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Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson Hosts Intimate Chats w/ Global LGBTQ Leaders & Their Allies
Episodes
Monday Jan 16, 2012
Monday Jan 16, 2012
Marianne Duddy-Burke, Executive Director of DignityUSA, the nation’s foremost LGBT Catholic organization talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Recent polls show high levels of support for LGBT people among Catholics yet the Pope and bishops continue to lead attacks on civil rights for gay people. In Pope Benedict’s 2012 outrageous New Year’s speech to diplomats from approximately 180 countries the Pope said policies allowing gay marriage “threaten human dignity and the future of humanity itself.” We talked to Marianne about being Catholic and issues facing our LGBT community. When asked for her reaction to Pope Benedict’s hurtful and homophobic attack on our LGBT community, Duddy-Burke, stated, “Unfortunately it’s become almost a New Year’s ritual for the Pope to attack same-gender marriage and marriage equality. We’ve seen it year after year in his speeches when he’s looking at the state of the world. It’s tragic, it’s sad and it’s very misinformed. Once again it just shows the deep divide that exists between the leaders of the Catholic Church and regular Catholics who are out there in their lives and their jobs and their neighbors and their families, who know and love gay and lesbian people and bisexual and transgender people. And who more and more support our rights to have loving, committed relationships legally affirmed.” Marianne Duddy-Burke received a Masters in Theology from Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts and was an Honors graduate of Wellesley College. Marianne speaks regularly at conferences around the country on issues of importance to LGBT Catholics and their families. She was featured in the video DignityUSA: A Conversation with Marianne Duddy and her work has been included in several books, including, most recently, Redemption Stories: Stories of Survival and Transformation. Marianne lives in Boston, Massachusetts with her spouse Becky Duddy-Burke and their two adopted daughters, Emily and Infinity. For More Info: dignityusa.org
Sunday Jan 08, 2012
Sunday Jan 08, 2012
R. Clarke Cooper, Executive Director of the Log Cabin Republicans talks Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Now that the 2012 Presidential race has begun we thought we’d get his spin on the GOP candidates running for President and where they stand on gay rights. We talked to Clarke about the Iowa Caucus with Romney and Santorum finishing head to head, the upcoming primaries, the GOP candidates who signed the Family Leader's anti-gay marriage pledge and more. The last time Democrats and Republicans were in agreement on LGBT issues was during the Carter-Ford election back in 1976. When asked where the Republican Party stands on our LGBT issues today, Cooper stated, “Well Charlotte that’s a very good question and that’s a question asked by fellow Republicans within the party. There’s actually a divide that’s mostly generational within the party. What I mean by that is one can look at the generational groups within the party. Log Cabin Republicans are only one of many ancillary groups in the party. We happen to be the gay group but you also have groups that are more generationally oriented. Young Republicans, College Republicans are where you find most of your millennials, the people who are thirty and under. Why is this important you ask? It is important because these are the registered Republicans who are either supportive of gay rights at best or minimally are agnostic when it comes to issues like marriage equality, employment nondiscrimination or at the time, the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. It’s a huge divide and that’s not just anecdotal it’s actually measured by internal polling by conservatives for conservatives and also reflective in polling in media like CNN, ABC, you name it. It is noted by the party that there is that shift.” Before taking the helm of the Log Cabin Republicans Clarke worked with the George W. Bush Administration for eight years and is an Army Reserve Captain who served in Iraq during DADT. Now that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has been repealed we talked to him about what’s it like serving as an officer in the Army Reserve. We also discussed how he would rate the Obama administration’s performance on LGBT civil rights and what advise he would have for LGBTQ teens who are facing bullying incidents. For More Info: www.logcabin.org
Wednesday Jan 04, 2012
Wednesday Jan 04, 2012
Rev. Richard Emmanuel, Founder of The Church, a non profit organization in East Gloucester, MA, that is dedicated to raising individual and collective consciousness and increasing spiritual awareness talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. We called on Emmanuel, a visionary and dedicated political activist to give us his brutally honest spin on what 2012 may bring our LGBT community and more. When asked his impression of the anti gay GOP candidates running for President, Emmanuel stated, “This is tragic. The Republican Party was a viable process within the development of these United States. It was Lincoln in the process of saving the Republic, keeping it together; it was a whole process of looking at life and the process of what state rights, what federal rights and so forth. What we have now is a party of clowns. Everyone is just using these very volatile, anti this, anti that, against this, against that, these people this, that who, what, all of this is made to create confusion. This is not solving any problems. These candidates are running on hatred. They’re running on anger. This is no process of a clear conscience of a nation. This is just pitting one group against the other and the oldest adage of Roman times, Caesar’s adage ‘Divide and Conquer.’ This is the oldest trick in the last 2000 years and they still play the game. When I see GOP I see ‘Greed Over People’. We’ve got to turn this around. It has to be about people.” Emmanuel also addresses ‘2012: end of the world as we know it’ theories, the Obama administration, the controversy surrounding Bradley Manning, marriage equality and LGBTQ teens who are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. For More Info: TheChurch.org
Monday Dec 26, 2011
Monday Dec 26, 2011
Kate Clinton our favorite gay political humorist reflects with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about 2011 and what 2012 will bring our LGBT community. This has been an amazing year for our LGBT community starting with the repeal and then the certification of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. Last summer gay marriage finally passed in New York and the Respect of Marriage Act was introduced in the US Senate taking us a step closer to repealing the Defense of Marriage Act. The year ended on a fabulous note with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s speech to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland stating “Some have suggested that gay rights and human rights are separate and distinct but in fact they are one and the same. Like being a woman, like being a racial, religious, tribal, or ethnic minority, being LGBT does not make you less human. And that is why gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights." When asked how she felt about gay marriage passing in her state Clinton stated, “Well I am a Cuomo-sexual. It was pretty exciting that our Governor was able to ride herd on some really wrangling gay organizations that had not been united in their effort to get gay marriage or marriage equality in the state. And he really did that and he was able to get some big money interest in to do the fight and also to promise senators who had voted for gay marriage that we would be behind them when they ran for reelection and that’s really happening now. So I find it really exciting and since I do live in New York, I’m a New York resident, I feel a lot of pressure now. My girl and I have been together almost twenty four years and our little six year old neighbor from across the hall in New York is like on our case to get married. It’s a lot of pressure.” We also addressed Obama and LGBT advancements, the anti-gay GOP presidential candidates, LGBTQ teen bullying crisis and more. Clinton also gave us a little preview of her new ALL FRACKED UP Tour for 2012. Kate's hyperbolic fracking method shakes the bedrock of the comedy mother lode with seismic aftershocks of laughter. She vents about global weirding. Tosses an occu-pie in the face of banksters; Glitter-bombs presidential politics; Spelunks some LGBT schist. Mud will be flung. Warning: dikes could be in danger of collapse. It's a blast! She's a gas! And after, Kate always cleans up her own fracking mess. For Tour Info & Product: kateclinton.com
Sunday Dec 18, 2011
Sunday Dec 18, 2011
PARIAH Writer/Director, Dee Rees and Star, Adepero Oduye talk about their new must-see film with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. We chatted with Rees and Oduye at a special screening of the film presented by Focus Features and the Boston LGBT Film Festival at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, Massachusetts. Pariah is the feature-length expansion of writer/director Dee Rees' award-winning 2007 short film Pariah. Spike Lee is among the feature's executive producers. Adepero Oduye, who had earlier starred in the short film, portrays Alike (pronounced ah-lee-kay), a 17-year-old African-American woman who lives with her parents Audrey and Arthur (Kim Wayans and Charles Parnell) and younger sister Sharonda (Sahra Mellesse) in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood. She has a flair for poetry and is a gifted student at her local high school. Alike is quietly but firmly embracing her identity as a lesbian. With the sometimes boisterous support of her best friend, out lesbian Laura (Pernell Walker), Alike is especially eager to find a girlfriend. At home, her parents' marriage is strained and there is further tension in the household whenever Alike's development becomes a topic of discussion. Pressed by her mother into making the acquaintance of a colleague's daughter, Bina (Aasha Davis), Alike finds Bina to be unexpectedly refreshing to socialize with. Wondering how much she can confide in her family, Alike strives to get through adolescence with grace, humor, and tenacity - sometimes succeeding, sometimes not, but always moving forward. When asked about dealing with homophobia among the Afro-American community, Dees stated, “I wasn’t trying to make any general statements about homophobia in the Afro-American community because it’s such a varied experience. I think there’s still homophobia across all communities. But in this particular story I actually want to show how people reacted to it differently. Alike’s mother and father have different reactions versus Bina, the love interest and even the fast girls at school. I wanted to show how there’s not a single response to it within the community and that’s what complicates Alike’s journey as she tries to find herself. And I just wanted to show, if people take away one thing, I want them to know that it’s OK not to check a box; it’s OK to be yourself because Alike’s struggle is as much within the gay community as it is in the straight community. She’s being told to dress a certain way, act a certain way or a certain persona and she realizes that that is not so.” PARIAH opens in select cities on December 28th. For More Info: pariahthemovie.com
Sunday Dec 11, 2011
Sunday Dec 11, 2011
Arline Isaacson, Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus who was instrumental in the passing of gay marriage in Massachusetts talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Isaacson shares her thoughts about Barney Frank announcing his retirement in 2012, Mitt Romney claiming he’s for gay rights, and other issues concerning our LGBT community. Congressman Barney Frank joins 14 Democratic US Reps who are not seeking re-election in 2012. When asked what her reaction was to Frank’s decision to retire, Isaacson stated, “Well it’s obviously a mega loss for our LGBT community and clearly a mega loss for the progressive community. Barney was, is, one of the brightest, sharpest, most hardworking, insightful, politically savvy, knowledgeable congressman that we have or could have. In spite of his reputation as being persnickety when dealing with people he managed in the congressional world to move about very successfully because he was very politic more often than not. He delivered significantly for the LGBT community and the progressive community for the last three decades as a brilliant advocate and it’s a real loss for us as progressives having someone who so articulately framed the debate for LGBT equality. And just as importantly, argumentally more important, knew how to maneuver in the halls of Congress and the White House to maximize what we could get out of the battles our community was engaged in.” Recently Mitt Romney told the Nashua Telegraph, “I favor gay rights. I don’t believe in discriminating in employment or opportunity for gay individuals.” Though Romney still opposes gay marriage we asked Arline what her spin was about this. Isaacson stated, “Romney is of course known for having his feet planted firmly on both sides of many key issues. LGBT rights is but one of those issues. Having been accused of flip flopping many times on important issues, Romney has finally learned that his positions and quotes frequently come back to haunt him when he tries to appeal to an audience with different views. So he now speaks equivocally. If he has been 'accused' of supporting the LGBT community, he might as while pretend he does.” We also talked about the lawsuits to repeal DOMA (The Defense of Marriage Act), Obama’s performance on LGBT civil rights, the LGBTQ teen bullying epidemic and the legislation Isaacson hopes to pass in Massachusetts addressing this crucial issue. Archive Chat w/ Arline About Keeping Gay Marriage Off The Ballot…:) For More Info: mglpc.org
Tuesday Dec 06, 2011
Tuesday Dec 06, 2011
Canadian Rock Icon Carole Pope talks about her new epic, edgy and timely album LANDFALL with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. The title track features a duet with Rufus Wainwright. When asked how that came together Pope stated, “I’ve known Rufus for a few years and I’ve always wanted to sing with him. I asked him and his manager called and said that Rufus has an hour on a certain day so we had the song ready so we totally got it together. So we went into the studio and banged it out in an hour. It was pretty amazing. He was great to work with.” With three Juno Awards, (Canadian Grammy), a Genie Award, (Canadian Oscar) and four Gold, one Platinum and one double Platinum records to her credit, Carole Pope is an icon of transgressive music. Throughout her career, Carole Pope has blazed a trail sharing her thoughts on sexuality, AIDS and sexual politics. Her music makes you think and dance at the same time. When asked when she thought America would catch up to Canada on LGBT Civil Rights Pope stated. “I think America is catching up. I think it’s a matter of educating the public and I think the public is not so concerned as it was because there are so many other issues like unemployment and the big banks and all of that. So I think slowly but surely America will catch up with Canada. American was once a cutting edge nation and now it’s behind everyone in a lot of ways. Get More European. Get More Canadian. I think a lot of kids today don’t really care. I think it’s older white dudes who kind of use LGBT issues as a political thing.” Pope is the author of a best selling autobiography entitled Anti Diva published by Random House. A film based on the book is slated to go into production in 2012. Carole’s infamous band “Rough Trade” was inducted into the Indy Hall of Fame during Canadian Music Week. Check OUT our 2008 archive interview with Carole about her relationship with the legendary Dusty Springfield and other celebrities… For LANDFALL & More Info: carolepope.com
Monday Nov 28, 2011
Monday Nov 28, 2011
Gregory Lewis, Executive Director of Cyndi Lauper’s TRUE COLORS FUND talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. The mission of this non-profit organization co-founded by music icon and fierce gay ally Cyndi Lauper is to assist gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth who have been thrown out of their homes by their parents or primary custodians because of their sexual orientation. Recently the West End Intergenerational Residence which Cyndi is co-founder of opened the TRUE COLORS RESIDENCE in Harlem, New York for a diverse group of LGBTQ homeless youth. The residence has 30 studio apartments with indoor and outdoor communal space. Each resident pays affordable rent based on their income and receives job assistance if they do not have one. There are also social and educational programs provided. The goal of the TRUE COLORS RESIDENCE is to open similar facilities nationwide. When asked how he became involved in the TRUE COLORS FUND, Lewis stated, “Well I’ve known Cyndi and her manager Lisa Barbaris for a number of years. I use to work at the Human Rights Campaign for many years and was the Managing Director for the Matthew Shepard Foundation. So I knew them from both of those organizations and I was very friendly with them and helped them with their advocacy work. And when they were ready to take the TRUE COLORS TOUR to the next level they asked me to come and work with them. It was a great honor and of course I said yes immediately and I have been with them for 4 years now.” It is estimated that 20 percent to 40 percent of all homeless youth identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The TRUE COLORS FUND is committed to doing what it can to raise awareness about this issue and develop resources to help these young people, most of whom are homeless because of their sexual orientation. On December 4th at New York City’s historic Beacon Theatre help raise awareness about LGBTQ youth homelessness by attending CYNDI LAUPER & FRIENDS: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS A CONCERT TO BENEFIT HOMELESS LGBT YOUTH. It’s a star-studded benefit concert to help raise awareness about this crucial LGBTQ issue. The evening will feature music from Cyndi Lauper as well as special appearances by Norah Jones, Amy Lee, Cassandra Wilson, Rosie O'Donnell, Wanda Sykes, Jon Secada, Carson Kressley, Chely Wright, Skylar Grey, Vanessa Carlton, Angelique Kidjo, Harvey Fierstein, Deluka, Debbie Harry, Alan Cumming, Randy Fenoli and Clay Aiken. If you can’t make the concert this is an organization that will appreciate your support to help ensure the future of our LGBT community. For More Info & Tix: truecolorsfund.org
Tuesday Nov 22, 2011
Tuesday Nov 22, 2011
Actress Comedian Margaret Cho talks about her new Showtime Comedy Special CHO DEPENDENT available on DVD November 22nd with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Beginning with her early days on the scene in the Bay Area Margaret Cho has always been the Agent Provocateur of stand up. Never one to shy away from difficult, or even 'taboo' topics, there is no subject off limits. Her socially aware brand of comedy has made her a fierce gay activist that opens hearts and minds. Her latest stand-up concert film, CHO DEPENDENT recorded during her 2010 tour, finds Margaret in her usual top form, riffing on smart topics that matter. We talked about her amazing year with her album and concert tour for CHO DEPENDENT, DWTS, co-starring in the Lifetime TV series DROP DEAD DIVA, her commitment to LGBT civil rights and more. In the Huffington Post Margaret wrote that she identifies herself as “Queer.” When asked if she could clarify what that term means to her, Cho stated, “To me queer is really a balance of everything. To me it encompasses homosexual and also heterosexual. To me that’s like the equality that I have within me and the equanimity I have within me. And then there are my politics that are really all about gay rights and so to me although I am married and I’m in a heterosexual marriage, I also identify as homosexual. To me that is what queer is. There are a lot of different definitions of queer but to me my queer politics come from a pretty impressive pedigree. I grew up in San Francisco. I grew up around the times of Harvey Milk and experienced that wave of politics. I experienced a lot of what became the modern foundation of what gay politics is. The impulse to fight AIDS and the impulse to raise money to make sure that people were protected when it came to policy when it came to AIDS. So that’s really what my background is and that’s what my queer politics are.” CHO DEPENDENT is Margaret’s sixth live concert film, shot at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA. The DVD shares a name with her Grammy nominated comedy album. Joining Margaret on the album were artists Fiona Apple, Andrew Bird, Grant Lee Phillips, Tegan & Sara, Ben Lee and more. The CHO DEPENDENT DVD features songs from the album interwoven into the thought provoking stories. There’s really something for everyone. CHO DEPENDENT made its debut on Showtime on October 15th and is on Comcast On-Demand. The DVD is set to be released on November 22, 2011 via Rocket Science. The DVD also features “Behind The Scenes” backstage bonus footage. For More Info: margaretcho.com
Wednesday Nov 16, 2011
Wednesday Nov 16, 2011
Congressman Barney Frank, (D-MA) talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about LGBT issues and more. Congressman Frank was in attendance at Assi Azar’s coming out film MOM & DAD: I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU in celebration of OUT in ISRAEL MONTH. Throughout the month of November advocacy organizations in and around Boston have joined together along with politicians, filmmakers, artists, musicians, students and other activists to celebrate the vibrant LGBT communities in Israel and Massachusetts. We talked to Congressman Frank to get his spin on the film, LGBTQ teen bullying and federal LGBT civil rights. When asked if he thought in the next year anymore (federal) legislation has a chance of passing Congressman Frank stated, “None whatsoever with the Republicans in charge. The only chance you ever have to adopt pro LGBT legislation is if you have a Democratic President, House and Senate. I wish that wasn’t the case. In 1976 Jimmy Carter and Gerry Ford were equal on the LGBT issues. Since then the Democrats have gotten a lot better, not quite perfect and the Republicans have gotten a lot worse. So long as you have Republicans in power there simply is no chance. I do believe if we were to get a Democratic House, Senate and President we could move forward with some things but as long as the Republicans are in power we have to hold our own. In fact if you were to get a Republican President we would have to face the very real likelihood I think of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to be reinstated by that President.” Openly gay Congressman Barney Frank and Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) are Co-Chairs of the Congressional LGBT Caucus. As part of the “It Gets Better Project,” they recently released a video message of hope and encouragement to our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth and those questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity. They are joined by the other two openly gay members of Congress, Jared Polis (D-CO) and David Cicilline (D-RI). For More Info: trevorproject.org Watch Trailer & More LGBT Leaders Interviews