Teen Actress Abigail Breslin Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with actress Abigail Breslin in the conclusion of our five part series of celebrity chats from the Provincetown International Film Festival. Abigail has come a long way since her Oscar nominated role as LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE. In the title role of JANIE JONES, Breslin plays opposite one of our favorite actors, Alessandro Nivola. Based on a true story this moving film was written and directed by David M. Rosenthal. JANIE JONES is about Ethan (Nivola), a struggling musician content with his on-the-road rock-and-roll lifestyle and his much younger girlfriend Iris (Brittany Snow). He has his life turned upside down with the arrival of a former groupie Mary Ann Jones (Elisabeth Shue) who informs him that he has a daughter. Mary Ann is headed for rehab leaving him with the responsibility of raising Janie (Breslin), a shy but talented aspiring musician herself. The two embark on a road trip of music, discovery and father-daughter bonding. We talked to Breslin about working with such a stellar cast, her rock band CABB that she formed with her friend Cassidy Reif and more.

LGBTQ teens are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. We continue to have numerous teens taking their own lives after facing bullying incidents. Being a teen herself we asked what advise she would have for these kids. Abigail stated, “You know I think that in terms of bullying I don’t think anyone should ever be picked on for anything. You know, just treat everyone the same, I think that is so important. I don’t get why anyone should ever be bullied, you know just treat everyone the same is really important.”

Tribeca Film released JANIE JONES October 28th theatrically and on Comcast On Demand.
Listen to Part One with Kathleen Turner
Listen to Part Two with John Waters
Listen to Part Three with Albert Maysles
Listen to Part Four with Actress Jackie Monahan
For More Info: janiejonesmovie.com

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Gay Activist Sarah Schulman Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with gay historian, playwright and award-winning writer Sarah Schulman about her most recent must-read novel THE MERE FUTURE. Set in the not-too-distant future in New York City THE MERE FUTURE is about how the city has morphed into an idealized version of itself as the result of what the newly elected mayor calls The Big Change. Rent is cheap, homelessness is over and everyone works in marketing. Schulman invents a literature that reflects the lives we live right now while being funny, sexy and openhearted. With wit and provocative social commentary THE MERE FUTURE blows literary conventions right out of the water in this intriguing novel.

When asked what her personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights, Schulman stated, “Actually I’m not interested in civil rights. I’ve spent my whole life as part of what use to be called the Gay Liberation Movement, which was an idea of transforming a society so that human beings have more freedom of movement and more freedom of expression. I find that the civil rights agenda, first of all it hasn’t succeeded, it also has been very limited. So in arenas in which we are acting exactly like straight people we do get some kind of nods. For example certain states do allow certain kinds of marriage laws but of course there are no federal rights. So when we’re in arenas where we’re very different than them (heterosexuals), in which we would need for example a federal antidiscrimination bill, then we can’t make any progress at all. So in a way the ‘rights’ agenda has channeled us into a very very narrow path and we’ve loss sight of our larger goals.”

In 1987 Schulman joined ACT UP. She and her producing partner of 25 years Jim Hubbard have produced of a feature length documentary UNITED IN ANGER: A History of ACT UP, directed by Hubbard. The documentary uses archival footage and interviews from Hubbard and Schulman's ACT UP Oral History Project to tell the story of the AIDS activist organization and how they used direct action to transform the AIDS crisis. The film will have its world premier at a major film festival (TBA) in Winter 2012. Sarah is also a distinguished Professor of the Humanities at the City University of New York, College of Staten Island and a Fellow at the New York Institute for the Humanities at New York University. She is currently on THE MERE FUTURE book tour appearing Friday Oct 14th at 7:30P at Women and Children First, Chicago. Saturday Oct 22nd at 10A American Studies Association, Baltimore. Thursday Oct 27th at 7P Lincoln Nebraska annual LGBT dinner. Tuesday Nov 8th at 4P Columbia University Oral History Project, Saturday November 12th Viraroche 7P San Francisco, Monday Nov 14th Pegasus Books, Berkeley, Friday Nov 18th 6P MIX Festival 45 Bleecker St. NYC.

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Kids in the Hall Scott Thompson on Bullying

 

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with actor/comedian Scott Thompson who we first fell in love with as one of the first openly gay characters on the hit TV show “Kids in the Hall”. “The Kids in the Hall’ was a Canadian sketch comedy group formed in 1984 consisting of comedians Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald, Bruce McCulloch, Mark McKinney and Scott Thompson. Their television show known for its cross-dressing antics and infinite supply of bold gay characters ran from 1988 to 1994 on CBC in Canada and 1989 to 1995 on CBS and HBO. Scott talks about what it was like being one of the first openly gay characters on network television and today’s epidemic of LGBTQ teen bullying.

LGBTQ teens are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. We continue to have numerous teens taking their own lives after facing bullying incidents. When asked what advise he would have for these kids, Thompson stated, “I remember when I was a kid absolutely I felt useless and I hated being gay but I totally fought off those feelings of worthlessness and suicide. It definitely was in my mind when I was a kid. What blows my mind is today the kids have it I think so much better and they’re still having a hard time. I think that is quite sad but at the same time, I think about what bullying is. I don’t believe you can have a world free from bullying. I think that is an impossible dream and I think to do that there would be so much social conditioning that you would have to do that I don’t think it’s worth it. I think you just have to, got to, develop a thick skin. The truth is once you get into the real world, it’s not GLEE! It really isn't... Here’s something about the whole bullying campaign. Those boys that are beating up kids and stuff, they don’t care what adults say. What you really need is people like The Rock to say it. Those kids need to hear The Rock and rappers and 50 Cent, they’re the ones that those boys need to hear.”

Scott Thompson is currently touring with Kevin McDonald in “Two Kids One Hall”.

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Malcolm Lazin on LGBT History Month 2011

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Malcolm Lazin, Founder and Executive Director of Equality Forum. For the past 6 years every October Equality Forum coordinates “LGBT History Month” honoring LGBT leaders and icons. Each day in October, an Icon is featured with a video, biography, bibliography, downloadable images and other educational resources. The 2011 honorees are: Kye Allums – Athlete, John Ashbery – Poet, Alison Bechdel – Cartoonist, John Berry – Gov. Official, Dustin Lance Black – Screenwriter, Keith Boykin – Commentator, Rita Mae Brown – Author, Dan Choi – Activist, Aaron Copland – Composer, Alan Cumming – Actor, Rabbi Denise Eger, Lady Gaga – Singer, Michael Guest – Diplomat, Neil Patrick Harris – Actor, Daniel Hernandez Jr. – Hero, Langston Hughes – Author, Frida Kahlo – Artist, David Kato – Ugandan Activist, Michael Kirby – Supreme Court Justice, Victoria Kolakowski – Judge, Dave Kopay – Athlete, Ricky Martin – Singer, Amélie Mauresmo – Athlete, Constance McMillen – Activist, Ryan Murphy – Writer/Director, Dan Savage – Journalist, Amanda Simpson – Government Official, Wanda Sykes – Comedian, Lilli Vincenz – Gay Pioneer, Virginia Woolf – Author and Pedro Zamora – AIDS Activist & MTV Personality.

LGBTQ teens are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. We continue to have numerous teens taking their own lives after facing bullying incidents. When asked what advise he would have for these kids, Lazin stated, “One of the things that we’re particularly pleased with was that last year there were over one thousand generators to LGBT history Month and the top 1/10 percent or top ten was The Trevor Project. So youth are coming to this site, they’re finding role models, finding empowerment and life affirming resources. What we’re suggesting is particularly GSA’s (Gay Straight Alliances) but more so to college students is “Make It Better.” I certainly applaud “It Gets Better’ but “Make It Better” really says take on the responsibility yourselves. So we’re asking colleges and universities around the country to download resources from LGBT History Month and create an LGBT History Month 2011 exhibit, particularly in a visible place on your campus like a college student union building. Those are the types of things that make change and certainly if anyone looks at this list of 31 icons for this year they’re hugely impressive and make a civil rights statement as to our national and international contributions.”

The videos are offered without charge to educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, for profit companies and the public. 2011 marks the 6th anniversary of LGBT History Month, featuring 186 Icons from 2006 to 2011.
For More Info: lgbthistorymonth.com

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The First LGBT Music Video Awards

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with RightOutTV producer Marlee Walchuk, who with her wife Tully Callender have launched the first music video awards for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Intersex artists on their global 24-hour streaming video channel. LGBTI musicians from around the world have been submitting their videos since word of this fabulous opportunity was announced earlier this month. The deadline for submissions was Friday September 30th and the Awards will be presented on November 27, 2011.

When asked what they’re hoping to accomplish for our LGBT community with the RightOutTV Music Video Awards, Walchuk stated, “First of all more and broader exposure of the artists and the glimpses into LGBT life. I mean every time the artist creates a video about how they love and who they love and what their life looks like, that’s another wonderful view that the world has of us as a community. And music has always been a hugely powerful vehicle for activism. So we feel the music videos are particularly important for the world to actually just take a look and go ‘Hey we’re all the same, we love the same and we must deserve the same rights.’ So we actually see this as a very important layer that we’re putting out into the internet and into the world to help create change.”

Openly LGBTI singer/songwriters from around the globe submitted videos to be voted upon by a prestigious panel of professionals in the Music & Arts industries. Judges’ nominees in each category will be announced October 30th and winners will be announced Nov. 27. There’s also a special category of RightOutTV Fan Fave, voting for this will begin Oct.7 and close on Nov. 7. “We’ve commissioned 22 successful, well respected professionals from press, film, music promotion, publishing and radio, including music producers from both the gay and the straight communities as our judges. Exposure to a panel of judges of this caliber will be immensely beneficial to these talented Out artists” says Producer Marlee Walchuk.
For More Info: rightouttvawards.com

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Gay Filmmaker Paul Marcarelli Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with actor/writer/producer, Paul Marcarelli, who has produced a fabulous new film called THE GREEN that was presented by the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Boston LGBT Film Festival Sept 23rd. This was a special screening in celebration of the opening of the Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art at the MFA. THE GREEN beautifully directed by Steven Williford is about a gay couple who leave behind a life in New York City for the village charm of shoreline Connecticut. Michael (Jason Butler Harner), a high school drama teacher thinks he can live a simple open life with his partner Daniel (Cheyenne Jackson) but Michael’s world is turned upside-down when he is accused of engaging in “inappropriate behavior” with a male student. With his job, relationship and freedom in jeopardy Michael must confront the suspicions of his co-workers, the latent homophobia of his friends and neighbors and his partner doubting his innocence after the investigation reveals a secret from his past. The film’s stellar cast also includes Julia Ormond with a fine performance by Illeana Douglas.

When asked what his personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Marcarelli stated, “I guess in a lot of ways I’m trying to figure out what my role should be now. Maybe it’s telling stories and helping to shape the dialogue that way. There’s a lot of material out there for gay audiences that tends to pander to a presumed niche audience. I think a creative work is gay if a gay person makes it. It’s not gay if it hits a series of expected marks or has the same stock characters and the same dramatic arc with the gay guy inevitably dying in the end. Maybe my role is just telling these kind of stories.”

THE GREEN has been winning awards at festivals across the country. Paul Marcarelli who’s probably best known as the Verizon Guy on TV, recently appeared in the opening montage of the 63rd Emmy Awards and was attendance at the screening in the MFA’s new Alfond Auditorium with his producer partner at Ten Table Films, Molly Pearson for a Q & A following the movie. This screening was also co-presented by The Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film.
THE GREEN is now available on Comcast On-Demand.
For More Info: thegreenthemovie.com

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Gay Activist Bob Witeck Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Bob Witeck, CEO and co-founder of Witeck-Combs Communications based in Washington, DC, the nation's premier public relations and marketing firm specializing in reaching LGBT households and consumers. This year Witeck-Combs is being honored at the GLAAD Amplifier Awards with the Public Visibility Award on October 4th in NYC. We talked to Bob about what the GLAAD Award means to him and his lifelong commitment to LGBT Civil Rights.

Bob Witeck and Wes Combs co-authored “Business Inside Out” considered the handbook on marketing insights, practical tips and strategies targeting the LGBT market. Over the years Witeck has talked a lot about ‘Gay Buying Power'. When asked whether passing marriage equality on the federal level would boost the US Economy, Witeck stated, “Absolutely. Marriage equality is almost a business imperative. In July I had a chance to write a blog piece for CNN which they featured on their homepage. I wanted to point out how business benefits from gay marriage. For example, the trends that we have to hire the best and brightest have always required companies to begin with what happened in New York thirty years ago which was to offer domestic partnership benefits but marriage actually just ups that ante. It just assures that equality of relationships everywhere we turn in every market, in every jurisdiction and what a business hates the most is having a hodgepodge of different relationships to address. If you were a company, a multi-state employer, for example and you have gay couples in Massachusetts and you have gay couples in Arkansas and you have gay couples in California and Illinois, in Illinois you have civil unions, marriage in Massachusetts, you have no protections in Arkansas and in California you have some measure of hybrid and some people there are even married. That kind of complexity is actually two things. It’s a problem for employers to administer. Second it also costs money to have to have complicated administration of benefits and tax structure. I think ultimately that a simplification will be a very important tool that will help employers to recruit talent which I think will help strengthen a lot of businesses and then again households that are married have stability and those are the ones that are more likely to put down roots in their communities. They’re the ones that will spend money to buy a house more often than not; that will have children more often than not in the future and to spend money the ways that every family spends money, college and vacations and you know, diapers. I think that those things we’re spending money on now but I think that what marriage equality does is it gives us the stability to make long term plans and that allows us to do it in a more thoughtful way.”

Besides being honored this year by GLAAD, Witeck was named one of 20 outstanding openly gay Virginians by Equality Virginia and in 2010 was nominated for the Trailblazer Award by Out & Equal Workplace Advocates the national organization that champions safe and equitable workplaces for LGBT people. He and his partner Bob Connelly live in Arlington, Virginia.
For More Info: witeckcombs.com

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AUDIO: Rep. Baldwin Confers on Senate Bid

In this intimate audio conference call Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson Host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ participated with members of the LGBT press to discuss with Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) her candidacy for the U.S. Senate. The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund arranged this opportunity for a dialogue with the Congresswoman. Chuck Wolfe, CEO of the Victory Fund, praised Baldwin during the conference call stating her bid for the Senate will be “An important race of our community. The Victory Fund endorsed Tammy in her first state legislative race back in 1992. She hasn’t lost a race. We hope we are able to help her continue that success rate all the way through 2012.”

Besides being a fierce advocate for LGBT Civil Rights Baldwin is vowing to stand up for the middle class, “no matter how tough the odds or how powerful the special interests it means fighting against.” This is great news for the 2012 elections. Wisconsin has been going through some rough times with their antigay right wing Governor. We’ve interviewed Baldwin a number of times on OUTTAKE VOICES™ and as a champion of doing the right thing Tammy will bring a sense of sanity and confidence back to the people of Wisconsin and America.

When asked how we can combat homophobia as the 2012 elections rev up and the GOP candidates continue attacking our LGBT community Baldwin stated, “To the extent that I am faced with it in my campaign I plan on responding very directly and we’re going to have campaigns unfolding across the country. But to the extent that it (homophobia) is raised in the US Senate race in Wisconsin I’m certainly not going to turn the other way.”

On being openly gay Baldwin thinks Wisconsin will value her honesty stating, “I have always since the beginning in all my adult life been out and honest about my sexual orientation and I think that voters appreciate the values of honesty and expect integrity in their elected officials.” Baldwin however insists the race “won’t be about me” and instead will focus on the problems facing everyday Americans, “It will be about the middle-class, the threats that they’re facing right now, the struggles that families are experiencing and which candidate for U.S. Senate is going to be the best fighter for them.”
For More Info: tammybaldwin.com

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24th Annual Provincetown Swim for Life

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with gay activist and artist Jay Critchley about the 24th Annual Provincetown Harbor Swim for Life and Paddler Flotilla that happens today, September 10th. Hundreds of swimmers, kayakers, volunteers and the public will be participating in this fabulous Provincetown fundraising tradition presented by the Provincetown Community Compact. Swimmers across the country will swim the 1.4 mile across Provincetown Harbor to benefit the following community organizations and projects: Helping Our Women. AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, Outer Cape Health Services, Provincetown Rescue Squad, Lower Cape Ambulance, Academy at Provincetown Schools, Soup Kitchen of Provincetown, The Compact Community Fund and Safe Harbor AIDS Documentary. Last year swimmers raised $200,000.

Critchley stated, “We take four hundreds swimmers across to Long Point Light and they swim back to The Boatslip Resort. It’s the 24th year and we’ve raised close to three million dollars in that time to support women’s health, AIDS and other community projects. So it’s really become a major Provincetown event the Saturday after Labor Day.” The weekend events include the Celebration of Life free concert on Friday September 9th at the UU Meeting House. On Saturday is the Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla followed by the Mermaid Brunch and awards ceremony at the Boatslip Resort.

Artist Jay Critchley's visual and environmental activism have traversed the globe. His one person show “Deep Bones” is currently at the Freight + Volume Gallery in New York City which received reviews from the New York Times, The Village Voice and Forbes. A longtime Provincetown resident he utilizes the town, landscape, harbor, beaches and dunes as his medium. Jay has taught at the Museum School of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and has had a residency at Harvard University. His social practice includes running the Provincetown Community Compact which sponsors the annual Provincetown Harbor Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla in its 24th year set for September 10, 2011.
So put on your most fabulous swim cap and join the festivities!
For More Info: jaycritchley.com
For More Info: www.swim4life.org

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