Celebrities Supporting LGBT Equality (AUDIO)

In this exclusive audio montage Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with celebrities on the Red Carpet at the 24th GLAAD Media Awards in NYC. First we spoke with Wilson Cruz GLAAD spokesperson and actor about gay marriage playing out in the US Supreme Court and other LGBT issues including GLAAD’s commitment to our transgender community. Then we talked to Mel Wymore who won a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding TV Journalism in a Newsmagazine. Mel is the first transgender candidate running for New York City Council. He had a lot to share about LGBTQ teen bullying and LGBT equality. “Real Housewives of New York” City and straight ally Carole Radziwill then stopped by to give us her spin on LGBT equality. We were then joined by Herndon Graddick, President of GLAAD, who talked about the US Supreme Court marriage equality case and the direction GLAAD will be taking in the next few years. Winners of last year’s Vito Russo Award producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron who won this year’s Outstanding Drama Series for their hit NBC show “Smash” gave us their spin on our LGBT issues. They were followed by straight allies “Smash” actress/singer Krysta Rodriguez and actor John Leguizamo. Then we chatted with one of our faves Laverne Cox, actress, producer and transgender advocate who is currently appearing in the Susan Seidelman film “Musical Chairs” nominated for a GLAAD Award.

“The Fabulous Beekman Boys” Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell who accepted the Outstanding Reality Program for “The Amazing Race” on CBS chatted with us about LGBT issues and shared their wedding plans scheduled for this summer. Tony Award winning actor/singer Christian Borle who also stars in “Smash” then stopped by to talk about the show and his commitment to LGBT equality. Actor Avan Jogia who appears in the upcoming ABC Family’s “Twisted” and co-founder of the organization “Straight But Not Narrow” gave us his spin on LGBTQ teen bullying and more. Documentary filmmakers Bobbie Birleffi and Beverly Kopf talked about their nominated film “Chely Wright Wish Me Away” that is currently available on Showtime. Then ABC GMA Weatherman Sam Champion and his husband Rubem Robierb stopped by to talk about married life and changing attitudes toward our LGBT community. We concluded with GMA news anchor Josh Elliot who shared with us an intimate story about his gay dad who passed away and how he wished he could have lived long enough to find love and legally marry.

 The 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards were hosted by ABC “Good Morning America” anchors Sam Champion, Josh Elliot and Lara Spencer and were held at the Marriott Marquis Theater on March 16th in New York City. Additional awards will be presented in Los Angeles April 20th and San Francisco on May 11th.
For More Info:glaad.org 

AUDIO: Celebrity Moms For Equality @ GLAAD Awards  

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Prop 8 US Supreme Court Team Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio press conference the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER), the sole sponsor of the Perry case, held an historic national media call to discuss the upcoming oral argument before the US Supreme Court. Speaking on the call were Plaintiffs Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo; Plaintiffs’ lead co-counsel David Boies and Plaintiffs’ counsel Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr.; San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera; and AFER Executive Director Adam Umhoefer. Also joining the call was Chad Griffin President of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and co-founder of AFER.

Next Tuesday, March 26th the United States Supreme Court will hear oral argument in Hollingsworth v. Perry, the federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8. Enacted in November 2008, Prop 8 eliminated the fundamental freedom of gay and lesbian Californians to marry. On December 7, 2012, the Supreme Court granted certiorari in Perry to review the landmark federal court of appeals ruling that upheld the decision of the federal district court that found Proposition 8 unconstitutional. The Court will consider whether Proposition 8 violates the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. On February 28th the United States Government filed a brief as amicus curiae in support of the Plaintiffs challenging California’s Proposition 8. The Government’s brief urges the Supreme Court to strike down Prop 8 as unconstitutional.

Mainstream and LGBT media attended the conference call including Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson from OUTTAKE VOICES. Questions were asked by Michael McGough LA Times, Robert Barn Washington Post, Jeffrey Toobin New Yorker Magazine, Richard Wolfe USA Today, Geoffrey Fowler Wall Street Journal, Bill Rankin Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Laurence Hurley of Thomson Reuters.
For More Info: afer.org

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Tony Winner Levi Kreis LGBT Revival

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Tony Winner Levi Kreis about his new single “So Much Better” and his current “Flying Solo Tour”. Kreis became a Broadway star overnight with his effortless comedic timing and dazzling piano chops as Jerry Lee Lewis in the Tony nominated musical “Million Dollar Quartet” that garnered him the Tony. Now he returns to his LGBT roots with his single “So Much Better” that sets the tone for a new chapter in his career that directly speaks to our LGBT history. Levi says, “It captures a period of time where R&B and dance music emerged from the black and gay communities as vital anthems of freedom. Some call it nu-disco. I honestly don’t know what it is but I wanted a sound that celebrates our history and takes pride in our accomplishments.” We talked to Levi about his music and his spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what his personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Kreis stated, “I think my best gift is my voice and my art. I’ve had partners that are so gifted in the political platform and their ability to articulate their knowledge and their understanding from a deliberate political angle is brilliant. I would love to be one of those people who are just politically brilliant but that’s just not my forte. I think my best voice is my art. This is where people hear what I have to say and so I want to use it to make my own personal statement. There’s a song on my new album coming out “Imagine Paradise” and a video that we’re planning that directly addresses DOMA and the right to love who we want to love. It was inspired by a friend of mine who’s in the military and it also addresses “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. He wanted to get married to his partner and they can’t. I get to use my art to sort of represent the issues my fans come to me with because their issues are issues of my own as an LGBT man, and hopefully through the power of music I try to articulate that in the way I know how.”

Kreis is currently on his Flying Solo Tour with dates scheduled through April and will continue as the album is released. Levi’s music has been featured on NBC, CBS, CW and FX. Most prominent features are The Vampire Diaries, Sons of Anarchy and The Apprentice. He has appeared on The View, David Letterman and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. He is an OUT100 alum, #1 Logo Artist, and OUTMusic Award Winner. “So Much Better: US Singles” is available now on iTunes. Current dates for the Flying Solo Tour: In Chicago through March 21st - NYC, March 23rd - D.C., March 27th - Raleigh, March 30th - Knoxville, and April 13th - Atlanta. More dates TBA. Levi's new album "Imagine Paradise" will be released June 20th.
For More Info:levikreis.com

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The Dinah Promoter Mariah Hanson Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Mariah Hanson the founder and creator of the legendary Club Skirts Presents The Dinah, the largest lesbian event in the world that’s happening in Palm Springs April 3rd through April 7th. This year besides all their legendary parties The Dinah is introducing two inaugural events including an exclusive “Celebrity Poker Tournament” with all proceeds going to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and the "Dinah Film Series" event in association with both, actress Jill Bennett and veteran TV producer/Director Page Hurwitz. We talked to Hanson about the events and celebrities that will be attending this year’s record-breaking festivities as well as her spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what her personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights, Mariah stated, “I’ve been an avid advocate of our rights in my entire career and I think there are a lot of ways to do it. For me what’s most important is I serve on a lot of boards: Cable Car Awards in San Francisco and six years with Equality California. My passion is also really getting involved in promoting LGBT film because I think that the more we get our word out the more straight people who just need to be our allies see our lives in context that they can relate to, our path gets easier. I think we are in a critical time now because I think that for younger LGBT Americans it’s easier than it has ever been thanks to a lot of hard work. It seems easy, but we still don’t have our rights so there’s a lot of work to be done. I really try to add an element at The Dinah because I have a lot of young LGBT Americans to kind of put in little aspects of the weekend that are charitable in really fun ways they can relate to so they are reminded that we’re not through yet. Gay bullying is almost epidemic, as far as I’m concerned there shouldn’t be one and there are far too many. Our rights to marriage I think we’re getting closer than ever but there’s a lot of work to be done. So my commitment is very strong and I try to act personally with passion and also at my events.”

Headlining The Dinah is KARMIN, the pop sensation duo & Rolling Stone Magazine's "Woman who Rock" Winner, known for their infectious summer hit "Broken Hearted". Talent line-up includes as well HAVANA BROWN ("We Own The Night"), Reggae/Dancehall legend DIANA KING, the “Vampire Diaries” very own KAT GRAHAM ("Put Your Graffiti On Me") and electropop duo UH HUH HER as the grand finale Sunday, April 7th. Also music’s new “it” girls, ANJULIE ("Brand New Bitch"), K. ROSE ("Sleep When I'm Dead") and KATY TIZ ("Famous"). Plus comics FORTUNE FEIMSTER ("Chelsea Lately"), JACKIE LOEB, SUZANNE WESTENHOEFER and exclusive appearances by LAUREN BEDFORD RUSSELL and KIYOMI McCLOSKEY the TV reality stars of "The Real L Word".  
For More Info & Tix: thedinah.com

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Gay Author Paul Vitagliano Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with author Paul Vitagliano about his new book "Born This Way: Real Stories of Growing Up Gay” that features over 100 stories and photos of notable public figures from the LGBT community. The book includes Barney Frank the first openly gay member of Congress, Noah Michelson Editor of Gay Voices at Huffington Post, Village Voice columnist Michael Musto, actor/drag performer Miss Coco Peru and celebrity blogger Perez Hilton just to name a few. The book evolved from his blog of the same name that he launched in January 2011 as a way to decrease LGBTQ teen bullying and suicides. Paul stated, “I started the Born This Way project to show young gay kids that they’re not alone; many others have gone through everything they’re experiencing now. We must share our stories and play it forward for future generations. Being gay is as normal and natural as being straight. It is not a choice or a phase, it’s not something you learn and it’s certainly not something that can or should be “cured” or “fixed.” All children need love and nurturing and support.” We talked to Paul about his groundbreaking book and his spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what he would like to see the Obama administration accomplish for our LGBT community in the next four years Vitagliano stated, “I think the Obama administration is going to do something pretty huge. I personally believe that this President believes in 100% full equality for the LGBT community and I know that in his heart of hearts that’s where he lies. I know now that in his second term you’re going to see that more of those true feelings are coming out and he just filed that he wants to strike down DOMA in the Supreme Court. I really believe that this President wants to leave office to be known as the President that enacted a sweeping gay rights bill similar to The Civil Rights Act which would basically say zero discrimination for the LGBT community and that includes marriage, housing, jobs and children adoption period. It is a sweeping type of bill or something on that level that finally gives us 100% equality.”

Paul Vitagliano (aka DJ Paul V) is also an institution in the Los Angeles and Silver Lake club scene whose eclectic club and radio DJ career has thrived for 30 years; first in Boston from 1982-1987 and currently in the Los Angeles vicinity since 1988.
For More Info: bornthiswayblog.com

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Gay Ally Director Susan Seidelman Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Director Susan Seidelman (Desperately Seeking Susan) whose new film MUSICAL CHAIRS has been nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film - Limited Release. The film features the fabulous transgender actress Laverne Cox who plays a transgender character in this love story set against the backdrop of a wheelchair ballroom dance competition in New York City. Seidelman stated, "We are really honored to be nominated for a GLAAD award since our film was intended as a celebration of cultural, physical and gender diversity. It's our differences that make us interesting and unique." We talked to Susan about the film’s nomination and her commitment to LGBT issues.

When asked what her personal commitment is to LGBT equality Seidelman, stated, “Well my commitment is on a couple of levels. Artistically I have made a lot of films that have had gay characters and I think it is important to have all kinds of characters in your movies and have real characters; people who are flesh and blood and not caricatures like sometimes you see in bad sitcoms. So artistically it was very validating and important. On a personal level I am the stepmother of a lesbian daughter who I am very supportive of her lifestyle and she is just a great person. So I have a personal commitment to the community and also even in terms of my family, my sister is an adoption attorney who deals with gay couples to help them work their way through the massive red tape and archaic legal system that makes it very hard for gay couples to adopt children. So I have a kind of family history of my connection to the gay community.”

Susan Seidelman arrived on the scene in 1982 when her film “Smithereens” became the first US Independent film to be accepted into competition at the Cannes Film Festival. Her next endeavor was "Desperately Seeking Susan" (starring Madonna and Rosanna Arquette), a critical and commercial success. Other film credits include John Malkovich in “Making Mr. Right”, Meryl Streep in "She-Devil, and Judy Davis and Marcia Gay Harding in the gender bending detective comedy “Gaudi Afternoon.” She also directed the pilot and early episodes of the HBO series "Sex And The City". Currently Susan is completing “The Hot Flashes” starring Brooke Shields, Daryl Hannah, Wanda Sykes, Virginia Madsen and Camryn Manheim, about a group of middle-aged women who form a basketball team in small town Texas to raise money for charity. The 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards takes place in New York on March 16th, Los Angeles April 20th and San Francisco on May 11th. We’ll have exclusive interviews from the Red Carpet in NYC. 2014 Update: You can catch this film on HBO and Comcast On Demand...:) For More Info About Musical Chairs...
  
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Gay Activist Brett Edward Stout Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Brett Edward Stout brand manager of gay.com the LGBT social networking site that has recently revealed a hot new site design delivering a dynamic and comprehensive online networking experience. Brett stated, “Giving our members the ability to congregate around specific communities allows them to make their search for friends and mates as expanded or narrow as they wish. The need for multiple apps to access a specific community is no longer necessary. The new gay.com provides members a fun and technologically sophisticated environment that meets the numerous needs of our users, whether they’re looking for friends, activity partners, or their one true love.” We talked to Brett about the next generation of gay social networking and his spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked how he got involved with gay.com and social networking Stout stated, “Well I started working for Here Media three years ago but I’ve been logged onto gay.com for a long time. When I was in the Marine Corps it was really the only place I had to turn to. I served in the Marines from 1997 to 2002 which was under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ which I’m sure your listeners are familiar with and I really didn’t know where else to express myself. I didn’t have any sense of community. I didn’t have any friends. I was all alone and it was a place I found where not to be alone. It saved my life in many ways.”

Brett joined the Marines at age 18 serving his full tour as a Russian linguist. He returned to his home state of Iowa to earn his degree in Russian studies at the University of Iowa. He is also very outspoken about the anti-gay movement in Russia which, like Uganda, its homophobic roots stem from the United States. He has also written numerous articles for OUT Magazine, The Advocate, ACCESSline Iowa, Watermark Orlando and others. His debut novel, “Sugar-baby Bridge,” was published in 2009 by Breur Media.
For More Info: gay.com 

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Gay TV Star Lauren Bedford Russell Speaks OUT

In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with jewelry designer Lauren Bedford Russell who starred in Season 3 of Showtime's hit reality series The Real L Word. Last July in the midst of The Real L Word airing Lauren was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. This was a shocking and frightening diagnosis to receive at age 31, to say the least. The young reality TV star was at her prime both professionally and personally with a successful show and her relationship with cast member Kiyomi McCloskey, lead singer of Hunter Valentine, blossoming into a love of her life. Lauren's first MS "episode" manifested with loss of vision in one eye known as optic neuritis. She has now regained her vision back for the most part. When she was diagnosed Kiyomi was at her side. We talked to Lauren on her cellphone while touring with Hunter Valentine about her MS diagnosis and her spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked how this diagnosis has been life changing for her Lauren stated, “Well it certainly changed my life in a lot of ways. First of course is how I’m living from day to day by taking my medication which is a Copaxone injection and being an overall healthier person. It adjusts your whole kind of way of thinking because with this disease you really don’t know what’s going to happen. Every experience is different and every single person who has it has a different story. You just have to think positive and know that will help you at the end. Everything you think will benefit your outcome. Just sort of shifting my attitude, shifting my day to day and shifting my outlook about what I want to accomplish in life.”

Lauren Bedford Russell strongly believes in the power of one to make a difference after Jack Osbourne inspired her to go see her doctor back in June of 2012 about the first symptoms he experienced which were similar to hers. She suspected something was wrong. Now she is committed to doing the same for others and plans to work with the National MS Society in every possible way. She’s already designed a special bracelet for her Lyon Fine Jewelry line called POSITIVITY BRACELET with 15% of the proceeds to be donated to the National MS Society.
For More Info: lyonfinejewelry.com 

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