OUTTAKE VOICES™ (Interviews)

Best Dish w/ Celebrity Chef Rossi :)

In this audio excerpt Chef Rossi shares the wildest event she’s ever catered for her celebrity clientele with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson. Rossi, writer/painter/celebrity chef is a modern Renaissance woman entrepreneur whose business is flourishing during these challenging economic times. How does she do it? In the culinary world Rossi is the owner and executive chef of The Raging Skillet, one of New York City’s best and wildest caterers. She's been called “a new breed of rebel anti-caterer” by the The New York Times, and “eclectic and off the wall” by the Zagats review. She has also been featured on The Food Network. As a celebrity chef Rossi’s events have satisfied many illustrious guests, including Bill Clinton, Glen Close, Whoopie Goldberg, Rosie Perez, Cher, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon. Rossi also talks about living in downtown NYC on September 11th and the months that followed. As a writer, Rossi has been a features writer for several publications, such as The Daily News, Time Out New York and The New York Post. Her literary work has been published in McSweeneys and she has been the cult hit columnist for Bust magazine for 11 years and running. Rossi’s book of edible memoirs entitled “The Devil and Mrs. Goldstein" is near completion. As a painter Rossi’s works have been exhibited at The Provincetown Art Association Museum, Studio 429 in Soho, Cave Canem (NYC), Bob (NYC), The Cork Gallery in Avery Fisher Hall, the Lawrence Gallery, Long Island City Art Frenzy and The DNA Studio Gallery. She also co-founded The Lost and Found gallery in Crown Heights Brooklyn and is the founder of the Artist’s Room in the Lower East side of New York City where her one woman show “Fusilli”is currently on view. Rossi is openly gay and a strong supporter of LGBT civil rights. More Rossi @ RossiRant.com Listen to the Full Audio Interview @ OUTTAKE VOICES™

Congresswoman Baldwin Update

In this audio excerpt Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis) discusses America’s Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3200) with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson. Baldwin explains the language she successfully added to the health care bill addressing the LGBT community. This is crucial since our LGBT community presently does not have federal rights, benefits and protections for their families. Hear the complete Interview @OUTTAKE VOICES™ Hear 50+ Interviews w/ LGBT Leaders @ OUTTAKE VOICES™

GLAD Makes DOMA History

Lee Swislow, Executive Director of GLAD, the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, discusses the status of the lawsuit GLAD filed in federal court challenging the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, DOMA with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson. The suit was filed in March 2009 at the Massachusetts Federal District Court. According to Swislow, GLAD has had its first taste of victory against DOMA. One aspect of the original lawsuit was suing the State Department for refusing to allow Massachusetts legally married gay couples to change their name and marital status on their U.S. passports. This has been resolved and the State Department will now recognize gay marriages in states where they are legal when issuing passports as they do with heterosexual marriages. GLAD’s lawsuit will be amended to reflect this breakthrough placing more emphasis on how legally married gay couples are denied federal income tax credits, employment & retirement benefits, health insurance coverage & Social Security payments. Recently Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government to seek federal marriage benefits for over 16,000 gay and lesbian couples who have legally married in Massachusetts since 2004. When asked how this will effect GLAD’s case Swislow said "it will make their case stronger." Both cases are being heard before the same federal judge and there's a possibility that these cases may be consolidated. When asked if the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) will go before the Supreme Court Swislow said, “I certainly expect that ultimately this case will wind up in front of the Supreme Court. It’s a case of significant national importance.” GLAD has been instrumental in bringing gay marriage to America, first in Massachusetts in 2004 and now totaling 5 New England States including Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Join them for their Summer Party in Provincetown, MA on July 25th. For More Info & Tix: glad.org More Interviews w/ LGBT Leaders @ OUTTAKE VOICES™

Massachusetts vs. the Feds

In this audio excerpt Arline Isaacson, Co Chair of the Massachusetts Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus, discusses the ramifications of the lawsuit Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has filed against the U.S. government which seeks federal marriage benefits for over 16,000 gay & lesbian couples who have legally married in Massachusetts. The Commonwealth is challenging the constitutionality of the federal 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, saying the law denies "essential rights & protections" to gay couples who have married since Massachusetts became the first state in the nation to legalize gay marriages in 2004. Isaacson who spoke directly with Attorney General Coakley as she historically and courageously became the first Attorney General to take on DOMA shares her first hand account of how this legal maneuver will effect the future of LGBT civil rights in Massachusetts and America. Listen to the Full Audio Interview @ OUTTAKE VOICES™ For 50+ Interviews w/ LGBT Leaders @ OUTTAKE VOICES™

“Assisted Loving” with Bob Morris

In this audio excerpt, Writer/ Author Bob Morris chats about his latest book “Assisted Loving” with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson. This is a moving and hilarious account of how an openly gay man deals with his 80 year old father’s dating life. A few months after the death of his mother Morris’s father approached his son about his desire to reenter the dating scene. At first Morris was appalled but his father explained that “ It just worked so beautifully with your mother for 50 years, that I’d love to do it again…” Morris agrees to help and gets much more then he bargains for. As a contributor to the New York Times Sunday Styles section, Morris has written for the “The New Yorker”, “Travel & Leisure” and has been a commentator on NPR’s “All Things Considered.” “Assisting Loving” is currently in development at NBC. Listen to The Full Interview @ OUTTAKE VOICES™ Listen to More Audio Interviews w/ LGBT Leaders: OUTTAKE VOICES™

Cult Filmmakers on Gay Marriage

In this audio interview excerpt filmmakers: John Waters, Guy Maddin & Robert Lee King discuss gay civil rights in the Obama administration. As an openly gay man, Waters is an avid supporter of gay civil rights. He chats about what he sees for the future of our LGBT community in the Obama administration. Secondly, Writer/Director Guy Maddin who was recently awarded the 2009 Filmmaker on the Edge Award at the Provincetown International Film Festival. Maddin who is heterosexual, is a strong ally to the LGBT community and speaks proudly of his native country Canada’s pro position on gay marriage. (On July 20, 2005, Canada became the fourth country in the world to legalize gay marriage nationwide with the enactment of the Civil Marriage Act.) Thirdly, Writer/Director Robert Lee King. King was recently honored to have his film “Psycho Beach Party” screened as a drive-in feature at the Provincetown International Film Festival, speaking volumes about its durability as a well-loved cult classic. King, based in Hollywood California, addresses our LGBT issues and concerns honestly and eloquently. Hear the full Interview @ OUTTAKE VOICES™

Jarrett Barrios to Lead GLAAD

In this exclusive audio excerpt Jarrett Barrios discusses with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson, what he hopes to accomplish in his new position as President of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and his vision for the future of LGBT civil rights in America. Barrios will begin his tenure at GLAAD in September 2009. Barrios brings an enormous amount of experience to our LGBT community. A former member of both the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Massachusetts Senate, Barrios was a key player in the passage of gay marriage in Massachusetts. He brings to the table a wealth of knowledge of what it takes to educate and achieve basic civil rights for our LGBT community. To hear the complete interview: OUTTAKE VOICES™

P-Town Film Fest '09 (Audio)

Gabrielle Hanna, Executive Director of the Provincetown International Film Festival chats with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson about the prestigious film festival taking place in Provincetown, Massachusetts this week from June 17-21. The 2009 Filmmaker on the Edge Award will be awarded to writer/director Guy Maddin (“My Winnipeg,” “The Saddest Music in the World,” “Careful”). Actor Alessandro Nivola (“Junebug,” “Laurel Canyon,” and the upcoming 2009 films “Coco Before Chanel” and “Howl”) will receive the Excellence in Acting Award and Strand Releasing will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Opening Night Film will be Woody Allen’s WHATEVER WORKS (New England Premiere) starring Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Patricia Clarkson and Ed Begley, Jr. This year there will be over 50 feature films, documentaries and shorts viewed at numerous venues including Thursday Night at the Wellfleet Drive In. The Provincetown International Film Festival was first produced in 1999, the same year Provincetown celebrated its 100th anniversary as America’s oldest art colony. The PIFF is on the edge both artistically and geographically. Provincetown takes pride in embracing creativity and diversity in a thriving and increasingly year round tourist, business and art economy. For decades, Provincetown has attracted legendary artists, writers and filmmakers to this furthest tip of Cape Cod. Eugene O’Neill, Norman Mailer, Lily Tomlin, John Waters, Connie Francis, Helen Hayes, Billie Holiday, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Richard Gere, and Eartha Kitt have all worked and performed in Provincetown to the delight of the town’s cosmopolitan visitors and residents. There are also fabulous restaurants and shops in case you’re not into viewing films 24/7. The festival will close with Jay DiPietro’s PETER AND VANDY (East Coast Premiere), starring Jason Ritter, Jess Weixler and Zak Orth. Presenting Sponsors of the film festival are (Art House, Bacardi Dragonberry, Crown & Anchor, HBO. PIFF is also supported by grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Provincetown Tourism Fund). For More Info & Tix @ ptownfilmfest.com For More Audio Interviews w/ LGBT Leaders: OUTTAKE VOICES™

Boston Pride 2009

Keri Aulita, Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Boston Pride Committee, talks about this year’s Boston Pride events. Boston’s Pride celebration runs through Sunday June 14th with festivities happening all week long. Interestingly, the White House released a National Proclamation honoring the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion & officially recognized June as LGBT Pride Month. Though this is a step forward for the Obama administration to acknowledge the contributions our LGBT community has made & continues to make in strengthening the fabric of American society, most LGBT Americans are more concerned about what legislation Obama will pass to provide equal rights, benefits & protections for their families. When asked if Boston Pride had planned any events to honor Stonewall, Aulita explained. “This year's theme "Trans-forming Our Community” is long overdue. We need to support and acknowledge our Transsexual community after all they are the “T” in LGBT." Aulita continued to say that Pride Week is meant to be about socializing & celebrating the LGBT community with parties, music & other cultural events, but it's also a vehicle for promoting awareness. "We've always been committed to trying to get people to think. We want people to come out & really think about what it's like to be out & how lucky we are to live in a place like Massachusetts." Next year Boston Pride will be celebrating its fortieth anniversary. For More Audio Interviews w/ LGBT Leaders: OUTTAKE VOICES™ More Info: Boston Pride.org

Robin McGehee Rallies for Gay Rights

In Fresno California Saturday, May 30th in solidarity to support full federal equality, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) advocates & allies marched & rallied. Robin McGehee, Lead Organizer of Meet in the Middle 4 Equality, talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson about their first statewide demonstration following the California Supreme Court rulings which upheld the ban on gay marriage. This all-inclusive event brought supporters of social justice & equality from across California & ask them to renew their dedication to fight for the rights of LGBT individuals who currently struggle to have their rights protected. Progressive leaders & activists set goals for a new movement which called upon organizers & attendees to continue the fight & call upon the Obama administration & the federal government to provide full equality to LGBT individuals. Meet in the Middle is the beginning of a civil rights movement for today’s generation. In a symbolic sign of respect to the social movements of the past & present, the event began with a 5 hour, 14.5 mile Equality March from Selma, California to downtown Fresno, California. The march & rally are the result of a major grassroots effort, modeled after President Obama’s campaign relying on the Internet & word of mouth. Traditionally, the LGBT rights movement has concentrated efforts in major metropolitan cities, but California voter demographics from November 2008 reflect that this approach did not garner the expected results. Consequently, organizers for Meet in the Middle have created an inward-working-out geographic strategy based upon the belief that the “Selma” or “Montgomery” of the LGBT rights movement will be in smaller communities needing equality education, resources and support – communities like Fresno which are at the epicenter of middle-American values. McGehee was one of the 18, 000 gay couples legally married in California in 2008. For More Rally Info: Meet in the Middle 4 Equality For More Audio Interviews w/ LGBT Leaders: OUTTAKE VOICES™