Move For Hunger Launches Educational Resource To Draw Awareness To Hunger in the LGBTQ+ Community

While it’s undeniable that the modern world has become far more accepting of the LGBTQ+ community, it’s also important to call attention to large social issues and discrimination still facing the group that aren’t talked about enough. Homelessness, hunger, and the need for reliable allies and food recovery systems continue to be widespread issues in 2021.

Move For Hunger—the national nonprofit reducing food waste and maintaining food recovery programs across the country—wants to draw awareness to these issues. This Pride Month, they launched an educational resource on their website. Because statistics regarding hunger in the LGBTQ+ community have not been widely documented in the past, the New Jersey-based nonprofit is seeking to call attention to issues facing the community and provide a go-to resource for other allies to share information.

“Years of setbacks and anti-discrimination laws have left the LGBTQ+ community in need of food assistance at a much larger rate,” said Adam Lowy, founder and executive director of Move For Hunger. “We want to call attention to this community and the issues they face that don’t get talked about enough. We want to be an ally and provide a resource for information, as well as to help those who aren’t aware of these issues to be an ally as well.”

Some of the statistics include:

● LGBTQ+ individuals receive SNAP benefits at twice the rate of non-LGBTQ people. Despite the benefits that SNAP provides to many LGBTQ individuals, a proposal by the Trump administration limited the program’s assistance for people ages 18 to 49 without children. Implemented in April 2020, the change directly affected over 700,000 able-bodied Americans.

● 52% of the LGBTQ community live in states that do not have anti-discriminatory laws, which adds barriers to them receiving food assistance. With no laws as protection from harassment, discrimination, or refusal of training in the workplace, it’s estimated that nearly 50% remain closeted at work for fear of being treated differently or compromising professional connections.

● 14% of LGBTQ+ members have avoided faith-based food banks, due to the fear of being turned away due to religious affiliations, discrimination and mistreatment.

● Poverty is the root cause of hunger, and the number of LGBTQ people living in poverty is significantly larger than the non-LGBTQ+ community; a recent study reported 22% as compared to 16%. Within the transgender community specifically, a staggering 29% of the total population live in poverty, 30% have been homeless and 27% have been discriminated against or fired from workplaces based on their identity.

● One in six Generation Z adults describe themselves as something other than heterosexual, increasing the total number of LGBTQ+ adults in the U.S. from 4.5% to 5.6% since 2017. Because LGBTQ+ individuals in this country are already predisposed to hunger and homelessness, these issues will affect more individuals as the community continues to expand.

To visit Move For Hunger’s resource regarding hunger in the LGBTQ+ community, including an interactive map with the nondiscrimination laws per state, visit: moveforhunger.org/lgbtq

Shea Diamond - Smile

 

The incomparable Shea Diamond has released her new song, “Smile,” via Facet House. Co-written with superstar songwriter, producer, and activist Justin Tranter (Imagine Dragons, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber), Eren Cannata (Demi Lovato, Fifth Harmony), and Dan Crean (Gwen Stefani, Bebe Rexha, Anne-Marie) and co-produced by Cannata and Crean, the upbeat tune has arrived just in time to soundtrack the latter half of Pride month. The combination of the grandiose horn section and Shea’s powerful vocal amplifies the sentiment that not only can you overcome anything, but you should celebrate life even more when you do.

The visual takes us to the iconic Moonlight Rollerway in Glendale, CA. Directed by Devyn Galindo, we watch as the disco ball catches the light of every spot of glitter it can find, while following Shea and each rollerskater as they move effortlessly to the beat. Between making out in the bathroom stall to dancing while on a work break, we can tell that everyone feels free to express themselves wholeheartedly and without fear of judgement. More than anything, it visualizes the jubilation that’s felt when you’ve overcome hardship, smiling with each new step forward. 

“This song reminds me that I'm not the victim society deemed me; I'm a survivor.” Shea said. “When I was at my lowest and my life’s journey became too much to bare, I felt defeated. It reminds me of all the things I thought would break me or that I’d never get through. For all the things I've been through, I've learned to embrace my struggles, understanding they too shall pass. I remember so many times I felt alone, disposable, and wanted to give up, life threw so much at me all at once.

Now I look back on my life with a smile I never thought possible! I’ve moved so far from my nightmare and closer to living the American dream they said would not be accessible to me while living my truth. It reminds me they were wrong. They don’t control my narrative, it belongs to me, and it reminds you as a listener that if someone like me can smile after everything I've been through maybe you can too! I wanted a song that captured the roller coaster of emotions and experiences we go through in life. With the pandemic mostly over I wanted a song of triumph and celebration, one that encourages you to get up, get out, and dance!"

Most recently, Shea released “Presence Of A Legend” the original track to filmmaker Luchina Fisher’s documentary, Mama Gloria, which tells the life story of Chicago’s Black transgender icon, Gloria Allen. The documentary kicked off the 13th season of AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange documentary series, showcasing stories from all facets of the African Diaspora.

OUT Now: WOJNAROWICZ

Now Available on DVD and digital, Wojnarowicz: F**k You F*ggot F**ker is a fiery and urgent documentary portrait of downtown New York City artist, writer, photographer, and activist David Wojnarowicz. As New York City became the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, Wojnarowicz weaponized his work and waged war against the establishment’s indifference to the plague until his death from it in 1992 at the age of 37.

Exclusive access to his breathtaking body of work – including paintings, journals, and films – reveals how Wojnarowicz emptied his life into his art and activism. Rediscovered answering machine tape recordings and intimate recollections from Fran Lebowitz, Gracie Mansion, Peter Hujar, and other friends and family help present a stirring portrait of this fiercely political, unapologetically queer artist.

Do You Want To Reach Denver's Gay Community? Advertise With Denver's Best Gay Blog!

Do you want to advertise to Denver’s gay community? Of course you do, it’s the 7th largest in the United States! And the best way to reach them is with MileHighGayGuy – Colorado’s Best Gay Blog.
 
Just click the Advertising page or email sales@milehighgayguy.com to get started today.

With Disney PRIDE in Concert, Boston Gay Men's Chorus Sets the LGBTQ Experience to the Music and Magic of Disney

Disney's beloved catalog of songs will be reimagined by the Boston Gay Men's Chorus (BGMC) in Disney PRIDE in Concert, a musical celebration of LGBTQ life, love, family, and perseverance, June 25-26, 2022 at Boston Symphony Hall. The show will draw inspiration from iconic Disney films like The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and Mary Poppins; modern classics like Coco, Zootopia, and Wreck-It Ralph; and the magical music of Disney Parks. The multimedia extravaganza will feature BGMC's 250-member chorus and a 20-piece orchestra performing sparkling new musical arrangements by BGMC Assistant Music Director Chad Weirick, accompanied by visuals designed by BGMC Director of Video Michael Willer using assets from Disney's films and archives. Providing the narrative of the show, personal stories from an array of diverse chorus members will be interwoven throughout the musical performances, showcasing the individual meaning and connections drawn from Disney's timeless and universal music. Tickets will go on-sale via the Boston Gay Men's Chorus in early 2022.

"Disney movies and musicals have long resonated deeply in the LGBTQ community because they often mirror our experiences in a society that hasn't always welcomed us," said Reuben M. Reynolds, III, BGMC's Music Director. "Characters are often struggling to fit in and to accept themselves, they long for a love that feels unattainable, they've lost their family of origin and had to create a new one, yet they persevere and find joy in life. They express their alienation, desire, and determination in beautiful songs that have given solace and empowerment to generations of LGBTQ people. Naturally, we're overjoyed at the chance to make the thematic connections between the Disney canon and the LGBTQ experience explicit by infusing the music with the stories of our lives."

Disney PRIDE in Concert is being produced in conjunction with Disney Concerts, the concert production and licensing division of Disney Music Group. It will feature all-new musical arrangements by Chad Weirick and a book by BGMC Executive Producer Bill Casey and Tom Choinski. Disney PRIDE in Concert will also be available for licensing in the future through Disney Concerts for performance by choruses around the world for all voice parts and voice configurations. This collaboration is the first time Disney Concerts has partnered with an organization to create an LGBTQ-specific concert package.

Disney PRIDE in Concert will take place during LGBTQ Pride Month, which commemorates a pivotal point in LGBTQ history: the Stonewall Riots of June 1969, when patrons of the Stonewall Bar rebelled and fought back against the constant anti-gay harassment by New York City police of LGBTQ people and spaces.

"Disney PRIDE in Concert will likely be the first in-person performance of the Boston Gay Men's Chorus in two years. We think it's the perfect way to come out of the pandemic to thank our singers, patrons and fans who have been so patient and supportive during the hiatus," said Craig Coogan, Executive Director of the Boston Gay Men's Chorus. "We are grateful to partner with Disney and share their commitment to showcasing the voices and stories of diverse communities, a value that is so close to our hearts, we're coming back in a spectacular way. We can't wait to perform this concert for audiences and have the show become part of the songbook for choruses around the world."

The concert is part of BGMC's hybrid 2021-22 season, which also includes a Holiday Special on WCVB-Channel 5 in December and the release of the documentary "Milestones" to mark BGMC's 40th anniversary.

What Happens After We've Been Counted?

Last year, the National LGBTQ Task Force invited you to join the Queer the Census campaign and to encourage other LGBTQ+ folks to be counted as well. Now they're asking you to join them on June 24, 2021 at 12pm MST, for Census Bureau Data for the LGBTQ Community, a webinar in partnership with the Census Bureau as part of their Data Summit series.

The webinar will teach users how to access data to explore the characteristics of same-sex households at local geographic levels, including for counties and cities. This training will use ACS (American Community Survey) data and other Census surveys. This data is essential to ensuring that our community receives adequate resources and appropriate representation.

Register here!

Kat Cunning Releases New Video For “Boys” With Transgender And Non-Binary Cast In Honor Of Pride 2021

Non-binary artist and actor Kat Cunning has released a new video for their song “Boys” in celebration of Pride 2021. The entire cast and crew of the new music video identifies as either transgender or non-binary. NYLON said that “the simple visual radiates as much heart and warmth as you’d hope.” The video release comes a little over two weeks after the release of the track, which Billboard called “a life-affirming new single that deserves your attention” and Alternative Press heralded as “the perfect track to start off Pride month.” 

 

“The video was extremely important for me to make to spell out the true focus of the song because of the lyric’s subtlety. I wanted to do my part to help represent the diversity and beauty of the transmasculine community that is so often erased, exploited or hardly peppered into the media. Representation matters, especially to young people. If you can’t see it, you can’t be it,” said Kat Cunning of the new music video. “Making this video, we collectively agreed our community needed to see trans joy. I am so grateful to my longtime collaborator Maddy Talias who was the videographer, and our director Tee Vaden who set an incredibly safe space for everyone to allow their true sense of self to cut through the lens, and to the cast who let their true selves shine with   joy and camaraderie.”

 

Kat Cunning began their Instagram Live Q&A series for Pride, Nine Lives with Kat Cunning, in partnership with the world’s leading LGBTQ publication, The Advocate. The first installment of this series saw Kat interview Emmett Preciado and Jordan Gonzalez, who were both cast members in the “Boys” video. Kat will go live with rising alt-pop singer Carlie Hanson at 1 PM ET, and then every Monday and Wednesday until July 12 (because Pride is every month) with special guests from the LGBTQ+ community.

 

Kat will be performing as part of New York City ABC Pride event on Sunday, June 27, with the broadcast beginning at 12 PM ET and, on Saturday, June 26 as part of NYC Pride’s Youth Pride virtual event as well. Kat’s “Boys” is just their third track this year. Their bold first song of the year, “Confident,” arrived early in March. “Confident” was then followed by the pop ballad, “Could Be Good” Kat also partnered with The Ally Coalition in March on Give A Yes! to allow fans to leave messages of encouragement and hope for one another – check out the site, which is live now, at http://giveayes.com/.

Out Adventures Partners with Rainbow Railroad to Help LGBTQ+ Refugees Find Safety

Toronto-based Out Adventures has announced a community partnership with Rainbow Railroad, the charitable organization that resettles LGBTQ+ people who face persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. The tour operator plans to donate $25,000 USD by the end of 2022.

There are over 80 million people around the world who are displaced right now – the highest number since World War II. Worse, the LGBTQ+ community is especially vulnerable to the systemic, state-enabled homophobia and transphobia that pervades many nations.

“For over 10 years we’ve made a point to support LGBTQ+ organizations in the places we visit and at home. But as we recover from the pandemic and borders open up, we want to extend this support” said Robert Sharp, Owner of Out Adventures. “Beginning immediately, we will donate $50 to Rainbow Railroad for every guest that travels on a scheduled Out Adventures tour. Every booking will contribute to their efforts to help innocent people live a safe life full of pride.”

“Rainbow Railroad’s work continues to be more vital than ever as the ongoing COVID-19 crisis puts LGBTQI people around the globe at even greater risk. So far in 2021, we have received more than 1,500 requests for help from individuals in over 90 countries,” explained Kimahli Powell, Rainbow Railroad’s Executive Director. “Thanks to the partnership with Out Adventures and their generous support, we will be able to help more people find safety.”

The partnership between Out Adventures and Rainbow Railroad kicks off during Pride month, and will continue into 2022 and beyond.

From Alia to Ali, "Without" Is Based On The True Story Of An Arab Transgender Man’s Search For Belonging

Without by Younis Alakhzami, is a frank and sensitive account of a man searching for belonging as someone he feels he is not.

Without tells a story of searching for belonging both in the world and within your own skin. Born in Saudi Arabia to a Yemeni family, the novel’s protagonist has been ill-at-ease since childhood, because he never felt like a girl. Alia’s alienation grows as he slowly comes to realise that he is, in fact, a man and begins the transition to live life as Ali.

This is a very important story to tell as it portrays the hardship faced by gender non-conforming people in society. The novel is sensitive and frank in how it approaches an intersex person’s struggles with the realities of love, friendship, and survival against the backdrop of a life lived between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, and then later the UK. Without navigates complex issues in a very human way, painting an honest portrait of how people come to terms with challenges they never expected to face. Told in a deceptively simple style, through tightly woven and skillful narration, Without makes these struggles resonate with us all.

Elina Filice Releases an Ode to Queer Youth for Pride Month with “Let’s Get Lost"

 

Singer/songwriter/spoken word artist Elina Filice has released a new single in celebration of Pride Month — “Let's Get Lost” is available now!

The dance-pop anthem celebrates the coming out experience, and getting lost to find yourself. Elina hopes the song can help those struggling to come to terms with who they are, as well as all of those on the lifelong journey away from shame, and into love and pride.

The song departs slightly from Elina’s usual sound into a world of colourful synth-pop, driven by an irresistible disco groove. She says, “If I’m writing a queer anthem, it’s gonna have to be a little gay.”

Rhythmic guitars, driving synths, and a percussive beat meet powerful lyrics about self-discovery. Elina says, “This song was written while reflecting on my own coming out experience. It’s such a unique and painful time, and those first feelings of queer love are so transformative.

“After dating the wrong gender you're finally feeling something that feels right to you, things you’ve never felt for another person. At the exact same time you're realizing who you are. It really is finding yourself through loving someone else, which is why for the queer identity, who we love and who we are are inextricably intertwined.”

The single was recorded in Elina’s home studio, and produced by Viscose.

Elina Filice is gaining attention for songs that defy genre and interactive live performances. Her music is soulful and melodic while influenced by blues and spoken word.

Born to Canadian parents, Elina spent her formative years in Singapore before moving to Canada to attend university. She then relocated to Dublin where she worked extensively in the music industry, and founded Red Vine Records.

Elina is a strong advocate for queer rights and visibility, and regards music as a powerful tool for the queer community. She is fresh off the release of her sophomore EP, Flight Risk, which dropped at the end of May.

Queer Horror Short STEAM Debuts on YouTube for Pride Month

Brazilian director João Dall’Stella (Stalls, Dia De Las Carpas) has debuted his latest
short film, Steam, free for audiences on YouTube. Over the course of 15 minutes, Dall'Stella follows an attractive young couple who decide to spice things up by visiting a bathhouse, only to find a murderous rampage behind the steam instead.

A native of Brazil, Dall'Stella relocated to Los Angeles to start a film career, helming a number of shorts to show his take on life as a gay Person of Color. His AFI thesis film Dia De Las Carpas won the DGA Student Grand Prize for Latino Directors and has been featured in prestigious showcases and festivals such as CAA Moebius, SAG-AFTRA Foundation and Oscar-qualifying film festivals. His short film Stalls has played in more than 50 LGBTQ+ Festivals worldwide. As a member of the Latinx and LGBTQ communities, he began making movies to create his own world where he celebrates them through his stories. His dream is to direct an original film about a gay superhero.

Ahead of the bow, Dall'Stella shared, "Steam is a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community that I'm part of and a combination of personal experiences that I have had throughout my life. It’s fun, thrilling, and scary. It has the perfect combination of love, sex, and death. The horror genre offers a campy quality that fits perfectly with the queer community and that’s why so many of us love horror films.
An imperative aspect was to have a cast of LGBTQ+ actors in the short film because when you created something within the community, you promote change to the industry. We need to tell our own stories without sacrificing the authenticity to please the general audience's eyes."

In terms of the future, Dall'Stella has already developed the short film into a horror feature script that has been gaining attraction as a finalist in the NYC Horror Film Festival screenplay contest and part of the NALIP film market.

MILEY CYRUS PRESENTS STAND BY YOU will stream on Friday, June 25 in celebration of PRIDE month

 

Peacock has announced that MILEY CYRUS PRESENTS STAND BY YOU will stream Friday, June 25 in celebration of PRIDE month.

The hourlong concert event, filmed at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, will feature multi-platinum recording artist, songwriter and trailblazer Miley Cyrus performing an array of her hits such as “The Climb” and “Party in the U.S.A.” and putting her creative spin on beloved classics, including “Believe,” “True Colors,” “We Belong,” “Dancing Queen,” and a special Madonna medley featuring “Music,” “Express Yourself,” and “Like A Prayer” all in the spirit of PRIDE.

MILEY CYRUS PRESENTS STAND BY YOU will feature special guests, award-winning artists and LGBTQ+ allies Brothers Osborne, Mickey Guyton, Little Big Town, Maren Morris and Orville Peck who will join Cyrus for memorable performances and deliver a night of live music and creative collaboration in celebration of PRIDE.

U.S. Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) Called “Unsung Hero” of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal in New LGBTQ Book

In a new book, LGBTQ Lobbying in the United States, authored by Dr. Christopher Pepin-Neff, LGBTQ researcher and Senior Lecturer in Public Policy at the University of Sydney and first lobbyist for Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal, provides an insider view of the fight for LGBTQ civil rights where he calls U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) the “unsung hero” of LGBTQ inclusive military service.

“As the first lobbyist in the United States hired to work for the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, I’ve had a front row seat to historic advancements in LGBTQ equality,” said Dr. Christopher Pepin-Neff, LGBTQ researcher and Senior Lecturer in Public Policy at the University of Sydney. “House Majority Leader Hoyer was undoubtedly the ‘unsung hero’ of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal effort and really deserves more credit in the history books on the legislative effort, which has led to a more inclusive and fairer military for LGBTQ Americans.”

In research for the new book, Dr. Pepin-Neff paints a vivid picture of how the LGBTQ community has achieved groundbreaking advancements over the past two decades. The study and book illustrate how much of the success is owed to the LGBTQ movement’s legal organizations and demonstrates the overwhelming ineffectiveness of mainstream LGBTQ lobbying groups.

“Historic advancements in LGBTQ rights over the past two decades are now being written about in history books and taught in schools,” said Dr. Pepin-Neff. “It’s important we have a full understanding of how LGBTQ progress has happened, who the major players have been in achieving success to date and a hopefully a roadmap for the rest of the critical work left to be done.”

It Gets Better Goes LIVE June 23 & 24 for 2nd Annual "Digital Pride Experience"

The It Gets Better Project, the world’s largest storytelling effort to uplift, empower, and connect LGBTQ+ youth, is hosting their second annual “It Gets Better: A Digital Pride Experience.” The star studded Digital Pride event will feature appearances from Kalen Allen, Mj Rodriguez, Laverne Cox, Aly & AJ, Zachary Quinto, and Pabllo Vittar among others, and will stream live from the organization's YouTube channel on Wednesday, June 23rd - Thursday, June 24th from 19:00 AM PT - 1:00 PM MST.

LADY GAGA REVEALS NEW COVER SONG FROM BORN THIS WAY THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY ALBUM

Today, Lady Gaga revealed that the next artist to join her Born This Way The Tenth Anniversary special edition album is Years & Years (Olly Alexander) with their reimagined version of “The Edge of Glory.” The Born This Way The Tenth Anniversary special edition album is set for release on June 25^th via Interscope. The album contains Gaga's original Born This Way album, along with six new versions of songs reimagined by artists representing and advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community.

 

The first three cover songs revealed from the reimagined tracklist so far include Big Freedia’s reimagined “Judas” , Orville Peck’s reimagined “Born This Way (The Country Road Version)”, and Kylie Minogue’s reimagined version of “Marry the Night”. Pre-order the Born This Way The Tenth Anniversary album and shop the Born This Way merchandise collection.