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It’s a panel show with a revolving panel of characters talking about everything from politics to entertainment from a Queer perspective! A space to raise our voices and sound off!
Episodes
Monday Dec 07, 2015
Monday Dec 07, 2015
Well-Strung, a New York City based string quartet, derives their unique blend of vocals and strings by fusing classical music with the pop music of today. Members Edmund Bagnell (1st violin), Chris Marchant (2nd violin), Daniel Shevlin (cello), and Trevor Wadleigh (viola) spend their time making new music and touring internationally. The group was conceived by producer Mark Cortale and Chris Marchant.
Daniel Shevlin is originally from South Jersey and has been playing cello since he was ten years old and continued to use this skill when he moved to NYC at 18 to pursue a career in musical theatre. Since then he has appeared off-Broadway in The Sandbox (written and directed by Edward Albee), has toured the U.S. and Asia in productions of Rent and Cabaret, and has worked regionally as both an actor and cellist in many theaters including the Arvada Center, The Maltz-Jupiter Theatre, Riverside Theatre, and Mason Street Warehouse to name a few. He studied musical theater at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and has been a member of Actors Equity since 2006.
Edmund Bagnell comes from South Carolina where he attended the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and went on to attend New York University as music major. His senior year, he was cast as Tobias in the first national tour of Sweeney Todd directed by John Doyle. He has performed as a violinist, actor, and singer in New York and around the country. Credits include Rich in The Last Cyclist and Toby in Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Medium (both Off-Broadway), Charlie Brown in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Tom Sawyer in Big River (Summer Theater of New Canaan), Charlie in Joanna Gleason’s The Big Holiday Broadcast of 1959 (Fairfield Theater Company), Oramel Howland in The Great Unknown (NYMF), Enoch Snow Jr. in Carousel (Barrington Stage Company), Stewart Smalls in Band Geeks (Ars Nova), Huck Finn in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Dennis in Smoke on the Mountain (Cotton Hall Theater).
Chris Marchant grew up in Akron, OH where he began playing violin thanks to his mother’s urging. Throughout high school Chris was involved in school and regional orchestras and choirs. He received a B.A. in Music Ministry from Malone College, where he discovered a love of musical theatre. Credits include Tobias in Sweeney Todd and Spring Awakening (both national tours). Follow on Instagram and Twitter @chrisjmarchant.
Trevor Wadleigh is a native of Kent, WA and began studying the viola at age 17 under the tutelage of Joyce Ramée. He earned a Bachelor of Art from the University of Puget Sound with major concentrations in Business and Music Performance as well as a minor in Comparative Sociology. While completing undergraduate coursework, Mr. Wadleigh studied concurrently with Burton Kaplan of NYC under whose direction he completed an Artist’s Certificate program at the Aaron Copland School of Music. He has served as principal and section violist of the Lake Union Civic Orchestra, Yakima Symphony, Brevard Music Center Orchestra, and the Nova Philharmonic.
Storyteller/monologist Miss Coco Peru aka Clinton Leupp got his/her start as a downtown favorite in the cabaret world of NY after he wrote, produced, directed, and starred in his first show “Miss Coco Peru in My Goddamn Cabaret” over 20 years ago.
On screen, Miss Coco is best known for her roles in Jim Fall’s feature film, trick (Sundance 1999) and Richard Day’s Girls Will Be Girls. (Sundance 2002) For this film Coco shared the Best Actress Award with his two co-stars at the HBO Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen as well as the Best Actor Award at LA’s Outfest Film Festival. Other film appearances include To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, Nick and Jane, and Straight-Jacket. Coco can be heard in the Disney animated feature, The Wild as Mamma Hippo! She also appears in the highly-ish anticipated sequel of Girls Will Be Girls which will be released some day, hopefully.
Coco has appeared on TV in two stand-up comedy specials on LOGO: Wisecrack and Dragtastic, How I Met Your Mother, Arrested Development, Twins, Will and Grace, New York Undercover, Detroit 187, several Bravo reality and clip shows, and in an Orbitz commercial that was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award.
Coco’s live one-person shows include: “Miss Coco Peru in My Goddamn Cabaret”, “Miss Coco Peru: A Legend in Progress” (’92 MAC and Bistro Award), “Miss Coco Peru at the Westbeth Theatre” (’95 MAC Nomination), “Miss Coco Peru’s Liquid Universe”(‘98 GLAAD Nomination), “Miss Coco Peru’s Universe” (’99 LA GLAAD Nomination), “Miss Coco Peru’s Glorious Wounds…She’s Damaged” (’01 LA GLAAD Nomination) “Miss Coco Peru is Undaunted” (’04 GLAAD Award Winner, Ovation Nomination), and the hugely successful “UGLY COCO” and “THERE COMES A TIME” and most recently “SHE’S GOT BALLS”. These shows have been performed to sold out audiences in Theatres, Clubs, Restaurants, Ballrooms and Cabarets throughout the US and abroad. She currently has dates scheduled nationwide through 2014.
Coco hosts an on-going live series of shows at the Renberg Theater in Los Angeles called Conversations With Coco in which Coco interviews and celebrates the lives and careers of the GLBT community’s favorite icons. Miss Peru’s guests include Liza Minnelli, Jane Fonda, Bea Arthur, Lily Tomlin, Karen Black, Lainie Kazan, Lesley Ann Warren, and drag legend Mr. Charles Busch.
Coco’s recent online Youtube videos have been seen by over 2 million viewers. Her video “Coco Goes to KMART,” in which she searches for Celestial Seasoning Tension Tamer tea, has more than over 700,000 views. For this reason, Coco has had to ask her fans to stop sending her the tea. She has received close to 100 boxes!
Considered The Hostess with that something extra… Coco has hosted dozens of events including: The GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles, Night of a Thousand Gowns in NYC, Chicago Takes Off, Hot and Dry in Palm Springs, Gay Days Anaheim, The Black and White Ball in Reno, LA’s OUTFEST Legacy Awards, the BALIF (Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom) Dinner in San Francisco, Project Inform’s 25th Annual Fundraiser (SF) and Charity Bingo at Harrah’s Atlantic City. She has been honored to be involved with countless Gay and AIDS related charities over the years including The Trevor Project, Aids for Aids, and Lifeworks Mentoring. In fact, the list is so long, the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center honored Coco with the Board of Director’s Award. The award was presented to Coco by Zachary Quinto (Star Trek, Heroes, So NoTorious).
She is also available for children’s parties.
Photo Credits: Steven C De La Cruz
COCO QUOTES
One of the last great storytellers.
Lily Tomlin
Miss Coco is a heavenly hoot… Wry and uncensored, the show is a hilarious exorcism, with music, no less. Hey, that’s entertainment.
Los Angeles Times
Coco, a self-described “effeminate, damaged boy from the Bronx,” was the real goods, a dragster with real talent and heart.
San Francisco Bay Area Reporter
Hilarious, inebriating and elegant all at the same time… If there were an award for most girlish and glamorous, funniest, mouthiest diva/icon/trannie/comedian, the inimitable Miss Coco Peru would win hands down.
L.A. Weekly
It’s not often a drag queen scares you with her intellect, but Miss Coco Peru isn’t just any drag queen. Hers is a deep, dark drag performance designed for people who are sick of drag. Don’t miss it.
The Stranger, Seattle
COCO AWARDS
Not that I’m bragging…
2004 Los Angeles GLAAD Media Award Winner, Miss Coco Peru is Undaunted
2004 Los Angeles Ovation Award nomination for Best Solo Performance, Miss Coco Peru is Undaunted
2003 Outfest Award for Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film, Girls Will Be Girls
2003 US Comedy Arts Festival Best Actress Award, Girls Will Be Girls
2001 Los Angeles GLAAD Media Award nomination, Miss Coco Peru’s Glorious Wounds… She’s Damaged
1999 Los Angeles GLAAD Media Award nomination, Miss Coco Peru’s Universe
1998 New York GLAAD Media Award nomination, Miss Coco Peru’s Universe
1997 Los Angeles Backstage Bistro Award Winner, Miss Coco Peru’s Universe
1993 New York Backstage Bistro Award Winner, A Legend in Progress.
1992 Manhattan Legend in Progress.
Monday Nov 23, 2015
Monday Nov 23, 2015
Matthew Breen is the editor in chief of The Advocate and the deputy editor for Out. Breen was named Editor in Chief of The Advocate in March 2011. He first joined the Out staff in 2003.
www.advocate.com
———–
Thomas M. Garnet is the owner of his own full time video production company in Miami, FL. Along with his partner of 22 years, he runs also two divisions of the company specifically catered to the LGBT community – Click Click Expose (Gay Entertainment Media) – which targets pageantry, podcasting and internet radio and the CCE Sports Network. Thomas is a former Managing Director of AMC Theatres and Loews Theatres, a former public school teacher and was the field producer for the 1993 March on Washington video which was produced by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. After leaving teaching, management and public policy – he devotes his efforts full time to his passion – which is video production and live web streaming.
Kevin Majoros is the contributing sports writer for the Washington Blade and the host of Capital Sports TV on the CCE Sports Network. As an athlete, Majoros is an 8-time Gay Games medalist in the sports of swimming, track and field and open-water swimming.
Fund Drive: http://www.mainplayersystem.com/radio/player/93?size=mini
We’re Making Sports History
The CCE Sports Network is the nation’s first and only LIVE web streaming on-line sports website dedicated exclusively to broadcasting the Gay and Lesbian Sports community. Did you know there are more than 200 tournaments, matches and games happening somewhere across the United States? Every month, more than 100,000 LGBT athletes have their choice of dozens of tournaments that can participate & compete.
WE HAVE CREATED A FLEXIBLE AND MOBILE LIVE WEB STREAMING PRODUCTION TEAM CAPABLE OF FILMING, EDITING, LIVE STREAMING AND PRODUCING VIDEO CONTENT COVERING THE BREATH AND DEPTH OF THE GAY AND LESBIAN SPORTS COMMUNITY.
The Production Vision
1) To create a multi-camera broadcast complete with play by play commentary, on-screen scoring, music, commercials and interviews;
2) To create an engaged audience through live chat and live photography updates during the live web broadcast;
3) To produce monthly content that will drive on-line viewership which includes news & sports shows, documentaries and instructional videos;
4) To create diversity in programming by showcasing a number of different sports including tennis, soccer, hockey, basketball, swimming, wrestling, figure skating, water polo, diving. By the end of 2016, we wish to add volleyball, softball, bowling, rowing, rugby & flag football to the live broadcast schedule.
WE ARE A FREE SERVICE TO ALL LGBT SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTED BY SPONSORS, ADVERTISERS, DONATIONS & COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS.
Our Web Audience
1) There are more than 8 LGBT national association governing bodies who promote, host, train and advocate for their member sports. Each association has thousands of members, hundreds of individual clubs and dozens of tournaments, matches and events throughout the year.
2) With more than 100,000 active LGBT sports athletes (competing in more than 200 tournaments, matches & games) who have family, friends, fans & supporters – the CCE Sports Network has the ability to attract more than 500,000 viewers to its live broadcast & archived content. Expanding to the LGBT community at-large and sports fans across the world, we have a potential audience of more than 1 million viewer interactions through live broadcast, archived content, live chat & live photography updates.
WE HAVE STARTED OUR 4TH YEAR OF BROADCASTING AND HAVE ACHIEVED:
30 LIVE broadcasts;
123,422 viewers (as of 09/19/2015);
81 days of live streaming; and
568 hours of live web streaming.
Broadcast Event Focus and Timetable
Broadcast Year 1 – May 1, 2012 – Dec 31, 2012 — Tennis
Broadcast Year 2 – Jan 1, 2013 – Dec 31, 2013 — Tennis, Soccer, Swimming, Diving, Water Polo
Broadcast Year 3 – Jan 1, 2014 – Dec 31, 2014 — Tennis, Soccer, Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Wrestling, Basketball, Figure Skating, Hockey & monthly sports show
Broadcast Year 4 – Jan 1, 2015 – Dec 31, 2015 – Tennis, Soccer, Basketball & monthly sports show – Goal to add: Flag Football & Softball
Broadcast Year 5 – Jan 1, 2016 – Dec 31, 2016 – Our goal for 2016 is to have Tennis, Soccer, Basketball, Flag Football, Softball, Volleyball, Rugby & Swimming
Broadcast Year 6 – Jan 1, 2017 – Dec 31, 2017 – Our goal is to be the exclusive live web streaming provider for World OutGames Miami in Miami, Florida May 26 – June 4 along with providing coverage for Tennis, Soccer, Basketball, Flag Football, Softball, Volleyball, Rugby, Swimming, Water Polo & Diving.
———–
Charlie David:
Charlie David has been a host for E! Television, NBC, OutTV, LOGO, here! TV, Pink TV, EGO, Fine Living and Slice Networks on such shows as FYE!, SpyTV, Crash Test Mommy and his travel series Bump which shot over 100 episodes around the world and garnered a Hugo Television award. He has appeared as musical guest on VH1, BBC, CBS’s The Early Show, and dozens of radio shows.
In 2005 Out Magazine recognized Charlie in the ‘Out 100’ at their gala in New York. In 2007 the Philadelphia Film Society awarded Charlie with their Rising Star Award. In 2008 the Festival del Sol in Gran Canaria awarded their Best Male Actor Award to Charlie and the male cast of A Four Letter Word. Formerly in a rock band… okay, actually it was a boy band, Charlie opened for Destiny’s Child, Pink, Snoop Dogg, Rick Springfield and Black Eyed Peas.
A love of storytelling led Charlie to start Border2Border Entertainment Inc., a production company whose film and television credits include Mulligans, Judas Kiss, I’m a Stripper (series), Studlebrity and Positive Youth. Border2Border Entertainment’s films have been licensed to Showtime, Super Channel, HBO Canada, MTV/LOGO, Sundance Channel, Condé Nast Entertainment, Discovery Networks, The Movie Network, Movie Central, Encore Avenue, and OutTV in North America as well as finding a worldwide audience through international distribution partners.
He is a graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts and his current passions include motorcycle cruises, high adrenaline encounters with wildlife, SCUBA diving and sports. He resides in Toronto and Montréal, Canada when he’s not living out of a suitcase.
![Paternity-Leave-2015-Cover[1][2][2]](http://hotmesssunday.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Paternity-Leave-2015-Cover122.jpg)
Element Twenty Two
Presents
A
Red Headed Revolution
Production
Paternity Leave
Directed by Matt Riddlehoover
Written by Matt Riddlehoover and Dustin Tittle
Publicity
Element Twenty Two
film@elementtwentytwo.com
Sales Representation
Border2Border Entertainment
info@border2border.ca
PATERNITY LEAVE
Starring
Greg JACOB YORK
Ken CHARLIE DAVID
Thomas CHRIS SALVATORE
Co-Starring
Alex RAFAEL SOCHAKOV
Connie REBECCA LINES
Dr. Elliot SUSANNAH DEVEREUX
Filmmakers
Writer/Director MATT RIDDLEHOOVER
Co-Writer DUSTIN TITTLE
Producer
Executive Producer
Co-Executive Producer
Associate Producers
Director of Photography
Production Designer
Editor
Still Photography
CAMERON MCCASLAND
DAVID PETERS
MICHAEL PERRINE
JASMINE MCATEE
JONATHAN OW
LUCA RACITI
JOSH ICKES
LORI PURYEAR
MIRANDA MEGILL
ETHAN JAMES
PATERNITY LEAVE
Synopsis
Matt Riddlehoover’s Paternity Leave is a romantic comedy about Greg (Jacob
York), Ken (Charlie David), and a moment of passion on the eve of their four
year anniversary that changes the course of their lives forever.
Greg begins feeling nauseated, fatigued, moody and – most unfortunately –
fat. At his wit’s end and Ken’s insistence, he sees a doctor who’s stumped and
refers the couple to a specialist. To everyone’s amazement, Greg is pregnant.
Shock, stress, and fear settle in, and Greg’s relationship gets put to the
ultimate test.
Co-starring Chris Salvatore (Eating Out: All You Can Eat, Drama Camp, The
Open Weekend), Paternity Leave poses a modern answer to the age old
question: “Are we ready to be parents?”
About the Production
“What Paternity Leave does,” co-writer Dustin Tittle explains, “is co-opt the
traditional family and some of its roles. There’s a total blurring of the lines
and it’s easy to forget it’s about two men – it’s about two people.”
“When I first read the script, I laughed so much,” actor Charlie David recalls.
“It’s such a wild and fun concept… Obviously, we live in a world where the
idea of having babies isn’t out of the norm – but two dudes doing it is very
out of the norm. And yet, it also largely mirrors the reality of where we are…
looking at gay marriage and adoption and surrogacy. It’s very relevant.”
Shot in seven days, principal photography of the film began on September 1,
2014 – Labor Day – in Nashville, TN. It made its world premiere at the
Nashville Film Festival on April 19, 2015, and its West Coast premiere at
FilmOut San Diego on May 30, 2015.
PATERNITY LEAVE
About the Cast
Jacob York (Greg), a native of Benton, KY, moved to Atlanta, GA seven
years ago to participate in the Shakespeare Tavern’s Apprentice Program.
Some of his roles include Macbeth (The Atlanta Shakespeare Company),
Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest (Tennessee Repertory
Theatre), Bennett Riggs in Angry Fags (7 Stages), Tubbs in Middle School:
The Musical (Alliance Theatre), and Tom in Fat Pig (Aurora Theatre). In
addition to acting, Jacob is a playwright whose first show, Homers,
premiered at the Georgia Ensemble Theatre & Conservatory in early 2015.
Charlie David (Ken) is an actor and filmmaker, perhaps best known for his
role on the LGBT horror series, Dante’s Cove. His feature film acting credits
include A Four Letter Word, Mulligans, 2 Frogs in the West, Judas Kiss, and
More Scenes from a Gay Marriage. He has also worked as a host on a
number of TV shows, like F.Y.E!, SpyTV, Bump!, and Crash Test Mommy.
More recently, he has produced and directed a number of acclaimed
documentary features, including Positive Youth, I’m a Porn Star, and I’m a
Stripper.
Chris Salvatore (Thomas) is a singer/songwriter and actor. After graduating
from The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts in 2008, Chris made his
feature film debut in Eating Out: All You Can Eat, a romantic comedy
directed by Q. Allan Brocka. He then went on to star in two successful
sequels to Eating Out, both of which premiered on Logo in 2011. Chris
recently appeared on stage in an original play, Pieces, which received rave
reviews from New York critics during its sold-out run. His music has been
featured on MTV and is now available through iTunes and other online
stores.
PATERNITY LEAVE
Writer-Director Matt Riddlehoover
Paternity Leave 2015/director, screenwriter
FilmOut Audience Award nominee, Best Feature
FilmOut Audience Award nominee, Best Screenplay
More Scenes from 2014/director, screenwriter, actor
a Gay Marriage TLA Gaybie nominee (& winner), Best Gay Comedy
TLA Gaybie nominee (& winner), Best Director
TLA Gaybie nominee (& winner), Best Lead Actor
West Hollywood 2013/director, screenwriter, actor
Motel TLA Gaybie nominee, Best Gay Comedy
Scenes from a 2012/director, screenwriter, actor
Gay Marriage TLA Gaybie nominee, Best Gay Comedy
Gaze 2010/director
(documentary) TLA Gaybie nominee, Best Gay Documentary
Bookends 2008/director, screenwriter, actor
To a Tee 2006/director, screenwriter, actor
Reading Into It 2005/director, screenwriter, actor
(short)
PATERNITY LEAVE
About the Filmmakers
Matt Riddlehoover (writer/director) is an award-winning, Nashville-based
filmmaker. His work has appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien,
Out.com, and in Filmmaker Magazine. He is married to Dustin Tittle, a
Nashville native and co-writer of Paternity Leave. They have two cats; one of
whom is very sweet.
Dustin Tittle (co-writer) was raised in the open sewer called “the music
industry,” where he learned from a young age to take as few things seriously
as possible. A published writer, Dustin’s wit miraculously disappears during
any and all attempts to “try to write,” so most of his contributions to Paternity
Leave have been the result of impromptu one-liners written without his
knowledge but with his permission.
Cameron McCasland (producer) is a filmmaker whose work has garnered
awards at Crossroads Film Festival, Worldfest Houston, Fearless Film
Festival, as well as a special humanitarian award from the Rondo Hatton
Classic Horror Film Board, and five Emmy nominations.
Josh Ickes (director of photography) is a premiere cinematographer
specializing in the phantom camera, high end car rigs, and steadicam
operation. He has photographed several film, television, live concert and
special event productions for clients like Honda and Verizon. Ickes has also
lensed Olympic athletes, country music superstars, and rock ‘n’ roll legends.
Miranda Megill (editor) is a Nashville-based film editor and sound designer.
Paternity Leave marks her fifth collaboration with Matt Riddlehoover.
Ethan James (still photography) is a published photographer whose images
have appeared in magazine and book publications nationally and across the
seas (Brazil, Australia, London, Germany, etc.).
PATERNITY LEAVE
Reviews
“Paternity Leave might be the world’s funniest
‘gaymantic’ comedy… it is hilarious through and through.
The entire cast is superb… the writing is so crisp.”
-Timothy Rawles, San Diego Gay & Lesbian News
“…a laugh-filled film about the ups and downs
a pending newborn would add to any relationship.”
-Jonathan Pinkerton, Examiner.com
“Satiric, yet heartfelt… well worth seeing.”
-Brad Hart, Rage Monthly
“A little bundle of cinematic joy…
it’s a labor of love, laughter, and a few tears.”
-Kansas City LGBT Film Festival
“If you’re looking for LGBT comedy…
Paternity Leave is your pick.”
-James Grady, Out & About Newspaper
Monday Nov 16, 2015
Monday Nov 16, 2015
Where the Bears Are:
Ian is a film school graduate and moved to Los Angeles from his home state of Pennsylvania. He has worked a variety of jobs in the film industry and is currently a successful editor and sound designer for features, as well as an actor in his off time.
Visit wherethebearsare.tv To watch Ian and the rest of the cast.
First Episode Season 1
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Two Spirits:
Raven Heavy Runner is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe of Montana. He was raised both on the Blackfeet Reservation and Seattle Washington. Raven was a Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school youth, Seattle street kid, U.S. Army veteran, stage actor, Two-Spirit leader, Native Activist, college graduate, Indian Child Welfare social worker, and storyteller. He was partly raised on the Blackfeet Reservation with his grandparents. Raven in the chair of the Northwest Two-Spirit Society, a board member of the Montana Two-Spirit Society and the Northwest Two-Spirit Society’s delegate to the International Council of Two-Spirit Societies. He sits on several other Native boards and currently works as a social worker with Native Elders in Western Washington.
Co Guest – My name is Steven Barrios (Long Time Holy Rain) Blackfeet. I was born in Yakima, WA and raised on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana. In my role as a Two-Spirit leader I have served on the National Native American AIDS Prevention Center Harm Reduction Board, Montana Gay Men’s Task Force, Montana’s Harm Reduction Team, Montana CPG,
Montana Two-Spirit Board Member [19 years], Pride Institute Steering Committee and their Racial Equity Initiative. I have also been involved in HIV prevention for the past 19 years, which includes providing HIV testing and counseling.
This includes work as a Hep C Educator. For the past several years, I’ve been providing Two-Spirit presentations to the general public, but also providing this information to Native people who identify as LGBTQ, hoping to instill as sense of pride and connection to who that are as Native people.. This work is my passion.
Visit these links to learn more:
Raising Two-Spirit Youth: by National Resource Center for Tribes
Tribal Equity Toolkit by Indigenous Ways of Knowing
Becoming Two Spirit by Brian Joseph Gilley
The Spirit and the Flesh by Walter Williams
Living the Spirit by Will Roscoe
Two-Spirit defined by wikipedia
Two-Spirits the movie
The International Council of Two-Spirit Societies [Most are found on Facebook]
Montana Two-Spirit Society
Manitoba Two-Spirit Society
Northwest 2-Spirit Society
Edmonton Two-Spirit Society
Texas Two-Spirit Society
Awowaki
East Coast Two-Spirit Society
Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits
Header Graphic from Poster of 2016 Texas Two Spirits posterand Crowd funding https://www.gofundme.com/texastwospiritspride
--------------
Doug Spearman
FROM ZERO TO I LOVE YOU
Monday Nov 09, 2015
Monday Nov 09, 2015
Chely Wright -
BIO
Chely Wright rose to fame as a commercial country singer in the 90’s, having released eight studio albums selling more than 1,000,000 copies in the U.S. and charted more than 15 singles on the Billboard charts. On the strength of her debut album in 1994, the Academy of Country Music named Chely Top New Female Vocalist of 1995. Her first hit came in 1997 with “Shut Up and Drive” followed two years later by her first number one single, “Single White Female” and in 2005, the zeitgeist – capturing hit “The Bumper of My S.U.V.”
In 2010, Chely Wright released her eighth album, “Lifted Off the Ground” produced by Rodney Crowell, revealing a dramatic artistic transformation and emerging as a singer songwriter of the first order. The album would never have come to be were it not for an equally dramatic personal transformation which she candidly and painstakingly documented in a memoir entitled “Like Me” published by Random House the same day. Chely made history by being the first country music star to come out publicly as gay. Wright has cited among her reasons for coming out a concern with bullying and hate crimes toward LGBT people, particularly LGBT youth, and the damage to her life caused by “hiding”.
![1Laura Crosta_Chely-Cab (Pub Option1)[3]](http://hotmesssunday.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/1Laura-Crosta_Chely-Cab-Pub-Option13.jpg)
In the midst of a tumultuous political climate about the civil rights of the LGBT community, the 2011 award-winning documentary “Wish Me Away” was released. The critically acclaimed film chronicles Chely Wright’s journey growing up and then moving to Nashville to become a country singer. It portrays her preparing for the day she comes out publically and then depicts the aftermath of her decision.
Chely Wright’s soul-searching has led to many rewards. The LGBT role model serves as the national spokesperson for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and speaks out against school bullying. Wright founded The LIKEME® Organization, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance, resources and education to LGBT individuals and their family & friends. Wright also founded The LIKEME® Lighthouse, an education and community center for gay youth in Kansas City, MO. The Lighthouse recently celebrated its fourth anniversary with a sold out fundraising gala at the Folly Theater featuring Wanda Sykes, Judy Gold, Wendy Liebman and Steve Grand.
Chely Wright is married to activist and author Lauren Blitzer-Wright, who is currently Director of Marketing for Sony Entertainment. As of 2013, the two became parents to twin boys. In December 2014, Wright performed an original Christmas carol at the annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on the White House lawn in Washington, DC with President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
Lifted off the Ground may be Chely Wright’s seventh album, but on a number of levels it feels and sounds like her first, revealing an artist who has undergone a dramatic artistic transformation, emerging as a singer/songwriter of the first order. But the new album would never have come to be were it not for an equally dramatic personal transformation, which she has candidly and painstakingly documented. Lifted Off the Ground will be released on Vanguard Records May 4, the same day Random House publishes Wright’s autobiography, Like Me.
Though she made her name as a commercial country singer, recording songs from some of Nashville’s top writers—including modern-day classics like “Single White Female,” “Shut Up and Drive” and “Jezebel”—Wright had been honing her craft as a songwriter since her teenage years in rural Kansas. She was signed as a writer in 1993 and wrote half of her first and second albums before realizing she still had a ways to go before she was ready to bang ’em out with the big boys. But she kept working at her craft, placing a handful of original songs on each of her subsequent records, and coming up with a Top 10 hit for Clay Walker before penning eight songs on her most recent album, 2005’s Metropolitan Hotel, including the zeitgeist-capturing hit “The Bumper of My S.U.V.” That release followed on the heels of the rarities collection Everything, containing previously unreleased originals.
Through Wright views Everything as a heartening if relatively unsophisticated stab at finding her voice, she now regards Metropolitan Hotel as “a half-assed attempt to step forward as an artist. I chickened out and went back to my old golf swing,” she says with a rueful laugh. Despite her reservations, those two LPs earned Wright widespread critical acclaim—but nothing in her ample body of work hints at the extraordinarily personal and powerful material she pulled out of her innermost being for the new record.
While it’s fair to say that Lifted Off the Ground was five years in the making, the process began with an unmaking—a breakup leading to what she describes as a breakdown on the way to her ultimate breakthrough. The resulting songs required an acutely sensitive producer to blossom into life, and Wright considers herself extremely fortunate to have had Rodney Crowell come into her life at the critical moment. It’s little wonder she calls him “Shep,” short for “Song Shepherd” (in turn, he calls her Richell, her given name, just as a big brother might), because he was with her every step of the way during the course of those five years, prodding her, encouraging her, pulling her back from the edge of the abyss more than once.
The result is a remarkable song cycle of a woman climbing inch by inch out of a deep hole into the sunlight, from the one-two gut punch of the opening tandem of “Broken” and “Heavenly Days,” the latter co-written with Crowell, through the rocking, wicked-clever black comedy “Notes to the Coroner” the crystalline dreamscape “Snow Globe” and the revelatory “Like Me,” to the closing “Shadows of Doubt,” which could serve as Wright’s credo. “Those songs and my bicycle saved my life,” she says, without a trace of hyperbole.
The story begins in the winter of 2006, with a heartbroken Chely self-exiled to her bedroom, living in her pajamas, songs flooding out of her. “I didn’t have any choice,” she says. “It was no longer about decision making,” she recalls. “So I can’t really take credit for ‘taking that bold step’ and writing a whole record. Cognitively speaking, I didn’t have all that much to do with it. These songs were annoying me, every single day—I had to let them out. They felt different as they came out. There was no formula; there was no Nashville Music Row template. Quite frankly, I just wanted to sleep.”
Seized by emotions she neither understood nor had any control over, Chely obsessively strummed her treasured Gibson guitar till her fingers were as raw as her psyche. “I didn’t really play guitar until my breakdown,” she explains, “but it was a cold winter, and I couldn’t stand to be downstairs where my piano is, so I just stayed in bed with my J200 and literally played till my fingers bled. I put Super-Glue on the ends every morning and kept sticking fake nails on my fingers so I could keep strumming—just really primal.”
By the end of February 2006, Chely had managed to shape this emotional torrent into a batch of songs, which by then were no longer annoying her but intriguing her. At this “Now what?” moment, she immediately thought of Crowell, who was one of her musical heroes. She barely knew him, but she’d somehow captured his number in her cell phone, so she called him cold and asked if she could come see him. Minutes later, she was standing on Rodney’s porch, guitar in hand, heart beating out of her chest. He welcomed her in and led her up to his studio, whereupon she played him some of the new songs, including “Wish Me Away,” “Hang Out in Your Heart” and “Object of Your Rejection,” tears streaming down her perfect cheekbones all the while. They talked about the songs, and how different they were from anything she’d done before, and they talked about the raw state she was in. To Chely’s great relief, Rodney then offered his musical and personal support.
Though their bond was forged that day, Chely was a long way from acting on it. He emailed her, told her he couldn’t stop thinking about the songs and asked if she had them on tape. She replied that she’d laid down the songs on her hard-disc recorder as she wrote them. “He said, ‘Bring them to me—let’s get together,’” Chely remembers. “And I wrote back, ‘I don’t want to get together.’ Embarrassment had set in that I had called Rodney Crowell in such a state. He said, ‘All right. Then drop the songs in my mailbox.’ So I did, and a month later he sent me another email that just read, ‘Songs, please.’”
Thus began a rather unconventional mentoring process during which Chely would drop off her home recordings in Rodney’s mailbox, and he’d email his comments on the material, prompting the next round of recordings to be made and left at the designated drop point. As she describes it, “I’d wait till he’d email me, and I’d say, ‘OK, I’ve got four more.’ It was like he was my sensei: ‘Richell, songs, please.’” This email dialogue went on for nine months, until she was finally ready for a face-to-face conversation.
When they got together, Rodney told Chely over dinner that he was emotionally invested in the material she’d been working on. “You need to let me make a record with you.” To which Chely replied, “Record? That never even crossed my mind.” He then said, “Richell, this is your next record, and I need to produce it.” “But I’m not ready to make a record. These songs are still coming at me.” “That’s fine. Just call me when you’re ready.” “I will.”
Eventually, Chely was ready, and she made the call, by then with “That Train” and “Notes to the Coroner” in hand, the latter at Rodney’s instigation. They tracked six songs, with Rodney’s go-to guys forming the studio band lineup. Hitting the road for some tour dates, she kept writing, knocking off “Snow Globe,” among others. Near the end of this elongated project, Chely called Rodney and asked him to come over. When he arrived, they had an extended heart-to-heart talk during which she told him about a song she’d been sitting on since the first month of her breakdown. Fittingly, rather than playing it for him, she emailed an MP3 of the song to him soon after he left her house. She then opened a new document on her laptop, typed the words “Like Me” and started writing her book. That evening, she enjoyed her first good night’s sleep in three years…
There’s quite a bit more to this story, and it will be told in full when the record and book arrive on May 4th.
Hal Sparks -
Hal Sparks currently stars as ‘Donald Davenport’, on the hit Disney XD live-action comedy series “Lab Rats.” Since the show’s premiere in 2012, ‘Lab Rats” has been the network’s most watched program. The show has been added to the Disney Channel’s regular line-up garnering more fans and ratings than ever projected.
Sparks, who was born and raised in Kentucky, began his career in comedy as a member of the famed Second City Troupe in Chicago, where he was named “Funniest Teenager in Chicago” by the Chicago Sun Times. It wasn’t long before he was selected as to host E!’s Emmy Award-winning “Talk Soup” which led to his starring role as Michael Novotny on the groundbreaking Showtime series “Queer as Folk” (2000-2005).
Hal’s feature film credits include “The A-List,” “Extract,” “Spiderman 2” and “Dude, Where’s My Car?” In addition to TV, Hal’s popular “Politishock” radio program airs weekly on Sirius/XM. In addition to acting Hal tours the country headlining local comedy clubs and performing with his rock band Zero 1.
WEBSITE: halsparks.com
Facebook: /HalSparks
Twitter: @HalSparks
Instagram: @HalSparks
Tuesday Nov 03, 2015
Tuesday Nov 03, 2015
Damon Jacobs
WELCOME! If you are single or in a couple and looking for a different perspective on love, happiness, and pleasure, you’ve come to the right place. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has helped people find and maintain satisfying and joyful relationships with lovers, family members, and friends, for the past 18 years. Together, we will create the relationship “structure” and agreements that are uniquely right for you.
My approach to happiness and serenity is derived from tenets of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Social Justice Theory, and A Course In Miracles. The unique fusion of these models has enabled hundreds of my clients to create an enlightened balance of mind, heart, and action, as well as relationships that enable presence, peace, and pleasure.
I can help you explore and change issues related to:
- Diminished sexual desire in long-term relationships
– Jealousy and fear in connections with others
– Grief / loss
– HIV related concerns and issues
– Stress Management
– Job burnout
– Addiction / recovery
– Anger Management
– Depression
– Caretaking fatigue
My office is conveniently located at Madison Square Park (26th/ Broadway) in New York, New York. Late night appointments are offered on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, as well daytime on Saturdays. For more information, please email me at Damon@DamonLJacobs.com or call 347-227-7707
Monday Oct 26, 2015
Monday Oct 26, 2015
The OUTSpoken Boyz Talk with Mayor Condon
David A. Condon is the 44th Mayor of the City of Spokane. Born in February 1974, the same year that Spokane was preparing to shine on the world stage at the Expo ’74 World’s Fair, David grew up watching the fireworks off Cliff Drive on the 4th of July, helping his mom at the House of Charity, and spending Friday nights in the fall at Joe Albi Stadium watching high school football games.
It was the Spokane that David grew up in, a place that was safe for families, fertile for businesses, and naturally stunning, that gave him a passion for this City. The youngest of ten children of Dr. John and Mrs. Carolu Condon, he was raised with a mind toward small business and service. After graduating from Gonzaga Prep School in 1992, he went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in Finance and Military Science from Boston College.
His career has spanned everything from starting four of his own coffee shops during his college years in Boston, to managing a dental practice in Spokane, to working as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Eastern Washington’s U.S. Congresswoman, Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Additionally, David served in the 25th Infantry Division over in Schofield Barrack, Hi, the 62nd Medical Brigade at Fort Lewis, WA, and 396th Combat Support Hospital at Mann Reserve Center, located in Spokane’s historic Hillyard neighborhood.
David’s passion for Spokane, coupled with his belief that it can be a model city for other municipalities, led to an ambitious plan that has focused on five key areas for Spokane including: Restoring public trust in law enforcement and enhancing community safety; creating an atmosphere to attract and retain jobs; promoting long-term fiscal health without undue burden on citizens; maintaining critical public infrastructure at an affordable price; and engaging citizens and improving the quality and character of our community.
David and his wife Kristin are raising their three children in the Comstock neighborhood, not far from where David grew up. He is most passionate about Spokane, and making sure that this great City remains a place that his own children will want to stay and raise a family.
Brady Walkinshaw 43rd Legislative District in Seattle
Raised in a rural community in the Nooksack Valley in northeast Whatcom County, Brady grew up around many of the challenges and opportunities we face today. Brady’s mom, Vicky, teaches English Language Learners in Nooksack Valley Schools – the same schools where Brady graduated. She came to the United States from Cuba with her parents, who put their three kids through college working their way up from washing dishes to becoming successful restaurant owners. On his dad’s side, Brady is a fifth generation Washingtonian. His dad, Charlie, is an agricultural educator and was born and raised in the 43rd Legislative District.
After graduating high school, Brady attended Princeton University on a scholarship where he studied public policy. On graduating, he went on to study as a Fulbright Scholar in Honduras. In Honduras, Brady founded Proyecto Villa Nueva, a non-profit that works to foster youth leadership and prevent violence in urban slums. In 2011, the Organization of American States recognized the program for its contributions to building a culture of peace.
Through his career, Brady has focused on promoting economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and human rights. Brady worked as a Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation supporting sustainable and productive food systems for the poor in developing countries. He spent time in Washington, D.C. working on interfaith dialogue for environmental and social justice with Georgetown University and the World Bank.
At home, Brady serves as the Chair of the Trust for Public Land’s Washington State Advisory Board and on the board of Intiman Theatre. As a legislator, Brady is committed to putting his values into practice through policies that support economic opportunity for all, preserve our environment for the future, and invest in the education system we need for our kids to succeed from pre-K thru college.
Brady lives on Capitol Hill with his partner Micah Horwith, a Seattle native and a marine biologist with the State’s Department of Natural Resources.
Learn More about Brady www.bradywalkinshaw.com
Monday Oct 19, 2015
Monday Oct 19, 2015
Northwest fair housing alliance, Executive Director
Marley J. Hochendoner, J.D.
Ms. Hochendoner joined Northwest Fair Housing Alliance (NWFHA), a private non-profit fair housing education and advocacy organization based in Spokane, Washington, as Executive Director in April 2005. She is licensed as an attorney in Idaho and Washington. Ms. Hochendoner served as a staff attorney at Idaho Legal Aid Services from 1998 to 2003, where her practice included assisting tenants with landlord/tenant and fair housing matters. She was an in-house staff attorney for the Nez Perce Tribe from 2003 to 2005. Since joining NWFHA, Ms. Hochendoner has conducted numerous trainings for landlords, property managers, realtors, tenants, and social service providers. She has overseen fair housing investigation, counseling, and advocacy services provided under U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Housing Initiative Program grants, and numerous city and private contracts.
NORTHWEST FAIR HOUSING ALLIANCE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: October 1, 2015
$1,000,000 in HUD Grants Awarded to NWFHA: WA agencies to partner on National Campaign on Sex Discrimination in Housing;
WA/ID/AK Agencies to Collaborate on Fair Lending Investigations
SPOKANE, WA – Northwest Fair Housing Alliance (NWFHA) has been awarded two $500,000 18-month grants under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP): an Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI) National Programs Sex Discrimination grant, and a Fair Housing Organization Initiative (FHOI) Lending grant. A significant portion of each grant will be shared with several non-profit fair housing and social justice organizations in Washington State and the Northwest.
Only one EOI National Programs Component Sex Discrimination grant was awarded in the nation. NWFHA will subcontract with 3 gender justice partners on this project, the YWCA of Spokane, Gender Justice League of WA, and Legal Voice based in Seattle, to develop a national campaign to inform the general public, housing providers, and concerned persons about sex discrimination in housing based on domestic violence, sexual harassment, gender stereotyping and gender identity prohibited by the Fair Housing Act. NWFHA will also subcontract with North By Northwest, a WA and ID based digital media studio, to develop a variety of localizable campaign materials in multiple mediums and languages. “We are grateful and excited to work with these regional non-profit organizations to produce innovative public education materials on such an important subject,” said Marley Hochendoner, Executive Director of NWFHA. “We believe that by working collaboratively we can create better public awareness products representative of populations who most often experience sex discrimination.”
The FHOI-Lending grant will enable NWFHA to continue conducting fair lending testing, education, outreach, and advocacy in E. and Central WA, and extend or increase these activities into AK, ID, and Western WA by helping to build the capacity of and cross-training with regional fair housing agencies in those states.
NWFHA is a qualified fair housing enforcement organization (QFHO) 503(c) (3) non-profit with over 20 years of experience providing fair housing education, outreach, investigation, testing, and advocacy.
For more information, contact: Marley Hochendoner (509) 209-2667 or
execdir@nwfairhouse.org. For more information about Fair Housing: www.nwfairhouse.org.
——————-
Andrew Christian
Since 1997, Andrew Christian is not only an iconic company, but it’s also backed by a real designer! With his innovative technologies, fit, and original designs, he has earned a spot in Inc Magazine as one of the fastest growing companies in America for multiple consecutive years.
One of Andrew’s best sellers is his amazing line of technically advanced, custom woven men’s underwear. It is available in street, sport, fashion, and basic-themed lines, and is available in a range of styles, including low cut, super-low-cut, boxer briefs, and more. Each style is intricately designed using specialized dye treatments, printed graphics, and innovative materials such as bamboo fiber, sports mesh, and patented, moisture-wicking cotton blends. Andrew was the first to introduce waist slimming elastic in his underwear designs and “FlashLift” Bottom-Lifting Technology.
Andrew Christian is sold in hundreds of stores all around the world, including, but not limited to, luxury department stores, such as, Nordstrom USA, Selfridges UK, Kadewe Germany, and Simons Canada.
Andrew Christian was featured on Good Morning America, Fox News, Entertainment Tonight, ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, MSNBC’s Hardball, Yahoo!, Daily Mail (London), The Wall Street Journal, Maxim, NY Daily News, The Boston Globe, New York Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, LA Weekly, Dallas Morning News, and as far away as the Times of India. Andrew was also featured on Seasons 3 and 4 of the popular Oxygen reality show, The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency. Most recently, Andrew Christian was featured on Logo, as official “Pit Crew” sponsors for the popular competition show RuPaul’s Drag Race and Bravo’s reality television series, The Millionaire Matchmaker, hosted by Patti Stanger.
http://www.andrewchristian.com/
Monday Oct 12, 2015
Tuesday Oct 06, 2015
Tuesday Sep 29, 2015
Tuesday Sep 29, 2015
OUTSPOKEN INTERVIEWS BUCK ANGEL!
An iconic LGBT figure and known for his documentary ‘Mr. Angel’ on Netflix, Buck Angel has spread his message across the world on self-acceptance and being comfortable within your own skin. He has spoken at Yale and Cornell University. He also has had appearances on many media outlets such as Rolling Stone Magazine and Spike TV.
A connoisseur of the arts, Buck Angel educates, advocates, creates films and is a motivational speaker. To expand his message and inspire others, he created Buck Angel Entertainment. He also promotes his message at the Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance as one of their Board of Directors.
His mission of advocating for others, especially within the transgender realm includes creating a sexual reassignment fund in 2013; he also created a dating website for transgender men, BuckAngelDating.com in 2012.
His dedicated work has gained him international recognition and even a prestigious award, naming him Transsexual Performer of the Year in 2007 from Adult Video News; the first female to male transsexual to even be nominated.
A message we should all incorporate, Buck Angel reminds and inspires us all to embrace and be proud of the bodies we have. There is nothing more empowering than feeling comfortable within your own skin.
OUTSpoken is pleased to Welcome Buck Angel!
Links:
http://buckangel.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_Angel https://www.facebook.com/officialbuckangel
Monday Sep 21, 2015
Monday Sep 21, 2015
Aydian Dowling, founder, is an FTM transgender activist from Long Island, New York.
Aydian Dowling is an FTM transgender businessman/activist/model from Long Island, New York who is gaining world-wide recognition as the lead contender in Men’s Health Magazines’ search for the “Ultimate Men’s Health Guy” 2015. If chosen, Aydian, will be the first transgender person to be on the cover Men’s Health and break down the stereotypes of what defines a man. Aydian was invited on “The Ellen Show” to discuss the contest and his transition. He gives an openly candid interview and dedicates his successes to the entire transgender community. Aydian is the cover of FTM Magazines’ April 2015 edition and the feature of a nude photo shoot that has since gone viral. In 2011, Aydian and his then fiancé Jenilee, were featured on the Emmy nominated MTV special It Gets Better Project which highlights the excitement and challenges of planning an LGBT wedding. Aydian has been paving the way for the “T” in the LGBT community since his 2009 launch of Alionsfear, a Youtube documentary and advice channel. Don’t forget to check out Point5cc, his clothing line, that caters to the fashion needs of transgender men and women. Twenty percent of every purchase made goes into The Surgery Fund. In his free time, Aydian enjoys putting his culinary skills to use (he is also a pastry chef) and hiking with Jenilee.
Friday Sep 11, 2015
Friday Sep 11, 2015
Friday Sep 11, 2015
Friday Sep 11, 2015
os Angeles, CA – August 8, 2015 – Three time Grammy and Emmy nominee, comedian Margaret Cho has announced she will embark on a national U.S. run in support of The psyCHO Tour this fall. Margaret will hit various cities including Los Angeles, Chicago and her hometown of San Francisco before embarking on a string of European dates this winter.
Margaret has been developing brand new material over the last several months and said: “I’m so thrilled to announce that I will be back out on the road. This show is about insanity, and about the anger I feel about everything happening in the world right now, from police brutality to racism to the rising tide of violence against women. It makes me all so crazy – hence the title: “The psyCHO Tour” – there is no “I” in team but there is a “CHO” in psycho”. When men go off on something – they are “passionate” and “driven” and when women go off on something we are “hysterical” and “crazy”. I’m trying to bring some joy to the hysteria and insanity. ”
From singlehood to Boko Haram to Bruce Jenner’s transition to female empowerment, Margaret tackles difficult subjects with sensitivity and razor sharp insight. A pioneer amongst women in comedy, Margaret doesn’t take anything for granted. “It’s a wonderful thing to be known as a ‘safe haven’ for people who feel disenfranchised. The audience at my shows don’t necessarily consider themselves traditional comedy fans. I seem to be a secure alternative for people who don’t think they’re being represented in society. They come because my point of view satisfies a lot of what needs to be said out there, and that makes me really proud.”
A big part of Margaret’s show are tributes to her “father in comedy,” Robin Williams and her “mother in comedy,” Joan Rivers, who passed away within a month of one another. Margaret was very close to both of them; her friendship with Robin encouraged her to start the #BeRobin campaign to raise awareness and funds for the homeless community. Her friendship with Joan reinforced Margaret’s desire to remain fearless.
Tuesday Sep 01, 2015
Tuesday Sep 01, 2015
The story of Bobby Jo Valentine is a rare one: it’s about vulnerability and courage, raw talent and hard work. With truly transcendent lyrics and a voice that touches the soul, Bobby captures the heart of audiences across the country. His songs — all based on highly personal experiences — contain nuggets of pure gold, resonating and reaching to to the listener, no matter their walk of life.
Bobby Jo is a master lyricist. His sense of realism, charm and infectious vocal melodies have earned the praises of industry veterans like Brian Lucey, mastering engineer for The Shins and The Black Keys: “Bobby writes with a sweetness and honesty seldom heard in acoustic pop music.” Just as importantly, those same attributes have earned Bobby Jo an ever-expanding fan base and the West Coast Songwriter Association’s Songwriter of the Year Award.
His new album “Home” attacks matters of the heart with thoughtful stories, catchy choruses, and a fantastic team of musicians behind him. Calvin Turnbull is at the producing helm,
with credits worked from Sheryl Crow to Five for Fighting and other greats; David Hayes, known best for his work with Van Morrison for 40 years, brings his timeless sound to the bass tracks; and Dave Tweedie, one of the biggest drummers in the pop industry today, adds syncopated, catchy rhythms. Other instruments – accordions, steel guitar, piano, organ – and several guest performers help create clear, honest soundscapes for his stories to be told. All these things come together to echo Bobby’s impressive lyrical depth.
Bobby Jo’s albums have garnered overwhelmingly positive reviews, but more noteworthy are the responses to his honest, raw, resonating live performances. Dubbed “The nicest guy ever to pick up an acoustic guitar” by LA Weekly, his unique brand of hopeful folk/pop has also recently been featured in a commercial for the new Ford Fusion.
Bursting with energy, realistic optimism and filled with uplifting, honest messages about hope and life’s struggles, Bobby Jo continues to gather new listeners with every live performance. “Armed with just a guitar and ukulele, Bobby aims straight for the heart.” -Bruce Kaplan, Folk Unlimited
Bobby Jo lives 30 miles north of San Francisco with his partner, and travels around the nation for 15-20 shows each month, developing a loyal following with warm, inviting melodies and lyrics filled with depth and hope.
Additional Press
Winner, 2013 Rising Star Contest (Judges include CAA Agent Brad Bissel, Rick Young of Warner Music, and Radio Industry Executives)
Appearance in a new 2013 Ford Fusion commercial
Winner, Songwriter of the Year
West Coast Songwriter’s Association
“Witty wordplay, clever melodies…the nicest guy to ever pick up an acoustic guitar.”
LA WEEKLY
“Bobby Jo Valentine’s vocals express raw, tender emotions and his lyrics are refreshingly original. His audience will be charmed with “Be Mine” and touched deeply with “Fly,” running the gamete of emotions that make for an entertaining and heartfelt journey.”
Jan White, West Coast Songwriter’s Association
“It’s really lovely.”
Judah Dadone, Lead singer, Freelance Whales
“5 out of 5 stars. Bobby writes with a sweetness and honesty seldom heard in acoustic pop music.”
Brian Lucey, (The Black Keys, The Shins, Sigur Ros)
“If Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson, and Regina Spektor were to combine forces, you would have Bobby Jo Valentine. Soulful and uplifting, soothing and calming, Valentine’s music is the perfect blend of indie and modern pop/rock. Often times it is quite difficult to switch from genre to genre or to switch styles and tones, but Bobby Jo Valentine does so with ease. His voice is passionate and beautiful, using his soothing ways to demonstrate his musicality and versatility. His musicality separates himself from any other artist out there presently, and A Place To Belong is the proof.”
Alexa Spieler, A-List Music
-----Jack Mozie
Jack Mozie is a singer, songwriter, and producer. Born and raised until the age of 12 in Lima, Peru, he showed interest in talent in music at a very young age. He began performing in school and taking music classes from the age of six. At the age of twelve, his mother brought him to Seattle where he would spend his teen years and develop as a songwriter.
Jack Mozie release his first album, Sealed For Your Protection, at the age of 21 under the name “Ramiro”. He is mostly known for his songs “Society”, “Candy”, and “Save Me”.
Influenced by many artists such as Shakira and Queen, Mozie has adopted a pop rock style to his music, however, his influences are not just limited to pop. Mozie was exposed to folk and pop music from other countries and languages at a young age. Every day growing up was a new style and genre of music.
Jack Mozie released his second album, Iron fist, at the age of 23. He gained popularity in the Seattle Music Scene with songs like “Tina”, “Jump”, and “Iron Fist”.
After the release of his latest single “Stardust”, Mozie begun work on his next album, due for release 2016.
------Ty Herndon
Ty Herndon is a master of the ties that bind. The Grammy Nominated and Dove Award Winning Country Recording Artist has the ability to connect with an audience far beyond his onstage performance. Ty Herndon has a passion and commitment to his music that shows in his lyrics. “If I haven’t lived it, I haven’t sung it” as Herndon says. For a career spanning two decades with 20 Billboard chart songs and 5 million albums sold, Herndon sees no signs of slowing down.
Starting as a teenager, Ty Herndon performed at OPRYLAND USA, won Best Male Vocalist on the iconic “Star Search,” and proceeded to receive the title Texas Entertainer of the Year in 1993. In 1995, Herndon signed with Epic Records, where he made his chart debut with “What Mattered Most,” which became his first #1 single and won Song of the Year from Music Row Magazine. His album of the same title debuted at #15 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and had the biggest first-week shipment in the history of Epic Records Nashville.
Since then, Ty Herndon has continued to find success and overcome the hurdles that come with fame. He has released ten more albums, most recently Lies I Told Myself (2013), which highlights the original style that made him famous and also demonstrates his growth as an artist. With this album Herndon found a new platform for bonding with fans. He invited folks to participate in his album launch via a well-publicized Kickstarter campaign that allowed fan investors to be involved both financially and emotionally. The end result was a testimony to Herndon’s affinity for connection; devotees more than doubled the original funding goal.
In November of 2014, Ty Herndon was the first major market male country artist to publicly come out as gay. Herndon received a wave of support that only strengthened his relationship with fans. Using his celebrity power for the better good, Herndon is in the planning stages of a new coalition called RALY (Rescue A Life Y’all) to help save lives and raise awareness for those with addiction or identity issues. This is not the first time he has reached out to make a difference. In the past he’s utilized his talents to work with organizations such as the Trevor Project, Make A Wish, St. Jude, and Feed the Children.
Today Ty Herndon is spending his days writing music and collaborating with all of his famed country colleagues and new up and coming artists to create the best album yet. Still the same redneck he’s always been, the king of connecting continues to exhibit all signs of a country superstar who is here to stay.
Tuesday Aug 25, 2015
Tuesday Aug 25, 2015
Monday Aug 17, 2015
Monday Aug 17, 2015
Sunday Aug 09, 2015
Sunday Aug 09, 2015
Introducing our go-to guy, Ulises Mark Chavez is the visionary leader and creator ofengaygeNOW & engaygeSEATTLE! Having grown up in Los Angeles, California, Mark got an early start with making social connections, and using his entrepreneurial spirit to bring others together in social settings.
Mark moved to Seattle in 2009, where he immediately become involved in the LGBTA community. With his development of Gay People in Seattle (GPiS), a social networking group that hosts monthly mixers at local restaurants in the Puget Sound area, Mark started bringing people together in the hopes of breaking the “Seattle Freeze” stigma. Mark has over twenty years of event planning experience, between Los Angeles and Seattle. He also has over eighteen years of project management experience, and is also a well-known community volunteer. Being fluent in English, Spanish, and conversational French, Mark has been able to bring our community even closer together, ensuring that all in our community feel welcome and accepted.
Mark’s love for travel, the arts, food, the local and surrounding community, has been a huge inspiration in his growth and development as a social connector. With engaygeNOW-SEATTLE, Mark’s desire is to use his passion for networking in order to help others make social and professional connections in Seattle, that will last a lifetime.
ENGAYGENOW
http://www.engaygenow.com/
Mission: engaygeNOW, your preferred Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Ally (LGBTA) travel social group designed to spark long lasting friendships while exploring the world through hosted group travel.
· Launched in 2014
ENGAYGESEATTLE (FACEBOOK)
https://www.facebook.com/engaygeSEATTLE
Mission: engaygeSEATTLE is a LGBTA social group created to overcome the infamous “Seattle Freeze” by helping people within the Seattle community with building stronger and longer lasting relationships. With every connection and every event we’re part of we look for opportunities to help guests and new friends connect.
Through the planning of a variety of LGBTA events we create opportunities for people with similar interests to share new experiences and start building a stronger connection with the local LGBTA community, which includes you.
· Launched in 2014
GPIS (FACEBOOK)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/gpiseattle/
· Launched in 2009
· Members: 2.800+
Monday Aug 03, 2015
Monday Aug 03, 2015
Eric Paul Leue is LA's very own transplant from East-Berlin. He was born in 1986, and has been an advocate for HIV awareness and education for over ten years.
Eric is the Director of Sexual Health and Advocacy for Kink.com and a Commissioner on the LA County Commission of HIV. He was also Eagle LA and Mr LA Leather 2014, and dedicated his title year to teach about PrEP, the daily regimen that prevents HIV infections. He has hosted 46 PrEP panels to date across the US, Canada, and Europe.
He writes articles, gives interviews and travels as much as possible to raise awareness, not only for PrEP, but also for Transgender Rights, Black Rights, Meth Addiction Help, Sex Education in schools, and of course to alleviate misconceptions about the Leather Community.
Links:
http://www.hivequal.org/hiv-equal-online/5-hiv-activists-give-the-10-worst-offenses-of-ahf-s-michael-weinstein?slide=1
http://www.vice.com/video/stopping-hiv-with-the-truvada-revolution-part-1-111
http://www.vice.com/read/has-porn-become-the-better-advocate-for-safer-sex-293
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-paul-leue/why-i-started-a-petition-to-remove-the-head-of-the-aids-healthcare-foundation_b_5187497.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-paul-leue/prep-is-a-new-beginning-b_b_6239822.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-paul-leue/prominent-hivaids-organiz_b_5663504.html
http://www.hivplusmag.com/people/2015/03/12/15-hiv-advocates-watch-2015
Saturday Aug 01, 2015
Saturday Aug 01, 2015
Greta Christina has been writing professionally since 1989, on topics including atheism, sexuality and sex-positivity, LGBT issues, politics, culture, and whatever crosses her mind. She is author of Comforting Thoughts About Death That Have Nothing to Do with God, of Coming Out Atheist: How to Do It, How to Help Each Other, and Why, of Why Are You Atheists So Angry? 99 Things That Piss Off the Godless, and of Bending: Dirty Kinky Stories About Pain, Power, Religion, Unicorns, & More, and is editor of Paying For It: A Guide by Sex Workers for Their Clients. She has been a public speaker for many years, and is on the speaker's bureaus of the Secular Student Alliance. Her writing has appeared in multiple magazines and newspapers, including Ms., Penthouse, Chicago Sun-Times, On Our Backs, and Skeptical Inquirer, and numerous anthologies, including "Everything You Know About God Is Wrong" and three volumes of "Best American Erotica." She is on the board of directors of Foundation Beyond Belief, the humanist organization for charitable giving, and is co-founder and co-organizer of Godless Perverts, a performance series and social community that promotes a positive view of sexuality without religion. (Any views she expresses in this blog are solely hers, and do not necessarily represent either of these organizations.) She lives in San Francisco with her wife, Ingrid. You can email her at gcgreta (at) doubtfulpalace (dot) com, and follow her on Twitter at @GretaChristina .
Monday Jul 20, 2015
Monday Jul 20, 2015
He was raised amongst the olive-skinned natives of a Long Island town before transplanted to the rain-coated, black coffee loving capital of the Starbucks world. He learned early after being too school for cool that tending bar supported his addiction to structuring sentences into stories of Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery and Young Adult.
Anthony is unafraid to make big moves in the game of life, but sometimes needs to be thrown off the plane to figure out how to fly. Like a nine-lived cat he always land on his feet, and when those thick-padded paws hit the dirt he bears a smile on his face and recants a knee-slapper he heard on his journey, laughing half-way through the joke and usually forgetting the rest.
A College Place native, before her career as a 16th District Representative, Maureen Walsh served as Dave Mastin’s Legislative Aid; also for the 16th District. She became a voice for the district of Walla Walla in 2005 as a Representative when she was inducted into the Legislature. Currently she sits on three committees; Early Learning and Human Services, Higher Education as well as Technology and Economic Development. She also serves on the Legislative Executive Work First Oversight Committee, the Children’s Legislative Oversight Committee and the Washington Institute for Public Policy Board of Directors.
In terms of precedence, Representative Walsh’s list includes addressing agriculture and water needs; making healthcare more affordable, making sure that youth have an opportunity in our constantly changing economy and protecting or most vulnerable members of the community including the elderly and those with disabilities. She believes in order for this to be accomplished that those with a leadership role within the government need to be held accountable.
Regarding the LGBT community, she is a secondary sponsor on a bill in the tentative 2015-2016 Legislative session that protects the rights and privacy of minors regarding their sexual orientation.
Due to her continued advocacy and hard work for all minorities- Walsh was named a top 40 candidate for the ‘Most Interesting Women In Politics’ in the Washington Post.
Outside of politics, Maureen owns Onion World, a business her and late husband Kelly started in downtown Walla Walla. She also puts a huge emphasis on family-spending time with her three grown children Murphy, Patrick and Shauna(who inspired her speech in 2012 and continued advocacy).
Thank you Representative Walsh for your commitment to be OUTSpoken!
Email:maureen.walsh@leg.wa.gov
Phone (509) 527-4151
Tuesday Jul 14, 2015
Tuesday Jul 14, 2015
Logan Lynn is an American musician, writer, composer, singer, producer, LGBT activist and television personality from Portland, Oregon. He has released seven studio albums, fifteen music videos, four singles, three compilation records, five EP’s and one mixtape since 1998. Videos of Lynn’s singles have been featured on Logo, MTV, VH1 and Spike TV.
Based in Portland, Oregon, Lynn first gained national and international recognition in 2006 when MTV’s Logo channel began airing his music videos. He is the former host of “NewNowNext Music” and has done a number of televised commercial spots for the channel. Lynn’s “Feed Me To The Wolves” video was named one of 2008’s Top 10 Videos by the network.
Logan Lynn was signed to Caroline/EMI via The Dandy Warhols owned-and-operated Beat The World label from 2007 to 2010, when he announced that he would be going on hiatus to pursue activism work for the LGBT community full time.
In 2013 Lynn returned with a new record, a U.S. tour, a handful of videos, and the promise of a new sound on the way with what will be his 8th studio album, set for release in 2015.
Monday Jul 13, 2015
Monday Jul 13, 2015
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TWO POLITICALLY ACTIVE YOUNG MEN BECOME ROOMMATES?
WELL OBVIOUSLY THEY BOTH BECOME ELECTED OFFICIALS TO THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES……AND OH YEAH……LOTS AND LOTS OF CRAZY FUN! SOUNDS LIKE THE PLOT LINE FOR A NEW SITCOM OR JUST ANOTHER DAY FOR TWO WA STATE REPRESENTATIVES!
POLITICS MAKES STRANGE…..ROOMMATES?
Sunday Jul 05, 2015
Sunday Jul 05, 2015
Howard Grossman is a board-certified internist, who had a private practice in Manhattan from 1988 to 2005, which he reestablished in 2009. In 2013 he opened the only primary care private practice dedicated to LGBT health and HIV care in the state of New Jersey. He is a general internist, but is most widely known as a specialist in HIV medicine and LGBT Health. Dr. Grossman is a Senior Attending in the Department of Medicine at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital and is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons. He is Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at NYU-Langone Medical Center and an Attending Physician at Overlook Hospital in Summit, NJ, part of the Atlantic Health System.
Dr. Grossman left private medical practice in 2004 to serve as the Executive Director of the American Academy of HIV Medicine, a professional association of 2100 front-line HIV providers, based in Washington, DC and held this position until 2006. In 2007 he served as the Medical Director of the Conant Medical Foundation in San Francisco, an organization dedicated to education and care as a way to fight the HIV epidemic. In that role he had both clinical and administrative functions. From 2008-2009 Dr. Grossman was part of the amazing team at Fenway Community Health in Boston, where he served as a staff clinician and as Associate Director for Industry-Sponsored Trials.
In the interim between leaving AAHIVM and joining the Conant Medical Foundation Dr. Grossman worked as an international clinical mentor. He educated doctors and nurses in Russia and Belarus working with the American International Healthcare Alliance and he spent seven weeks in the Far West of Nepal helping to establish the first HIV treatment facility in this area with a high rate of HIV infection among migrant workers. This was a collaborative program between the International Center for Equal Healthcare Access (ICEHA) and Family Health International.
Dr. Grossman earned a B.A. in political science at Haverford College and studied medicine at SUNY Downstate College of Medicine in Brooklyn. He did his residency at Kings County Hospital, one of the largest public hospitals in Brooklyn. It was there that he saw some of the first cases of AIDS in the early 1980’s.
Dr. Grossman worked at St. Clare’s Hospital, at the first dedicated AIDS unit in the country and entered private practice in 1987. He has one of the largest HIV practices in New York and serves a diverse patient population. He has become nationally recognized as an educator on HIV issues and as an advocate for gay and lesbian civil rights and the rights of People with HIV.
His work with people affected by HIV led him to become one of the plaintiffs in the landmark suit Vacco v. Quill, et al., which sought to overturn laws preventing terminally-ill patients from obtaining their physicians’ help to end their own lives. The case was decided in 1997, with the Supreme Court finding no constitutional guarantee of the “right to die,” but leaving the door open for states to experiment with various options.
Dr. Grossman has written articles for many publications and for The Body.com. He has reviewed articles for The AIDS Reader and served as medical editor for columns in HX, POZ, GMHC’s Treatment Issues, AMFAR’s treatment newsletter among others.
Dr. Grossman has served in the past as a consultant to many pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, Tibotec, Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, Abbott, Hoffman-LaRoche, Ortho Biotech, Janssen, Agouron, Gilead, Chiron, Monogram Biosciences, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. He has also worked with government panels at the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration and served as a reviewer for CDC grant applications. Dr. Grossman was the medical advisor for the patient-oriented website www.aidsmeds.com. He has been involved with multiple community-based organizations. Most recently Dr. Grossman has served as Chair of Physicians for Compassionate Care, an organization of over 600 physicians in New York State who support the medical use of marijuana. Prior to taking the reins at AAHIVM he served as the Board chair for the New York State Chapter, and worked as the chairman of the Public Policy Committee and Chairman of the Ethics Committee. He has also served on the Board of Directors of several other organizations. He most recently served on the board of Bailey House, which provides housing and case management services for homeless people living with HIV and their families. In the past he has been on the boards of Visual AIDS, working with artists with HIV and using art to educate about HIV; the New York Chapter of Compassion in Dying, a national group dedicated to helping patients with end-of-life issues, especially around pain control; the Organization of HIV Healthcare Providers, a PAC organized to work on various issues of interest to people with HIV and their practitioners; and the honorary board of Love Heals/The Allison Gertz Foundation. Dr. Grossman also served on the boards of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis and the People with AIDS Health Group in the past. He organized and ran the medical tent for the GMHC Morning Party on Fire Island for 9 years, providing one of the first organized medical operations to serve a large party of this kind and helping to promote harm reduction and HIV prevention in this setting. He has been involved with a number of activist groups including ACT-Up, TAG, the Coalition for Salvage Therapy (CST) and the AIDS Treatment Activists’ Coalition (ATAC).
You can find more info about Howard A. Grossman, MD practice at www.alphabettercare.com.
There are some writings Howard A. Grossman, MD has done for thebody.com on PrEP -
Do HIV-Negative Gay Men Need Condoms if They're on PrEP? Here's What I Tell My Patients
Friday Jul 03, 2015
Friday Jul 03, 2015
Ty Herndon is a master of the ties that bind. The Grammy Nominated and Dove Award Winning Country Recording Artist has the ability to connect with an audience far beyond his onstage performance. Ty Herndon has a passion and commitment to his music that shows in his lyrics. “If I haven’t lived it, I haven’t sung it” as Herndon says. For a career spanning two decades with 20 Billboard chart songs and 5 million albums sold, Herndon sees no signs of slowing down.
Starting as a teenager, Ty Herndon performed at OPRYLAND USA, won Best Male Vocalist on the iconic “Star Search,” and proceeded to receive the title Texas Entertainer of the Year in 1993. In 1995, Herndon signed with Epic Records, where he made his chart debut with “What Mattered Most,” which became his first #1 single and won Song of the Year from Music Row Magazine. His album of the same title debuted at #15 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and had the biggest first-week shipment in the history of Epic Records Nashville.
Since then, Ty Herndon has continued to find success and overcome the hurdles that come with fame. He has released ten more albums, most recently Lies I Told Myself (2013), which highlights the original style that made him famous and also demonstrates his growth as an artist. With this album Herndon found a new platform for bonding with fans. He invited folks to participate in his album launch via a well-publicized Kickstarter campaign that allowed fan investors to be involved both financially and emotionally. The end result was a testimony to Herndon’s affinity for connection; devotees more than doubled the original funding goal.
In November of 2014, Ty Herndon was the first major market male country artist to publicly come out as gay. Herndon received a wave of support that only strengthened his relationship with fans. Using his celebrity power for the better good, Herndon is in the planning stages of a new coalition called RALY (Rescue A Life Y’all) to help save lives and raise awareness for those with addiction or identity issues. This is not the first time he has reached out to make a difference. In the past he’s utilized his talents to work with organizations such as the Trevor Project, Make A Wish, St. Jude, and Feed the Children.
Today Ty Herndon is spending his days writing music and collaborating with all of his famed country colleagues and new up and coming artists to create the best album yet. Still the same redneck he’s always been, the king of connecting continues to exhibit all signs of a country superstar who is here to stay.
Sunday Jun 28, 2015
Sunday Jun 28, 2015
Straight Talk
The Boyz welcome the point of view of the heterosexual persuasion, our brother from the other side of the aisle, Sather will be giving his view point! Tune in and turn up!
Introduction to Gwen and Ty
What does it mean to be transgender? Straight to you from the voices of two self-identified trans individuals themselves; this is ‘Spill The Tea.’ Here to provide a rudimentary level education and allow you to begin to walk in the shoes of a different perspective. There is no set stereotype-there is no one individual. Tune in and see what the conversation is all about.
From the voices of two trans identified individuals- this is “Spill The Tea.”
Tyson is a 25 year old eager college student, always looking for ways to advocate within the LGBT community-more gearing towards the transgender spectrum. Besides being an intern with OUTSpoken; Ty spends his time as the co-chair of two Transgender Support Groups as well as attending school full time in pursuit of a Women’s and Gender Studies Degree in his last year at Eastern Washington University. He plans to further his education by obtaining a Master’s Degree at the University of San Francisco. With his degree he hopes to continue his advocacy within the community; primarily working with transgender youth-in hopes to further educate and build future leaders. He is absolutely thrilled to be a part of the team that is OUTSpoken, in hopes to continually break down barriers and will not stop advocating until equality is established for all.
Gwendelen is an out and proud transwoman in her youth, on a mission to break down archaic gender spectrum views. She has been in her physical transition since high school and has known her status from a young age. She has worked as a production assistant to the producer of the OUTSpoken show and is now emerging on a separate segment as a host. She has interests in modeling and leadership. Her goals in life are to give a voice to the transgender community and to educate those who are uninformed.
Tuesday Jun 02, 2015
Tuesday Jun 02, 2015
Tuesday May 19, 2015
Tuesday May 19, 2015
Tuesday May 19, 2015
Tuesday May 19, 2015
Tuesday May 19, 2015
Tuesday May 19, 2015
Tuesday May 19, 2015
Sunday May 10, 2015
Sunday May 10, 2015
Tuesday May 05, 2015
Tuesday May 05, 2015
Tuesday Apr 21, 2015
Monday Apr 13, 2015
Monday Apr 13, 2015
Monday Apr 13, 2015
Monday Apr 13, 2015
Monday Apr 13, 2015
Monday Mar 23, 2015
Monday Mar 23, 2015
Monday Mar 23, 2015
Monday Mar 23, 2015
Monday Mar 16, 2015
Monday Mar 16, 2015