OUTTAKE VOICES™ (Interviews)

LGBT Promise Place School Gala

Diego Miguel Sanchez the National Director of Policy at PFLAG talks to Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about being honored with the Lifetime Dedication Award at the Promise Place School Boston Gala that takes place Saturday September 26, 2015 at the Seaport Boston Hotel. Diego joined PFLAG National as Director of Policy in 2013 after serving as Senior Policy Advisor to Congressman Barney Frank (MA) until his retirement from The U.S. House. Diego made history in 2009 as the first openly transgender person to work as a senior legislative staffer on Capitol Hill and for historically testifying in 2008 to the U.S. House on ENDA. Previously Diego spent 20 years as a corporate global executive in public relations, marketing and diversity management at world headquarters of Fortune 500 companies including Coca-Cola, ITT and Starwood Hotels. We talked to Diego about his work at PFLAG the nation's largest LGBT family and ally organization, being honored at the Promise Place School Boston Gala and his spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked about being honored at the Promise Place School Boston Gala Sanchez stated, “Getting a Lifetime Achievement Award means that I am not the youngest person in the room, I figure, because it takes time to earn a lifetime of achievements. But it means so much to me to be recognized for all the work I’ve been able to do. Whether it’s working for Fortune 500 corporations, working on HIV/AIDS or LGBTQ nonprofits or serving as then first openly transgender Senior Staffer on Capitol Hill under Congressman Barney Frank, my mere presence is what commanded the press. So it’s never been easy being different from absolutely everyone but it’s always special. I hope to get to set an example on being compassionate and strong, giving others room to learn and not expecting to understand everything right away and in that way I hope to inspire both current and future generations to be kind when they offer support and educate or when they advocate.”

Diego Miguel Sanchez was named to the Top 100 Most Powerful Latino/a Corporate Executives by Hispanic Business Magazine, Most Powerful Latinos/as in Massachusetts by El Planeta Newspaper and listed in the Out 100 and the inaugural Trans 100. He’s earned three Silver Anvil Awards from the Public Relations Society of America, a Silver Flame from the International Association of Business Communicators and was awarded National Stonewall Democrats Capital Champion Award and Q Street Lobbyists’ Legislative Staffer of the Year. Promise Place School is an initiative of the Foundation for International Justice. The Promise Place School will include a residential educational complex for homeless LGBTQ youth ages 12-24 in Massachusetts that will combine classroom settings with a safe home environment. The school will be staffed by qualified professionals, offering services including a safe and stable home environment, a healthy diet, clothing, medical services, mental health services, substance abuse education, recreational and physical fitness programs and HIV/STD testing. All students will be offered education from 6th grade and up including a GED program, guidance counseling, life skills education and vocational skills training, college prep classes, career counseling, full continuing education scholarships and more. The Promise Place School’s First Annual Spring Gala on Saturday September 26th in Boston will be also be honoring Congressman Joe Kennedy, Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, Carl Sciortino, Joe Finn and Elisabeth Jackson for their continued support of the mission to help homeless LGBTQI youth. Next week we’ll be talking to Lawrence “Larry” Watson who will perform live at the First Annual Gala fundraising event for Promise Place School with his Jazz Group “Workforce”.
For More Info & Tix: promiseplaceschool.org
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“Paul Taylor: Creative Domain” New Film

Filmmaker Kate Geis about her documentary “Paul Taylor: Creative Domain” and John Tomlinson, Executive Director of the Paul Taylor Dance Foundation talk with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Paul Taylor is one of the dance world’s most elusive and admired choreographers. For 60 years he has given only glimpses into his creative process but in this fabulous documentary for his 133rd dance performance ‘Three Dubious Memories,’ the audience is allowed into his studio for an in-depth exploration of how Mr. Taylor creates a single work. In 1998 director Matthew Diamond released the Oscar nominated film “Dancemaker” about the story of the then 69 year-old choreographer’s life, his company and his dances. Creative Domain is the next chapter in the creative life of Mr. Taylor. Through the intimate lens of award-winning cinematographer Tom Hurwitz, we witness Taylor's verbal and non-verbal communication with his dancers. We talked to Kate Geis and John Tomlinson about this must-see documentary “Paul Taylor: Creative Domain” and their spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what his personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Tomlinson stated, “Well I happen to be a gay man and I have a husband and we are thank God legally married finally and very proud of that. I’ve been with my husband almost 20 years and we’ve been married for four years now. I will also say just in general I’ve always been thrilled to work in an industry where LGBT issues are basically non-issues. We don’t have issues with that. We understand that the work we do has nothing to do with the sexual orientation of the people doing it. I think part of me was drawn to this part of the world because of that because I wanted to work freely in an environment where it wasn’t an issue of what my sexual orientation was. I also think it’s important to celebrate that fact that we always were on the frontlines in that. On top of which, I work for an artist who is so broadminded and sees the world in so many ways and explores all those issues on the stage and gives you a sense of great equality throughout his work.”

Filmmaker Kate Geis is an Emmy winning documentary producer who began her career at Saturday Night Live and went on to produce documentary programming for WNET, Channel Thirteen, History Channel, A&E, and Metro TV. John Tomlinson, Executive Director of the Paul Taylor Dance Foundation has been working with dance companies for more than 30 years including some of the greatest names in modern dance. The film’s Executive Producer Robert Aberlin has co-produced two award winning documentaries both of which appeared on WNET the New York PBS affiliate and he also serves on the board of The Paul Taylor Dance Foundation. “Paul Taylor: Creative Domain” opens in New York City at The Film Society Of Lincoln Center on September 11th with Filmmaker Kate Geis, Executive Producer Robert Aberlin, dance luminaries and dancers featured in the film attending a Q & A following the film. “Paul Taylor: Creative Domain” will be released theatrically in Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago and other key cities throughout September giving a rare glimpse of the process and creator of The Paul Taylor Dance Company.
For More Info: paultaylorcreativedomain.com
Hear 350+ LGBT Interviews @OUTTAKE VOICES

“Out Of Orange” New Memoir

Cleary Wolters talks about her memoir “Out Of Orange” with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Cleary is the real inspiration of Piper Kerman’s “Orange Is The New Black” character Nora Jansen that became the Netflix series’ Alex Vause portrayed by Laura Prepon. “Out Of Orange” is Wolters’ riveting backstory about the criminal activities that led to Cleary and Piper’s imprisonment as well as what really happened during incarceration. After her release in 2008 Wolters thought she left her scandalous past behind her until she saw a commercial for a new TV show that stopped her in her tracks. The scene showed a young blond woman hopping out of a van wearing an orange prison uniform. A blur of words and images followed including allusions to lesbian lovers, drug smuggling and life behind bars. Then she saw a woman wearing her signature black-rimmed glasses and dropped the remote. In that moment Cleary knew that her private past had been brought to light in the most public way imaginable and nothing would ever be the same again. Cleary talks about the inspiration for revealing her side of the story in this must-read memoir “Out Of Orange” and gives us her spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what her personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Wolters stated, “I came out in 1980 and in 1980 in big cities, urban places where fashion is born from, we were tolerated, at best. Things have changed dramatically in the 35 years since I came out but we’re nowhere near done with the change that needs to occur. I would like to live in a world where anyone LGBTQ gets to share in the American Dream, I mean all of it from birth to death. I would like to see Americans in general, politicians specifically, treat oppression of LGBTQ people anywhere in the world the same way as they treat oppression for crimes against humanity, human rights, genocide, any of these things directed at us needs to be treated exactly the way they’re directed at any other group of people and even then we’re not done. Again beyond that as long as there is a human being tortured or killed or imprisoned for who they are, we’re a long way from home.”

Cleary Wolters, the real-life inspiration for the character Alex Vause in the Netflix series “Orange Is The New Black” was charged with conspiracy to import heroin and served almost 6 years in a Dublin, California prison before being paroled in 2008. When “Orange Is The New Black” first came out Wolters was prevented from telling her story under a gag order as part of her probation and was restricted from any contact with Piper Kerman or any others involved in the drug conspiracy case. Cleary has been writing all her life and while in prison wrote volumes of written poetry, fiction and screenplays. “Out Of Orange” is her first memoir published by HarperOne. Currently she’s editing a trilogy of novels she wrote while in prison and a follow-up to “Out Of Orange”. Wolters is also a software testing engineer by profession and is currently working on her PhD in Information Assurance and Security. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.
For More Info: clearywolters.com
Hear 350+ LGBT Interviews @OUTTAKE VOICES

New Film “Atomic Veterans Speak”

LGBT ally and documentary filmmaker Garry DuFour talks about his current project “Atomic Veterans Speak” with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. From 1942 until 1962 almost 200,000 U.S. soldiers were often unknowingly exposed to different levels of radiation during the testing of atomic and hydrogen weapons. DuFour, a disabled Vietnam veteran living in Vermont is bringing recognition, respect and honor to these heroes who were used as human guinea pigs by the Department of Defense. Out of almost 200,000 U.S. soldiers who witnessed these bomb explosions less than 15 per cent are alive today. Dufour is currently conducting interviews with the survivors of these horrific government experiments whose ages run from the youngest at 79 to those well into their 90’s. Garry first learned of these secret to top-secret nuclear experiments when he was a staff member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs from 1979 to 1981 when veterans who witnessed several nuclear blasts were coming down with different types of cancers due to radiation poisoning. The Chairman of the Committee, the late Senator Alan Cranston of California was the first Senator to hold hearings about the Atomic Veterans, who they were now known as, to provide health care and compensation for since hardly any records were kept to verify they participated in these secret tests. We talked to Garry about his inspiration for his documentary “Atomic Veterans Speak” and as a fierce gay ally his spin on our LGBT equality.

When asked what his personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Dufour stated, “I was a combat Chaplin’s assistant in Vietnam, 101st airborne and believe me if you will all types of soldiers and I mean all types would come to our of office. Well the office probably was a bunker way out in Vietnam and talked about to the Chaplin about their problems. And I noticed when you brought up LGBT that out in combat most soldiers don’t care about your sexual orientation. The deeper, the hotter combat you were there to work together and the Chaplin and I noticed that. I mean you were out there and we were one solid team. It doesn’t matter your sexual orientation or years ago some people would say sexual preference and I came across several not only gay soldiers but bisexual ones and I always thought the military was at least 20% gay, bisexual and the gay soldiers, bisexual and lesbian, they’re not only fighting for their country, even if they’re stateside but some of them are obviously putting up with harassment right within the ranks. Those soldiers have a lot on their shoulders and they’re still doing a darn good job.”

Garry DuFour handled correspondence between the government and veterans who were exposed nuclear radiation and fallout from Top Secret experiments conducted by the US Government in the early development of nuclear weapons during WWII. During this time he photocopied many of these letters that explained how these soldiers were used as guinea pigs to see the effects. This information was not released to the public until the Clinton Administration in the mid 1990’s. Dufour was also appointed by a federal judge for the Agent Orange Class Action Lawsuit Distribution Plan. Garry has had a unique career ranging from acting in California to reporting for "Stars and Stripes" to multiple positions in the United States Senate. He hopes his documentary “Atomic Veterans Speak” will honor and recognize these heroes and their families for their service and sacrifice.
For More Atomic Veterans Speak Info...
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Betty Buckley Plays Ptown In September

Tony Winner Betty Buckley talks about her upcoming events presented by Adam Berry at the Peregrine Theatre Ensemble in Provincetown Massachusetts on September 2nd, 3rd and 4th with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Buckley is doing a "talk back" with the audience after the performance of "Carrie the Musical" on Sept. 2nd and on Sept. 3rd and 4th she will be performing songs from her album "Ghostlight" produced by T Bone Burnett and material from her musical theater catalogue for a two-night concert event entitled "An Evening With Betty Buckley". Betty has been called “The Voice of Broadway” and won a Tony Award for her performance as Grizabella, the Glamour Cat, in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats”. Her career spans across theater, film, television and concert halls around the world and she was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame in 2012. Currently she’s appearing as Big Edie in the musical “Grey Gardens” now through August 30th at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, New York. We talked to Betty about her busy summer schedule and as a fierce gay ally she shared her insights on our LGBT issues.

When asked what her personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Buckley stated, “Everyone in theater is completely committed to that and has great concern because all of our companions are gay. So many artists in the theater are gay men and gay women, that’s been a cause of mine. My original dance teachers from the time I was eleven in Fort Worth, Texas were a gay couple. Thank God for gay people in the arts and in theater and design. What would we do otherwise? Some of the great fashion, great theatrical minds are persons from the gay community. My brother Norman Buckley who’s a brilliant director in television, he directed “Pretty Little Liars”, “The Fosters”, “Mysteries of Laura” and “Rizzoli & Isles” amongst other TV shows is a gay man who just lost his husband last fall to suicide. His husband Davyd Whaley was a brilliant painter who had been very abused in his childhood for being gay. It’s a profound and necessary concern of our community. We’ve all raised money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS through the years, which has been an honor and a privilege. I was just at a friend’s house in East Hampton and their little six year old son has been persistent about saying that he is a girl and they finally in recent months have allowed him to assume the identity that is obviously most naturally his. It’s good that all this information is coming to our consciousness the way it is now. The bullying and the scare that people feel about not being part of the mainstream is such a sad thing and we have to stop because its uniqueness, its individuality that’s created all good things and we should praise that and celebrate it wherever it occurs in our world.”

Betty Buckley other Broadway credits include “1776”, “Pippin”, “Song and Dance”, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” and “Carrie”. Her films include her debut in Brian de Palma’s screen version of Stephen King’s “Carrie”, Bruce Beresford’s “Tender Mercies”, Roman Polanski’s “Frantic”, Woody Allen’s “Another Woman”, Lawrence Kasden’s “Wyatt Earp” and M. Night Shymalan’s “The Happening”. On television Buckley starred for three seasons in the HBO series “Oz “and as Abby Bradford in the hit series “Eight is Enough”. She has also appeared as a guest star in numerous television series, miniseries and films for television. For information and tickets for her upcoming events in Provincetown, Massachusetts on September 2nd, 3rd & 4th: peregrinetheatre.com
For More Info: bettybuckley.com
Hear 350+ LGBT Interviews @OUTTAKE VOICES

Part 2 LGBT Activists Celebrate Equality

In the conclusion of our exclusive two part audio montage series Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with LGBT lawyers, activists and allies at the annual Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) Summer Party at the Pilgrim Monument and Museum in Provincetown, Massachusetts. This has been an epic year to celebrate especially with the historic Supreme Court marriage equality ruling. First we talked to Elyse Cherry who is CEO of Boston Community Capital and served as a board member of GLAD in the 1990’s when the marriage battle began 20 years ago. Cherry hopes that our LGBT community builds on the momentum of the historic Supreme Court ruling and LGBT candidates run for political office throughout the nation. Then we chatted with Gary Buseck GLAD’s Legal Director who has been involved with GLAD in various capacities for more than 35 years including serving as Executive Director from 1997 to January, 2004. Gary talked about celebrating the wonderful progress GLAD has achieved so far and ready to move to the next level of LGBT equality which include national nondiscrimination protections for our community. He is especially concerned about our LGBT youth’s safety in and out of the school and religious liberty issues.

Next we chatted with Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey who is the first openly gay state attorney general elected in America. Maura talked about celebrating the work GLAD has done advancing equality across the country. When asked about what she would you like to see happen for LGBT equality in the next few years Healey talked about advancing transgender protections, safety for LGBT young people and ensuring LGBT seniors’ healthcare and nursing home protections. Then Dianne Phillips, GLAD's Board of Directors President talked about what’s on the agenda for the organization including their current lawsuit Jacqueline Cote, et al. v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc where Wal-Mart has violated the federal Civil Rights Act by discriminating against Jacqueline Cote based on her sex.

Our favorite political humorist Kate Clinton returned as auctioneer extraordinaire raising $160,000 for GLAD. When we asked Kate about her spin on recent advancements for our LGBT community she joked that you can always judge our success by backlash that’s already happening by our opponents. Kate also reminded us that although we can now legally marry in all 50 states our community can still be fired in 30 of those states where sexual orientation is not protected and how the national Equality Act needs to pass to finally end LGBT discrimination. Next we chatted with Robert Four who has been involved in the marriage movement since the late 1990’s. Robert stated he would like to see comprehensive nondiscrimination legislation across the country that would ensure housing and job security for our LGBT community. Then we spoke to artist Barbara Cohen who has supported GLAD for years and also strives to see equality across the board for our LGBT community. Barbara attended the Summer Party with marriage icon Edie Windsor who she graciously introduced us to. Edie told us she was at the event because GLAD began the whole marriage movement. Windsor told us she had one request and that was to stop using the term “same-sex marriage”. We agree with Edie 100%. For over ten years we have been trying to educate the heterosexual and LGBT community to not use the term that was conceived by Karl Rove the former White House Deputy Chief of Staff during the George W. Bush administration to raise a red flag with the religious right by using the word “sex” in describing our LGBT community. When mainstream media uses this term all you can hear is the redundancy of the word sex. When asked what she would like to see happen for LGBT equality in the next few years Edie added she would like to see LGBT homeless kids who statistically account for 50% of all homeless youth to be off the streets and receive the love and support they deserve just for being themselves. She concluded by saying she was pleased to see the progress happening for trans people in this country and hopes to see rights for not just gender but gender identity. (Photos by Marilyn Rosen)
Listen To Part One
For More Info: glad.org
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Provincetown Marriage Equality Celebration

In the first installment of our exclusive two part audio montage series Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with LGBT lawyers, activists and allies at the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) Prelude Party at Sage Lounge in Provincetown, Massachusetts. It was an intimate celebration with GLAD Board members and leaders who worked tirelessly to achieve equality for our LGBT community including Mary Bonauto GLAD’s Civil Rights Project Director. Bonauto represented April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse of Michigan on April 28th before the U.S. Supreme Court which resulted in the United States becoming the 20th country in the world where gay and lesbian couples can legally marry nationally.

First we talked with Janson Wu, Executive Director of GLAD about the Supreme Court victory and all of the progress GLAD has accomplished for our LGBT community. Janson also discussed the Equality Act, a comprehensive federal LGBT non-discrimination bill that was recently introduced in Congress. Then we chatted with Chuck Latovich who has worked with GLAD for decades about what he would like to see happen for LGBT equality in the next few years. Next we talked to Molly Girton who previously worked for GLAD as Accounting Manager about how excited she is to see where GLAD goes from here. Molly hopes that we become a more inclusive LGBT community in the future representing more people of color and our transgender community. Then we spoke with Gabby Hanna and her wife Marcy Feller who is also a Board Member of GLAD. Gabby and Marcy are fierce supporters of GLAD and sponsors of the GLAD Summer Party in Provincetown. Both women would like to see more advancements for women, lesbians and trans people in the next few years and hope that our community realizes that there is still a lot of work to be done to achieve full equality. Next we talked with Maralyn Wheeler and Amy Charamba who actually married in 2004 when GLAD won the groundbreaking Goodridge case making Massachusetts the first state in the U.S. where gay and lesbian couples could legally marry.

Then we chatted with Jennifer Levi, GLAD’s Transgender Rights Project Director about her work and hopes to achieve transgender rights at the same level as our LGB community. Next we talked with GLAD Board Member Beck Bailey who is also the Deputy Director of Employee Engagement at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s “Workplace Equality Program.” Beck talked about some of GLAD’s important cases including their current lawsuit Jacqueline Cote, et al. v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. which is the first class action filed on behalf of gay workers since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality in Obergefell v. Hodges and alleges that Walmart violated the federal Civil Rights Act by discriminating against Jaqueline Cote based on her sex. Then we had the honor to chat with Mary Bonauto GLAD’s Civil Rights Project Director who is the architect of marriage equality in this country by first winning the Goodridge case in 2004 and recently argued and proved before the U.S. Supreme Court that the Fourteenth Amendment requires a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex. Mary is currently working to ensure that LGBT youth, LGBT seniors and our transgender community receive all the freedoms and opportunities that other people have. Next we chatted with GLAD Board Member Jo Davis, MSW who works as a senior vocational counselor at the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission in Roxbury and will be celebrating her 10th anniversary with GLAD in 2016. Jo tells us she was always interested in social justice especially for our LGBT community. Then we talked to GLAD Board member Alix Ritchie who is an independent media strategy consultant and a longtime supporter of numerous arts, feminist, political and LGBT organizations. Alix is concerned about the way our LGBT community is challenged by rightwing religious groups and believes that you do not settle for what should not be settled for. We concluded with past GLAD Board President Rick McCarthy who believes we should enjoy where we are now and is excited to see where our LGBT community goes from here.

Next week in the second installment of our two part series we talk with the legendary marriage activist Edie Windsor, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, comedian Kate Clinton and Gary Buseck GLAD’s Executive Director among others at the GLAD Summer Party in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
For More Info: glad.org
Hear 350+ LGBT Interviews @OUTTAKE VOICES

Openly Gay Actor Jason Stuart

Jason Stuart one of the most prolific character actors and an outrageous openly gay stand-up comedian talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Jason Stuart has been in over 175 films and TV shows and has performed in major LGBT events, the Montreal Comedy Festival, Broadway, Comedy Clubs and to 100,000 people at the Millennium March in Washington D.C. Currently Jason's in TANGERINE the breakout hit from this year's Sundance Film Festival which was shot entirely on an iPhone 5S from filmmaker Sean Baker. Jason also just completed a dramatic supporting role as the plantation owner in Nat Turner’s biopic BIRTH OF A NATION from filmmaker Nat Parker who stars in the film along with Armie Hammer. Recently as the National Co-Chair of the Screen Actors Guild-AFTRA LGBT Committee, Jason presented the first ever Transgender Actor Panel at OUTFEST with Alexandra Billings (TRANSPARENT) Mya Taylor (TANGERINE) and D'Lo (SENSE 8). We talked to Jason about his fabulous career and his spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what he would like to see happen for LGBT equality in the next few years Stuart stated, “The next issue we’re going to jump on is housing and job discrimination. I remember when I was working for HRC fifteen years ago I was doing a lot of comedy shows for their dinners and I remember people were being quite upset when gay marriage was brought up because they didn’t like the idea; marriage equality had not really been discussed. People thought that was such a big thing and that people would never go for it. Well it took over fifteen years for marriage equality to happen and they weren’t really focused on job discrimination and housing and now those are the next two issues that I’m part of. But what I’m really part of in my own life is trying to do things from where I stand. Eight or nine years ago I became the National Co-Chair of the Screen Actors Guild- AFTRA LGBT Committee and I created that committee with Duncan Crabtree-Ireland who’s the Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel at Screen Actors Guild-AFTRA and my idea is to create more opportunity for LGBT actors and it’s happening, slowly but surely. It’s not the idea of roles whether gay or straight parts for the person being an openly gay actor, comedian, singer journalist, stunt person, extra, it’s the idea of them being out and being accepted for who they are and being able to compete for jobs the same way out straight counterparts do and that’s something I’m very much part of.”

Jason Stuart has appeared in TV shows including Sleepy Hollow, Real Rob, The Secret Life Of The American Teenager, House, Entourage, The Closer, Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Everybody Hates Chris, George Lopez, My Wife & Kids, Charmed and Will & Grace. In film he’s been featured in Gia (w/Angelina Jolie), A Day Without A Mexican, Coffee Date, Vegas Vacation and Kindergarten Cop. Recently he’s appearing in James Franco’s Holy Land and Ira Sach’s Love Is Strange opposite Marisa Tomei, John Lithgow and Alfred Molina. On the comedy scene his new stand up comedy CD I'M THE DADDY AND I HAVE CANDY was just released on CD Baby & iTunes and he’ll be touring with his new show in the fall I'M ONLY GAY ON THE WEEKENDS. Jason will also be appearing in the comedic parody, HUSH UP SWEET CHARLOTTE? premiering in San Francisco at the historic CASTRO THEATRE on October 28th. Jason plays the role of British Journalist Mr Wills in this hilarious remake starring Varla Jean Merman, Matthew Martin, Mink Stole and David Millbern (Also the Producer). Written and Directed by filmmaker Billy Clift. View his award winning web-series, MENTOR which marked his directorial debut now available on his website.

For More Info: jasonstuart.com

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Jen Foster's New Music Project

Singer/songwriter Jen Foster talks to Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about launching her Pledge Music Campaign to support her new ambitious double record project entitled “The White Room Sessions.” Over the last 5 years Jen has been making regular trips to Los Angeles to record music with her dear friend producer Rich Jacques. It all began at a little studio called the “White Room” in Hollywood and on her initial trip in the spring of 2009 they recorded a group of 4 original songs. This group of songs included “Venice Beach” and “I Didn’t Just Kiss Her” which quickly became two of Jen’s most popular songs ever. In addition they recorded some cover songs like Journey’s “Faithfully” and while these covers will not be on the double record, they will be released digitally as part of the Pledge Music campaign. By pre-ordering the new double-album pledgers will gain access to exclusive merchandise, memorabilia and events. We talked to Jen about “The White Room Sessions” and her spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what she would like to see happen for LGBT equality in the next few years Foster stated, “I think clearly the ruling on gay marriage last month was epic and in the sense of that now there’s this undeniable momentum and I think we’re going to see the dominos fall faster than ever before. But now having said that we definitely need more explicit protections and federal laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. For example just the other day the House of Representatives shot down an amendment that would require school districts for receiving federal funding specifically to adopt conduct to prohibit bullying and including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. We know that LGBT students are subjected to all kinds of discrimination and we also know that this leads to higher rates of dropping out and health problems and academic issues. Of course sometimes even suicide.”

Jen Foster’s songwriting endeavors have led to collaborations with Randy Bachman (The Guess Who, Bachman Turner Overdrive) and hit-maker Jeffrey Steele, among many others. Her touring history is as impressive as any you will find by an independent artist. She has not only played the largest Pride Festivals in the country (Los Angeles, New York City, Atlanta, St. Louis and Nashville) but she has also shared stages with Melissa Etheridge, Brandi Carlisle, Edwin McCain and Rachel Yamagata and on extended tours with The Samples, K’s Choice, Michelle Malone, Antigone Rising and Patrice Pike. Additionally, Foster serves on the Board of Directors for the Nashville Songwriter’s Association International. However creating music has always been instinctive for Foster and she feels a constant pull to craft songs that serve a larger purpose. In “The White Room Sessions” she has poured her entire heart and soul into the creation of these songs and the process of producing and arranging them with Rich Jacques at the helm has been a highlight of her life, both creatively and personally. The Pledge Music Campaign runs until early August 2015.
For More Info: pledgemusic.com
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Ptown Film Fest Press Conference #2

In the conclusion of our exclusive two part audio montage series Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with celebrities, activists and filmmakers at the 17th annual Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF) press luncheon. First we talked to straight ally and PIFF 2015 Filmmaker on the Edge Award recipient Bobcat Goldthwait about directing his new documentary “Call Me Lucky” which tells the story of Barry Crimmins, the beer-swilling, politically outspoken comic whose efforts in the 70’s and 80’s fostered the talents of the next generation of standup comedians. However beneath Crimmins’ gruff, hard-drinking, curmudgeonly persona lay an undercurrent of rage stemming from his long-suppressed and horrific abuse as a child. His emotional journey eventually found its way out of the comedy clubs and television shows and into the political arena. We also talked to Bobcat about his spin on the future of LGBT equality. Then we talked to Kim Yaged about her short animated film “Coming Full Circle” a comedy about selling sex and selling out. Her heroine Jyl’s feminist politics are challenged when she meets Elizabeth the hottest stripper around. Jyl must choose between losing the love of her life and losing herself. We talked to Kim about her film and what she would like to see happen for LGBT civil rights in the next few years.

Next we talked to the legendary activist and playwright Larry Kramer who is the center of director Jean Carlomusto’s must-see documentary “Larry Kramer In Love And Anger” currently available on HBO. This intimate portrait of author, activist and playwright Kramer is one of the best documentaries addressing the struggle of gay men in this country spanning over 40 years from Fire Island in the 70’s to achieving marriage equality. Kramer, the pioneering co-founder of Gay Men’s Health Crisis and ACT UP talks about how his play “The Normal Heart” eventually found its audience and his frustration with the current AIDS national research policies. When asked what he would like to see happen for LGBT equality in the next few years Kramer talks about how he would like to see our LGBT community more united with a better and more forceful presence in Washington to lobby for our rights like everyone else does. Kramer also talks about his new book “The American People, Volume 1” in which he rewrites the story of our country, passionately focusing on its homophobia and anti-Semitism in this historical novel.

Then we chat with filmmaker Bao Nguyen about his documentary “Live From New York” about the last 40 years of Saturday Night Live that has been keenly observing American culture. This dynamic behind-the-scenes film reveals a living time capsule with remarkable interviews of many of the hosts and legendary cast members of this TV comedy giant. Bao Nguyen also shared with us his next project that addresses marriage equality in his native country of Vietnam, which has become more progressive than many western nations. We concluded with fierce LGBT ally actress Jennifer Coolidge recipient of the PIFF 2015 Faith Hubley Career Achievement Award. Jennifer talks about how honored she is to receive this award and shares with us how much fun she had working with Jane Lynch in “Best In Show”. Coolidge is currently starring in The Nora Theatre Company production of Marisa Smith’s “Saving Kitty” at the Central Square Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts for a limited engagement from July 9th through August 2nd.

The Provincetown Film Society (PFS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to provide a welcoming, nurturing and inspiring environment for creative exploration in film. Through its Festival, Cinema and Institute, the Society endeavors to give year-round support to new and established independent filmmakers and to connect them with global audiences.
Listen To PIFF Press Lunch Part #1
For Info: ptownfilmfest.org
Hear 350+ LGBT Interviews @OUTTAKE VOICES