OUTTAKE VOICES™ (Interviews)

Chef Rossi, owner and executive chef of The Raging Skillet one of New York City’s best and wildest gay-owned caterers talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Now that New York has passed gay marriage and you’re seeking the perfect caterer for your wedding, check out The Raging Skillet which has been catering weddings for 23 years and has won “The Knot Best of Weddings Pick” for the last 3 years running. If there is such a thing as an anti-caterer, this company, which specializes in nontraditional parties, may be it. Every detail is personalized down to the attire of the staff (miniskirts? or kilts?) and the style of service. Chef Rossi serves dishes from several different cuisines at a single event -- she calls her firm "the wildest catering company this side of the Mason-Dixon line". Their food reflects fusions from Korea, Japan, Thailand, Cuba, South Carolina, New Orleans, Morocco, Jamaica, India, The Southwest, Vegan, Vegetarian and Rossi's mother's Hungarian Yiddish home-cooking. Chef Rossi is ecstatic to be able to cater her first legal gay weddings next month now that gay marriage has passed in her state. When asked if she thought passing gay marriage will be a financial boom for New York Chef Rossi stated, “Oh, of course, it’s going to be a windfall. Our own little Mayor Bloomberg is running around announcing he wants to turn us into the gay marriage capital of the universe. And I think it’s great. Listen, New York like everywhere else has had their problems in this economy and New York has had a rough time. And if doing the right thing and saying ‘yes’ to marriage equality makes us a booming business for gay marriage I think what a great reason. So yes I definitely think this is going to bring in tons of money.” For your special Wedding Day, The Raging Skillet offers hot and cold vegetarian poultry, meats and fish hors d'oeuvres. Enjoy three cheese quesadillas with tomatillo salsa, wild mushroom wontons with red pepper dip, Thai style chicken saté with spicy peanut sauce, roast lamb brochettes with cilantro aioli or crab and shrimp shu mai dumplings just to name a few delectable choices. Entrées include such tasties as lobster tails, Senegalese chicken Yassa breast of chicken smothered in sweet onions and green olives with Scotch bonnet peppers served over coconut scented jasmine rice, leg of lamb with pear chutney cous cous and curried baby squash and portabella mushroom au poivre in port wine and thyme with garden vegetables and crispy parsnips. The New York Times called Chef Rossi “a new breed of rebel anti-caterer” and “eclectic and off the wall” by the Zagats review. She has also been featured on “The Food Network.” As a radio personality Rossi’s hit show “Bite This” on Cape Cod’s WOMR is now in its 7th season where she shares her edible memoirs from her book entitled “The Devil and Mrs. Goldstein" which is currently seeking a publisher. She has also appeared on NPR. For More Info: theragingskillet.com

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Jenni Chang and Lisa Dazols about “Out and Around” with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Their mission is to travel around the world in search of LGBT leaders and allies that are making a difference. They will be chronicling their journeys as a lesbian couple and sharing the accounts of the extraordinary individuals they meet during their “not-so-straight travels”. When asked what do they hope to accomplish with “Out & Around”, Jenni stated, “One of the things that we realized in the LGBT community is that we really lack role models. So we hope by highlighting these people around the world and these could be leaders in community organizing, in business, in arts, in entertainment, in health, and all aspects of society, we think that their stories will provide role models to LGBTQ youth and queer people globally. Secondly, we hope that by highlighting stories of LGBT people in all walks of life we can help decrease homophobia and just show that gay people are striving everywhere and they contribute to society in so many ways. And thirdly, we want to bring attention to LGBT issues, particularly in developing countries because in those countries there’s still a long way to go.” Lisa is fluent in Spanish and Jenni is fluent in Chinese. They’re going places where their dollar stretches far or where they have family or where people have promised a place to stay since their finances are limited. The first stop starting July 6th is New Zealand, then on to Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Taiwan, China, Nepal, India, Africa and South America. Jenni and Lisa have been together for two years. Jenni Chang works as a business manager for eBay Inc, the online marketplace site. Jenni’s international experience includes volunteering with community outreach groups in Taiwan, Cambodia, and China. Jenni is an LGBT activist who is involved in the Asian American and Christian LGBT communities in San Francisco. Lisa Dazols is a licensed clinical social worker who is in her tenth year in HIV services. Lisa works at UCSF’s Positive Health Program in San Francisco’s largest HIV clinic. She started her career as an international HIV social worker in Chile before getting her masters degree in social welfare at UC Berkeley. For Info & Donations: outandaround.com

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Josh Rosenzweig, Senior Vice President of Original Programming and Development at Here Media about the new shows on here! TV and the timely move to increase production in New York as the state passes marriage equality with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. The newest addition to their schedule is “Threesome” which premiered on here! TV this month. This show consists of 24 half-hour episodes hosted by Stoya and features an expert panel of guests including Cherie Lily and Will Wikle with special guest Dr. Frank Spinelli. “Threesome” is here! TV’s roundtable discussion addressing sex, dating, and relationships. The show includes celebrity panelists who answer viewers’ questions. Each episode features a new panel of experts lending their advice to the here! TV audience. When asked what new TV trends were on his radar, Rosenzweig stated, “In the end of 2010 and when Here Media decided they were going to move the majority of production from Los Angeles to New York our CEO Paul Colichman came to me and said ‘Hey look, we need to breathe life into our TV network again. We’ve had a low boil for a year and a half while we utilized resources on the magazines and websites. Now we need to put some energy into the television network with some really exciting original programming!’ And I said to Paul, for me, what I think we need to do is not make it edgier but a little younger, a little hipper, more fun, just add some comedy stuff to it, just make it a little more modern, exciting programming that utilizes people from various walks of life. Whether it’s entertainment, media or news just add a younger hipper edge to it.” Some of the new here! TV original series include: “Behind the Bar”, an insider’s glimpse at the best mixologists working today, “This Gay House”, a tour of the stunning homes of the hottest LGBT tastemakers, “Dinah Girls”, a sizzling behind-the-scenes tour of Club Skirts The Dinah, the music series “Boombox” with DJ Cazwell, “Face to Face” and “Just Josh”, a new talk show hosted by Josh Rosenzweig. Note: This interview was recorded prior to New York passing marriage equality. For More Info: www.heretv.com

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Kathleen Turner talks about her starring role in THE PERFECT FAMILY directed by Anne Renton, the new comedy/drama that opened the Provincetown International Film Festival with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. In this family themed film Turner plays a devout Catholic and New Jersey suburban mom who is confronted by her religious beliefs. She learns she’s a candidate for “Catholic Woman of the Year.” This is where it gets interesting. The church must interview her family in order to make their decision. Her daughter played by Emily Deschanel (from the hit Fox TV Series Bones) plays her lesbian daughter who’s about to marry her partner but Mom is in denial that the relationship even exists. Her son played by Jason Ritter wants to get a divorce and Michael McGrady portrays her recovering alcoholic husband who has just had about enough of all the deceptions. The stellar cast also includes a rare performance by Richard Chamberlain as Monsignor Murphy. This film deals with positive LGBT family issues and whether you’re Catholic or not you must see this movie. As a New Yorker Turner supports gay marriage and when asked about how this LGBT themed movie came about Kathleen stated, “Well I think it’s very much part of the writer’s and everyone’s lives. I mean the director has a wonderful partner and the producers are two women who are married. So it is something they were all open to and receptive towards. For me I think that a family is a family and love is love and I really don’t need to draw distinctions based on gay or lesbian issues. My question is: Is it a committed solid relationship, not are they both lesbian, gay or straight. Is it a marriage? That’s what I find compelling.” THE PERFECT FAMILY, written by Paula Goldberg and Claire V. Riley and produced by Certainty Films, is playing the festival circuit and will be at Outfest LA in July. It will be released later this year. For More Info: theperfectfamilymovie.com

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Aubrey Sarvis, Executive Director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Despite Obama signing the bill last December authorizing the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT), it is still unsafe for service members to come out until 60 days after certification by President Obama, Secretary Gates, and Admiral Mullen. Recently Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stated that he is prepared to move forward on the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) repeal certification before he leaves office at the end of June. Update: Defense Secretary Robert Gates, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) in an interview on June 23rd that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) repeal would not be certified before he retires June 30, instead coming from his successor Leon Panetta in late July or early August. When asked where we stand with the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and when it will finally take effect, Sarvis stated, “Unfortunately we’re in a holding pattern right now on the repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’. Repeal has not happened. ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is still the law. We’re pushing the White House, pushing the Pentagon to get certification which is an important part of the process. To get certification by the President, Defense Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, to get those three together this month in June before Secretary of Defense Gates leaves. There’s some signs that certification may slip, may not happen this month and if it does slip that certification could well be in July or later. Then there’s another part of the process. Once we have the certification, an additional 60 days has to run before we have repeal of the statute known as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ finally goes away. All of this could come together by mid or late September or October. So unfortunately we have several more months to go before this law is gone entirely. In the meantime we caution and advice service members to be careful, to serve in silence, until we have this final repeal.” While we are in this holding pattern the House Republicans have attached ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) to the National Defense Act. Obama has stopped short of specifically stating that he would veto the final bill when it is passed by both the House and Senate if that bill includes the current House language. Openly gay Representatives Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin, Jared Polis and David Cicilline stated in a letter to Obama, “Because this issue is so important in so many ways, we think it would be the best course for you to reaffirm your strong support of the end of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ by making it explicit that you would veto a bill in the unlikely event that it came to you, which undermined the decision that you led us to make last year – namely a military that does not discriminate unfairly and does not turn away patriotic, productive Americans seeking to serve their country.” This is an extremely important issue for our LGBT community. We must not become complacent and make sure this archaic legislation is removed once and for all. Updates to Come…. For More Info: sldn.org

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Connie White, Artistic Director of the Provincetown International Film Festival talks with that takes place in Provincetown, Massachusetts June 15th through June 19th talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. The Opening Night Film will be THE PERFECT FAMILY directed by Anne Renton with the stellar cast Kathleen Turner, Jason Ritter, Emily Deschanel and Richard Chamberlain. The festival will close with MASTER HAROLD AND THE BOYS. The Friday Spotlight Selection is CIRCUMSTANCE and the Saturday Spotlight Selection is SPLINTERS. Career Achievement Award will be given to director Albert Maysles who created the amazing documentaries GIMME SHELTER, GREY GARDENS and SALESMAN. The 2011 Filmmaker on the Edge Award will be awarded to writer/director Darren Aronofsky, BLACK SWAN and THE WRESTLER. The Excellence In Acting Award will be presented to Vera Famiga, UP IN THE AIR, DOWN TO THE BONE and HIGHER GROUND. Other highlights among the 50+ films programmed this year include the East Coast and New England Premiers of TOMBOY and ON TOUR. There are award-winning international favorites such as ANOTHER EARTH, JANIE JONES and HAPPY, HAPPY. Acclaimed documentaries include BECOMING CHAZ, THE LAST MOUNTAIN, PAGE ONE: INSIDE THE NEW YORK TIMES and TABLOID. Of course there will be the annual A NIGHT AT THE DRIVE-IN which will be in the horror genre with ALIENS and TROLLHUNTER. This year the Youth & Diversity Program will include the timely film THE BULLY PROJECT. LGBTQ teens are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. Over the past year, numerous teens have taken their own lives after facing bullying incidents. When asked what advise she would have for these at risk kids, White a mother and gay ally stated, “I would just say to find your passion. Whether that’s art, music, cooking or movies, and you’ll find your community. And just know that you’re not alone. I think that finding community is probably the most important.” Connie White has been with the Provincetown International Film Festival since it began thirteen years ago. Under her direction, the PIFF has hosted and honored such acclaimed independent filmmakers as Gus Van Sant, John Waters, Mira Nair, Christine Vachon, Todd Haynes and Quentin Tarantino. The Provincetown International Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing new achievements in independent film and honoring the work of acclaimed and emerging directors, producers and actors. PIFF is equally devoted to expanding the audience for independent film and to serving the Provincetown community and reflecting the community’s rich diversity in America’s oldest art colony. This is the fifth year we’ll be covering the festival for OUTTAKE VOICES™. For More Info & Tix: ptownfilmfest.org

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Keri Aulita, Deputy Director of the Boston Pride Committee talks about this year’s events with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Boston’s LGBT Pride celebration starts June 3rd and runs through Sunday June 12th. In celebration of the 41st anniversary of Boston Gay Pride this year’s theme is ‘EQUALITY No More No Less’. The 2011 Boston Pride Theme reminds us to continue the fight for full and true equality, with no exceptions and no concessions. Equal treatment under the law, in our schools, at work, in our neighborhoods and in the religion of our choice. We expect to be treated with respect and fairness by our peers, families, elected officials, doctors, landlords, employers, neighbors and religious leaders. We must insist on the same rights, dignity, protection, access and opportunities in our towns, cities, countries and worldwide. All people. All places. All ways. ‘EQUALITY No More No Less’. When asked what her reaction was to the violence that broke out at the recent Moscow Pride Parade, Aulita stated, “Boston Pride is a member of the International Association of Pride Committees. We know the organizers of the Moscow Pride. We have an annual conference every year and we get together with pride colleagues from across the globe. Moscow has been struggling for a long time to get a permit to have a parade. What’s my reaction, it’s disgusting. Part of why we do what we do is people question ‘is pride still relevant especially in Massachusetts?’ It is because things like this still happen, because David Kato was murdered in Uganda this past winter. This is why we continue to do it. The Moscow struggle was documented in the documentary made by the Vancouver Pride Society in Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride. In that documentary you saw a piece on Moscow and how they struggle just to walk down the street. It’s unfortunate and it’s why the people in the pride movement are so committed and why we in Boston are so committed. We want to have parties and parades but we want to really try and get the word out there that there’s a reason why we are so demanding on visibility. It’s just so unfortunate that violence happens anywhere.” The annual Pride parade is on Saturday June 11th with over 30 events and parties happening all week long. Happy Pride Everyone!! For More Info: bostonpride.org

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Richard Emmanuel, Founder of The Church, a non-profit organization in East Gloucester, MA, which is dedicated to raising individual and collective consciousness and increasing spiritual awareness talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Emmanuel, a visionary and dedicated political activist, has always provided us with a very truthful and honest spin on the Obama administration and the future of our LGBT Civil Rights. A recent Gallup Poll has shown Americans favor gay marriage by 53%. When asked how can we increase this percentage, get rid of DOMA and pass marriage equality on the federal level, Emmanuel stated, “This is great news about the 53%. It demonstrates that people want the government out of our personal lives. We will not let government take away human rights on any level. Gender equality is a spiritual truth and it is beyond sex. Now the problem is how do we get it to the federal level? We have to get control of our language again. The language is being manipulated. It has been since the creation of language, probably since the creation of visual pictures. It gets you to focus on one subject. When you use the term ‘same-sex marriages’ what do you see? You see either 2 penises going down the aisle or 2 vaginas or whatever but you don’t see a relationship and that’s by design. That’s how the religious right uses the language to pervert the concept. Marriage is not about sex. It’s about relationships and relationships do entail a very important import of physical life which is the quality of sexual relationships but that is only a fraction of what we have to discuss. We have to take the discussion away from the religious right and turn the language back to what it is. It’s about gender. Gender equality, gender process, in the workplace, in the marriage place, in teaching, in all of these levels. We have to be careful how we use our language. Get control of the word and then you have control of how people will view the issue.” Emmanuel also addressed how the Republicans are trying to delay the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) and ending the “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA) by attaching it to the National Defense Authorization Act. Memorial Day is a time to thank all of our gay and lesbian servicemembers who continue to serve our country, especially Bradley Manning the 23 year old gay solider who was arrested a year ago in Iraq on suspicion of having passed restricted material to the website WikiLeaks. Bradley made a decision to tell the truth about himself and released to the world documents that have revealed corruption by world leaders, widespread civilian deaths at the hands of U.S. forces, the true face of Guantanamo and the murder of two employees of Reuters News Agency by American soldiers. For More Info: TheChurch.org

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Rap performance artist Cazwell who will host the new original music video series Boombox this June exclusively on here! TV and here! Online talks with  Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™.  Boombox is a genre-bending, no-holds-barred music video series, starring Cazwell, who will occasionally be joined by fashionable friends such as Amanda Lepore and J.D. Samson (of MEN and Le Tigre). The show features cutting-edge world premiere videos, exclusive interviews and with amazing guests is destined to be the most talked-about music show of the year. When asked what his commitment is to LGBT civil rights, Cazwell stated, “My personal commitment is being an out artist. I feel like just living my life is kind of a political statement. Because people try and make you feel like you can’t be out and successful in the entertainment industry. I’m out and all I do is music and my rent is paid, my lights are on, my iPhone is working and to me that is success. When you do what you want, what you love to do, you have a good life. And just to address sexuality without shame. I think for a lot of gay people what they do when they have sex is surrounded by shame. You know I just talk about it with the same entitlement as a straight man has. I think that that is important.” Cazwell has become a staple of New York’s club scene and has been a leading figure in the renaissance of New York City nightlife that has taken place over the last five years. Cazwell’s music mix of electrified dance beats and old-school hip-hop embodies the new spirit of pop. Bridging the gap between avant-garde club culture and the cutting edge of mainstream music, Cazwell is one of today’s most distinctive and charismatic performers. Cazwell has collaborated with a variety of musical and visual artists including Lady Gaga, David LaChapelle, Marco Ovando, Bec Stupak and his muse Amanda Lepore. For More Info: heretv.com

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In the conclusion of our audio series with LGBT Filmmakers, Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson, Host of OUTTAKE VOICES™, talks with the filmmakers about their films that appeared at the Boston LGBT Film Festival that ran May 5th through May 15th. We also had the opportunity to talk to the filmmakers about their personal commitment to LGBT Civil Rights. Alexia Kosmider talks about of her documentary "Sappho's Fire" that’s made its World Premiere Saturday May 14th at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. “Sappho's Fire” provides insight about aging by following the stories of older lesbians who live in New England. Viewers come to understand the deep-seated and often impenetrable fears of growing older without the certainties of family support or sufficient economical investment to obtain an appropriate retirement. What emerges are the myriad philosophies and strategies that these lesbians have developed for facing the inevitable end of one's journey and approaching this stage with wisdom and vitality that takes one's breath away. Writer/Producer Carlos Pedraza discusses his feature film “Judas Kiss” that was presented on May 14th at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge. Failed filmmaker Zachary Wells is convinced by his friend, hotshot director Topher Shadoe, to replace him as a judge in Keystone University’s annual film festival. His first night, Zach hooks up with a student at a bar. He’s shocked the next morning when the same student walks into an interview calling himself Danny Reyes the name Zach went by when he attended Keystone. The film deals with what could have been, where he is now and taking charge of his future. Gay Ally Rashaad Green talks about his film "Gun Hill Road," that was shown on Sunday, May 15th at the MFA. Based on personal family member’s experiences his film is about macho Enrique (Esai Morales) returning home to the Bronx after three years in prison and finds things changed. His wife, Angela (Judy Reyes), is distant and his teenage son, Michael, has come out as Vanessa, a transgender woman. Unable to accept his child for who she is now, Enrique clings to his masculine ideals while Angela attempts to hold the family together by fiercely protecting Vanessa. This is Writer/Director Rashaad Ernesto Green’s first feature film and told with gentle humor, sensitivity and a deep understanding of the environment that defines its inhabitants. Filmmaker Marc Smolowitz shares his excitement about the World Premiere of his remarkable film “Still Around” on Sunday May 15th at     The Brattle Theatre, Cambridge. This is a collaborate effort of filmmakers which includes 15 films that speak about living and thriving with HIV/AIDS at the 30th anniversary of this pandemic. Included are films directed by: Emmanuelle Antolin, Daniel Cardone, Leo Chiang, Deborah Craig, Robert Dekkers, Veronica Duport Deliz, Jörg Fockele, Stuart Gaffney, Amir Jaffer, Sade Huron, Tim Kulikowski & Ian Wolfley, Rick Osmon, Anne Siegel, Marc Smolowitz and Debra A. Wilson. The Screening will be followed by a round table panel discussion on “30 years of HIV/AIDS” with Executive Producers Marc Smolowitz, Jörg Fockele, AIDS Action Committee and other health experts. “Still Around” is distributed by OUTCAST FILMS. The Boston LGBT Film Festival runs now through May 15th at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and The Brattle Theatre, Cambridge. For More Info: www.bostonlgbtfilmfest.org

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