LGBTQ news and entertainment
Standing on the train platform in Newark, NJ. Heading to my 25th CATS anniversary. Amazing I used to live here and do this all the time.
Seems like yesterday and a life time ago, all at the same time.
Where does time go?
– Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
The NY Times has posted a video overview/review of the upcoming Tribeca Film Festival which will include the world premiere of “Carol Channing: Larger Than Life.”
I was fortunate to work with Carol again this past December when she was honored in the opening number of the annual Gypsy of the Year event on Broadway. It was thrilling to be on stage with her again and see Broadway give back so much of the love she’s given Broadway over a lifetime.
During the rehearsals for the event, I and several of my fellow “Hello, Dolly!” revival cast-mates were asked to sit down and offer stories and memories of what it was like to work with this incredible stage legend (and Academy Award nominee!). That session turned into almost three hours of warm, wonderful memories for us all. I’m told some of what I spoke about made it into the documentary. I would love to know that somehow my love for Carol and what she brought into all of our lives might be somehow shared with the rest of the world.
No matter what, I’m excited to travel to the film festival next weekend to attend the premiere with Carol and DOLLY cast members.
I hope everyone who reads this can attend. The screening will be at The Tribeca Film Festival at 3:30pm on Saturday, April 23rd.
The California State Senate passed a bill that would approval inclusion of LGBT contributions to California state history.
Studies have shown that when LGBT contributions are included in the history lessons that shaped California, students are more likely to be more tolerant and bullying decreases in schools.
From Equality California: The FAIR Education Act would bring classroom instruction into alignment with existing non-discrimination laws in California and would add LGBT to the existing list of underrepresented cultural and ethnic groups, which are covered by current law related to inclusion in textbooks and other instructional materials in schools. By including fair and accurate information about LGBT people and history in instructional materials, SB 48 will improve student safety, reduce bullying, enrich the learning experiences of all students, and promote an atmosphere of safety and respect in California schools.
“We thank the Senate for recognizing the need to educate students about the historic contributions of LGBT leaders to California and the struggle for LGBT equality,” said Jim Carroll, interim executive director of Equality California. “This legislation will ensure all students understand the diversity of our state and its history, and it will foster greater awareness, respect and safer schools for all students.”
Today, most textbooks don’t include any LGBT contributions to society or any account of the LGBT civil rights movement.
The bill now heads to the state Assembly rules committee.
Stay tuned!
By a vote of 26-15, the Delaware state House passed the Civil Unions bill which now heads to the desk of Governor Markell, a gay rights champion, who has indicated he plans to sign the bill into law.
The bill, which passed the state Senate 13-6 last week, survived nine amendment attempts.
From the Human Rights Campaign: SB 30 will allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions giving them all of the rights, benefits, and obligations of marriage under state law, but would not allow same-sex couples to obtain marriage licenses. Religious institutions may choose not to solemnize civil unions.
“We are tremendously proud that the Delaware House has passed civil union legislation,” said Equality Delaware President Lisa Goodman. “The fact that the Delaware General Assembly passed civil union legislation on the first attempt is a great testament to how far public opinion has come on equality issues. This is a great day for equality in Delaware.”
With Markell’s signature, the bill will take effect Jan. 1. It will make Delaware the eighth state to establish civil unions or domestic partnerships for same-sex couples. Five other states and the District of Columbia allow gay marriage.
The ever-talented and hot Mark Ruffalo talks about his support for gay rights and his directorial debut with ‘Sympathy for Delicious’, a Sundance Special Jury Prize-winning drama about a paraplegic faith healer in theaters April 29, in with The Advocate:
Why have you taken such a personal interest in gay rights?
We have a lot of friends who are gay couples with kids. When my son would go to his friend’s house down the street, where his friend’s parents are a married gay couple, not once did he come home and say, “Why does he have two papas?” That didn’t occur to him, because their house is no different from ours. I’ve seen the human face of the issue, I’ve seen the pain gay couples are going through, so it was important for me to add my voice to the fight. Fortunately, my voice reaches much further than a lot of people’s. I was trained as an actor that we have a responsibility in our community to stand up for what we believe in and to use our voice and our art to teach people and push those beliefs.What was your earliest exposure to gay people?
During my senior year of high school, a really close friend of mine came out to me. He was so depressed, he was suicidal for weeks. I kept asking, “What’s wrong with you?” He’d cry, but he wouldn’t tell me. I didn’t know what a problem so big could be, so I thought he killed somebody. Finally, I got him to tell me, and that was the first time I knew a gay person. I’d heard about gay people, but I had no idea what that was. At the time I was in Virginia Beach, where homosexuals were like an urban myth. All of a sudden, there it was in front of me, and it was a person that I really admired. He asked, “Are you not going to be my friend anymore?” I said, “Of course not.”You come to a moral question at that moment: Is this person I’ve known all this time now a dreaded, horrible human being that’s to be shunned, or is this person just like everybody else, except for a different sexual orientation? Luckily, I’d had whatever it takes to make someone see a person for who they really are — and to stand up and accept that even when other people around you don’t.
Click here for the full interview.
I’ve been a fan of Ruffalo for years. And knowing that he supports equal rights for all makes him that more beautiful.
President Obama announced today his plans for spending cuts and deficit reduction.
Obama called for a bipartisan approach to solving these issues, but referred to GOP proposals to “voucher-ize” Medicare as a call to “end Medicare as we know it.”
In his proposal, Obama forecast $770 billion in savings over the next 12 years through non-security discretionary cuts, and another $400 billion in that time frame from the defense budget.
Obama’s plan also called for a “failsafe” trigger, which would apply across-the-board spending cuts if the national debt, as a percentage of GDP, is not on the decline by 2014.
On entitlements, he proposed reducing “wasteful” subsidies and faulty payments, while cutting spending on prescription drugs by leveraging Medicare’s purchasing power and coaxing generics into the market. He suggested “new incentives” for doctors to improve results and slow the growth of Medicare costs.
In addition, the income tax rates on the highest earners (families making over $250,000 a year) would revert to pre-George W. Bush rates.
I personally agree that at some level, whether it’s those making over $250K or those making over $500K, or $750K – the wealthiest can afford some small increase to help pay down the country’s debt.
Regarding Social Security, President Obama said he wants to strengthen the program for future generations without “putting at risk current retirees” or “slashing benefits for future generations.” Strengthen is a vague term. Some interpret that as possibly raising retirement age for future seniors.
I personally support that idea. The current retirement ages were determined at a time when people didn’t live as long or as healthy as we do today. As someone who is 47 years old, I’m fine with raising the retirement age a year or two to “strengthen” the program.
Overall, I agree with Peter Peterson, Chairman of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation:
“Any successful long-term deficit reduction plan must be bipartisan, so both political parties will need to make compromises. Any viable plan must include both spending cuts and revenue increases, and should address all of the major areas of the budget, including tax expenditures, defense, entitlements and discretionary spending. There is no doubt that we can solve our problems in a comprehensive and compassionate way that achieves fiscal sustainability while preserving the social safety net for America’s vulnerable citizens and providing resources for important future investments in our economy.”
Response from some governors across the country to Obama’s proposals:
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton: “A balanced approach to bringing down the national deficit with fairness and shared responsibility.”
Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley: President’s vision “to recover and rejuvenate our economy”
Delaware Governor Jack Markell: “I applaud the President for his commitment to tackling this serious challenge.”
Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin: “Emphasis on shared responsibility and taking a balanced approach to revenues and spending”
Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy: President “set the right tone for the bipartisan negotiations to begin”
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick: “Optimistic, inclusive vision for the country”
Stephen Colbert just kills me.
Sen. Kyl just kills the truth…
Last year: “Democrats are killing Medicare!” – Republicans
This year: “We want to kill Medicare!” – Republicans
The Republicans keep saying “today’s seniors won’t see any change in their coverage.” But if you happen to be 54 or 53 or younger – look out. What do you think a health insurance policy will cost a senior at the age of 65 in about 10, 15 years?
From the Center for Economic Policy Reserach: Representative Ryan would replace the current Medicare program with a voucher for people who turn age 65 in 2022 and later. This voucher would be worth $8,000 in for someone turning age 65 in that year. It would rise in step with with the consumer price index and also as people age.
According to the CBO analysis the benefit would cover 32 percent of the cost of a health insurance package equivalent to the current Medicare benefit. This means that the beneficiary would pay 68 percent of the cost of this package.
Using the CBO assumption of 2.5 percent annual inflation, the voucher would have grown to $9,750 by 2030. This means that a Medicare type plan for someone age 65 would be $30,460 under Representative Ryan’s plan, leaving seniors with a bill of $20,700.
According to the Social Security trustees, the benefit for a medium wage earner who first starts collecting benefits at age 65 in 2030 would be $32,200.
Do the math kids. Not looking so good, huh?