OUTTAKE VOICES™ (Interviews)

Kate Clinton, gay political humorist chats with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson about how 2009 played out for addressing LGBT issues. Our LGBT community had a lot of ups & downs in 2009. When asked whether she would say it’s been a roller coaster ride or a bi-polar experience Clinton stated, “I’ve needed Dramamine at certain points. I think that working hard for the election of Barack Obama, that was a very exciting election night. Then it really felt like getting kicked in the stomach with the news of the passing of Prop 8. So I think we brought that feeling of the out gay child at the family party into the New Year.” When asked how she would rate President Obama’s performance on LGBT civil rights Kate answered, “So far I would say that I’m disappointed although it’s lovely to be disappointed after being in complete despair for eight years of Bush, feeling like I had a cinder block on my chest, so it’s kind of nice to get back to old fashion disappointment.” It was a 10 year process for the Matthew Shepard Hate Crime Act to be been signed into law. We still have a way to go to see DOMA and the military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” to be repealed. When asked how patience we should be to see this and other LGBT legislation passed Clinton stated, "I don’t think we should be patient at all. I mean I think it takes people writing the language in committee, people marching on Washington, I think it takes all of that. It also takes being at the holiday table with your family and saying, “What are you doing? What do you think? Who are you talking to? And really reaching out on a personal level to allies and try to change the minds of people who have no clue basically. I am not entitled to my partner of 22 years social security benefits, which is ridiculous!” FOR MORE INFO: KATE CLINTON.COM

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David Zimmerman, Gay Ally and Publisher of Boston Spirit magazine talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson about his premier regional LGBT magazine. Zimmerman lives in Massachusetts with his wife Kristine and his two children Grace and Jack. When asked how gay marriage has effected his heterosexual marriage Zimmerman stated, “Not one bit. It’s funny, my wife and I were talking about that last night. I don’t know how it came up. It might have been a story on TV or something like that. If two people are walking down the street, whether it be two men or two women, a heterosexual couple, whatever it is, it makes absolutely no difference to me, if I don’t know them whether they’re married or not married, dating or not dating. Go on and live your life. I think it is incredibly sad if a person can actually say that two people they do not know who are in love and want to marry, if those two people marry, it has an effect on their marriage. What that says to me is that your marriage is in big trouble to start.” Boston Spirit also produces several very successful events throughout the year including an LGBT Executive Networking night and a Summer Sunset Cruise. Boston Spirit magazine’s 3rd annual LGBT Executive Networking Night will be held on February 17, 2010 at the Copley Place Marriott Hotel in Boston. The event is sponsored by Fidelity Investments, along with John Hancock, Partners Healthcare, Burns & Levinson, TJX Companies and Ocean Spray. Also, for the first time, the event will incorporate an LGBT Career Fair with human resource representatives from many of the top employers in the area in attendance. For More Info: BostonSpiritMagazine.com

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Lisa Krinsky, Director of the LGBT Aging Project in Boston talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson. With gay marriage being the law in Massachusetts we asked how this effects the rights and benefits for the commonwealth’s LGBT seniors. Krinsky stated, “There are some assumptions that marriage takes care of all the inequities that might exist for folks. The fact is what we have found here in Massachusetts that is most unique is the issue of what rights and benefits that are provided with marriage on a state level and those that exist on a federal level. There are about 1400 rights and benefits that come with marriage. About 1100 come on a federal level and about 300 come on a state level. So things like social security which is on the federal level and social security benefits for a surviving spouse would not be available to a married same gender couple in Massachusetts because the federal government is not going to recognize that marriage.” Lisa Krinsky, LICSW has been a social worker with twenty years of experience in community based elder services. An active member of the LGBT Aging Project since its inception in 2001, she has been its Director since 2004. Lisa designed and leads the Aging Project’s Open Door Program, which enhances aging service providers’ capacity to be ‘welcoming’ to LGBT elders and caregivers. Lisa frequently consults with mainstream aging service providers about cultural competency with LGBT elders and caregivers and presents nationally on these policy and practice issues. She earned her MSW from Simmons School of Social Work. She is a Leadership Council member of the LGBT Aging Issues Network (LAIN) of the American Society on Aging and co-chairs the LGBT Issues Committee for the Massachusetts Chapter of NASW. For More Info: LGBTAgingProject.org

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Openly gay author Gregory Gerard talks about his memoir “In Jupiter's Shadow” which chronicles a Catholic boy's struggle with his sexual orientation, with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson. Gerard states, “The concept that emerged as I was writing was people hiding from the truth about themselves and thinking about the people I know and the stories I’ve heard. About people overeating or drinking too much or shopping too much, they have this avoidance. These behaviors we do to avoid the truth about ourselves.” Gerard lives in Rochester, New York, with his partner of eleven years. When asked about New York denying gay marriage in the legislature, he said he was very disappointed. He also voiced his opinion about the majority voting on the rights of a minority. “It’s difficult for me to reconcile that the public majority gets to make a vote on such an important civil rights issue and that becomes the law. To me, that sounds backwards. I think of the civil rights struggles of the 50’s and 60’s and I wonder if that type of mentality had been allowed to make decisions about Afro-Americans rights, whether we would be where we are today.” Gerard also has a commitment to LGBT youth. “I work with my city's Gay Youth Project to facilitate a monthly writing class/open mic. I feel strongly about helping gay youth "find their own voice" in the struggle for equality. Part of my motivation to write my own story was to give voice to gay religious youth who today might be struggling in silence. A book once saved my life, "The Best Little Boy in the World" by Andrew Tobias, back in 1989. When I read that memoir and identified very strongly with the main character, it finally sunk in that my feelings of isolation were deceptive. If my memoir can help others who struggle feel less condemned by society or religious institutions or God or even themselves, I will feel very blessed indeed.” For More Info: jupitersshadow.com

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Cathy Marino-Thomas, President of the Board of Marriage Equality New York and was Executive Director from 2005 – 2008, talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson. We chatted with Marino-Thomas days before the shocking news that New York State is denying marriage equality to their LGBT community. When asked what’s coming up for our LGBT civil rights in her state, Marino-Thomas stated, "We will be reaching out to our federal level state senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer to go after all civil rights and equal rights under the law in all 50 states in general; specifically for me marriage equality.” On a personal note Cathy and spouse Sheila have been together 16 years and legally married in Massachusetts in 2004. They have a 10 year old daughter through artificial insemination. Cathy is the birth mother and Sheila was able to obtain a second parent adoption making both parents Jackie’s legal guardians. New York recognizes gay marriage from other states so we asked how this is working out. Marino-Thomas answered, “Well it’s a good beginning. It gives us some state level protections as of now. But the problem with that is that because there is no law making marriage legal in New York we are subject to that law changing at any point. And that’s the place we’re in. Although Sheila and I do enjoy state level marriage rights today, we may not enjoy them in the future. We don’t have a law on our actual New York State books that says that marriage is for all families.” New York State voted down gay marriage by a vote of 38 to 24. Read More... More Info: Marriage Equality New York

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Marc Harshbarger talks about his two must-read gay novels “Deep Dish” and “Deeper Dish”, which tell a continuing saga about love and lust in Chicago back in 1975, with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson. His first novel, "Deep Dish" is a gay soap opera that turns back the clock to 1975 during the disco culture of yesteryear. It tells the swinging saga of the Davenport and Haze families, who fall in and out of love and lust in one cliffhanging chapter after another while searching for happiness in a crazy world. In the sequel, "Deeper Dish" the many colorful characters return for more sordid misadventures, nail-biting cliffhangers, passionate encounters and disco fever as the Dish becomes Deeper. Both novels are an easy nostalgic read. On a personal note Harshbarger has been in a relationship with his partner for eighteen years. When asked what he thought about gay marriage now legal in five states Harshbarger stated, “What’s the big deal about two people who love each other getting married? I never understood the problem that people have with that but it seems like there will always be people out there who have to hate some other group of people and deny them their rights. I mean it’s been going on forever. And now I guess the gay community is what they’re fixated on these days. I do think though that in time we will get equal rights. I’m not sure how long it will take, but it’s a slow process and we will have to be patient.” Marc Harshbarger also writes and publishes "Deep Dish", a gay pop culture blog while he completes the third sequel to his novels. For More Info: marcharshbarger.blogspot.com

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Tracy Baim, Executive Producer of the new film “Hannah Free" talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson about her film starring Sharon Gless (Burn Notice, Queer as Folk, Cagney & Lacey), that’s receiving rave reviews globally. “Hannah Free” is a passionate lesbian drama about a lifelong love affair between an independent spirited out lesbian and the woman she calls home. Hannah and Rachel grew up as little girls in the same small Midwest town where traditional gender expectations eventually challenge their deep love for one another. Hannah becomes an adventurous, unapologetic lesbian and Rachel a strong but quiet homemaker. Weaving back and forth between past and present, the film reveals how the women maintained their love affair despite a marriage, a world war, infidelities, and family denial. When asked what it was like working with Sharon Gless, Baim stated, “Sharon Gless was absolutely phenomenal. She was such a team player. Anything we needed she was there for us. She helped us with fundraising by signing autographs and attending events. She’s been at a lot of the film festivals when her schedule permits. She’s just been incredible. I could never have asked for someone who’s such a team player and yet as well known as Sharon Gless. We were really lucky to get her to be attached to this film.” "Hannah Free" on Ripe Fruit Films is for distribution in worldwide theatrical and ancillary markets. For More Info: hannahfree.com

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Charles Robbins, Executive Director/CEO of the Trevor Project, a non-profit organization that operates the only nationwide 24/7 suicide prevention helpline for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson. When asked what he would like to see accomplished in the Obama administration for our LGBT community, Robbins stated, “There are so many things that are on President Obama’s agenda. I think that we’re moving in the right direction. I don’t think there’s any one particular legislation. I think they’re all necessary. What we’re working on at The Trevor Project is we’re hoping there can be mandated suicide prevention education in high schools across America. The sad statistic is that suicide is the second leading death among college campuses. There are a lot of protection factors that need to be discussed in the classroom when youth are in high school about the warning signs of suicide; how to protect someone who is suicidal and what to do if you yourself happen to be suicidal.” The Cracked Xmas event is The Trevor Project’s largest annual fundraiser that brings together top entertainers to support the organization’s programs including its free and confidential helpline, in-school workshops, community outreach, advocacy efforts and educational resources. This year Neil Patrick Harris will receive the Trevor Life Award and premier communications company AT&T Inc. will receive the Trevor Hope Award. The event will be held at The Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles on Dec. 6. “Neil Patrick Harris and AT&T have both provided significant support to The Trevor Project and the LGBTQ youth whom it serves,” said Robbins. “We applaud them for having the courage and conviction to set positive examples for young people and for inspiring them to take pride in themselves and each other.” For Cracked XMAS Tix & Info: thetrevorproject.org

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Lee Swislow, Executive Director of the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson about the defeat of Gay Marriage on Maine’s ballot referendum . This is a slippery slope when the majority votes away the rights of a minority. When asked about this turn of events Swislow stated, “As devastating as it was and I think going to the ballot on civil rights is never a good idea, I support that we also remember how much progress we have made and how many people over the last six years since the Goodridge decision have come to embrace marriage equality. I’m really heartened by the passion I saw not just among the LGBT community, but the non-gay folks who were waiting along with us for the results who had taken on this battle as their own.” President Obama has continued to state that he is in favor of repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). When asked if she thought he would follow through Swislow said, “He does say that he’s in favor of repealing DOMA, but there hasn’t been any indication that he’s willing to expend any political capital to do that. I think if Congress presented him with a repeal bill he would sign it, but I also haven’t seen signs that Congress is anxious to take this up any time soon. So although there is expressed support, I don’t think we can rely on anything coming out of Congress for the next few years.” GLAD continues its marriage equality and discrimination work throughout New England and is committed to moving forward with its partners in Maine. Last March GLAD filed a lawsuit in the Federal District Court in Massachusetts challenging the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). For More Info: GLAD.org

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Alix Dobkin, Gay Activist and Feminist Music Icon talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson about her new memoir “My Red Blood." “My Red Blood” begins in post-war New York City growing up in a Communist family and rubbing elbows with radical left celebrities like Paul Robeson. In the 1950’s in the midst of the McCarthy Era she joined the Communist Party and offers readers a first-hand glimpse of daily life as a teenager living under FBI surveillance. Alix began her music career in Greenwich Village in the early 60’s along with legends like Bob Dylan & Joni Mitchell. In the early 70’s she came out as the first lesbian performer of her day. When asked her thoughts about President Obama signing the Matthew Shepard Hate Crime Bill and what she would you like to see accomplished in this administration she stated, “I was delighted to see him signing that bill. That’s a wonderful thing. What would I like to see accomplished? His campaign promises for one thing. “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and the "Defense of Marriage Act," let’s get rid of them. Mostly is to equal out the income of the American population and let’s not have these crooks taking millions while single mothers, women and children and other kinds of people go hungry. Everyone knows it’s not right. So that’s one of my hopes that Obama will, and not just him, but this country will get better health care. I want single-payer, that’s what I want and that’s what most people I know want. That’s just some of the goals I want to see accomplished.” For information where Ms. Dobkin will be appearing: AlixDobkin.com

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