OUTTAKE VOICES™ (Interviews)

“PRIDE” New Historic Pictorial Book

Matthew Todd, UK writer-journalist talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about his exquisite new coffee table book “PRIDE: The Story Of The LGBTQ Equality Movement” published by Weldon Owen. The book documents the milestones in our fight for global LGBTQ equality from before Stonewall to the victories of activists over the last five decades that have led to the gradual acceptance of LGBTQ people in politics, sports and the media. It also chronicles the winning landmark court cases including marriage equality and significant legislation that have furthered our basic civil rights. This pictorial and wide-reaching text takes you on a journey covering key figures, heroes, notable moments, events and breakthroughs in a wealth of rare images and documents as well as providing moving essays from vital witnesses throughout our modern day movement. Though we still have a long way to go to achieve full equality, “PRIDE: The Story Of The LGBTQ Equality Movement” is a unique and comprehensive account of the ongoing challenges facing our LGBTQ community and a celebration of civil rights that have been won for many of us as a result of the sacrifices and passion of this mass movement. The book includes personal testimonies from many relevant activists and allies including Judy Shepard mother of Matthew Shepard, legendary photographer Nan Goldin, Reverend Troy Perry founder of the Metropolitan Community Church, novelist playwright essayist Darryl Pinckney, Jake Shears of The Scissor Sisters, activist and former Pride Award-winner Jonathan Blake, New Zealand politician Georgina Beyer the world’s first openly transgender Mayor and transgender member of Parliament, Deborah Brin one of the world’s first openly gay Rabbis and many more. We talked to Todd about his passion and inspiration for creating “PRIDE: The Story Of The LGBTQ Equality Movement” and his spin on our LGBTQ issues.

Matthew Todd is a multi award winning writer and previous editor of “Attitude” a British gay lifestyle magazine from 2008 to 2016. His first book "Straight Jacket - Overcoming Society's Legacy of Gay Shame" was shortlisted for the Polari Prize in 2017 and was voted winner of the Boyz LGBT Book of the Year Award. His play “Blowing Whistles” has been performed in the UK, Australia and the United States. Todd’s fabulous new work “PRIDE: The Story Of The LGBTQ Equality Movement” (Weldon Owen) is currently available online and in stores.
For More Info: matthewtodd.net

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Black LGBTQ Leaders Virtual Town Hall

Equality Florida hosted a virtual Town Hall with Black LGBTQ leaders in response to a rash of attacks that have claimed Black lives including the brutal killing of George Floyd by white police officers in Minneapolis. The Black LGBTQ leaders included Alphonso David, Human Rights Campaign President, Michele Rayner, Civil Rights Attorney who represented the McGlockton family following the murder of Markeis, Imani Rupert-Gordon, National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director, Andrea Jenkins, Minneapolis City Council Vice President and moderated by Nadine Smith, Equality Florida Executive Director. The Town Hall came after more than 500 LGBTQ organizations from across the country signed onto a letter condemning racial violence and committing to the fight against it. This important dialogue also comes on the heels of the murders of seven Black transgender women in Florida in less than two years, the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery by white vigilantes in Georgia and the weaponizing of race by a white woman against Christian Cooper a Black gay man bird watching in New York City’s Central Park and the disturbing questions raised in the recent police shooting death of Tony McDade a Black transgender man in Tallahassee. All the leaders during the Town Hall also addressed the fact that since 2013 over 170 transgender women and men have been murdered in this country with over 70% being of color. This is another stark reminder of the need for all civil right leaders who are speaking out against systemic racism and hate violence claiming Black lives must be LGBTQ inclusive.

Nadine Smith, Equality Florida Executive Director has been named one of Florida’s "Most Powerful and Influential Women" by the Florida Diversity Council. She has received the League of Women Voter's Woman of Distinction Award and in 2018 was named one of the 100 Most Influential Floridians by Influence Magazine. She currently serves as chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Florida Advisory Committee. She lives in St. Petersburg with her wife Andrea and son Logan. Equality Florida is the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida’s LGBTQ community. Through education, grassroots organizing, coalition building and lobbying they are changing Florida so that no one suffers harassment or discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

For More Info: eqfl.org  

LISTEN: 500+ LGBTQ Chats @OUTTAKE VOICES 

New Lesbian Feature Film “Good Kisser”

Wendy Jo Carlton talk with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about her new feature film “Good Kisser” available now to purchase or rent on Wolfe Video. Kathy Wolfe, CEO & Founder at Wolfe Video stated, “We have wanted to work with Wendy Jo Carlton for years and are glad to have that opportunity with the release of her sexy new film ‘Good Kisser’. We are excited to share her portrayal of an authentic lesbian experience with our loyal Wolfe audience." “Good Kisser” features an ensemble cast starring Kari Alison Hodge (Jenna), Julia Eringer (Mia), Courtney McCullough (Yuka) and the feature debut of Rachel Paulson (Kate), who is the younger sister of actor Sarah Paulson. “Good Kisser” is about Kate and Jenna who want to spice up their relationship by opening it up to a third and plan a date with the enchanting Mia. Jenna becomes enthralled with Mia’s sexual confidence and charm and as they spend the evening dancing, drinking tequila and sharing secrets the women become entangled physically and emotionally. However what was intended as a night of fun soon exposes the cracks in Kate and Jenna’s relationship redefining being careful what you wish for. “Good Kisser” will have its DVD release June 16th and will stream on a variety of digital platforms including Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play and more. We talked to Wendy Jo about what she hopes to accomplish with “Good Kisser” and her spin on our LGBTQ issues.

Wendy Jo Carlton directed her first feature “Hannah Free” starring Emmy-winner Sharon Gless in 2009. Her second feature “Jamie and Jessie are Not Together” is said to be the first lesbian RomCom musical with film critic Roger Ebert giving it a glowing review, and AutoStraddle.com listing “Jamie and Jessie are Not Together” as one of the “Top 100 Lesbian Movies of All Time”. Her award-winning lesbian web series “Easy Abby” received over 50 million views online and is now an Original Series on Revry.tv. Wendy Jo Carlton also served as an Associate Producer on the award-winning documentary “Circus of Books” executive produced by Ryan Murphy and recently released on Netflix.
For More Info: goodkissermovie.com

LISTEN: 500+ LGBTQ Chats @OUTTAKE VOICES

“Bodies & Barriers: Queer Activists on Health”

Adrian Shanker talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about “Bodies and Barriers: Queer Activists on Health” the new critically acclaimed anthology that creates a road map for action that could improve LGBTQ health. With essays by twenty-six well-known and emerging LGBTQ activists the book challenges conventional wisdom about healthcare providers and probes deeply into the roots of the health disparities that worsens health outcomes for our LGBTQ community. This book couldn’t be more relevant as we deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the onset of HIV/AIDS in America LGBTQ people have struggled against healthcare bias and discrimination. Through contributing authors that include Alisa Bowman, Jack Harrison-Quintana, Liz Margolies, Robyn Ochs, Sean Strub, Justin Tanis, Ryan Thoreson, Imani Woody and more “Bodies and Barriers: Queer Activists on Health” provides us with crucial information to fight for health equity through clinical, behavioral and policy changes. Though our LGBTQ community has experienced great strides toward civil rights in this country our health as a community still lags. “Bodies and Barriers: Queer Activists on Health” provides an indispensable blueprint for change by some of the most passionate and important health activists in the LGBTQ movement today calling on clinicians to up their game when it comes to caring for sexual and gender minority people. We talked to Adrian about what he hopes to accomplish with “Bodies and Barriers: Queer Activists on Health” and his spin on our LGBTQ issues. 

Adrian Shanker earned a Graduate Certificate in LGBT Health Policy and Practice from George Washington University and serves as Executive Director of Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center in Allentown, PA. A specialist in LGBTQ health policy he has developed leading-edge health promotion campaigns to advance health equity through behavioral, clinical and policy changes. Adrian administered data collection for the 2015, 2018 and 2020 Pennsylvania LGBTQ Health Needs Assessments. He co-authored “Queer and Quitting: Addressing Tobacco Use as an LGBTQ Issue” in The Routledge Handbook for LGBTQIA Administration and Policy. Adrian serves as Commissioner and Health Committee Co-Chair on the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs. Previously he served on the Office of Health Equity Advisory Board at Pennsylvania Department of Health. He was named a “Healthcare Hero” by Lehigh Valley Business and twice named ‘Person of the Year’ by Philadelphia Gay News. “Bodies and Barriers: Queer Activists on Health” with Foreword by Rachel L. Levine, MD and Afterword by Kate Kendell is published by PM Press.

For More Info: pmpress.org

LISTEN: 500+ LGBTQ Chats @OUTTAKE VOICES

 

Alset Game Changing Gig Economy App

Robert Lo, CEO and Founder of Alset talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE about the game changing gig economy app where people can barter or charge for their services or offer them as a favor. With the arrival of COVID-19 and stay-at-home orders for nonessential workers our personal lives and careers have been altered. The impact of this pandemic has financially destroyed a large percentage of gig workers in the entertainment industry as well as hair stylists, caterers, party planners, trainers and more as their income has ceased to exist. Now is the time to reconsider what we thought we knew about work and the economy as we create a new normal. Life as we knew it will never be the same. This is an opportunity to take advantage of this universal reset and create a better world. The Alset app was invented to give local communities a chance to expand globally by connecting individuals through the beneficial exchange of their gifts, talents and contributions. If we can redistribute wealth in this country and globally and help enable people to advance their experience perhaps we can shift some cultural norms and hopefully transform our current economic system into a better future. That is what the Alset app is attempting to do. No one can say how long this pandemic will last. However we must choose our collective health over our financial security in order to defeat this pandemic. We talked to Robert about how the Alset app could help reshape our economy in these challenging times and his spin on our LGBTQ issues.

Robert Lo is an LGBTQ tech founder and entrepreneur based in West Hollywood, California and holds a Masters of Business Administration in Finance and Masters in Organization. Robert has reimagined the future of work in the 21st century through the new app Alset where people can barter or charge for their services or offer them as a favor. Lo stated, “Alset was created and established so we wouldn’t need to rely on the public or private sector in moments of fiscal upheaval. Freedom and autonomy have always belonged to the individuals within a community. Alset’s bartering and favors features are an open source system to allow individuals, communities and societies to define value for themselves and redefine value for successive generations.” As a leading thinker in augmenting the fiat currency, re-shifting the way society defines and redefines value and democratizing work, Robert is the visionary force behind Alset. Currently Robert also serves as the Chair of the City of West Hollywood's Business License Commission.
For More Info: yourealset.com

LISTEN: 500+ LGBTQ Chats @OUTTAKE VOICES

“Queer As Folk” Virtual 20th Reunion Event

Actor Michelle Clunie talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about the “Queer As Folk” virtual 20th anniversary cast and crew reunion that takes place Friday May 1st at 11A PST/2P EST on YouTube. This must-attend livestream event is a fundraiser for CenterLink and its network of over 250 LGBTQ community centers. It’s hard to believe it was 20 years ago when we first entered the hallowed club Babylon and met Michael, Ben, Ted, Emmett, Melanie and the whole “Queer As Folk” gang. This Friday May 1st they’re back – better than ever - to celebrate the reunion of cast, crew, writers, directors and guest stars to raise awareness of the need to support LGBTQ centers all over the world. Scott Lowell (Ted) will host members of the “Queer As Folk” cast and crew including Clunie, Sharon Gless, Peter Paige, Hal Sparks, Randy Harrison and Robert Gant. Guest actors from your favorite episodes will also be joining as well as “Queer As Folk” creator executive producers Ron Cowen and Dan Lipman and more. During this pandemic LGBTQ community centers have continued to serve their communities providing vital often life-saving services such as medical care, mental health counseling, virtual support groups, filling prescriptions, providing hot meals and check-in phone calls for older adults. They are also serving as shelters for homeless youth, distributing nonperishable food items and hygiene products, case management, HIV testing and hosting virtual engagement activities to decrease social isolation. With cancelled galas, Pride events, fundraisers, etc. our LGBTQ community centers could be forced to shrink services, resulting in thousands of LGBTQ people going without care. We talked to Michelle about what she hopes to accomplish with this livestream fundraising event and her spin on our LGBTQ issues.

 Actor Michelle Clunie is best known for her role as Melanie Marcus on the Showtime groundbreaking hit show “Queer As Folk”. She is a fierce LGBTQ activist and is currently raising her son Dashiell. The livestream “Queer As Folk” Virtual Reunion will give fans an opportunity to chat live with their favorite stars and bid on “Queer As Folk” memorabilia with all proceeds supporting CenterLink. Serving over 250 LGBTQ community centers across the country in 45 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia as well as centers in Canada, China and Australia, CenterLink assists newly forming community centers and helps strengthen existing LGBTQ centers through networking opportunities for center leaders, peer-based technical assistance and training and more. During this challenging time we hope you will tune in for this fabulous May Day Home Stay event Friday May 1st at 11A PST/2P EST on YouTube and please Stay Safe and Healthy.
For More Info: CenterLink.org

LISTEN: 500+ LGBTQ Chats @OUTTAKE VOICES

LGBTQ On MTV “Wrong Distance Relationship”

Jonathan Calixto talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about his part on MTV's new season of “Wrong Distance Relationship” currently on the Snapchat platform. The timely series produced by Hoff Productions follows four couples in long distance relationships balancing careers, everyday life and being away from the person they love as they question how far is too far when it comes to love. Jonathan Calixto and Brandon Reyes are the first LGBTQ couple to be featured on the series. Jonathan Calixto is a fashion and lifestyle correspondent from Bronx, New York and is in a relationship with forensic scientist Brandon Reyes from Manassas, Virginia. They met two years ago on Tinder and are navigating what it means to be 257 miles apart and in love. Jonathan is at the peak of his career as a correspondent and micro-influencer (@ThisisJCali) building his platform and experience in NYC as he aspires to be the next Ryan Seacrest while Brandon received his big break in a small town by landing his dream job in forensic science with no plans to relocate. We talked to Jonathan about what he hopes to accomplish with “Wrong Distance Relationship,” how he’s dealing with social distancing and stay home orders in NYC during the COVID-19 pandemic and his spin on our LGBTQ issues.

Jonathan Calixto is a Fashion and Lifestyle Correspondent at BELLA Magazine. Staying on top of the latest happenings he has covered events like New York Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week and Miami Swim Week. Currently he’s working on hosting “BELLA Make it Work” sharing content from fashion, lifestyle and a peak into his Peruvian culture. He entered the industry as a styling assistant and has gone on to work in public relations and social media marketing giving him the knowledge to be a true social media guru. With the impact of COVID-19 he is focusing on helping brands and non-profit organizations to create a “new normal” with a solid foundation in social media. New episodes of MTV's “Wrong Distance Relationship” series on Snapchat air on Tuesdays.
For More Info: thisisjcali.com

LISTEN: 500+ LGBTQ Chats @OUTTAKE VOICES

New Film More Beautiful For Having Been Broken

Filmmaker Nicole Conn talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about her new award-winning must-see feature film “More Beautiful For Having Been Broken” was released in partnership with Vision Films and Wolfe Video beginning April 7th talks with “More Beautiful For Having Been Broken” is a story about a distraught FBI agent suspended from her job and struggling with the death of her mother who escapes to the small mountain town she use to visit as a child. She is befriended by a special needs boy who possesses the extraordinary gift of healing others through his unbroken spirit and unique outlook on life. The film stars Australian actress, Zoë Ventoura (Home and Away, Packed to the Rafters), Kayla Radomski of “So You Think You Can Dance” fame and an amazing performance by 11-year-old Cale Ferrin who was diagnosed with Fanconi Anemia a rare genetic disease often marked by congenital defects and short stature. Joining the stellar cast are Bruce Davison (Star Trek / X-Men), French Stewart (3rd Rock from the Sun), Brooke Elliott (Drop Dead Diva), Harley Jane Kozak (Parenthood), Gaby Christian (South of Nowhere), Kay Lenz, Wally Kurth and Gabrielle Baba-Conn (Conn’s real-life daughter) who is making her feature debut. “More Beautiful For Having Been Broken" is very personal to Conn as it pays homage to Conn’s daughter and in particular to her son Nicholas who has special needs and is medically fragile. We talked to Nicole about what she hopes to accomplish with this film and how she and her family are adjusting to these challenging times.

Iconic filmmaker Nicole Conn paved the way for lesbian themed cinema with her cult classic “Claire of the Moon” and also for her acclaimed features “Elena Undone” which boasts the longest screen kiss in cinema history and “A Perfect Ending”. Nicole understands the need for using her talent to change hearts and minds and hopes that “More Beautiful For Having Been Broken” will deliver a much needed message about our special needs community as well as our LGBTQ community and provide encouragement and healing in these difficult times. DVD NOW AVAILABLE
For More Info: nicoleconn.com

LISTEN: 500+ LGBTQ Chats @OUTTAKE VOICES

Must-Read “Where There Are Mountains”

Sarah F. Pearlman talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about “Where There Are Mountains” her new novella that’s a perfect escape while hunkering down during the current pandemic. The novella brings to life the early Neolithic life about seven thousand years ago. This was a time of great migrations as numerous tribes left the cold and hunger of their northern homeland to travel a path south as they struggled past tribes that lived near the mountain passes of Mount Olympus. The novella focuses on the Matrilineal tribes that worshiped a female divinity. These tribes were peaceful, wanting only a place where there was food and warmth but others on the path were warrior people. These tribes came to conquer and enslave bringing their male gods and creating the beginning of patriarchal conquests. “Where There Are Mountains” is narrated by three women. The first woman tells her adventures traveling the path south through the mountain passes of what would become Greece. The second is her daughter who is captured by a war tribe. The third is a woman from a female-centered tribe perhaps the precursors of Amazons living in woodlands near the mountain passes. “Where There Are Mountains” is a story of captivity, resilience and escape. It was a time of violence but also love. Love of a mother for her daughter. Love between women of different tribes. We talked to Pearlman about her inspiration for writing “Where There Are Mountains” and her spin on our LGBTQ issues.

Sarah F. Pearlman is a teacher, writer, occasional poet and lesbian-feminist activist, nationally recognized for her pioneering role in establishing a lesbian psychology. She was an editor and author of articles in Lesbian Psychologies: Exploration and Challenges, the first anthology exclusively on lesbianism and psychology that focused on identity, relationship and community issues that was published in 1987 by University of Illinois Press. Sarah completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Antioch New England Graduate School at age fifty-six and was employed at the University of Hartford. She is the author of “Mother-Talk: Conversations with Mothers of Lesbian Daughters and “FTM Transgender Children” (2012) and “The Lesbian Erotic: Bad Girl Persona and Other Poems” (2013). Pearlman has traveled extensively throughout Greece and Turkey which was the inspiration of “Where There Are Mountains” where she sought out goddess temple complexes, sacred caves and Neolithic villages confirming a world that existed long before our era of patriarchal domination. “Where There Are Mountains” is available on Amazon. (Artwork by Greg Spalenko)
For More Info: sarahpearlman.com

LISTEN: 500+ LGBTQ Chats @OUTTAKE VOICES

National Center for Lesbian Rights

Imani Rupert-Gordon the new Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about her aspirations leading this important LGBTQ organization which is known for tackling the most pressing issues of race, gender and economic inequality facing our LGBTQ community. Founded in 1977 NCLR is a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights for LGBTQ people and their families through litigation, legislation, policy and public education. NCLR is a non-profit public interest law firm that litigates precedent-setting cases at the trial and appellate court levels; advocates for equitable public policies affecting our LGBTQ community; provides free legal assistance to LGBTQ people and their legal advocates and conducts community education on LGBTQ issues. NCLR serves more than 5,000 LGBTQ people and their families throughout the United States each year including LGBTQ parents, seniors, immigrants, athletes and youth. Currently NCLR is suing the State of South Carolina over an anti-LGBTQ Curriculum law around sex education. They are also very proud that their Born Perfect campaign to end Conversion Therapy which had a huge victory in Virginia last week becoming the first Southern state to do so. Earlier this month, along with Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and Meyer Stephenson, NCLR won a landmark medical care lawsuit on behalf of a transgender employee. We talked to Imani about what she hopes to accomplish as the new Executive Director of NCLR and her spin on our LGBTQ issues.

Imani Rupert-Gordon holds a Bachelors degree in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Masters degree from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. For over a decade Imani has worked to advance social justice efforts in higher education and local communities. Previously she served as the Executive Director of Affinity Community Services, the nation’s oldest social justice organization serving the needs of Black LGBTQ people with a particular focus on Black women. From December 2013 until January 2016 Imani was the Director of the Broadway Youth Center (BYC), part of Howard Brown Health in Chicago overseeing the expansion of services at BYC and improving relationships with the community and local government. Imani Rupert-Gordon stated, “I am humbled to build on the legacy of the NCLR leaders like Donna Hitchens and Kate Kendell who have been such fantastic stewards of this mission of this organization. I am proud to be a part of the fantastic work being led by leaders like Shannon Minter who is translating that mission into a groundbreaking legal, policy and public education agenda. We have the privilege and opportunity to fundamentally shift the direction of the LGBTQ movement to once again include more of us and to protect all of us.”

For More Info: nclrights.org

LISTEN: 500+ LGBTQ Chats @OUTTAKE VOICES