OUTTAKE VOICES™ (Interviews)

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, the first out gay woman elected to the US House of Representatives from Wisconsin’s Second Congressional District talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson. Baldwin is a leading advocate for universal health care and Co-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus. When asked what she would want to see happen for our LGBT civil rights in 2010, Congresswoman Baldwin stated, “I hope that progress follows through to bills being signed and things becoming law. So I would like us to be successful in repealing the odious “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, it’s un-American in my mind. I want to see full domestic partner benefits for federal employees and by that I ‘m referring to health benefits, family and medical leave act benefits and essentially make sure that federal LGBT employees are getting equal compensation for equal contribution to this country. I’d like to see the Employment Nondiscrimination Act passed into law. I was speaking with Congressman Frank about the progress of that measure that he authors and he believes that in the next few weeks we’ll see the committee take action on that. So those at the federal level would be very important steps forward. We started our conversation around issues of LGBT health care. If we are unable to get some of these important provisions related to research and disparities in the legislation then I think we have to continue to push for those changes in freestanding legislation. Specifically, about that, what I’m talking about is right now the federal government does not even ask questions about people's sexual orientation when they’re researching the health of the nation, when they’re taking the snapshot and observing that certain segments of the American population disproportionately carry the burden of certain disease or conditions. Well if you don’t ask the questions, you don’t produce the data and if you don’t have the data and evidence, you can’t direct relief programs funding to assure the health of the LGBT community which is of as great concern as of any other group in American society. So ultimately we have to persevere on these very important provisions.” Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin is the recipient of this year’s Dr. Susan M. Love Award presented by Fenway Health’s Women’s Dinner Party, which takes place Saturday, March 13 at The Boston Marriott Copley Place in Boston, Massachusetts and will be hosted by Comedian Kate Clinton. Each year, the Dr. Susan M. Love Award is given to honor and celebrate a woman and/or organization that has made a significant contribution to the field of women’s health. The Love Award is given in honor of its founding recipient, Dr. Susan M. Love, a pioneer in the fields of women’s health and breast cancer. Love helped found the Revlon UCLA Breast Center in 1992 and currently heads up the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, which is dedicated to eradicating breast cancer. In addition to advocating extending health care coverage to all Americans and ending health disparities for LGBT Americans and their families, Baldwin has sponsored legislation providing cancer screening to low-income and uninsured women and helped lead efforts in Congress to repeal federal restrictions on stem cell research. Fenway Health’s Women’s Dinner Info & Tix

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Vanessa Domico, Founder and President of Outcast Films, a distribution and production company which is dedicated to the fair and equal representation of media made by or about our LGBT community, talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson. Outcast Films is also an educational and activist-driven organization and in that pursuit, they provide a vehicle for voices that may not otherwise be heard. When asked what she would like to see accomplished in the Obama administration for our LGBT civil rights, Domico stated, “I have to say I’m losing patience with the Obama administration. I mean he was elected because of his promises of change and hope and we’ve seen very little of either of those things in his first year of office. You know he had so much support going in that I’m miffed as to why he didn’t use that wave of support to push through the many needed changes in this country. I mean, that said, I think “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” should be repealed immediately. There’s simply no rational reason to have it continue. There have been over a hundred Admirals and Generals that have come out in favor of ending it. And the majority of the public thinks it should end. I also think that all rights should be given to all people, whether you’re gay, straight, married or not. If the state is truly separate from the church, then I don’t understand why it’s so closely connected, why there are over a thousand more laws and rights given to those married than those who are not married. That’s a long battle.” Vanessa Domico has served as a member of the Board of Directors for both the Pittsburgh and New York City LGBT Film Festivals and is an authority on distribution of LGBT films. She has represented both festivals as well as Women Make Movies and Outcast Films at countless festivals, panels, and other events. Outcast Films award-winning titles include "Pills Profits Protest: Chronicle of the Global AIDS Movement", "Rock Bottom: Gay Men and Meth", "Tying the Knot", "She’s A Boy I Knew", winner of 16 jury and audience awards, the complete collection of films by acclaimed, avant garde filmmaker Su Friedrich and Jean Carlomusto’s latest documentary Sex in an Epidemic, their newest release. For More Info: Outcast-Films.com

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Stu Maddux, Producer/Director, talks about his upcoming film “Gen Silent” with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson. This new groundbreaking documentary puts a face on what experts in the film call an epidemic: gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender seniors so afraid of being subject to discrimination, or worse, in long-term/health care that many go back into the closet. Their surprising decisions are captured through intimate access to their day-to-day lives over the course of a year in Boston, Massachusetts. When asked what he would like to see accomplished in the Obama administration for our LGBT civil rights, Maddux stated, “From my perspective working and interviewing LGBT seniors and their spouses, it’s all about DOMA. It’s all about the Defense of Marriage Act. The Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) are doing that case to repeal section three of DOMA which defines marriage between a man and a woman. Well here’s what’s going on. People are not getting survival benefits and I am seeing couples who I know have been together in different films I have produced who are survivors, who are devastated by not having social security benefits come in. There are a lot of things that are very important on an emotional level, but on a survival level that’s the issue right now for LGBT folks, especially seniors. It's those survival benefits.” Stu Maddux's award-winning documentaries include “Bob and Jack's 52-Year Adventure” and “Trip to Hell and Back”. His work has been televised internationally on Showtime, BBC and The Learning Channel. “Gen Silent” will have its WORLD PREMIERE at the Boston LGBT Film Festival this May. For More Info: LGBT Aging Project For More Info: Gen Silent

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Black Gay Activists Andrea Shorter and Edwin Seth Brown talk with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson in celebration of Black History Month. Andrea Shorter is the Deputy Marriage and Coalitions Director for Equality California. She is passionate about engaging communities of color in dialogue about gay marriage. When asked what her personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights Shorter stated, “Well given the fact that I’m LGBT, that’s who I am. I’m Afro-American, I’m lesbian and in many respects it’s a labor of not only love on my part but also I’m part of the struggle too. I want the next generation of young black lesbians and other lesbians of color to not have to live in a world where we are grappling over whether or not we can marry the person we love.” Edwin Seth Brown is Ambassador to Germany for the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA). He began his career in the arts as a modern dancer where he acquired his love for travel. He shares his experiences of growing up black and gay in urban Los Angeles in the 50’s and 60’s. “In my community being black was very difficult. I’m in my late fifties now. When I grew up as a black person you couldn’t be gay in the community because the church was very non-accepting of same-sex practices. There was such a feeling that you had to be a man just sometimes to get down the street because I grew up in South Central Los Angeles and you had to be a very strong personality not to have somebody trying to push themselves on you or bullying you. I'm lucky, I have a strong personality.” Brown is also very outspoken about the HIV/AIDS epidemic among people of color and an advocate of HIV/AIDS prevention and education.

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Gary Daffin, Executive Director of the Multicultural AIDS Coalition, talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson to get his spin on where we are in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. MAC is the largest and oldest agency in New England focused exclusively on HIV in communities of color, working in partnership with a wide range of faith and community based organizations. Daffin who is openly gay and black states that the reason his organization is successful working with the Black Christian faith community is based on mutual respect. When asked how we can find a common thread between the LGBT community and communities of color to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Daffin stated, “I think HIV/AIDS is an area where the community of color and the black community and the gay community work very well together. Particularly, if you take the example of people living with HIV, I think that we would all do better to see how well people who come from very different backgrounds, who are dealing with the disease personally, how well they work together in creating programs and advocating, find it easy to put aside differences." Gary Daffin also serves as Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus (MGLPC), the state’s oldest legislative advocacy organization. MGLPC played a key role in the effort to secure marriage equality in the Commonwealth and works continuously on issues such as transgender civil rights, bullying, funding for LGBT youth and elder programs. He is a past recipient of Fenway Community Health’s Gerry Studds Visibility Award and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s William A. Hinton Award for promoting the health of minority communities. For More Info: mac-boston.org

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Nancy Adair, one of the film directors of “Word is Out”, the 1977 groundbreaking gay iconic documentary that is being revived in a restored print and re-released globally, talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson. When asked how “Word is Out” is being received in 2010, Adair stated, “We wondered if it would be seen as just an historic document or whether it would still continue to help people and be relevant today. I think that it does both in a way. It’s a little bit dated in that the music is from the 1970’s, you know people’s clothing is a little different and so on but it is still extremely relevant. It makes people feel really good about themselves. As much as it would seem easier to come out of the closet in areas like Boston, the Bay Area and LA and so on, in small towns like the one I live in, it’s still very difficult for young people. We’re still completely inundated by heterosexual images. It’s not easy for gay and lesbians in rural areas to come out and feel good about themselves. No one has made a film like this with its scope, with its diversities, so it’s still a very powerful statement and I think it will always be, because we made it for gays. But I don’t think in the end that it’s only for gay people. Heterosexuals really love the film because it’s about self actualization, self love and empowerment. So it’s relevant for all people.” Soon after the original opening of “Word is Out”, the book of the same title was released compiled by Nancy and her mother Casey. Nancy lives in Willits in Northern California, where she is a yoga teacher and artist. For More Info: wordisoutmovie.com

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Arline Isaacson, Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson about the recent upset in the Massachusetts senate race and how our LGBT community should become proactive in the 2010 midterm elections. Through her lobbying expertise over the last 20 years, Arline Isaacson has been instrumental in the passage of LGBT rights in Massachusetts and is one of the architects of gay marriage in this country. In this interview she provides valuable insights and strategies into successful legislative initiatives. For More Info: mglpc.org

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Lea Gilmore is one of the founders of The Maryland Black Family Alliance, a coalition of black families and leaders of many faiths who stand for fairness, justice and equality for all families talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson. Lea is also a classically trained pianist and an award winning Blues, gospel and jazz singer who has appeared in over 45 musical and dramatic theater productions. When asked what her position on gay marriage is Gilmore stated, “I am a full proponent of gay marriage. I think that to deny a group of individuals civil rights based on something as arbitrary, basically inhuman, as who you choose to love is outrageous. We got rid of that in the Loving v. Virginia case in the 1960’s and I look forward to seeing that victory coming soon for the gay and lesbian community.” When asked why she thinks this is such a difficult issue for the black community, Lea explained, ”Because there’s often a disconnect. Sometimes when you’re involved in your own pain you don’t see others. But that being said too, I think that a lot of African Americans, we black folks, have gotten some bad press as well. Because if you ask people one-on-one and when they truly understand what we are asking for, when we ask for civil marriage, you see a light bulb go off and say ‘Wait I believe in that too. I believe that we should not deny people their legal rights based on my spiritual center or my faith center.’ So there’s really a lot of education that needs to happen and a lot of trust that needs to happen. You know Charlotte, nothing happens instantly. We change people's hearts and minds one person at a time. But we can do something legally and that’s what we’re fighting for.”

In addition to her United States festivals and concerts, Lea has performed, lead workshops, lectured in France, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg, in Belgium churches in small villages and to sell-out audiences in stadiums, leading a 2000 voice choir. Lea Gilmore is married to David Gilmore and they are the proud parents of two sons, Jonathan and Gabriel. They live in Maryland.

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Lea Gilmore Info & To Purchase Her CD's

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Suzane Northrop, one of the world’s leading Trance Mediums, co-hosts “The Afterlife” with David Millbern on the gay network here! TV and OUT tv in Canada, talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson. The show's concept presents a series of séances for the gay & lesbian audience. This is an exceptional opportunity for members of the LGBT community to experience a real séance. When asked about her work Northrop stated, “Ultimately this is about love. This is about love and my connection with God. The God that I know is all about love. And who we choose or how we choose to believe or whatever our religious preferences are, that’s a personal thing. I know in my heart what I do is about connection of love and that is the whole emphasis of what I do. As I make the connection with the people that we love and, although they have left their bodies, they still continue to love us. For me I think it is an extremely key element for the community. If you can look at this as love and not get into whatever your personal things are, perhaps people would see things differently. When I was asked actually to do the show on this network, I thought about it and you know what, everyone should have access to the best people they can that will help them in that element of connection and love in the LGBT community.” Suzane Northrop Info:theseance.com The Afterlife on here!TV The Afterlife on OUTtv

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Kate Clinton, gay political humorist concludes her chat with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson. When asked what she would like to see happen for LGBT civil rights in 2010 Clinton stated, “I would definitely like to see ENDA pass and certainly the beginnings of a “stop loss” for 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell'. You know that we stop getting rid of gay people in the military. At this rate I think it’s like two a day are being shuffled out of the service because they are LGBT.” Openly gay Congressman Barney Frank said that repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will likely be included as part of this year’s Department of Defense Authorization Bill in both chambers of Congress. Senator Joe Lieberman, the Dem who turned Independent from Connecticut, appears to be taking the lead in the Senate to address “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” With President Obama sending 30,000 troops to Afghanistan you would think repealing “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” would be a priority. Three years ago a 2006 University of California Blue Ribbon Commission report determined that the total cost of "Don’t Ask Don’t Tell" between Fiscal Years 1994 and 2003, from training personnel who are subsequently discharged, was at least $363.8 million. This is a shameful waste of tax dollars as well as human resources, especially in this economic climate. On a lighter note catch Kate Clinton live on her 2010 "Lady Ha Ha Tour." Start your new decade dance with Kate Clinton –comic without borders, wake-up artist, and the original reality gatecrasher. See Kate perform her world-famous burlesque Bubble Wrap Dance as she gleefully pops the air out of deniers and disruptors, birthers and dearthers, conservadems and bibliocrats, the -stans and the bans, spine flu and whine flu, ex-gays and A-gays, the audacity of nope and of course, the pope. All material fully digitalized and gorgeously styled by the Haus of Ha. FOR MORE INFO: KATE CLINTON.COM

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