OUTTAKE VOICES™ (Interviews)

Matt Gold New EP “Let It Out”

Matt Gold, chart-topping and acclaimed singer-songwriter talks about his new EP LET IT OUT with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Recorded with Grammy-winning engineer David Bianco and produced by renowned drummer Kenny Aronoff, it’s his most optimistic release to date. Already the single APPRECIATED has charted on the Billboard Hot AC chart which is a rare feat for a completely independent artist. You can tell that the songs on the new EP are coming from somewhere very real and euphorically uplifting. Gold’s singing and piano playing almost functions as a reward for all the soul searching he and his fans have collectively conducted in their musical dialogue. We talked to Gold about his music and his spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what his personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Gold stated, “You know sometimes I think that we’ve made so many strides in this area and then other times I actually feel as if we’re losing ground in the movement. It’s this contradiction that brings us to the very heart of the issue. In order not to lose ground I think we all have to invest ourselves and I will continue to do that the best way I know how and that is through my music.”

Matt Gold who was raised in Indiana, established himself on the singer-songwriter scene through his tireless work ethic, playing shows on college campuses and small venues and building a robust fan base before releasing his first album. His music resonates with people because of his richly expressive vocals, his sophisticatedly accessible pop sense and his gorgeous touch on the piano. In addition to his captivating musicality, it’s Matt’s story that hits the heart of his listeners. He grew up an adopted only child into very religious parents and within this complex world, bravely came out as being gay. LET IT OUT is Matt’s most accomplished and upbeat release. All of his work has a concept and a different sound because the music is his therapy. He states that as he gets happier, so will his music. Currently he’ll be appearing at House of Blues on September 4th in Chicago, Illinois.
For More Info: mattgold.net

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New Gay Memior "Teaching The Cat To Sit"

Writer Michelle Theall about her memoir TEACHING THE CAT TO SIT about growing up gay and Catholic in the Texas Bible Belt and her quest years later to keep her four-year old adopted son from being expelled from Sacred Heart of Jesus School because of her sexuality with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Dealing with religion and faith continues to challenge our LGBT community especially when it comes to marriage equality. When her son’s Colorado Catholic school expelled all children of gay parents, Michelle found herself wrestling long-buried shame in order to stand up for her son. The result was a public battle with the Church and a private one with her parents that challenged everything she knew about family and faith. It was in this process that Michelle realized that in order to be a good mother, she might have to be a bad daughter and risk losing her parents for good. We talked to Michelle about the difficult decisions she made and her spin on our LGBT Issues.

When asked what her personal commitment to LGBT civil rights is Theall stated, “I speak at LGBTQ events and at churches too. I think that a lot of the divide happens at the ostracisation and kids being torn away by their families and all this kind of thing stems from religion and religious beliefs. That divide between gay and Christians is at the heart of what remains in terms of our fight. I feel I’m a bit of an oxymoron to a lot of people because I’m a gay Christian and I’ll go and talk about my faith and my partner to show that the two are not incongruous and hopefully start mending that divide rather than make it bigger. The other issue that is important for me and our rights would be adoption and gay adoption in particular. The fact that other married couples can adopt children for instances from foster care or other places and not have to go through extra hoops to be both parents on the adoption certificate and that sort of thing I can’t do that. My partner and I have to go through extra lawyers and all different other things because we can’t marry in the state we live in which is Colorado.”

Michelle Theall is an award-winning health, fitness and travel writer and the founder of Women’s Adventure magazine. Her feature essay in 5280, the inspiration for her memoir, was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award. Theall is also the editor-in-chief of Alaska Magazine. She lives with her partner, their son, and three dogs in Boulder, Colorado.
For More Info: michelletheall.com

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New Short Film "Clean Hands"

Filmmaker Caryn Hayes talks about her acclaimed short film CLEAN HANDS with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ that had its world premiere at the 2014 Pan African Film Festival. CLEAN HANDS follows Anna (Grasie Mercedes) and Kirsten (Dawn Noel) as a married lesbian couple who are caring for Anna's terminally ill father (Kurt Sinclair). Anna is forced to deal between her homophobic father, her wife, her Christian beliefs and her sexuality. CLEAN HANDS, which also appeared at The Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival and the Women’s International Film & Arts Festival, will be available for a digital download on August 22nd. We talked to Caryn about her film and her spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what her personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Hayes stated, “I would say that I definitely put my money where my mouth is so to speak. I definitely don’t go to the Chick-fil-A’s of the world. I definitely do that as well as when I create stories I try and create characters not only for LGBT people but also black characters that you don’t always see in the world. People have their singular view and I want to show that we are very vast and different and we’re just like you.”

Caryn Hayes is originally from New Orleans and a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana. She is also a two-time winner of the TV Pilot Award in the original script competition presented by the Organization of Black Screenwriters for THE RIDGE in 2007 and DIRTY THIRTIES in 2009. She was awarded Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series for her series BREAKING POINT from the 2011 Los Angeles Web Series Festival. BREAKING POINT has been nominated and awarded over twenty times, including nods for Best Drama and Best Directing from the 2012 International Television Festival. Caryn's most recent web series, ENTANGLED WITH YOU has already won five awards with three other nominations and has just launched its second season. Additionally she has produced, written and coordinated numerous documentary and corporate videos, short films, independent features, TV pilots and commercials. Caryn continues to seek out and create character-driven stories for any format with an unwavering passion for diversity and is a voice to be reckoned with in the lesbian film community.
For More Info: hardlyworkingent.com

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Carole Pope New CD “Music For Lesbians”

Carole Pope, Canadian rock icon talks about about her fabulous new EP MUSIC FOR LESBIANS with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. When asked what her inspiration was for creating it Pope stated, “I think the lesbian community takes itself too seriously. There are so many funny tragic things involved being with another woman. I wanted to explore the humor of it. It was so fun to work with Peaches and my rock’n’roll husband Tim Welch on the title track LESBIANS IN THE FOREST which was inspired by performing at the Michigan Womyn’s Festival. I got to unleash my inner Shirley Bassey Bond Girl on VAGINA WOLF. Alain Johannes created a Smith’s-like glam rock track for Francis Bacon, my ode to Dusty Springfield. I was Lee Hazelwood to Sara T. Russell’s Nancy Sinatra on SOME VELVET MORNING. Rob Preuss contributed the lush orchestrations. I had my first exposure to lesbianism through lesbian pulp fiction. The books were salacious except for those written by Ann Bannon, Patricia Highsmith, and Valerie Taylor to name a few. I loved the lurid covers and that inspired MUSIC FOR LESBIANS title and the cover art which was created by Sara T Russell.” Pope’s music makes you think and dance at the same time. We talked to Carole about her music and her spin on our LGBT issues.

Carole Pope has won three Juno Awards (Canadian Grammy), a Genie Award (Canadian Oscar) and four Gold, one Platinum and one double Platinum records to her credit. Her infamous band ROUGH TRADE was inducted into the Indy Hall of Fame during Canadian Music Week. Throughout her career she has blazed a trail sharing her thoughts on sexuality, AIDS and sexual politics. Pope’s autobiography ANTI DIVA is currently being made into a dramatic feature entitled ROUGH TRADE THE MOVIE with an Indiegogo Funding Campaign through August 28th. It’s based on the life of Pope and her band ROUGH TRADE set in the 1980’s downtown art scene in Toronto as well as her relationships including being lovers with legendary British singer Dusty Springfield who died in 1999. Andrew Boutilier and Jan Nathanson have signed on as producers and are currently searching for the lead. Pope would like to see someone edgy like Evan Rachel Wood in the title role.
For More Info: carolepope.com
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New Transgender Documentary

Filmmaker Alexia Kosmider (Not Your Mama’s Roller Derby, Sappho’s Fire) talks about her new documentary TransJourney that’s premiering at the Rhode Island International Film Festival Saturday August 9th at 7P with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. While the United Nations is mapping the legal environment for Transgender people and Time Magazine is addressing the “T” in LGBT with Laverne Cox gracing the cover of their magazine, TransJourney follows Sandra on her cross-country journey to share in the life of her former son, now her “new” daughter Annabelle. TransJourney explores three women’s personal journeys and the ways their lives have become intertwined and made stronger because of one another. In 2009 Annabelle transitioned to her new life as a woman in Seattle, Washington and her mother Sandra who lives in Rhode Island sets out on the cross-country trip to spend time with her new daughter. Annabelle meets Shannon an older transgender woman through the meetings they both attended at the Ingersoll Gender Center in Seattle. By offering to talk to Sandra about any questions she may have Shannon and Sandra have become close friends but have yet to meet one another in person. TransJourney is a quest of discovery of family, acceptance and identity. We talked to Alexia about her new documentary and her spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what her personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Kosmider stated, “I’m very committed maybe not as an activist but as a professor who teaches queer lit and film at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) and also as a queer filmmaker. So I’m always not far from my passion, my work and I think I do a lot in that realm of being available to students at universities, turning them on to good LGBT literature and film.”

Alexia Kosmider with co-director Blue Wade and documentarian Michael Welty director of photography have created a tight, exceptional team for this timely breakthrough film. TransJourney takes us on those unsung back roads leading from openness to growth, acceptance to expression and community to support. Greater Providence PFLAG was one of the first LGBTQ organizations to come onboard with TransJourney. One of their missions is to tell stories and they felt that TransJourney tells an important story that benefits LGBTQ families. PFLAG has experienced more families reaching out to them that have members that are transgender and they felt that TransJourney is a logical and important link to their own mission. TransJouney will make its debut on Saturday, August 9th at 7P at Rhode Island School of Design’s Metcalf Auditorium in Providence, RI.
For More Info & Screening: shiftingvisions.com

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Virginia Gay Marriage Appeal Victory

In this exclusive audio broadcast Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson Host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ participated in a conference call immediately following the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Virginia’s Bostic v. Schaeffer marriage equality case. This marks the second favorable federal appeals court ruling since last year's historic Windsor decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. The call was hosted by Adam Umhoefer, Executive Director of American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and joined by Virginia’s Attorney General Mark Herring and Bostic’s co-counsel Ted Olson and David Boies. Gregory Nevins, Supervising Senior Staff Attorney at Lambda Legal and James Esseks, ACLU Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Bisexual Project were also on the call. This historic decision represents a major milestone towards marriage equality in this country as the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Va. affirmed the District Court decision in Bostic v. Schaefer that found Virginia’s ban on marriage for gay and lesbian couples unconstitutional. The decision also paves the way for West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina to strike down their marriage bans since those states are under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Maryland, the fifth state in the Fourth Circuit passed marriage equality in January 2013.

The Virginia Decision Stated: "Civil marriage is one of the cornerstones of our way of life. It allows individuals to celebrate and publicly declare their intentions to form lifelong partnerships, which provide unparalleled intimacy, companionship, emotional support, and security. The choice of whether and whom to marry is an intensely personal decision that alters the course of an individual's life. Denying gay and lesbian couples this choice prohibits them from participating fully in our society, which is precisely the type of segregation that the Fourteenth Amendment cannot countenance." Ted Olson, Plaintiffs’ lead co-counsel stated, “Today’s decision stands as a testament that all Americans are created equal and denying loving gay and lesbian couples the opportunity to marry is indefensible.” David Boies Plaintiffs’ lead co-counsel added, “Today’s decision recognizes that marriage is one of the most fundamental rights – if not the most fundamental right – of all Americans. This court has affirmed that our plaintiffs – and all gay and lesbian Virginians – no longer have to live as second class citizens who are harmed and demeaned everyday.”

In November 2006 voters in Virginia amended the Virginia Constitution to define marriage as solely between one man and one woman and ban recognition of any legal status “approximating the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage” for gays and lesbians. Bostic was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in July 2013 on behalf of Tim Bostic and Tony London of Norfolk and Carol Schall and Mary Townley of Richmond challenging the constitutionality of these laws on the grounds that they violate the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. This decision is a major step forward for our LGBT families.
For More Info: afer.org

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Revisiting Maura Healey AG Campaign

Maura Healey candidate for Attorney General in Massachusetts who was recently endorsed by HRC (Human Rights Campaign), the nation’s largest LGBT civil rights organization talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Healey who is openly gay is currently leading the democratic primary polls by a narrow margin. Maura served as Assistant Attorney General under Attorney General Martha Coakley for the last seven years where she achieved monumental victories to protect consumers, homeowners and championed LGBT equality. As Chief of the Attorney General’s Civil Rights division Healey spearheaded and argued the first successful challenge to DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act). We talked to Healey about her historic campaign, the recent US Supreme Court’s ruling supporting religious exemptions as in the case of Hobby Lobby that will affect the current version of ENDA and her spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what her personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Healey stated, “My commitment to LGBT civil rights is deeply personal and it’s deeply professional. As a gay person myself I’m acutely aware of discrimination and how that plays out when it comes to housing, employment, education and hate crimes. We still see LGBT people victimized on a daily basis and we read about that in the news and so we obviously have more work to do and certainly as Attorney General, as somebody who’s going to be in charge of enforcing the laws I’m going to fight to make sure that every LGBT person in our state feels safe, that we promote diversity and inclusiveness and that we support and make real Equality and equal treatment under the law.”

Maura Healey will be in Provincetown attending the GLAD (Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders) 33rd annual Summer Party on Saturday July 26th at the Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum. Then on Sunday July 27th there will be an Outer-Cape Fundraiser/Kick-Off Party hosted by comedian Kate Clinton at The Harbor Lounge 359 Commercial Street Provincetown, MA. This is a perfect opportunity to learn how Maura’s bid for Attorney General will be a real game-changer over the next 4 years. If you can’t make it to Provincetown this weekend there will be another fundraising event on Friday August 29th. Kick off the Labor Day Holiday Weekend in style with small plate samplings from some of the most celebrated epicurean masters on the East Coast including Top Chef Tiffani Faison and Iron Chef Mary Dumont at Sage Lounge 336 Commercial Street Provincetown, MA. Kate Clinton will be hosting this event as well.
For More Info & Contribute: maurahealey.com

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New Hot Lesbian Film

Writer/director Marina Rice Bader about her new film ANATOMY OF A LOVE SEEN, premiering on July 18th at Outfest in Los Angeles with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Marina who served as executive producer of the iconic lesbian films ELENA UNDONE and A PERFECT ENDING makes her directorial debut in ANATOMY OF A LOVE SEEN. The film stars Hollywood newcomers Sharon Hinnendael, Jill Evyn and Constance Brenneman. This very intriguing film explores love in all its painful and messy glory. Six months ago Zoe and Mal fell for each other while filming a love scene, which led to an intense, whirlwind affair, followed by a devastating breakup. Things get complicated when the two have to meet once again on set to re-shoot that fateful sequence. Marina also appears in the film portraying the director. We talked to Marina Rice Bader about ANATOMY OF A LOVE SEEN and her spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what her personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Marina stated, “I have unwavering commitment to the LGBT community to keep telling their stories, which are our stories and the stories of women which show the rest of the world that we’re all walking the same walk. We love, we have kids, we struggle with relationships, money, our place in the world and every human being goes through the same thing. I think that the more that our stories are out there people can watch them and go hey you know there’s a little less fear. I mean we’ve had pastors, straight men send us messages that say ‘You know it wasn’t until I watched your film (we had a lot of that with ELENA UNDONE) that I really understood and it took a little of the confusion away, my eyes are open.’ And what more can you ask for?”

As the driving force behind Soul Kiss Films, her independent film company, Bader’s artistic direction is focused on one goal: to create evocative, entertaining, and compelling movies by women, for women and about women. Later this year she’s releasing RAVEN’S TOUCH starring Dreya Weber and Traci Dinwiddie with a new film set to shoot in December. After the July 18th premiere of ANATOMY OF A LOVE SEEN at Outfest it will immediately be released worldwide as a streaming rental, breaking outside and bypassing the traditional Hollywood distribution channels. The trailer has already gone viral with over 715,000 views. The film will be available for $5 on Vimeo via the film’s website anatomyofaloveseen.com. In addition, subtitled versions for a number of foreign languages will also be made available including Spanish, Portuguese, French and German. 
For More Info: soulkissfilms.com

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Legendary Performers In Provincetown

Rick Murray, president and general manager of The Crown & Anchor in Provincetown, Massachusetts which is an inn, restaurant and unsurpassed for entertainment and nightlife in P-town talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Over the years The Crown & Anchor has been home to legendary entertainers and the 2014 Season is over the top with a new series called "Turn up the Volume" as well as their The Broadway Series with partial proceeds of all the shows raising funds for the Trevor Project. This summer The Crown is bringing 19 Tony winners to their venues and Town Hall including Daniel Nardicio production of Liza Minnelli and Alan Cumming at the Paramount Theatre accompanied by Billy Stritch on the piano. Both shows sold out in 24 hours but there are still tickets for the iconic Carol Channing and Tommy Tune, Broadway Diva Linda Eder and a performance of The Leading Ladies of Broadway with Andrea McArdle from "Annie", Donna McKechnie from "A Chorus Line" and Faith Prince from "Guys and Dolls" accompanied by musical director John McDaniel. We talked to Rick about The Crown’s fabulous summer entertainment line-up and his spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what his personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Murray stated, “I was influenced by this one woman named Alice Foley who was the town nurse here in Provincetown. My partner and I met her back in the 1980’s when we bought our first property back in 1986. She was very active with the AIDS Support Group here in Provincetown. During the AIDS crisis my partner was on the board of AIDS Support Group of Provincetown when it was PASG way back when and we became very involved in Helping Our Women going to all their auctions and supporting them as well. So we’ve been pretty much on the forefront here in P-town supporting all the gay and lesbian organizations. This year especially we’re basically partnering with The Trevor Project with James Lecesne and his co-workers in LA and in New York to raise funds for The Trevor Project. The events that are associated with that are Leslie Jordan concerts, Liza Minnelli and Alan Cumming, they’re going to be donating a great portion of their fee to The Trevor Project in August and the same with Carol Channing and Tommy Tune event at Town Hall on August 7th; part of all the proceeds will also go to The Trevor Project. Our goal is to try and raise anywhere between twenty and thirty thousand dollars for The Trevor Project throughout all of our shows this summer.”

Also appearing at The Crown & Anchor this summer are Kate Clinton, Sandra Bernhard, Miss Richfield 198, Dina Martina, Coco Peru, Jessica Kirson, Grammy award winner Matt Alber and the prolific author of Tales of the City, Armistead Maupin. In the Central House Piano Bar Tony Nominee, Sharon McNight, Bobby Wetherbee and the dynamic duo from Key West, Deborah and Patrick will be performing throughout the summer. Then there’s the Illusions Drag Revue, Summer Gay Camp, a new exciting young group of NYC actors who will appear in July & August and a brand new weekly variety show called Audition.
For More Info & Tix: onlyatthecrown.com

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New PBS Gay Sitcom "Vicious"

Producer Gary Janetti (WILL & GRACE, FAMILY GUY) talks about his fabulous new PBS sitcom VICIOUS with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Legendary openly gay actors Sir Derek Jacobi and Sir Ian McKellen play Stuart and Freddie, partners who have lived together in their central London flat for nearly 50 years. Under the facade of hilarious snide remarks aimed at the other’s age, appearance and flaws, a deep love for one another is revealed. This groundbreaking sitcom addresses an older gay couple and their longtime circle of friends struggling to maintain their visibility and significance in our youth oriented world. The ensemble cast also includes their feisty best friend Violet played by Frances de la Tour and Ash played by Iwan Rheon, their young impressionable upstairs neighbor. We talked to Gary about taking on relevant aging issues in this comedic format and his spin on LGBT equality.

When asked what he would like to accomplish with this show Janetti stated, “What I want to accomplish is not only that this is a gay couple, the fact that they were gay was always besides the point, it’s also a couple of a certain age. We don’t see couples in their seventies together not as an archon to the young couple on the show, but as the main focus of the show and their world is also populated by people around the same age as them and they are the people we follow. We’re inside their world and it’s unusual and I don’t think it should be unusual. There was something about that I felt really good about accomplishing, also that they were a gay couple of a certain age and within the gay community. These are men in their seventies and they have been clearly out, certainly to each other and their closest group of friends for fifty years. What does that mean fifty years ago, how difficult was it to be out fifty years ago, to live with another man at that time in the 1960’s and I think these people and those stories we don’t often hear a lot of, they’re heroic. To give center stage to a couple like that might sometimes seem anonymous. These couples that you see at times on the subway or walking down the street or in a little restaurant and you wonder what their life was like. This is an opportunity to kind of go inside and for better or for worse you see what this relationship is.”

Gary Janetti co-created, wrote and executive produced the ITV series VICIOUS which was shot before a live audience in the UK and has already been renewed for a second season. VICIOUS can be seen on PBS Sundays at 10:30P. On a personal note Gary and partner celebrity fashion stylist Brad Goreski have been together for 13 years.
For More Info: pbs.org/vicious

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