Gay Activist Tracy Baim Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson talks with Tracy Baim, Executive Producer of the new film “Hannah Free", starring Sharon Gless (Burn Notice, Queer as Folk, Cagney & Lacey), that’s receiving rave reviews globally. “Hannah Free” is a passionate lesbian drama about a lifelong love affair between an independent spirited out lesbian and the woman she calls home. Hannah and Rachel grew up as little girls in the same small Midwest town where traditional gender expectations eventually challenge their deep love for one another. Hannah becomes an adventurous, unapologetic lesbian and Rachel a strong but quiet homemaker. Weaving back and forth between past and present, the film reveals how the women maintained their love affair despite a marriage, a world war, infidelities, and family denial. When asked what it was like working with Sharon Gless, Baim stated, “Sharon Gless was absolutely phenomenal. She was such a team player. Anything we needed she was there for us. She helped us with fundraising by signing autographs and attending events. She’s been at a lot of the film festivals when her schedule permits. She’s just been incredible. I could never have asked for someone who’s such a team player and yet as well known as Sharon Gless. We were really lucky to get her to be attached to this film.” "Hannah Free" on Ripe Fruit Films is for distribution in worldwide theatrical and ancillary markets.

For More Info: hannahfree.com

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Tracy Baim is the publisher and managing editor of Chicago’s largest gay and lesbian publications. Windy City Media Group (WCMG) reaches 50,000 readers with its weekly newspaper Windy City Times (founded 1985), OUT!, Nightspots, and Identity. WCMG also produces Chicago’s oldest gay radio program, Windy City Queercast. Baim is founding co-chair of the Chicago Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, was recognized as one of Crain’s Chicago Business 40-Under-40 leaders, received the 2005 Studs Terkel Award, and is an inductee to Chicago’s Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame. Baim also served as vice co-chair of Gay Games VII; she also co-produced the 2008 event DVD.
For Info: windycitymediagroup.com

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Gay Activist Charles Robbins Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson talks with Charles Robbins, Executive Director/CEO of the Trevor Project, a non-profit organization that operates the only nationwide 24/7 suicide prevention helpline for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. The Trevor Project also provides lifesaving guidance to parents and educators in order to foster safe, accepting and inclusive environments for all youth, at home and at school. When asked what he would like to see accomplished in the Obama administration for our LGBT community, Robbins stated, “There are so many things that are on President Obama’s agenda. I think that we’re moving in the right direction. I don’t think there’s any one particular legislation. I think they’re all necessary. What we’re working on at The Trevor Project is we’re hoping there can be mandated suicide prevention education in high schools across America. The sad statistic is that suicide is the second leading death among college campuses. There are a lot of protection factors that need to be discussed in the classroom when youth are in high school about the warning signs of suicide; how to protect someone who is suicidal and what to do if you yourself happen to be suicidal.”

The Cracked Xmas event is The Trevor Project’s largest annual fundraiser that brings together top entertainers to support the organization’s programs including its free and confidential helpline, in-school workshops, community outreach, advocacy efforts and educational resources. This year Neil Patrick Harris will receive the Trevor Life Award and premier communications company AT&T Inc. will receive the Trevor Hope Award. The event will be held at The Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles on Dec. 6. “Neil Patrick Harris and AT&T have both provided significant support to The Trevor Project and the LGBTQ youth whom it serves,” said Robbins. “We applaud them for having the courage and conviction to set positive examples for young people and for inspiring them to take pride in themselves and each other.”

For Cracked XMAS Tix & Info: thetrevorproject.org

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Gay Activists Create New LGBT Emblem

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In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson talks with realist Richard Emmanuel who has designed a bold new emblem for LGBT Equality that’s available on apparel & gift items exclusively at the new online OUTTAKE™ EQUALITY STORE. The emblem consists of universal symbols. Two androgynous figures are meeting each other within the circle of the world. This creates a symbol of unity that is diverse with its differences, yet respectful of each person’s beliefs. The word “Equality” is boldly displayed with the words “LGBT Civil Rights.” This awesome design is empowering and a courageous symbol for our LGBT community; a symbol that reflects our strong commitment to equality. Emmanuel also states that we need to retake control of our language. He believes that the term “same-sex marriage” is language the rightwing created to degrade the issue of our relationships. As we all know sex has nothing to do with marriage. Instead our leaders should use the terminology “same-gender marriage.” He states “Hate is the word that is being used to drive a wedge in our culture. In the 1950’s we dealt with the racist doctrine of ‘Separate but Equal.’ What does separate but equal mean? This kind of hypocrisy has become too common in this country. We need to address the inequalities that have risen in our culture. It’s time we have a real discussion about our civil rights and about being civil to each other.”

Reverend Richard Emmanuel is 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 designed a bold new emblem for LGBT Equality that’s available on apparel, cups, tote bag, coasters & mouse pads exclusively at our new online OUTTAKE™ EQUALITY STORE.
...Originally Posted September 17th 2009.....

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Gay Activist Lee Swislow Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson talks with Lee Swislow, Executive Director of the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), about the defeat of Gay Marriage on Maine’s ballot referendum . This is a slippery slope when the majority votes away the rights of a minority. When asked about this turn of events Swislow stated, “As devastating as it was and I think going to the ballot on civil rights is never a good idea, I support that we also remember how much progress we have made and how many people over the last six years since the Goodridge decision have come to embrace marriage equality. I’m really heartened by the passion I saw not just among the LGBT community, but the non-gay folks who were waiting along with us for the results who had taken on this battle as their own.” President Obama has continued to state that he is in favor of repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). When asked if she thought he would follow through Swislow said, “He does say that he’s in favor of repealing DOMA, but there hasn’t been any indication that he’s willing to expend any political capital to do that. I think if Congress presented him with a repeal bill he would sign it, but I also haven’t seen signs that Congress is anxious to take this up any time soon. So although there is expressed support, I don’t think we can rely on anything coming out of Congress for the next few years.” GLAD continues its marriage equality and discrimination work throughout New England and is committed to moving forward with its partners in Maine.

Last March GLAD filed a lawsuit in the Federal District Court in Massachusetts challenging the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
For More Info: GLAD.org

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Gay Activist Alix Dobkin Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson talks with Alix Dobkin, Gay Activist and Feminist Music Icon. Alix began her music career in Greenwich Village in the early 60’s along with legends like Bob Dylan & Joni Mitchell. In the early 70’s she came out as the first lesbian performer of her day. Dobkin's new must-read memoir “My Red Blood” begins in post-war New York City growing up in a Communist family and rubbing elbows with radical left celebrities like Paul Robeson. In the 1950’s in the midst of the McCarthy Era she joined the Communist Party and offers readers a first-hand glimpse of daily life as a teenager living under FBI surveillance.

 When asked her thoughts about President Obama signing the Matthew Shepard Hate Crime Bill and what she would you like to see accomplished in this administration she stated, “I was delighted to see him signing that bill. That’s a wonderful thing. What would I like to see accomplished? His campaign promises for one thing. “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and the "Defense of Marriage Act," let’s get rid of them. Mostly is to equal out the income of the American population and let’s not have these crooks taking millions while single mothers, women and children and other kinds of people go hungry. Everyone knows it’s not right. So that’s one of my hopes that Obama will, and not just him, but this country will get better health care. I want single-payer, that’s what I want and that’s what most people I know want. That’s just some of the goals I want to see accomplished.”

For information where Ms. Dobkin will be appearing: AlixDobkin.com

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Gay Activist Rev. Steve Parelli Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson chats with Steve Parelli, Executive Director of Other Sheep, a multicultural ecumenical Christian ministry working worldwide for the full inclusion of LGBT people of faith within their respective faith traditions. Parelli’s current priority is to stop the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009 which will impose the death penalty and prison on the Ugandan LGBT community. He is urging the evangelical community to email their evangelical leaders. “Tell evangelical leaders like Rick Warren to tell the-largely-evangelical Ugandan people to STOP the bill. Why tell Rick Warren? Because of his endorsement of the widely acclaimed 2006 Zondervan Africa Bible Commentary in which a featured article entitled "Homosexuality" by a Nigerian evangelical leader supports no toleration for homosexuals in Africa and says homosexuals are no better than beasts. This is the evangelical talk in Africa and Rick Warren of the USA and John Stott of England and Douglas Carew of Kenya have endorsed it." Email Rick Warren...
On a personal note, Steve, a graduate of Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan, had served the Faith Baptist Church of Sparta, New Jersey, as senior pastor for ten years when in 1997 he chose to leave the ministry to make a new life with his partner, Jose. Prior to leaving the ministry, Steve was in reparative therapy with Joseph Nicolosi, "ex-gay" support groups, an international male mentoring group and spiritual counseling, all with the purpose of "overcoming" his homosexual attractions. After leaving his now ex-wife and four children and establishing himself in a gay relationship, Steve was accordingly defrocked by the First Baptist Church of Sinclairville, New York. On May 31, 2009, Steve was ordained by Rev. Nancy Wilson, Moderator of the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC). Steve and his spouse Jose were legally married in Sacramento, California, August 25, 2008. They make their home in the Bronx, New York.
For More Info: OTHER SHEEP

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Activist Cleve Jones on Gay Leadership

In the conclusion of this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson talks with veteran Gay Activist Cleve Jones about LGBT leadership in America. Recently Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest LGBT lobbying organization has come under fire for statements he made about the timeline for our LGBT civil rights. Congressman Barney Frank has also been criticized for statements he made that seem to be undermining LGBT grassroots efforts. Jones gives an historic retrospect of our LGBT movement dating back to the late seventies beginning with his work with Activist Harvey Milk. “ Something terrible happened to our movement. Something terrible happened to our leadership and that terrible thing was AIDS. In the late seventies this movement was growing. We were this early first generation movement that was just gaining power. Then we experienced the loss of Harvey Milk. We survived that. We began to grow in number and power and then we were hit with a pandemic.” Jones explains that during that time we lost an enormous number of leaders to AIDS and those who survived were required to create infrastructure to build services that the government failed to provide. Jones believes that this changed everything, “Our leaders now tend to be bureaucrats, they’re administrators of these massive programs. Their job is to keep the money flowing. These aren’t bad people, they’re good people. They are cautious by nature, conservative and focused by necessity on not to rock the boat so the money keeps coming. I find this frustrating. These people need to be there to do the work but they’re not the folks that should be devising our political strategies. For that we need visionaries. We need people who are willing to take risks and who are bold.”
Part 1: Gay Activist Cleve Jones Federal Agenda
More Info: clevejones.com

Equality Across America.org

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Gay Leader Robin McGehee Post March Plan

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson catches up with Robin McGehee, Co-Director of the National Equality March that took place in Washington D.C., to get her first hand perspective of this recent historic event. When asked what she thought the National Equality March accomplished for our LGBT community McGehee stated, “If anything it brought attention to the fight for full federal equality. I think that the show of support was amazing. Time Magazine came out with a number of over 200,000 people marched and I know that for me seeing a continual sea of people coming down Pennsylvania Avenue, that alone sent a very big message that we are demanding full federal equality in all fifty states.” President Obama addressed the Human Rights Campaign dinner the eve before the March. The speech was very passionate but redundant rhetoric of promises he has been making to our LGBT community since he was candidate Obama. When asked to comment about this McGehee said, “This is only the second president that has gone to the national dinner of HRC. I think we need to acknowledge that he is speaking to our populous. What he’s doing is just getting an A+ on the cliff notes version of our struggle. He’s getting a C- in my opinion in actually taking any kind of action to take care of those struggles.” Next step on their agenda will be to bring congressional district action teams together across the United States and provide information on how to lobby federal representatives about our issues such as the Defense of Marriage Act, (DOMA) Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) and a transgender inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). Pre-March Audio Interview w/ Activist Robin McGehee
For More Info: Equality Across America.org

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Gay Activist Robin McGehee Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Robin McGehee, Co-Director of the National Equality March taking place in Washington D.C. this weekend, provides Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson an insider’s view of this historic event. The National Equality March is organized by a new grassroots effort called “Equality Across America." According to McGehee, “Its main goal is to bring congressional district action teams together across the United States who have organized in their own districts to bring people to D.C. to stand up for full equality.” There will also be workshops offered on October 10th and 11th providing information on how to lobby your federal representatives about our issues such as the Defense of Marriage Act, (DOMA) Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) and a transgender inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). Among the speakers appearing will be Civil Rights Activist Julian Bond, President of the NAACP, and Hate Crime Activist Judy Shepard who has tirelessly worked to pass The Matthew Shepard Act named for her son who was tortured and killed in a hate-motivated crime in 1998. Also addressing the rally will be Dustin Lance Black, the Oscar Winner Screenwriter of “Milk”, DADT Activist Lieutenant Dan Choi, Activists Cleve Jones and Urvashi Vaid, Comedian Kate Clinton and many more. When asked what she thought the National Equality March would accomplish, McGehee answered. “It already accomplished what I wanted it to do and that’s to bring more visibility and attention to the struggles that our LGBT community faces.” For More Info: National Equality March

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