OUTTAKE VOICES™ (Interviews)

Reverend Irene Monroe, syndicated religion columnist whose columns appear in 43 cities across the country and in the U.K. talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Monroe states that her columns are an interdisciplinary approach drawing on critical race theory, African American, gay and religious studies. As a religion columnist she tries to inform the public of the role religion plays in discrimination against LGBT people. Since homophobia is consistently acted upon “in the name of religion,” she aims to highlight how religious intolerance and fundamentalism not only shatters the goal of American democracy but also aids in perpetuating other forms of oppression such as racism, sexism, classism and anti-Semitism. We talked to her about this and how Obama’s second term will effect the future of our LGBT civil rights. When asked what her personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights, Monroe stated, “My commitment to the LGBT community begins with me. It’s sort of like how do I with my multiple identities, you know Afro American, lesbian, religious on a good day, how do I live those intersections with integrity? One of the things I found out getting involved with various organizations at the beginning, and they have changed enormously I must say from where they started and where I’ve started with them, they look at these issues in a much more integrated way which is one of the reasons GLAD gave me the Spirit of Justice Award and to shed light on the many intersections of oppression and how do we do that with not only integrity but bring a lot more people in our struggle, which we would be much better off doing. So I felt with GLAD for instance bringing how do you reach out to the Afro American community in a way that not only speaks about particular needs, but also speaks to their particular cultural ways of expressing or wanting to be expressed around issues that not only impact them but also impacts the LGBT community. Too often as you know the black community has felt like they’ve been 'pimped', that’s the terminology that they’ve used, by the LGBT community. So it’s been ways of how to make those connections.” Rev. Monroe is the 2012 recipient of the GLAD (Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders) Spirit of Justice Award. She’s a graduate from Wellesley College and Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University and served as a pastor at an African-American church before coming to Harvard Divinity School for her doctorate as a Ford Fellow. Monroe, a Huffington blogger, was chosen by MSNBC as "10 Black women you should know." Monroe has also been profiled in O, Oprah Magazine and CNNs Paula Zahn Now and "CNN Headline News." She lives with her partner in Cambridge Massachusetts. For More Info: irenemonroe.com

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Lea DeLaria, comedian, actress and jazz musician talks about her new show THE LAST BUTCH STANDING, her comedic look at what it is like to be a bad-ass dyke daddy in the post Ellen 21st century with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. THE LAST BUTCH STANDING is being presented at the OBERON, the American Repertory Theater’s second stage and club theater venue in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Monday, November 5th at 8P. Lea DeLaria was the first openly gay comic to perform on American television with her 1993 appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show. Since then she has had countless concerts, theater roles, movies, stand up specials and four Warner Brothers records. We talked to Lea about THE LAST BUTCH STANDING and her spin on our LGBT issues.

When asked what her personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights, DeLaria stated, “I have been completely out for thirty years. Everything I’ve done, every step I’ve taken has been to further a positive perception of queers within the world. There was a time in the early 1990’s where they wanted me to wear lipstick. That was the time when the lipstick lesbian thing was all the rage. I did it for about six months and then I went ‘I can’t do this anymore. This is not who I am.’ It’s not who millions and millions of dyke butches are out there and someone has to present that image. Someone has to be that person for those little butches out there to see. That one is going to be me every time.”

Lea also weighed in on our queer identity in the 21st century, the presidential election, the Log Cabin Republicans, gay marriage, LGBT teen bullying and more. Besides her new live show THE LAST BUTCH STANDING she has recorded a new jazz album HOUSE OF DAVID featuring the songs of David Bowie due out in 2013. Lea is also appearing in the new musical AMANDINE in 2013 and currently is in production in the upcoming television prison series ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK playing BIG BOO. This will be released on Lionsgate TV and Netflicks in the Fall of 2013. Delaria is touring with THE LAST BUTCH STANDING worldwide which she hopes to make into a TV special. Catch Lea live at the OBERON, the American Repertory Theater’s second stage and club theater venue in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Monday, November 5th at 8P.

For Info & TIX: americanrepertorytheater.org

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Filmmaker Ira Sachs talks about his new film KEEP THE LIGHTS ON with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™.  KEEP THE LIGHTS ON premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and received the Teddy Award for Best Queer Film at the 2012 Berlin Film Festival. It’s currently playing theaters throughout North America. The film chronicles an emotionally and sexually charged journey of two men in New York City through love, friendship, and addiction. Documentary filmmaker Erik (Thure Lindhardt) and closeted lawyer Paul (Zachary Booth, Damages) meet through a casual encounter but soon find a deeper connection and become a couple. Fueled by drugs and sex their decade-long relationship is defined by highs, lows and dysfunctional patterns as Erik struggles to negotiate his own boundaries and dignity while being true to himself. We talked to Ira about his deeply personal film and issues facing our LGBT community. When asked what his personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights, Sachs stated, “You know I grew up in the 1960’s in Memphis and my father was a member of the American Civil Liberties Union. I was born three years before Martin Luther King was killed and I think that history of civil action was something that I had in my blood. Throughout college I was very involved as a gay activist. I got involved with Act Up when I moved to New York in 1988. I now work as a community organizer. I run two arts programs; Queer/Art/Film, which is a film series that invites inter-disciplinarian, inter-generational conversations between queer artist and also a mentor program. And for me it’s actually something I do because I believe in it but also something I do because I feel being an activist is so nurturing to my own being. I think for many years when I had my own issues of addition and was focused on things that were small and obsessive I forgot the world and I found that engaging in the world is generative to me, and sustaining. I also feel that I can make some change to be part of history in my own small way.” Ira Sachs films include Married Life (2007), The Delta (1997) and the 2005 Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winning Forty Shades of Blue. His short film Last Address, honoring a group of NYC artists who died of AIDS, has been added to the permanent collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art and MoMA. Sachs teaches in the Graduate Film department at NYU. Sachs lives in New York City with his husband Boris Torres. For More Info: keepthelightsonfilm.com

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HUNTER VALENTINE who’s currently on tour talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Coming off starring in Season 3 of Showtime's hit reality series The Real L Word into the release of their third studio album titled COLLIDE & CONQUER out October 23rd on Megaforce/Sony, no one can deny the momentum behind rockers HUNTER VALENTINE. It all began when lead singer/guitarist Kiyomi McCloskey met drummer Laura Petracca in a dark dirty bar in their hometown of Toronto and forged an unbreakable bond. Now eight years later with two studio albums under their belt, the band has grown into a veritable powerhouse that tours over 200 dates a year worldwide with bassist Veronica "Vero" Sanchez and newest member lead guitarist Aimee Bessada. We talked to the band literally on the road as they headed east from Chicago about The Real L Word, the new album and their spin on our LGBT issues. When asked what their personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights HUNTER VALENTINE stated, “As a band, as a public figure, you’re constantly in the spotlight and we have a lot of young people that approach us and ask questions about their sexuality and our contribution is to be a role model within the LGBT community. So you know, whether we’re on stage playing a pride festival or we’re answering an email about a kid who’s getting bullied at school for being gay, that’s kind of how we contribute. Or having a fifty year old woman confused because she’s finding out that she’s a lesbian and has children and is married and doesn’t know what to do. Like we get all kinds of different sort of people, fans, friends that approach us and we feel that our part is trying to be there and answer as many questions possible because we want to try and help anybody in any situation. And the more people feel like they have that positive equal space it’s going to show the rest of the world that everyone deserves to have equal rights and that queer people are just the same as everyone else.” HUNTER VALENTINE COLLIDE & CONQUER TOUR is currently playing North America through November. Then they’re headed to Japan and Europe. Their new Megaforce/Sony Album COLLIDE & CONQUER will be available on October 23rd. For Tour Dates & Info: huntervalentine.com

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Anna Dubrowski and Sylvain Bruni, Co-Chairs of InterPride 2012 which celebrated its thirtieth anniversary in Boston, Massachusetts talk with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. InterPride is the International Association of Pride Organizers and Organizations from around the world. InterPride was created in Boston in 1982 after Pride organizers from Boston, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, San Diego and Los Angeles convened to form the National Association of Lesbian and Gay Pride coordinators. InterPride was established to promote Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride on an international level to increase networking and communication among Pride Organizations and to encourage diverse communities to hold and attend Pride events as an educational source. InterPride accomplishes its mission with regional conferences and an Annual World Conference (AWC). At the annual conference InterPride members network, attend events and collaborate on an international scale. We talked to Anna and Sylvain about this year’s InterPride Conference and issues facing our LGBT community. When asked what their personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Bruni stated, “I think my commitment is really about not necessarily giving back but really contributing to the level that I can. I think a lot of people are involved in InterPride or in a pride organization because they have some time or some money; they have some dedication; they have some energy they’re willing to give to make their community a better more accepting community overall, whether it is within the LGBT community or outside of it. I think from the point of view of Boston it is really good for us; things have moved forward really tremendously in the past years. So now it is also time for us to turn outwards and see what we can do to help other people. This is really where I find my energy and my inspiration being part of this, looking at how much we have done here. We’ve learned a lot, we’ve been able to amass that knowledge and make things move forward and now it’s what we can do to support others around the world.” InterPride strives to create a world where there is full cultural, social and legal equality for all. InterPride hopes to raise awareness of cultural and social inequality through its network of Pride organizations and to effect positive change through education, collaboration, advocacy and outreach. InterPride 2012 Conference was hosted by Boston Pride. For More Info: interpride2012.org

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Piano bar icon Bobby Wetherbee who is celebrating fifty years of entertaining audiences in Provincetown, Massachusetts talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™.  His talents have led him to perform at some top venues including The St. Regis’ King Cole Room, the Oak Bar at the Copley Plaza in Boston, New York’s Top of the Sixes, The Colony on Madison Avenue and The Carlyle; but it’s Provincetown on the tip of Cape Cod that has played an enormous part in the growth of Bobby’s career. Patrons from all over the world find their way to his piano bar. Bobby confesses that the show can change from very sophisticated to just plain sophisticated fun with lots of audience participation which he loves. He says he enjoys the diversity of the crowd and hearing from a gifted singer or two. We talked to Bobby about the longevity of his career and his spin on our LGBT issues. When asked what his reaction is to the Democratic National Platform finally coming out in support of marriage equality and a trans-inclusive ENDA (Employment Nondiscrimination Act) Wetherbee stated, “That was major but I also feel that because I do remember Stonewall and the thing is it was just a matter of time. I’m so thrilled that within my lifetime I’ve seen this happen. As a kid and as an early gay man everything was hidden. I was arrested three times for just coming out of a gay bar. I personally feel that along with the militants, the women, the gay women, keep it in the forefront and I think that is amazing.” Bobby Wetherbee has had his years of ups and downs always battling his demons at the keyboard, finding a life of free expression in gay-friendly Provincetown where the crowds fill his shows nightly and treat him like a cultural icon in his renaissance years. Wetherbee now calls the Crown and Anchor lounge home and the entertainer carries the Key to the Town around with pride saying it was an honor to be called a 50-year destination. Wetherbee will be performing at The Crown And Anchor through October. For More Info: onlyatthecrown.com

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Producer Josh Rosenzweig and director Keren Aronoff talk about their new documentary Pride & Groom on Here TV with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Pride & Groom commemorates the first anniversary of marriage equality in New York State and is part one of a four part series of one-hour specials addressing gay marriage exclusively on Here TV and Here TV Online. Josh Rosenzweig who is also Senior Vice President of Original Programming and Development for Here TV said, “Pride & Groom is dedicated to the thousands of activists, couples and everyday gay and lesbian Americans across the country who are fighting for full marriage equality. We hope audiences across the country, both gay and straight will see the emotional journey that all couples face deciding to enter into marriage and will laugh, cry and be inspired by this true love story.” The first Pride & Groom episode follows Mitchell Cook and Paul Neenos on their journey to wedded bliss. It’s an intimate depiction beginning with their engagement to creating invitations, to choosing flowers to the emotionally charged issues the couple face with their families as they prepare to spend the rest of the lives together. We talked to Josh and Keren about their documentary and issues facing our LGBT community. When asked what is their personal commitment to LGBT civil rights first Rosenzweig stated, “My job at Here Media gives me a really incredible unique platform to say what I want in terms of LGBT civil rights. Whether that’s a political show or that’s even through some sort of drag show which probably has a lot of subversive or underlined political tones to it that you might see on the surface or something like Pride & Groom. Personally my commitment is incredibly strong and I try and utilize this position to get the word out and continue to discuss not just the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and marriage equality issues but all topics that effect the LGBT population.” Aronoff added, “When it hit me that I had a great friend that would be able to tell his story, I do what I do which is shoot and edit the content in order to tell stories. The specific point of view that I get to tell stories that I am lucky enough to have access to and put ideas to Josh and then tell personal stories about real people is my personal commitment to LGBT civil rights.” For Info & Watch Pride & Groom: heretv.com/prideandgroom

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Marlee Walchuk talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about the second annual RightOutTV Music and Video Awards for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex artists. This year openly LGBTI singer/songwriters from around the world may submit songs as well as music videos in a variety of Indie-friendly categories such as “Best Video Do It Yourself” for the more homegrown project and “Best Song So Far” for those masterpieces written years ago that still deserve recognition. There’s even a “Best Living Room Performance” category to fit the growing trend of artists not wanting to wait for the funding to produce and release big-budget videos. “Our goal this year is to give more artists at every level a chance to compete and get noticed,” says Marlee Walchuk, Co-Producer of the awards. “It’s the artists’ talent and creativity that are being judged, not just the quality of their productions and recordings.” The deadline for submissions is Sept 24, 2012 and nominees will be announced Oct 11, 2012. The popular “Fan Fave” voting also begins Oct. 11th. We talked to Marlee about the RightOutTV Music and Video Awards and issues facing our LGBT community. RightOutTV is based in Canada which became the fourth country to pass marriage equality in 2005. When asked her thoughts about LGBT equality in America, Walchuk stated, “I have to admit I did expect to see progress sooner than this. I love the US, I have always loved the US. I love going there, there’s something about that country that has a vibe and an energy to it that I just don’t see in other places. I have tons of faith that a country that was founded on ‘liberty and justice for all’ will soon realize that also includes their LGBT population. What I haven’t understood is why there’s so much resistance. I mean here we are in Canada, I don’t know how may countries have passed gay marriage but it’s a significant amount and not one of those countries or even the states that have allowed gay marriage has suffered or collapsed in any way. I just don’t understand why they’re resisting when you just look around and realize that all these ridiculous predictions or derogations and all these things that are going to happen and they’ve never come true anywhere. I understand there are religious reasons that people are holding on to but really it’s tough for us. Obviously we’re being able to marry here in Canada; we feel quite safe here. It does feel different when we go into the States and when we play Pride festivals down there. We do feel different walking the streets and we just can’t wait to see that start to change. I do believe that a major transformation will happen if Obama gets in. So we are rooting for all of you and just hoping that things go the way they are suppose to be going.” The RightOutTV Music and Video Awards is an offshoot of the free LGBTI artist promotional site at RightOutTV.com. Marlee Walchuk and her wife Tully Callender of the music duo Sugarbeach launched RightOutTV in November 2010 after realizing there were few places to release their own LGBTI messaged music videos. RightOutTV provides a fully developed promotional website and streaming channel for artists who deserve more credit for being out and proud with their music. Openly LGBTI singer/songwriters from around the globe may submit songs and videos to be voted upon by a prestigious panel of professionals in the Music and Arts industries now until Sept. 24, 2012. For More Info: rightouttvawards.com

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Grace Sterling Stowell, Executive Director of BAGLY the Boston Alliance of Gay and Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Youth talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Grace is being awarded The History Project’s 4th Annual HistoryMaker Award for her longtime selfless commitment to our LGBT community. For more than 30 years Grace Sterling Stowell has been a source of light and inspiration not only for LGBT youth but for the entire LGBT community in New England and beyond. We talked to Grace about what this award means to her and issues facing our LGBT community. Since Grace is from Massachusetts and a longtime LGBT advocate we asked her spin on Mitt Romney’s run for President. Grace stated, “I was born and raised in Massachusetts doing this work so I remember when Mitt Romney was Governor of this state. He ran as somewhat of a moderate Republican and over the course of his governorship he became increasingly conservative for his first presidential run and it was very damaging. He cut funding specifically funding for LGBT youth issues. He pulled back support for the commission on LGBT Youth and ultimately abolished it. He ran as a moderate and ended up a much more extreme conservative and many of us felt he had misrepresented himself for public gain and did not really care for the lives of the people of the state that he was charged with supporting. Certainly we’re seeing more of the same in his second run for President. He’s taking positions that are contrary to social justice, contrary to LGBT equality that hurts lots of folks including women of color and poor and working class folk. He’s not in touch with the needs of the majority of this country who need strong leadership from a President to understand their issues.” Grace Sterling Stowell is also a nationally known speaker, consultant and trainer on the needs and issues facing transgender youth and young adults. She has been a leading member of several local and national transgender education and advocacy organizations, and currently serves on the Steering Committee of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC). On September 20th she will be honored with The History Project’s 4th Annual HistoryMaker Award at their premier fundraising event. Chris Mason a nationally recognized leader and organizer on LGBT issues with a fierce passion for social justice will be receiving the Lavender Rhino Award. The ceremony will be followed by a reception featuring cocktails and hors d’oeuvres provided by The Paris Creperie and will be held at the Goethe Institut in Boston’s Back Bay. For Tix & Info: historyproject.org

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Jay Critchley, activist and artist talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about the 25th Silver Anniversary of the Provincetown Harbor Swim for Life and Paddler Flotilla that happens Saturday September 8th. Since 1987 thousands of swimmers, kayakers, volunteers and the public have been participating in this fabulous Provincetown fundraising tradition presented by the Provincetown Community Compact. Swimmers across the country will swim the 1.4 mile across Provincetown Harbor to benefit the following community organizations and projects: Helping Our Women, AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, Outer Cape Health Services, Provincetown Rescue Squad, Lower Cape Ambulance, Academy at Provincetown Schools, Soup Kitchen of Provincetown and The Compact Community Fund. Last year swimmers raised $200,000. We talked to Jay about the event and issues facing our LGBT community. When asked what his personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights, Critchley stated, We’ll I’m an artist who’s always been very out and I’m also a father with a son and two grandchildren. That has been an experience. I’m very open and out as an artist. One of my major projects was “The Old Glory Condom Corporation” which was a patriotic condom company in the eighties and nineties, which made it patriotic to practice safer sex. I wanted to get a trademark for it and the government denied it so I had a three-year legal battle with them. They said it was immoral and scandalous to associate the flag with sex but eventually we won. I did get a trademark. The slogan of the company was “Long With Pride Countrywide.” Basically the American flag was printed on the condom. I created the first AIDS healing performance on the beach here in Provincetown in 1983 called “Immunity Mandela”. So a lot of my work has been intertwined with civil rights for people with AIDS, for the LGBT community and the community. I bring people together. It’s all about different facets of the community coming together which is what Provincetown is all about.” The Provincetown Harbor Swim for Life and Paddler Flotilla weekend events include the Celebration of Life free concert on Friday September 7th at the UU Meeting House. On Saturday is the Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla followed by the Mermaid Brunch and awards ceremony at the Boatslip Resort. For more Info: swim4life.org

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