 What an Awakening....(Audio)










In this exclusive audio interview, Charlotte Robinson discusses the 2012 phenomenon with Richard Emmanuel, the founder of The Church, a non-profit organization in East Gloucester, Massachusetts, which is dedicated to raising individual & collective consciousness & increasing spiritual awareness. As we approach the year 2012 there are so many theories from Armageddon & Doomsday predictions to a Religious Apocalypse. Hollywood is providing major disaster films with 2012 to be released this November. The government in preparation for this event has been launching millions of dollars worth of satellites to monitor the Sun. They’ve also spent millions to mortify equipment to withstand a possible solar blackout. Ancient Mayan astronomers were aware of this rare alignment of the Earth, Sun & center of the Milky Way on the winter solstice December 21 2012. According to this belief, the alignment is tied to the precession of the equinoxes & signals a transition from one world age to another. It also marks the end of their calender. A New Age interpretation of this transition suggests that during this time, the planet & its inhabitants may undergo a physical or spiritual transformation rather than an Armageddon. Exacerbating this issue is a virtual deluge of often-confusing & overwhelming information. Emmanuel brings clarity to the 2012 phenomenon by addressing the emotional & physical ramifications it could have on our changing world. More Info: TheChurch.org



Sunday, April 26, 2009

Obama's Gay Agenda? (Audio)












“Meet in the Middle 4 Equality”, the California LGBT group that is organizing a statewide rally the first Saturday after the California Supreme Court Prop 8 decisions, is launching a national letter writing campaign aimed at Barack & Michelle Obama. Since President Obama has been in office the gay word has not publicly passed from his lips. In this exclusive audio interview, Charlotte Robinson presents the conclusion of her two part series with Robin McGehee, lead organizer of Meet in the Middle 4 Equality, who compassionately states we should take the necessary steps to bring national awareness to our LGBT issues. McGehee is urging our community & their allies to write letters to the first family stressing the importance of passing national legislation for equal rights, benefits & protection for our LGBT families. Perhaps when the Obamas read our stories they will be compelled to address our basic civil rights. The next step is camping OUT @ the White House this summer to bring attention to promises Obama made during his campaign but has yet to act on. UPDATED MAY 1th 2009: Obama changed Civil Rights on the White House website What he had stated "While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect." Eloquently said but it has been removed!! Updates to Come... For More Info: Meet in the Middle 4 Equality














Sunday, April 19, 2009

Gay Activists Unite California (Audio)









In the first installment of this two part audio interview, Charlotte Robinson talks to Robin McGehee, Lead Organizer of Meet in the Middle 4 Equality, a California LGBT organization, about their rally scheduled for the first Saturday after the California Supreme Court issues its ruling on the Proposition 8 cases, win or lose. In this statewide response to the California Supreme Court’s decision on Proposition 8, the measure which bans gay marriage in the State, LGBT activists from across California will “meet in the middle” by journeying to Fresno to march & rally for LGBT equality. Californians statewide will come together in unity for freedom. The march which begins in Selma, California is organized by McGehee, a Fresno-based Lesbian mother who was forced out of her position as PTO president after speaking out against Proposition 8, & joined by a coalition of more than 50 organizations representing the LGBT, faith, labor & progressive communities, including Courage Campaign, California Faith for Equality, FAIR, Equal Roots, Equality Action Now, Equality California, Gay Straight Alliance Network, Honor PAC, Jordan Rustin Coalition, Marriage Equality USA, One Struggle One Fight, San Diego Equality Coalition, SF Pride, Unite Here & others. From every corner of the state, every California county will be represented as they stand for fair & equal treatment for LGBT citizens.