OUTTAKE VOICES™ (Interviews)

“Tab Hunter Confidential” DVD

Tab Hunter screen legend and LGBT Icon talks about “Tab Hunter Confidential” the fabulous documentary that’s now available on FilmRisein Blu-Ray and DVD with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. This fascinating film is a must-see for our LGBT community, allies and beyond.In this intimate stylized documentary Tab narrates the true story of what it was like to spend his Hollywood years being gay in a precarious closet that repeatedly threatened to implode and possibly destroy him. Throughout the 1950sHunter reigned as Hollywood's ultimate heartthrob in dozens of films and in the pages of countless magazines. Tab's astonishing looks and golden-boy sex appeal drove his fans to screaming, delirious frenzy, solidifying him as the prototype for all young matinee idols to come. I talked to Tab about this documentary depicting his stellar career as he shared personal inspirational stories,lifelong survival philosophies and his spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what advise he would give LGBT youth dealing with bullying Hunter stated, “I’m not a good one on advise, but I have to tell you a story that’s really interesting. Years ago I was doing a television show with Geraldine Page who was a brilliant actress and I said ‘God you know Gerry, the press they love you and they just hate my guts. They’re just despicable to me and I feel terrible about this.’ She grabbed hold of my arm and said ‘Remember this Tab. If people don’t like you that’s their bad taste.’ I thought Whoa,that’s powerful. I thought, I’m going to apply that to my life and furthermore pass that along to every person I know particularly young people because they don’t have the support and guidance while they’re growing up. A lot of parents out there are very, ‘I want to be your friend’. That’s bullshit. You know,they’re parents be parents. There’s a yes and a no. There’s a right and a wrong. You have to have it and I was very fortunate to have a strong but religious German mother and that was important and I think we need boundaries in our lives. Today there doesn’t seem to be a lot of boundaries. But young people have to go forward as the best that they can and give a lot of thought to their development mentally, physically and spiritually.”

Tab Hunter has appeared in over 40 films. His breakout role in 1951 at age nineteen was with Samuel Goldwyn Studios in “The Lawless”. His Southern California good looks catapulted him to overnight matinee idol stardom and he enjoyed a robust film career throughout the 1950’s and 60’s. The 1970’sstarted out strong including a leading role in John Huston’s “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean” starring Paul Newman but work began to wane in the later 70’s. A call from filmmaker and fan John Waters catapulted Hunter back into the limelight and took him into a new, freer direction with the now cult classic comedy “Polyester” in 1981 starring the infamous drag icon Divine. When his partner Allan Glaser saw Jeffrey Schwarz’s documentary “I am Divine” he hired Schwarz to do this brilliant documentary “Tab Hunter Confidential” based on his bestselling autobiography. Punctuating Tab's on-screen presence are rare film clips and provocative interviews with friends and co-stars including John Waters, Clint Eastwood, George Takei, Debbie Reynolds, Robert Wagner, Portia deRossi, Noah Wyle, Connie Stevens, Robert Osborne and more. However, most importantly, Tab the man himself talks frankly about being a survivor of the Hollywood rollercoaster.

For More Info: tabhunter.com
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"Help Is On The Way" Benefit Gala

Jai Rodriguez talks about Richmond Ermet Aid Foundation’s event HELP IS ON THE WAY 22 – On The Red Carpet "Idols & Icons" on Sunday August 21st with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. The event is Northern California’s largest annual, star-studded concert and gala that benefits Meals on Wheels of San Francisco and AIDS Legal Referral Panel. This fabulous event will feature tributes to Stephen Sondheim, Carole King, David Bowie, Natalie Cole, Prince and more. Jai will be performing along with Constantine Maroulis, Kimberley Locke, LaToya London, Melinda Doolittle, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Donna McKechnie, Carole Cook, Michael Walters as Dame Edna, Branden James with James Clark, Paula West, Sally Struthers, Jason Brock, Sony Holland, Tristan Bourgade and the cast of “Beautiful.” For over twenty years the Richmond / Ermet Aid Foundation has raised millions of dollars by producing Broadway quality entertainment events and galas to advance HIV treatments and support AIDS services until there is a cure. Recently REAF has expanded its fundraising focus to the Bay Area’s growing demand for two new areas by providing food for the needy and programs that support homeless, disadvantaged and disenfranchised youth. We talked to Jai about this tremendous organization and his spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what his personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Rodriguez stated, “The phone blew up the other night because Bill Maher had referenced “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” as being one of the key shows that really subtly moved society forwards visually getting to know a group of gay people that they thought of as friends and therefore breaking down barriers shifting society to a more tolerant place. That was 13 years ago we did that show. My first job was in ‘Rent’ at a time where the show was the hottest ticket in town. It was our generation’s ‘Hamilton’ if you will and because of that I played a (HIV) positive character, so I was brought on to the scene speaking up weekly in the show collecting money for Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS really understanding the needs of our community, at that time when HIV medication was starting to become more advanced. I personally lost my aunt and a cousin. I was 16 years old and in high school and then I played a (HIV) positive character. I really kind of made myself say yes to almost everything I’ve been asked to do related to HIV and AIDS fundraising efforts. I think it’s so important and outside of that ‘Queer Eye’ and then a much more broader political platform with so many of the issues to effect our community. Any time I’m working in any way publicly or interviewed immediately I’m asked about that hot topic, hot button, LGBT issue and whatever you say, you really do have to stand behind. I’m lucky to have a platform where I get to voice my opinions hopefully influencing others for being more kind to each other but also raising awareness for people even in our community that don’t know that other people in our community still faces. So my commitment to activism in the community has always been twofold; one about raising awareness but also getting in there and really participating in physically affecting change. Whether that’s creating my own fundraisers, being part of others, really putting just not only my name on a poster but getting a tactile way.”

HELP IS ON THE WAY XXII is produced by the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation, founded by the late Barbara Richmond and Peggy Ermet in memory of their sons John Richmond and Doug Ermet who both lost their lives to AIDS. In 1995, the two women decided not to get mad but get even when they launched a musical AIDS benefit to honor their sons by raising funds for AIDS service organizations. To date REAF has raised well over $3 million dollars for AIDS services and beginning in 2015 expanded to support hunger programs and programs for homeless and underserved youth.
For Info & Tix: reaf-sf.org
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NGLCC Business & Leadership Event

Jonathan D. Lovitz, Vice President of External Affairs of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about the NGLCC International Business & Leadership Conference that takes place August 23rd to 26th in Palm Springs, California. The event brings over 1,000 entrepreneurs, corporate decision-makers, affiliate chamber leaders and government officials from across the country and globally.There are also fabulous special events including a performance by legendary singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge. The three-day educational conference delivers innovative leadership programming, networking and engagement opportunities which lead to expansive economic impact and meaningful community services. These cutting edge educational programs include important keynote speakers, the annual B2B Boot Camp for LGBT Business Enterprises, a chamber development track, marketplace expo, one-on-one matchmaker meetings and more. The NGLCC International Business & Leadership Conference offers vigorous programming designed to meet the interests and needs of their corporate partners, LGBT-certified business owners and entrepreneurs, allied companies and NGLCC affiliate chambers from around the country. Packed with education sessions, this world-class networking the conference offers incredible exposure and opportunities for LGBT owned and allied businesses to build relationships with more than 140 corporations, federal government agencies and each other. We talked to Jonathan about the NGLCC International Business & Leadership Conference and his spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what his personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Lovitz stated, “I’ve personally been involved in LGBT civil rights and advocacy movement for several years now. I started off as an openly gay Broadway and television performer years ago and worked as an openly gay actor for a long time. During that time organizations like the Human Rights Campaign, Trevor Project and GLAAD approached me and said you’re young and passionate and interested in doing great work for the community, what would you like to do? And I said put me out in the field; I want to be on college campuses; I want to be at events getting particularly young people to care about this movement, especially as we saw marriage equality come closer and closer to fruition. We didn’t want to lose momentum after it happened so I’ve stayed in this fight ever since and one of the first organizations that I got to speak with and for was the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. I’m really honored to be on staff heading up their communications and messaging and public policy and help making the world a better place for LGBT people do business.”

The NGLCC was co-founded in 2002 by Justin G. Nelson and Chance Mitchell. Nelson has served as President since the NGLCC was founded and Mitchell has served as CEO over the same period. In 2002 the pair were named in OUT Magazine's Top 100 Success Stories for their role in founding the NGLCC Instinct Magazine and named Nelson as one of their 25 leading men in 2006. NGLCC is a U.S. not-for-profit advocacy group that aims to expand the economic opportunities and advancement of the LGBT business community. The Washington, D.C. based group acts both as a national certification body for LGBT-owned businesses and as advocates for LGBT supplier diversity.
For More Info: nglcc.org
Hear 400+ LGBT Interviews @OUTTAKE VOICES

“Front Cover” New Gay Film

Filmmaker Ray Yeung talks about his new feature “Front Cover” a bittersweet dramatic comedy that addresses the Asian American experience with humor, irony and insight with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. The film is about an openly gay New York City fashion stylist Ryan (Jake Choi) who has rejected his traditional Asian upbringing. However after he is given an assignment to style Ning (James Chen) a famous Chinese actor for an important photo shoot an unlikely friendship develops between them leading Ryan to re-examine his roots and consider an enticing new path for his life and career. “Front Cover” is opening in limited release on August 5th in New York City at the Village East and August 12th in Los Angeles at Sundance Sunset 5 distributed by Strand Releasing after rave reviews on the film festival circuit. We talked to Ray about his inspiration for “Front Cover” and his spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what his personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Yeung stated, “I was living in Hong Kong and born in Hong Kong and Hong Kong use to have a gay and lesbian film festival in 1989 but they stopped it in 1997 when Hong Kong was given back to China for political and economical reasons. I restarted the gay and lesbian film festival in 2000 because I didn’t want that kind of freedom of speech and freedom of being gay to be suppressed and lost. We started the film festival in the year 2000 and the festival since then has been very strong and we are the biggest and longest running gay and lesbian film festival in Asia now. I think it is very important to have our stories being told. If you are a young kid coming out with no identity or not sure what it is like being gay you can go to the cinema and watch your story or some other people’s story or their struggles on the screen and that kind of gives you a lot of power and belief in life. So they have a sense of identity and they have the belief in other people’s dreams and life can be different or better or whatever so the world they live in there are other avenues and ways of living. I think it is very important to have gay and lesbian film festivals everywhere in the world.”

Ray Yeung is a Columbia University MFA graduate whose first film “Cut Sleeve Boys” premiered at the Rotterdam International Film Festival and won Best Feature at the Outfest Fusion Festival in Los Angeles. Yeung is very concerned with the whitewashing of Asian stories in Hollywood and is committed to continue making films about our Asian LGBT community. His next film will be shot on location in his native Hong Kong which not only tells the story of two Asian men but will also capture a rapidly changing city under China’s rule. Ray Yeung continues to be the Chairman of the Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.
For More Info: frontcoverthemovie.com
Hear 400+ LGBT Interviews @OUTTAKE VOICES

Gender Odyssey Conference August 4 - 7

Aidan Key, founder of Gender Diversity in Seattle, WA talks about the 15th annual Gender Odyssey conference that takes place at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in Seattle, Washington from August 4th to 7th with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Gender Odyssey is an international conference focused on the needs and interests of transgender and gender nonconforming people. The conference provides an array of thought-provoking workshops, discussion groups, social events and more. This annual event attracts people from all over the world for an uplifting weekend of skill sharing and community. Over 1000 participants are expected to attend this year as visibility for transgender issues and communities have reached a historic high mark. Gender Odyssey’s primary objective is to offer tools to navigate obstacles and provide pathways to individual and community empowerment with conference tracks for professionals, families and transgender people of all ages. There will be over 100 workshops, panels and events providing the highest level of expertise from within the transgender and gender nonconforming communities. Also again this year “Gender Odyssey Family” the stand-alone conference will be presented for families with gender diverse and transgender children as the cornerstone of the weekend providing three days of workshops, a day camp for kids and a complete teen program. This annual family conference is one of few places where families, children and teens can get the information and support they need to live happy, healthy and fulfilled lives. We talked to Aidan about how Gender Odyssey provides a powerful life-changing conference experience for its attendees and his spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what his personal commitment is to LGBT Civil Rights Key stated, “I cannot not do this work and frankly in times of great fatigue, I have thought about that and wanted to step away and yet I feel quite strongly that this is the work that I need to be doing. I spent quite a number of years of my life in the lesbian community prior to my transition. I had the blessing and good fortune to meet a lot of amazing change agents within that community and especially so in a number of people that were older than me by 15 or 20 years so in a sense mentored me and provided me in what I felt was more like a second upbringing. There’s no way that between them and my own mom who raised me to be who I was meant and to fight against the injustices that present themselves, there’s no way I could let those people down and not do exactly what I’m doing. I find a huge amount of…satisfaction doesn’t even seem like the right word. It’s what I need and have and want to do to fill my soul.”

Aidan Key and his organization have helped students, families and schools think about and address gender and transgender issues. Key has served as a consultant to dozens of school districts across the United States navigating the questions and concerns that come with supporting transgender students. He is the co-author of “Trans Bodies, Trans Selves” (Oxford University Press) and “Gender Cognition in Transgender Children” (Psychological Science). Past speaking engagements have included the Children’s Justice Conference and the Adolescent Medicine Conference.
For More info: genderodyssey.org
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Equality Florida & Orlando Massacre

Nadine Smith, co-founder and CEO of Equality Florida talks about the aftermath of the Pulse Nightclub Massacre that left 49 dead and many critically injured last month in Orlando, Florida with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Since this mass murder occurred Equality Florida has established an online fundraiser for the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting that has raised over $7M from over 117,000 contributors and 120 countries. With recent terrorist attacks in Nice, France and tragic deadly shooting in Dallas, Texas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana we must ensure that our LGBT community is not forgotten in these times of such atrocities. During the current Republican National Convention references were made to both Dallas and Baton Rouge but not a word was uttered about the Pulse Nightclub Massacre. Though this isn’t surprising since the Republican National Convention is likely to ratify what has been described as the most anti LGBTQ platform in its history endorsing so-called conversion therapy, calling for the ban of marriage equality, rejects LGBTQ families and bans transgender and gender non-conforming people from using restrooms that match their gender identity. We talked to Nadine about moving forward after the Pulse Nightclub Massacre and her spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what she would like to see happen for LGBT equality in the next few years Smith stated, “I think there are two arenas that we really have to focus on. One of them is ending workplace discrimination because it really is a battle not only about the actual discrimination people experience but it’s a battle about naming and acknowledging the existence of the LGBT community. The far right when they oppose us at every turn what they’re really saying is we don’t want the state and we don’t want the laws to acknowledge you as actual people. We think that you don’t really exist, you just need what God we worship, you just need whatever psychological analyses we provide. We don’t believe LGBT people exist and every time a law passes that says you do exist and that you deserve dignity, it undermines their worldview. They think we shouldn’t exist and if we say we do exist we should be forced to hide and if we don’t hide successfully, violence or discrimination befalls us, then that’s just the way things ought to be, to drive us back in the closet. So that is the worldview that drives them to oppose even anti bullying laws in our schools. The work of ending discrimination is certainly about protecting people from losing their jobs or even living in a world where we fear that at any moment discrimination is possible. Will I be denied access to that restaurant; will I be denied this job; will I be harassed trying to get a hotel room? But it is also about addressing the basic recognition and dignity of our lives. The other area that I think should be at the top of our agenda if we’re going to uproot the hatred and fear is at the core of this discrimination and violence we have to focus on schools. We have to stop having the lowest bar possible which is students who go to school should not be physically assaulted, verbally abused and emotionally terrorized. That’s the least our schools should be. That should not be the highest we aspire to. We should create learning environments where dignity and respect of difference is built in. Where LGBT young people cannot only just go and expect not to be harassed, but can go and expect to thrive and there are models for it and we need the investment in it now.”

Nadine Smith is also a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Florida Advisory Committee, a Florida Chamber Foundation Trustee and served on President Obama's National Finance Committee. She was named one of the state's "Most Powerful and Influential Women" by the Florida Diversity Council in 2013. Nadine was also given the 2016 League of Women Voters Woman of Distinction Award earlier this year. She lives in St. Petersburg, Florida with her wife Andrea and son Logan.
For More Info: eqfl.org
Hear 400+ LGBT Interviews @OUTTAKE VOICES

National Gay Blood Drive

Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ participated in a media call hosted by the National Gay Blood Drive and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee with Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) and Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL) urging the FDA to lift the requirement that gay and bisexual men be celibate for a year before donating blood. Since the LGBT massacre in Orlando, Florida more than 130 members of Congress have signed letters asking the Commissioner of the FDA to remove the requirement including Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) who are leading the effort in the Senate and along with Rep. Polis leading the effort in the House are Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL). In addition, a grassroots petition by National Gay Blood Drive, the Equality Federation and the PCCC has raised over 12,000 signatures stating that scientific evidence does not support this ban and that screening should be based on behavior and not sexual orientation.

Courtney Hagen, Progressive Change Campaign Committee’s Capitol Hill Team stated, “Today we have a clear message for the FDA: The public and members of Congress want you to lift the ban on gay men donating blood and treat all people equally. After Orlando, a discriminatory FDA ban that requires gay men to be celibate for one year to donate meant that thousands of would-be healthy donors were turned away from Orlando blood banks that desperately needed their blood. Their community was under attack but they were unable to do even the simplest of acts to help it heal.”

Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO), the first openly gay parent in Congress added, “The FDA simply needs to make screening based off of behavior and off of science, not off of orientation. The gender of one’s partner has nothing to do with whether one is engaged in risky behavior or not. It’s high time for this outdated and discriminatory policy to end and I’m confident with such broad spread support among both the American public as well as members of Congress the FDA will be moved to look at the science that shows, in fact, that there’s nothing inherently different about the blood of gay or bisexual Americans.”

Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL) of Orlando concluded, “At times of tragedy, giving blood is a form of showing solidarity, showing concern for the victims and even a form of citizenship. We can’t say that we have first-class citizens and second-class citizens; we can’t say some people can give blood and other people can’t based upon their sexual orientation or anything like that. When I asked people and other elected officials asked people, to give blood, we had over 5,000 donors in less than 24 hours. In one location, we had two blocks that had to be cordoned off because the line was that long -- a line two blocks long in the rain of people anxious to give blood that day. And that’s a recognition of the impulse we all feel in times of tragedy to help and no one should be turned away in those kinds of circumstances.”

According to a study published in the Columbia Medical Review the one-year celibacy requirement is outdated and ignores that all blood donations are thoroughly tested using the latest technology and scientific advancements. The AIDS Research Institute calls the policy discriminatory and “not really supported by the facts.” Over 4.2 million eligible blood donors are affected by the requirement.
For More Info: gayblooddrive.com
Hear 400+ LGBT Interviews @OUTTAKE VOICES

New LGBT Senior Housing In NYC

Michael Adams, Chief Executive Officer of Services & Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Elders (SAGE) which is the country's largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older adults founded in 1978 and headquartered in NYC talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Recently SAGE has announced it has joined forces with HELP USA and BFC Partners to develop New York City’s first senior housing with services designed specifically for the LGBT community. Ingersoll Senior Residences and Crotona Senior Residences will collectively provide nearly 230 units and bring comprehensive LGBT culturally competent services to older adults at both sites. Located in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn Ingersoll Senior Residences will be the nation’s largest LGBT-welcoming elder housing development in the nation with 145 affordable units. Crotona Senior Residences will provide 82 units located in Crotona Park North, Bronx and will be developed as part of a collaboration between HPD, HELP USA, NY State Homes and Community Renewal and SAGE. As President Obama recently stated in his Pride Month Proclamation LGBT elder housing is a national issue and these new developments will address this need by weaving together affordable housing and comprehensive on-site services. We talked to Michael about providing our LGBT elder pioneers access to safe housing where they can be themselves and his spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what he would like to see happen for LGBT equality in the next few years Adams stated, “We spend a lot of time in our movement, as has been necessary, fighting for equal rights, legal rights, for marriage equality. We have made good progress but we still obviously have a long way to go to ensure that we are protected against discrimination since in many parts of the country we’re not; so many parts of the country it’s perfectly legal to discriminate against us in housing, in employment and other parts of life. So the fight to win anti discrimination protections is very important. Equally important is ensuring all of our work in all of our communities is inclusive and supports all parts of the community and what we’ve seen is we have groups within the community that too often get left behind. That includes transgender folks and certainly includes elders in our community and so really ensuring that the progress we make is progress for all including our most vulnerable, most marginalized member of the community to me that is really critical.”

Michael Adams is a graduate of Stanford Law School and Harvard College. Prior to becoming Chief Executive Officer at SAGE he was the Director of Education and Public Affairs for Lambda Legal. Prior to that Michael spent a decade leading cutting-edge litigation that established new rights for LGBT people, first as Associate Director of the ACLU's Lesbian and Gay Rights Project and then as Deputy Legal Director at Lambda Legal. He has authored numerous publications on an array of LGBT issues. SAGE offers national supportive services and consumer resources to LGBT older adults and their caregivers, advocates for public policy changes that address the needs of LGBT older people and provides training for aging providers and LGBT organizations through its National Resource Center on LGBT Aging. With offices in New York City, Washington, DC and Chicago, SAGE coordinates a growing network of 29 SAGE affiliates in 21 states and the District of Columbia.
For More Info: sageusa.org
Hear 400+ LGBT Interviews @OUTTAKE VOICES

“Brothers” Transgender Web Series

Filmmaker and writer Emmett Jack Lundberg talks about the second season of his web series “Brothers” with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. This is the first narrative series about a group of transgender male friends that not only features the stories about trans men but also casts trans actors in the main roles. The show follows four transgender men navigating life and love in Brooklyn, NY and touches on a few of the many issues that face transgender individuals including healthcare, dating, transphobia, identity and more. Season One is currently on Vimeo On Demand and Amazon Prime. In a quick summary, Jack the series’ main character starts sleeping with a cisgender man after exclusively dating women. His friend Davyn proposed to his long time girlfriend Amy with disastrous results. Aiden the youngest member of the group who is pre-testosterone and pre-surgery tries to raise money for his upcoming top surgery but becomes disenchanted at the last minute. Then Max who has been on hormones longer than both Jack and Davyn can’t get the financial resources to obtain his top surgery. In season two Jack is still struggling with his sexual identity while Max is living through the hell of online dating. Davyn has fled his disastrous relationship and New York as Aiden has plummeted down a rabbit hole of addiction and depression. The core group has shifted and fractured as the “Brothers” are no longer one big happy family. Along with a host of new characters the guys discover whether testosterone is actually thicker than blood. We talked to Emmett about his inspiration for his web series “Brothers” and his spin on our LGBT issues prior to the Orlando Massacre.

When asked what his personal commitment is to LGBT civil right and what he would like to see happen for LGBT equality in the next few years Lundberg stated, “I think for me as the filmmaker you know the stories I want to tell are very much stories that are overlooked and for me that’s the way I feel comfortable and good about giving back and adding something to the community…I think a huge thing for me in LGBT equality is specifically trans healthcare. You know the healthcare system in our country in general is pretty messed up but for trans people it can be really terrifying and difficult to navigate. You know you have to pay for your own surgery and having to do all these things out of pocket when really all these things should be covered.”

Emmett Jack Lundberg series “Brothers” was named one of indieWIRE’s 10 Best Indie TV Series and ET Online’s “Six Web Series to Watch While Waiting for Transparent to Return”. SiriusXM called it “More revolutionary than “Orange Is The New Black.” Season 2, Episode 1 has already screened at several festivals and has won “Best in LGBT+” at the Buffer Festival in Toronto, Canada. As a writer Lundberg co-edited and contributed to “Finding Masculinity”, an anthology of trans masculine essays that was published by Riverdale Avenue Books in May 2015.
For More Info: brothersseries.com
Hear 400+ LGBT Interviews @OUTTAKE VOICES

“Skirtchasers” New LGBT Web Series

Elizabeth Keener talks about her new tello Films web series “Skirtchasers” that she stars in with Barry Bostwick (“Rocky Horror Picture Show”, “Spin City”) as her estranged father and Meredith Baxter (“Family Ties”, “Young and the Restless”) as her divorced mom with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Keener plays Robyn Samuels who is freshly single after a break-up with her long time girlfriend the day before their wedding. As Robyn deals with mending her broken heart she realizes her issues with commitment go way back to her father after the split of her parents. Bostwick plays Damien Samuels her best-selling novelist father who has remarried a much younger woman, starts a new family and abandons Robyn. The five part web series was written by James Berg and Stan Zimmerman (“The Golden Girls”, “Gilmore Girls”, “The Brady Bunch” movies), bringing over 30 years of writing and producing experience to the project. Amanda Bearse directed four of the episodes with Zimmerman directing one. Bearse has over 25 years of directing and producing experience (“MADtv”, “Dharma & Gregg”, “Jamie Foxx Show”). She is also known for her role as Marcy D’Arcy in the Fox classic comedy, “Married With Children”. “Skirtchasers” is distributed by Christin Baker, co-founder and CEO of tello Films and produced jointly by Baker, Bearse, Bostwick, Zimmerman and Keener. We talked to Elizabeth about what she hoped to accomplish with “Skirtchasers” and her spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what her personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Keener stated, “My personal commitment as a human being is for everyone to have the same rights. I mean we all started as an egg and a sperm, we all started right there. It just becomes convoluted. My personal opinion is that many people, most people, I wouldn’t say all but they find ways to elevate themselves by downing other people and if people would just stop in some way, I mean it starts in the home. I think we need to let people know that everyone is equal. I don’t care, we can label everything we want; we can have new labels for this and new labels for that; we can do all that stuff but we’re all the same and it’s just shocking to me that people haven’t gotten that yet and you know we’re heading for 2020 and people just don’t get it or they do get it but they don’t care because the only way they can elevate themselves is finding a way to down somebody else. I’m just going to find a way and I hope in my way, I mean politically I’m an actress and I don’t know how much in politics people care what I say, but it doesn’t matter because we don’t live in politics. We live in real life and I’m going to do all I can from my end to get people to see that everyone is the same.”

Elizabeth Keener is an actor, writer, producer and voiceover artist. She is best known for her role as the kick ass bar owner Dawn Denbo in Showtime's “The L Word”. She has also been in numerous television shows and feature films including Terror Films “The Chosen”, ABC's “My Generation” and Nicole Holofcener's “Friends with Money”. Keener is the younger sister of actress Catherine Keener. “Skirtchasers” is currently available on tello Films that creates web series specifically for the lesbian/queer community.
For Info & Watch: tellofilms.com
Hear 400+ LGBT Interviews @OUTTAKE VOICES