Gay Activist Phil Siegel Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Phil Siegel, Producer of “Coming Out in the 1950s: Stories of Our Lives” a new 14 minute video, as part of the Pye/Harris Legacy Project. In the video, three teen journalists interview gay elders about their coming out experiences during the McCarthy era when there was no visible gay community. Stories include Hadley Hall, an ROTC member who was outed and summarily discharged, Ron Rebholz, an academic who gave up a promising relationship to pursue an education because of the fear he experienced if the relationship continued, and Phyllis Lyon on her experiences founding of the first lesbian organization in America, the Daughters of Bilitus.

We talked to Siegel about his 35 year commitment to LGBT civil rights. Recently the Obama Administration decided not to appeal Section 3 of DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act. Section 3 applies to federal benefits and was found unconstitutional by a Federal Judge in Boston. Phil lives in California, where Prop 8 was also found unconstitutional and yet gay couples are still being denied marriage. When asked what his spin was on all this Siegel stated, “ I think this is like a huge baby step and I’ll tell you why. I love the idea that we’re going in this direction but I think that marriage on a state level is a very nice trophy to have on your mantel…My partner is Spanish and he wants to immigrate here. If I were straight we could get married tomorrow and he could be here. I can go to Spain (where gay marriage has been legal since 2005) in a Catholic country and I would have a green card and healthcare for the rest of my life and believe me that sounds appealing. The truth is we are not sure of where we will end up but the decision does not have to be based on workability and immigration if this were a federal law.”

Phil Siegel is also a publicist and has offered his services to national projects like the AIDS Memorial Quilt Tour in 1988. He also served as Co-Communications Director for the 2009 National Equality March on Washington D.C. He was on the founding board of Under One Roof that raised over $8 million for AIDS organizations and sat on the board of the AIDS Emergency Fund and the Breast Cancer Emergency Fund. He has lived in San Francisco for nearly 30 years but spends much of his time with his Spanish partner in Barcelona.

“Coming Out in the 1950s: Stories of Our Lives” has just been made available for gay teens to learn about the history of the gay community.
For More Info: Pye/HarrisProject.org

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Gay Activist Richard Emmanuel Speaks OUT

UPDATE: OUTTAKE BLOG™: Is DOMA Headed to Congress?
In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Rev. Richard Emmanuel, Founder of The Church, a non-profit organization in East Gloucester, MA, which is dedicated to raising individual and collective consciousness and increasing spiritual awareness. Emmanuel, a visionary and dedicated political activist, has a very truthful and honest spin on the Obama administration and the reality of the future of our LGBT Civil Rights.

In the aftermath of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” being ruled unconstitutional in federal court, the Obama Administration continues to appeal the Log Cabin Republicans vs. The United States of America decision despite the fact that ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ has been repealed and signed into law. When asked what his thoughts are about this Emmanuel stated, “ This is the illusion of due diligence. We’re fed these illusions that something is happening. This process of ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’, that was a stupid solution when Clinton came up with it. And how many hard core people screamed about it and said ‘This is a ridiculous settlement.’ It is now, as it was back then, and just by keeping it in this limbo state of people still talking about ‘well we’re making the transition,’ this is the carrot being dangled in front of the donkey. As long as you’re pulling the wagon that’s what they want you to do. And that’s why the subject is still there.”

Emmanuel also addressed gay marriage and DOMA, the Defense of Marriage Act. Section 3 of DOMA which applies to federal benefits that was found unconstitutional by a Federal Judge in Boston. Prop 8 which was also found unconstitutional in federal court is now headed to the California Supreme Court once again. As we wait for the outcome of these federal actions our LGBT families whether married, domestic partners, in a civil union, or legal strangers under our particular state's law, are denied 1,138 federal rights of marriage that all heterosexual families enjoy. Our LGBTQ teens are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers and Emmanuel gives his insight on this heartbreaking trend.

Richard Emmanuel is a provocateur who creates both concept iconography and media assemblages in 2d, 3d, and internet media. His work is an exploration of consciousness with great emphasis drawn from the ancient civilizations on this planet and the “aboriginal dream” which spawned these ancient narratives. The practical use of his concepts and “designed environments” has been used in international corporate communications and exhibits. A recent show at the Baltimore Visionary Art Museum used three of his works to express the concepts expressed in nihilism.

Richard understands that the greatest task is to teach each generation the quest for “what is truth” Emmanuel sees the path and agrees with the greatest of ancient teachers… that is…“one can only point the way” … and above all “know thyself.”
For More Info: TheChurch.org

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Gay Ally Josie Cotton Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Pop Diva Josie Cotton about her new CD “Pussycat Babylon” which includes a danceable remake of her controversial 1982 hit "Johnny Are You Queer?" "Johnny Are You Queer?" was the first time the word ‘queer’ appeared in a Top 40 song. Cotton was then lambasted by the religious right who raised such a controversy back in the 80’s, that her record company canceled the video shoot the night before it was scheduled. The good news is in celebration of her new album “Pussycat Babylon” she’s running a Youtube contest asking fans to make their own “Johnny Are You Queer?” video. They’re awarding $2k in cash prizes to a handful of winners. “Basically I thought everyone would like cash instead of a stuffed animal or something,” Josie said.

Cotton lives in California. When asked what her reaction is to Prop 8 being overturned and found unconstitutional and yet gay couples are still being denied marriage Josie stated, “You know I just found it outrageous. They continue to overturn a variety of things in California when it’s been passed as law and this I find reprehensible. You know we call this ‘the land of the free’ and I don’t know why it excludes ‘the pursuit of happiness’ by people who are in love. I was very upset by it. I don’t know why it is such a problem for some people. I really don’t get that.”

Josie Cotton spent a year in the studio making “Pussycat Babylon” with the help of legendary keyboardist Paul Roessler, who co-produced the record with Josie. Other notable contributing artists are Princess Frank on drums, Black Flag Kira Roessler on bass and Dead Kennedys producer Geza X on guitar.
For Contest Info & More: JosieCotton.com

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UK Gay Activist Colin Fallesen Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Colin Fallesen, CEO & Creative Director of the UK online network Queer Channels on Demand or QUOD.tv. Recently QUOD.tv launched a syndicated news service Pink Sixty with Pink Paper UK. Pink Sixty is the world's only lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual TV news bulletin that delivers the latest LGBT global news every day. Fallesen stated, “The prime aim of it is to bring gay and lesbian stories to a worldwide audience especially in areas where access to these kind of stories is difficult to get as in Arab states and Africa.”

When asked what his reaction is to the snail pace for LGBT civil rights in America, Colin stated, “It’s very difficult for the US. It’s such a large country and from the perspective of an outsider it has a very rightwing lean generally, both socially and living government. Obama is now President which is the most amazing step forward for America and a step forward for civil rights of gay people but also for other minorities even immigrants living in the country illegally now. He’s kind of really stepping up and demanding respect for everybody which is just the most amazing thing. We’re all happy to see that. It’s very difficult for the US, I think it always has been, to find a pace to move forward quickly because a lot of it relies on social change and when you have a very core rightwing part of your country, to get to those people and to get them to change their attitudes is almost impossible. So it just takes time.”

QUOD.tv started life as The Queer Channel in 2005 after winning the Best New Channel proposition at London's annual Digital Channels Conference organized by Broadcast magazine and their publisher's EMAP. Business partners Colin Fallesen and Richard Gordon acquired two more business partners, one from Channel 4 and the other from Channel 5, bringing a finance director and business affairs manager to the team. Fallesen has over 15 years design, branding and marketing experience in the broadcast TV industry and Gordon has 12 years experience at the BBC, Red Bee Media and at Channel 10 Australia.
For Info About QUOD.tv & Pink Sixty: QUOD.tv

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Gay Activists Valentine’s Day Action

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!
In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Robin McGehee, Director of GetEQUAL and Molly McKay, Media Director of Marriage Equality USA, for a Gay Marriage update and about joining forces for a very important Valentine's Day Action. Since 2001, Marriage Equality USA chapters have engaged in annual marriage license counter actions to show the discrimination that is enforced every day against our LGBT community. Whether states have gay marriage, domestic partnerships, civil unions, or without any legal protections under their state's laws, all gay couples are denied the 1,138 federal rights of marriage. This Valentine’s Day action is an opportunity for our LGBT community to bring attention to this travesty and participate by going to their county clerks throughout America and requesting marriage licenses on February 14, 2011.
When asked how this collaboration came about McGehee stated, “From the GetEQUAL perspective we are in agreement that this nonviolent and civil disobedience action is going to illuminate for the community, not only locally in your own city, but if you can create a national narrative with multiple different cities and states taking action on Valentine’s Day by going into marriage county clerks offices and requesting a marriage license and introducing yourself to the staff that’s there and also to the (heterosexual) people who are there to get married and highlighting for them the discrimination, essentially we are producing the “lunch counter” moment. There are also people who are interested in having sit-ins and facing possible risk of arrest because they are unwilling to leave to highlight the discrimination. No matter where you fall in the spectrum from the person who doesn’t want to risk arrest to the person who does want to take that risk to highlight discrimination, the benefit is that people are taking action. As long as we are together in concert working toward highlighting discrimination at some point it will be the clarion call that cannot be denied. That is what I watched and witnessed from Molly and Marriage Equality USA for years, so when she called and asked if we could join forces together I didn’t hesitate because it just felt like a good fit.”

When asked what they hoped to accomplish with this action, McKay stated, “Ideally this is an opportunity for us to be in every local paper, every local TV and radio station in the area where an action takes place. It is important to be able to tell the local stories and for the people to hear from real-life people who are impacted by marriage discrimination and to have pictures of our families and have stories of how the inability to marry has impacted us. It is also an opportunity for our straight allies to come out and speak in support of marriage equality. So it’s really an opportunity to put a very personal message and face on this issue.”

We also addressed DOMA, (the Defense of Marriage Act) and Prop 8 which were both found unconstitutional in federal court. With public opinion polls showing that America favors gay marriage, we urge President Obama, Congress and all states with discriminatory laws on their books to stand for justice and equality for all people, as the Constitution requires, and work together to uphold the American tradition of fairness and equality by ending marriage discrimination.
For Info to Join the Action: equalityevents.ning.com

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Gay Activist Josh Rosenzweig Speaks OUT

OUTTAKE BLOG™: Was Mona Lisa a Drag Queen?
In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Josh Rosenzweig host of “Just Josh” which made its worldwide television debut January 28th on here! TV and on here! Online. The show is filmed on location throughout New York City where Josh gives the traditional talk show format a new twist. From celebrity interviews to premiere VIP events, Josh brings his own brand of humor and his intense love of New York City to the small screen, treating the audience to a unique and entertaining spin on pop culture. The premier episode features an in-depth interview with writer, actor and drag legend Charles Busch. Additionally, Josh explores the work of celebrity photographer Johnny Rosza, currently being featured at New York’s Christopher Henry Gallery, and visits the trendy Alias restaurant.

When asked what he would like to see happen in 2011 for LGBT civil rights, Josh stated, “That all states pass marriage equality laws, for sure. And really in a general way I would like to see the continual visibility of powerful, successful, happy, gay men and (gay) women. I think that one of the things I know that stood in the way, that was a real hurdle for me to overcome was with my own mother and father, who are very traditional liberals not conservative at all but very liberal, sort of New York intellectual Jews, but still they thought that being gay was a road of unhappiness. There was just no possible way for you to be happy. And you know what? You can live and be successful and you can be admired and you can achieve great things personally and achieve great things spiritually and you can achieve great things professionally and still be openly gay. Be yourself, that’s the message. And that’s what I hope for 2011. We just keep moving forward in that direction.”

We had an opportunity to talk about “The Kids Are All Right”, the torch bearer for gay visibility at this year's Academy Awards and who would be on Josh’s guest wish list like David Bowie, Meryl Streep and gay icons like Bette Midler and Madonna. Celebrities that will be appearing in upcoming shows include rock legends Duran Duran, screen beauty Isabella Rossellini, Emmy Award nominee Molly Shannon, Tabatha’s Salon Takeover star Tabatha Coffey and New York staples Sherry Vine and Joey Arias.
For More Info: www.heretv.com/Just_Josh/about

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Gay Activist Amy Sueyoshi Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Amy Sueyoshi, co-chair of the Board of Directors of GLBT Historical Society and co-curator of the new GLBT History Museum in San Francisco. The museum which had its grand opening on January 13th is featuring two debut exhibitions. In the main gallery, “Our Vast Queer Past: Celebrating GLBT History,” and in the front gallery, “Great Collections of the GLBT Historical Society Archives.”

When asked how The GLBT History Museum came about Sueyoshi stated, “The GLBT History Museum has been one of several goals the GLBT Historical Society has been working towards. We’ve always had exhibits along side our historical society office in the archives but this is the first time we secured a separate museum space in the Castro for a significant amount of time. We’re the first in the nation and the second in the world. It’s a remarkable achievement for us 25 years after the founding of the GLBT Historical Society started as a small grassroots community organization run entirely by volunteers in the midst of the AIDS crisis in the early eighties. At that time gay men’s belongings were being thrown out with complete disregard and a group of folks decided it was important to honor these young men’s lives and to preserve a history that had been frequently seen as shameful and irrelevant. The GLBT Historical Society’s primary goal has always been to preserve queer history to form an archive. Through the GLBT History Museum we’re now able to share this very important history to a broader audience.”

Located in San Francisco in the heart of the Castro district at 4127 18th Street, the museum includes 1,600 square feet of gallery and program space to create a museum as rich, diverse and surprising as the LGBT community itself. Whether gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or straight, visitors are sure to be moved, enlightened and entertained. This choice location can accommodate tens of thousands of tourists every year who come to San Francisco in search of LGBT culture. The GLBT History Museum joins the Schwules Museum, the queer museum founded 25 years ago in Berlin, as one of only two stand-alone, full-scale museums devoted to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history. A number of other LGBT archives and libraries will also offer periodic exhibitions at The GLBT History Museum. (Photo by Mia Nakano)
For More Info: www.glbthistory.org

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Gay Ally Patti Austin Speaks OUT

 

 

 

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Grammy winning music icon Patti Austin about issues close to Ms Austin’s heart and her new CD entitled "Sound Advice".

Patti Austin lives in California where Prop 8 was found unconstitutional. When asked what her feelings are about LGBT civil rights Austin stated, “I wish that people would put more emphasis on how they’re treating themselves because we have a lot of haters walking around. It takes a lot of time to hate and it takes a lot of time away from you dealing with your own issues. When you worry about what somebody else’s sexuality is, what somebody else’s political proclivity is, instead of trying to figure out what yours is, and try to hone in on that and make that work, and taking the energy to hate on somebody else because of the way they want to live their life is foolish, absolutely foolish and sad. People need to be allowed to live and grow and be who they are. And if what they are doing is not effecting you, I don’t understand the concern or even purpose behind the concern.”

Austin also reflects on the one year anniversary of "We Are The World 2" recording/video for Haiti Relief which she co-produced with Executive Producers Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie. Patti Austin has been performing since she was four years old and was discovered by Dinah Washington and mentored by her now "godfather" Quincy Jones. She was later known as the "Queen of Jingles" and then quickly transitioned to the top of the Billboard charts with classics that include "Baby Come to Me" and "How Do You Keep The Music Playing". Whether performing in the pop, contemporary jazz or straight-ahead jazz world, Patti leaves her vocal stamp on every note her voice touches. With 9 Grammy nominations and a recent Grammy win for her revered "Avant Gershwin" recording, Patti Austin proudly reigns amongst music's elite. Her eagerly anticipated new pop CD, entitled "Sound Advice" release date is January 25th.
For More Info: PattiAustin.com

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Gay Ally Robin Bronk Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Robin Bronk, CEO of The Creative Coalition. The Creative Coalition is the leading national, nonprofit, nonpartisan social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment industry. This is the organization founded in 1989 by prominent figures in the creative community, including actors Alec Baldwin, Ron Silver, Christopher Reeve, Susan Sarandon, Blair Brown and Stephen Collins. The Creative Coalition educates and mobilizes leaders in the arts community on issues of public importance, specifically in the areas of First Amendment rights, arts advocacy and public education.

Over the past few months there’s been a great deal of media coverage about the fact that LGBTQ teens are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. Sadly numerous LGBTQ teens have taken their own lives after facing bullying incidents. When asked how can we turn this around and reach these kids, Bronk stated, “One of the things that The Creative Coalition does is we’re a real proponent of using the arts to advocate, to educate, to activate and to motivate citizens; whether it’s teens, kids or adults on issues. So one of the things from our toolbox is that we’d certainly advocate and be supportive of any campaign that utilizes the arts and entertainment to promote this very important social welfare issue. I would encourage your listeners to email their favorite television programs. Have the television programs take up storylines about this. Encourage the Ad Council to put their dollars and their airtime behind public campaigns that address this. We know that entertainment can move the needle. And so I would encourage listeners to support campaigns that originate in the entertainment and arts world.”

The Creative Coalition is a strong presence at the Sundance Film Festival that takes place January 20th-30th. They conduct panels, seminars, and two very special events. On Sunday evening, January 23rd, The Creative Coalition and SELF Magazine will gather leaders in film and creative arts to celebrate and honor influential women of the industry at the Tribute to Women Who Make Women Look Good on Film. On Monday January 24th at Sundance The Creative Coalition will present the Spotlight Initiative Awards. Those accepting awards will include the cast and writer/director of Margin Call, an enthralling thriller featuring an all-star ensemble cast set in the high-stakes world of the financial industry. The film was written and directed by J.C. Chandor and stars Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Mary McDonnell, with Demi Moore and Stanley Tucci. Liv Tyler, Ellen Barkin are being honored and Wednesday TCC announced that Oscar winning actor Alan Arkin will receive a 2011 Spotlight Initiative Award. Isabella Rossellini (Animals Distract Me) and Maria Cuomo Cole (Living for 32) also will be accepting awards for their short films. Both shorts and Mr. Arkin’s film (The Convincer) are featured selections in the upcoming Sundance Film Festival.

The Creative Coalition has produced a must-see film about their important work called POLIWOOD directed by Barry Levinson. For the next 30 days a special sale of the acclaimed film which is available on DVD, will benefit several national charity organizations including The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, PSI Youth Aids, The National Education Association’s Read Across America, HELP USA, The Pennsylvania State University, Blue Star Families, The Veterans Healing Initiative, Artists for a New South Africa, The African Medical and Research Foundation, The Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center and Being Alive San Diego.
For More Info: www.thecreativecoalition.org

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