OUTTAKE VOICES™ (Interviews)

Rick Andreoli, Editor in Chief of gay.com and the newly launched gay.com daily talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. This new "daily" division of the website was created as a fun men's entertainment editorial site that offers daily pop culture news, who’s hot, fashion as well as hot button issues. When asked about his personal commitment to LGBT civil rights, Andreoli stated, “It’s interesting because I think people see gay.com and say ‘how does that tie into a commitment to LGBT civil rights?’ But what I have discovered and what has been very humbling for me is the amount of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people across the globe who type in ‘gay’ into their search engines and up comes gay.com. They suddenly realize through this site that there’s this giant, enormous community and for me it’s about creating awareness and a sense of community for these people. To give people who are in Small Town USA the understanding that you don’t have to leave that town if you love it and want to stay there, you can be gay in those towns. Or you can leave and there are other places and people who are dealing with the same stuff you are….I feel like that sort of awareness and sense of community is really the first step. You hear the stories of old activists who say ‘I thought I was the only one.’ The truth is when they found out they weren’t alone that’s where civil rights starts to grow and foster. I think that’s what we can bring to people both through my own work and through the website.” Rick Andreoli's words have also appeared in “The Advocate”, “Los Angeles Confidential”, “CARGO Magazine”, and “Metrosource”. Rick also comes from an extensive background in entertainment. He started his career as a development executive, working on projects with MTV, HBO, Miramax, Warner Bros. and many other studios. We had a chance to discuss when we might see more LGBT story lines in the movies and on TV. Andreoli lives and works in Los Angeles with his husband, Steve Thompson. They were legally married in California prior to the passing of Prop 8. For More Info: gay.com

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C. Huilo C., artist, dancer and writer talks about his quest to wake-up queer society in his new mythology tale “The Flight of the Jaguar Magician ” with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Huilo creates a gay mythological folklore in such an enjoyable way it gently reacquaints its readers with their creative and spiritual nature. When asked what inspired him to take this journey Huilo stated, “I felt dissatisfied as a queer person on earth, that there was nothing that really explained who I was. How it was portrayed in religion or government or on the screen or the arts seemed to me just a sexual thing. Something in me decided that I was much more than that. So I did extensive research and decided that there was a complete legacy to spirit-gay people that wasn’t present in the current modern world. Being that I have been a practicing artist for sometime, I decided to take it upon myself to try and mythologize and weave in some of the old myths that I could find.” As an artist Huilo enjoys utilizing multimedia artscapes to capture the viewers' wildest imagination and encourage them to activate their sensibility about co-creating the dream of the world. Huilo concluded, “Symbols in art have been central to understanding what cannot be seen and in political cases what cannot be said. With the corporate control of media and economics controlling the art world, I create forms which invite the dreaming consciousness of the viewer to build a new definition of cultural icons and a different way to message the supra-conscious about complex issues that is not otherwise offered to the general public.” Huilo's work has been displayed in North and South America and in Europe. For More Info: jaguarlunart.com

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Director Reed Cowan talks about his new film “8: The Mormon Proposition”, the 80-minute documentary narrated by Dustin Lance Black with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson. The film documents The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' unscrupulous involvement in the passage of California's unconstitutional Proposition 8 which is currently being contested in Federal Court. Recently the California Fair Political Practices Committee (FPPC) has proposed a fine on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) for failing to report all of its late non-monetary contributions in its efforts to pass Proposition 8 in 2008. This must-see film follows The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' questionable money trail, which was instrumental in stripping our California LGBT community of marriage equality. “8: The Mormon Proposition” premiered to sell-out audiences at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. When asked how “8: The Mormon Proposition has been received, Cowan stated, “It depends on who you ask. We appreciate all dialogue that comes from reviews. From Mormons we’ve had some Mormons stand up with tears who say ‘I had no idea and thank you for telling the truth.’ We’ve had some Mormons send hate mail. Anyone who knows a little about my background knows that four years ago I lost a little boy to a tragic backyard swing set accident. I’m sad to say that I’ve had some people go for the jugular and send me hate mail saying 'Your son was taken because you’re a F-A-you know what and you’re going to burn in hell and you’ll never see him again.’ They go for the jugular because they think their faith is not up to being questioned. And from the LGBT community I’ve had many beautiful experiences. They say finally, finally we can tell this story. Thank you.” After Sundance, "8: The Mormon Proposition" was purchased for distribution by WB Executives Paul Federbush and Laura Kim in their break-out company, Red Flag Releasing, and has been playing the film festival circuit. The film debuts to nationwide audiences June 18. For More Info: 8: The Mormon Proposition.com

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Gabrielle Hanna, Executive Director of the Provincetown International Film Festival talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about the 2010 festival that happened in Provincetown, Massachusetts June 16th through June 20th. The festival opened with Oscar Winners Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman’s “Howl”. The Youth and Diversity Program this year included the world premiere of “Let's Talk About Sex” and the annual A Night At The Wellfleet Drive-In event celebrated the 50th Anniversary of “Psycho” with the extra added attraction “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!”

Tilda Swinton received the Excellence in Acting Award. Swinton won an Oscar Award and a BAFTA Award for her performance in Tony Gilroy's “Michael Clayton”. Oscar Winners Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman were honored this year with The Faith Hubley Award. Rob had already established himself with his work on the landmark documentary "Word Is Out” and with his Oscar-winning documentary “The Times of Harvey Milk”. Jeffrey first worked with Rob as a consultant on “The Times of Harvey Milk” and again as editor on a PBS show Rob directed. Their new film “Howl”, their first dramatic narrative, features James Franco as poet Allen Ginsberg leading a stellar cast that includes Jon Hamm, Mary-Louise Parker, David Strathairn and Jeff Daniels. "Howl" premiered at this year's Sundance and Berlin Film Festivals and will be released later this year. Between them they have received two Academy Awards, multiple Emmy Awards, three Peabody Awards, a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Rockefeller Fellowship. Filmmaker on the Edge this year is Kevin Smith who has spent the last fifteen years as a writer/director making “Clerks”, “Mallrats”, “Chasing Amy”, “Dogma”, “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back”, “Jersey Girl”, “Clerks II”, “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” and most recently, “Cop Out”, with Tracy Morgan and Bruce Willis.

When asked about the future of the Provincetown International Film Festival Hanna stated, “The festival this year is looking to buy a permanent home in Provincetown. We have launched a capital campaign to purchase the 70 seat Whalers Wharf Cinema. We’ve actually taken over operations of the cinema and we’ll be showing first run art films until the end of the year. We have until January 31, 2011 to raise the funds so we can launch a year-round festival presence.” This is a great organization that needs your support.

For More Info & Tix: ptownfilmfest.org

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Keri Aulita, Deputy Director of the Boston Pride Committee talked with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™  about this year’s events.  In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Boston Pride this year’s theme is "Riots to Rights – Celebrating 40 Years of Progress", honoring the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion that commenced the modern Gay Rights movement and commemorates the progress our community has made since those early days of the battle for equal rights. One of this year's highlights was a "Riots to Rights" rally which featured guest speakers Stuart Milk, nephew of Harvey Milk, Founder of the Harvey Milk Foundation and pioneer gay activist Cleve Jones of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. This was followed by a free screening of the must-see documentary “Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride” which opened the Boston LGBT Film Fest last month. Director Bob Christie’s moving documentary is about Gay Pride marches and festivals happening all over the world, sometimes under heavy opposition and violence. Of course there was the parade on  and over 40 events and parties happening all week long. When asked about this year’s theme Aulita stated, “The theme this year "Riots to Rights - Celebrating 40 Years of Progress" as the tagline, really speaks to what’s been going on in Boston in the past 40 years since the first pride gathering on the Boston Common in 1970. The Boston Pride Committee is asking people to look at where we’ve been, where we are and where we still need to go. Obviously rights aren’t full and equal yet but we’re hoping to get there and we’re asking people to think about what causes ‘the riot in you’ as we celebrate.” For More Info: bostonpride.org

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President Obama has declared June officially as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Pride Month for the second year. Arline Isaacson, Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus, concludes her interview with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson about the future of federal LGBT civil rights in America. Arline is one of the architects of gay marriage in Massachusetts and probably one of the most brilliant LGBT lobbyists in this country. Obama has called upon Americans to "observe this month by fighting prejudice and discrimination in their own lives and everywhere it exists." When asked about the struggle for LGBT civil rights in this country Isaacson stated, “ I try and have an historic context when I talk to people and to remind them that we feel like we’ve come far but we still have very very far to go. We can’t afford to become complacent. We have to take a look and not let our guard down because if we let our guard down then we’re vulnerable. If we let our guard down then the hard fought rights can in fact be taken away. So we can’t take where we are now for granted on the positive or the negative. If we’re in a good situation like a state that has marriage equality we can’t assume we’re going to keep it unless we are vigilant. And if we’re in a state that doesn’t have it (gay marriage) we can’t assume we’ll never win it. We simply have to be vigilant. Sometimes it’s difficult, people lose, they get tried, they say their lives change. They say they want to do other things but you know what, what could be more important than changing the world for the better? What can be more important than trying to fight for equality for ourselves, our generation and very importantly for the LGBT’s coming after us. For the kids, they need our help, they’re counting on us. This country will be a much better nation when we have equality for the entire LGBT community.” For More Info: mglpc.org

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Mystery writer Ellen Hart talks about her latest book “The Mirror and the Mask” with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Ellen is a five-time winner of the Lambda Literary Award for Best Lesbian Mystery as well as a three-time winner of the Minnesota Book Award for Best Popular Fiction. Entertainment Weekly recently named her one of the "101 movers and shakers in the gay entertainment industry." Ellen lives in Minneapolis with her partner of 30 years. Recently, three gay couples challenged the Minnesota law that bans gay marriages and prohibits the state from recognizing gay marriages performed elsewhere. When asked what her thoughts were about this Hart stated, “I’m thrilled. I mean I think we have to do that everywhere. My partner and I could drive to Iowa and get married and we decided we’re going to stay put. We want to get married in Minnesota; we’re dug-in here. I mean this is where we live. We love it here. I love Minnesota. Minnesota has moved to the right in the last few years and I think the voices of the right are so loud and so insistent and I believe that they have managed to move even the general conversation to the right. The middle is to the right now but we want to get married and we want to get married here. That’s why we support everything we can that wants to bring civil rights to Minnesota. I mean it just fries me that if you’re a killer or any number of horrible things and heterosexual you can get married. But if you love somebody of the same gender, if you just love that person of the same gender, society somehow finds something wrong with that. To me that just fries me.” “The Mirror and the Mask” is a must-read summer book and was nominated for a Lambda Award for Best Lesbian Mystery. For More Info: ellenhart.com

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International LGBT adoption advocate Jarko De Witte van Leeuwen talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson, host of OUTTAKE VOICES™. Jarko lives in the Netherlands with his husband Jos and their 2 adopted children, Arwen and Wolf. Jarko has written a new children’s book “Arwen and her Daddies” that tells their adoption journey. Jarko and Jos were married in 2001, the year when gay marriage was legalized in the Netherlands. After returning from their honeymoon their dream was to a start family. They soon discovered that joint adoption only applied to children born in The Netherlands where very few children are available. In order to adopt jointly internationally Jarko and Jos fought for 7 years to gain joint international adoption rights. Jarko stated, “The law which made this possible only came into effect last year. We're very proud that we have achieved this." When asked what led him to write ‘Arwen and her Daddies’ Jarko explained, “Our daughter Arwen is very fond of books and having stories read to her. In all children’s books that we have read to her, sooner or later a mommy, or a mommy and a daddy, make their appearance. I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to read a story to Arwen that features two daddies’. So I started a search only to find very few children’s books featuring two daddies. Initially I had made this book just for Arwen; a single copy for our little girl to explain to her in an age appropriate manner and when the time is appropriate for her - how we became a family. However, other families I spoke with were also interested in having a book about same gender parents and encouraged me to publish for other families to read. They too wanted a book for their children to learn about the wonderfully diverse society that we live in. In addition, my hope is to have the book further communicate to children that it is perfectly okay to be who you are. For these reasons, I decided to publish “Arwen and her Daddies” for a broader audience. I wish you and your kids a lot of fun reading this book!” More Info & To Buy or Download “Arwen and her Daddies"

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The Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus hosted a fundraising event to celebrate the sixth anniversary of gay marriage and Arline Isaacson, Co-Chair of MGLPC, birthday at the newly opened Napoleon Room at Boston’s Club Café. In this exclusive audio montage Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson, Host of OUTTAKE VOICES™, had a chance to talk with LGBT activists and allies about the future of gay marriage and LGBT civil rights in America. In attendance were Gary Daffin who also serves as Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus (MGLPC), Boston Mayor Tom Menino, a solid LGBT ally and the longest-serving mayor in Boston history, serving five term, Grace Ross, gubernatorial candidate, longtime LGBT activist Barbara Hoffman and Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition Director Gunner Scott. For More Info: mglpc.org

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This is the sixth anniversary of the legalization of gay marriage in Massachusetts. Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson, Host of OUTTAKE VOICES™, talks with Arline Isaacson, Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus. Arline is one of the architects of gay marriage in Massachusetts and probably one of the most brilliant lobbyists in this country. Massachusetts pioneered gay marriage which is now legal in Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Iowa & Washington D.C. When asked what advice she had for other states who are trying to achieve marriage equality Isaacson stated, “In order to win the right for our people to marry it takes a number of variables that include working very very hard but just as importantly, working smart. It means trying to think like the enemy. Trying to think like our opponents. Trying to anticipate every step of the way what will they do? How will they do it? How will it be received? What can we do to preemptly try and thwart their efforts and what can we do to preemptly try and trump their efforts? That’s one of the things we did so well in Massachusetts and it made all the difference in the world. We quite literally in Massachusetts out-lobbied our opponents, out-maneuvered our opponents, out-parliamentary procedured our opponents and out-organized our opponents every step of the way.” For More Info: mglpc.org

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