Thursday, October 15, 2020

World of Wonder Announces 'Bring Back My Ghouls' Halloween Special


Stay inside this Halloween and join the Queens of VH1’s RuPaul’s Drag Race season 12 as they sashay their way into your home for a very special Halloween eleganza! Filled with tricks, treats, and tucks, the Queens will be celebrating all things spooky and scary in the first-ever WOWPresents Halloween special, “Bring Back My Ghouls.” Join reigning crowned queen, Jaida Essence Hall, as she checks up on her drag sisters to see what Halloween festivities they have planned, and catch special lip-sync performances of “I’m That Witch” and “Bring Back My Ghouls.” The season 12 Queens won’t just be bobbing for apples! Fans will also be able to tip the Queens throughout the special, which will be divided up evenly and distributed directly to the Queens. Viewers can send tips through Venmo, PayPal, and Cash App following the information on the screen.

"I am so excited to be back together with my Season 12 sisters. Due to the pandemic, we haven't been able to go on tour so this is a fun chance to spend time with each other as well as the fans,” said Season 12 contestant Heidi N Closet, who will perform in the special.

The special will also include a “Time to Vote” segment created in partnership with Vote Save America, the one-stop shop to get out the vote powered by American political media company Crooked Media, which will feature Heidi N Closet and Brita discussing the importance of voting in the upcoming election and parodying RuPaul’s “Peanut Butter” music video.

“Bring Back My Ghouls” comes on the heels of the global phenomenon franchise taking home six Emmy awards this year, including RuPaul’s record breaking fifth consecutive win for hosting. Taimi, the LGBTQ+ dating app and social network, is set to sponsor the special.

Modern Military Association of America Presents Last Issue of 2020


The Modern Military Association of America, the voice of the LGBTQ military and veteran community, has published the October 2020 issue of Modern Military Magazine. This will be their last issue of the year.

It Gets Better Project Debuts “Out In Front: Queer Youth Changing The World” Docu-Series Sharing Stories of LGBTQ+ Activists

 

The It Gets Better Project, a leading LGBTQ+ nonprofit organization serving LGBTQ+ youth, announced today “Out In Front: Queer Youth Changing The World.” The five episode docu-series will offer a glimpse into the lives of young LGBTQ+ activists doing their part to change their world for the better. The digital series will stream on the organization’s YouTube Channel, episode one is currently available and new episodes will release on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 AM PT  until October 29th, 2020.  The series will provide the global audience of the It Gets Better Project an opportunity to hear stories from members of the LGBTQ+ community about the wide-ranging causes they are championing. 


For the last decade, the It Gets Better Project has upheld a mission to uplift, empower, and connect LGBTQ+ youth around the globe through storytelling and community building. With “Out In Front: Queer Youth Changing The World,” the organization will amplify the stories of five diverse young LGBTQ+ activists from around the world, including:


  • Andrea Gonzales: Youth Over Guns 

In the wake of the Parkland shooting, Andrea became aware of the “white-washing” of the gun violence epidemic. Following a scare at her own high school, she became involved with Youth Over Guns, a New York-based organization dedicated to giving Black and Brown young people a voice.

  • Jude: Activist Behind Jude’s Law 

Jude knew her identity from a very early age. At just 9 years old, she made her first appearance at the Colorado state capitol, testifying in support of House Bill 19-1039, which would make it easier for trans people to change the name and gender designation on their birth certificate. Today, that very law has passed, now with a new name – Jude’s Law. 

  • Stephon Bradberry: We, Too, Are America 

Former Congressional Staffer and Nonbinary anti-racism activist Stephon Bradberry left their job on the hill disappointed that their white counterparts weren’t doing enough to stop attacks on Black and Brown bodies. Now, Bradberry serves as the Founder and CEO of We, Too, Are America, a non-profit organization dedicated to uplifting Black voices and propelling Black liberation. 

  • Victor Romero: United We Dream 

Growing up, Victor felt as though he could come out to some people as undocumented and others as queer, but rarely both. Now, Romero is using his platform at United We Dream to help other queer, undocumented folks receive adequate medical care. Recently, he started a program in New Mexico that provides HIV testing and resources to people in need. 

  • Cynthia Garcia: United We Dream 

Cynthia Garcia migrated to Oklahoma at 15, living in fear her family could be deported. Coming out to her mother “was like a telenovela” and she found a great deal of homophobia in the Latinx immigrant community and anti-immigrant sentiment in her local queer community. Now, Garcia works in deportation defense, helping other “undocuqueer” people in crisis avoid deportation. 


“Out In Front: Queer Youth Changing the World” was made possible through a grant from Converse. The footwear and apparel brand has been a supporter of the It Gets Better Project since 2017 having invested more than $370,000 in the organization’s work, a transformative partnership that has empowered LGBTQ+ young people as they drive the change they want to see in the world. This year’s support marks a new chapter in how the organizations are combining their strengths to reach even more LGBTQ+ young people where they live, learn, and socialize.

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Claud - Gold

Claud has released a brand new track, “Gold,” along with a beguiling video directed by Christina Xing. 

Says Claud of the new song, “Imagine stepping onto a ship that’s moving back ‘n forth back ‘n forth but perfectly in time. ONE, two, three, four, ONE, two, three, four, ONE… You know you’re sinking but at the same time you’re mesmerized by the way the ship synchronized itself with the sea. I have never been on a sinking ship in the middle of the sea but I have been in a relationship.” Of the creature assimilation narrative of the accompanying video, Claud adds, “Gold” is about contradictions; an instructor attempting to teach a class of monsters proper manners so they can assimilate; a relationship getting so tired and so old that even gold starts to rust (which isn’t scientifically possible).”

National AIDS Memorial to Launch 50-State AIDS Memorial Quilt Virtual Exhibition in Conjunction with World AIDS Day


The National AIDS Memorial is announcing a virtual exhibition of the AIDS Memorial Quilt (the Quilt) that will feature more than 10,000 Quilt panels representing all 50 state and U.S. territories. The memorial is inviting interested panelmakers, individuals, businesses and non-profit organizations to be part of this historic effort to use the power of the Quilt to help a nation heal and remember during these difficult times.

Each year on World AIDS Day, the National AIDS Memorial Quilt team works with hundreds of partners to arrange more than 1,000 in-person Quilt displays across the country at universities, places of worship, museums, businesses and community centers to honor and remember loved ones lost to AIDS. This year, for health and safety reasons, that isn't possible due to COVID-19.

“World AIDS Day is taking on new meaning this year, as COVID-19 has brought an enormous loss of life and grief to millions of people,” said John Cunningham, executive director of the National AIDS Memorial. “During the darkest days of the AIDS crisis, the Quilt was a source of immense comfort, inspiration and used as a tool for social activism to open the eyes of the nation to injustice and to help survivors grieve and heal. Through this exhibition, we hope the power and beauty of the Quilt can serve that same purpose for those who are experiencing loss and grief due to COVID-19.”

The virtual exhibition provides a unique way for individuals and organizations to host a display of the Quilt and be a part of this first-ever 50-state exhibition. Each display host will be able to feature a selection of beautiful Quilt blocks of their choice and curate a personalized display narrative that will accompany each display.

The exhibition will be free to the public, launching on November 16, 2020 in advance of World AIDS Day at www.aidsmemorial.org/virtual2020. Displays will be categorized by state under the individual or organization host name and presented virtually as the first-ever 50-state exhibition of the Quilt. The exhibition will run through March 31, 2021.

The fee to participate as a virtual display host is $500.00. Applications to participate must be received by November 1, 2020 to be part of the current exhibition. Proceeds from the exhibition will be used to ensure the continued care and conservation of more than 48,000 individual panels of this national treasure. Each year, in-person Quilt displays account for more than half of the Quilt’s annual operating budget. Additional support for the Quilt and its programs are funded through the generous support from Gilead Sciences, Vivent Health and other partners.

“Even though nothing can replace seeing our beautiful Quilt in person, this virtual exhibition allows us to still share the Quilt and its stories just as we have done for past three decades around World AIDS Day,” said Gert McMullan, a co-founder of the Quilt and Quilt Conservator at the National AIDS Memorial.

2020 marks 40 years since the first cases of AIDS were reported in the United States, a pandemic that has led to nearly 700,000 lives lost, and still no cure four decades later. As our nation struggles through the Covid-19 pandemic, the horrific loss of life has surpassed 200,000 in a matter of months.

On World AIDS Day on December 1, the National AIDS Memorial will bring together powerful voices from both pandemics for an important conversation about health justice, social activism, remembrance, hope and resilience. World AIDS Day 2020, A National Conversation will spotlight the interconnectedness of both pandemics -- the lives lost, the survivors, the activism, the heroes. Through a distinguished list of guest speakers, panelists, video storytelling, and musical tributes, we will share important insights and help answer the questions about how a nation responds, how it heals, and what lessons must be learned to prepare for the future. More details about the National AIDS Memorial World AIDS Day program will be announced in the coming weeks.

Campus Pride Announces 2020 BEST OF THE BEST LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges & Universities


Campus Pride commemorates LGBTQ History Month and National Coming Out Day by releasing its 2020 BEST OF THE BEST LGBTQ-Friendly listing of colleges and universities. The announcement features forty campuses from six regions of the country who are deeply committed to LGBTQ students and who rate the highest for LGBTQ-inclusion in policy, program and practice.
“On behalf of Campus Pride, I want to commend all the campuses featured among the 2020 ‘BEST OF THE BEST’ LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities for their exemplary commitment and work to make their campuses safer and more welcoming,” said Tom Elliott, Campus Pride Board Chair. “In times like these, we need to commit to creating safe and welcoming spaces for all students.”

For nearly two decades, Campus Pride has advocated and supported college and university campuses to improve LGBTQ campus life and change institutional policies, programs and practices. The Campus Pride Index (CPI), located at www.CampusPrideIndex.org, provides an invaluable benchmarking tool to assess LGBTQ-inclusion efforts from academics, to student life, to housing, to recruitment and retention activities. There are nearly 400 colleges who have “come out” on the index and hundreds of thousands who utilize the public search to find LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities annually.

“Today college campuses must ‘come out’ and be visible as LGBTQ-friendly. Students expect inclusive, equitable learning environments at colleges in all regions of the country. And as a basic standard, they demand campuses have LGBTQ-inclusive policies, programs and services,” said Shane Windmeyer, Executive Director, Campus Pride. “These forty campuses, across six diverse regions, are leading the charge.”

This year Campus Pride chose to put a spotlight on the regional diversity of the list by highlighting colleges and universities by region. Campus Pride works with over 1400 colleges and universities annually to improve the quality of campus life for LGBTQ people and to create safer, more inclusive campus communities. Sixty percent of their work is dedicated to working with colleges in the South, Midwest and campuses within more rural communities.

The 2020 BEST OF THE BEST College & University listing is based on the data provided annually through the CPI related to policies, programs and practice. The research is analyzed by the Campus Pride research team using the proven CPI LGBTQ-Friendly factors and knowledge of the LGBTQ higher education landscape.

“Every student deserves to go to a college that is inclusive and a safe space - to learn, live and grow,” said Windmeyer. “This October is LGBTQ History Month and National Coming Out Day was October 11. Let us commit ourselves to LGBTQ inclusion, coming out and supporting LGBTQ youth in living full, authentic lives.”

Monday, October 12, 2020

BUT I'M A CHEERLEADER : Director’s Cut of the Queer Cult Classic Comes Out on Digital 4K Ultra HD December 8


Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of “the best lesbian movie of all time” (Riese Bernard, Autostraddle) when But I’m a Cheerleader: Director’s Cut arrives on Digital 4K Ultra HD December 8 from Lionsgate.

“I uncovered some amazing lost scenes that I wasn't able to include in the original film and am so happy to see them added back into this cut. This film is so special to me and I can't wait for everyone to fall in love with it all over again,” said director Jamie Babbit.

This whimsically edgy comedy follows teenager Megan (Natasha Lyonne), whose suburban existence filled with friends, cheerleading, and all-American fun is upended when her straight-laced parents suspect she may be a lesbian. In a panic, they send her to True Directions, a “rehabilitation” camp run by the strict and prudish Mary (Cathy Moriarty), to mount an intervention led by counselor Mike (RuPaul Charles). Megan dutifully follows the program — until she develops feelings for another camper (Clea DuVall) in this timeless, satirical romantic-comedy about self-acceptance and love, also costarring Melanie Lynskey, Eddie Cibrian and Michelle Williams.

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Spend Halloween with 'Daughters of Darkness'


Co-written and directed by Harry Kümel, DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS remains one of the most exquisitely mesmerizing adult horror films ever made. Blue Underground is now proud to present the uncensored Director's Cut of this classic psychosexual shocker in a gorgeous restoration, scanned in 4K 16-bit from its long-lost original 35mm camera negative, with Dolby Vision HDR and a new Dolby Atmos audio mix, packed with revealing Extras!

 International screen icon Delphine Seyrig (LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD) stars as Elizabeth Bathory, an ageless Countess with a beautiful young 'companion' (Goth goddess Andrea Rau) and a legendary legacy of perversion. But when the two women seduce a troubled newlywed couple (Canadian beauty Danielle Ouimet and John Karlen of DARK SHADOWS and CAGNEY & LACEY), they unleash a frenzy of sudden violence and depraved desire that shocked both art house audiences and grindhouse crowds worldwide.


San Miguel de Allende is the ‘Best Small City in the World’ According to Condé Nast Traveler’s 2020 Readers’ Choice Award


San Miguel de Allende, located in the Mexican state of Guanajuato, returned to the annual Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards announced this morning. San Miguel de Allende came in at the top of the “Small Cities in the World” list as one of only two Mexican cities to make the list, the other being Mérida, Yucatán. San Miguel de Allende is also home to four of the top 15 “Best Hotels in Mexico” as ranked by readers: Rosewood San Miguel de Allende (No. 1), Hotel Matilda (No. 2), Hotel Casa Rosada (No. 5) and Dos Casas Hotel & Spa (No. 13).

“We are more than proud to return to the RCA list this year, and I am more than proud to thank the readers of Condé Nast Traveler for this honor that is, without doubt, a reflection of the welcoming nature of our residents and the hard work our tourism infrastructure does on a continuous basis,” said San Miguel de Allende’s Mayor, Luis Alberto Villarreal García. “Considering the current situation of the tourism industry, we are overjoyed with this recognition,” added Laura Torres Septién, President of the San Miguel de Allende Tourism Board. “We welcome any and all good news that gives a sense of normalcy.”

The UNESCO World Heritage city started its reopening process on July 15  after a four-month closing of its entrances to non-residents. With more than 200,000 inhabitants, San Miguel de Allende has reported one of Mexico’s lowest numbers of cases of Covid-19, a result of strict health policies and its local “Heath First” certification, which was launched on May 25, and reinforced by certification with the WTTC “Safe Travels” stamp on July 2.

San Miguel de Allende first appeared on the CNTRCA in 2013. Most recently, it was recognized as the “Best Small City in the World” in 2017 and 2018. This year, more than 715,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers submitted an incredible number of responses rating their travel experiences across the globe.

“The results of this year’s survey, conducted at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, are a testament to the lasting power of a meaningful travel experience,” said Jesse Ashlock, U.S. Editor of Condé Nast Traveler. “The winners represent the best of the best for our audience and offer plenty of trip-planning inspiration for all the adventures we can’t wait to have next.”

The Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards are the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry. The full list of winners can be found here.

The Alexander Gets Honored at The 2020 Power Gala


By Alexander Limas, Chair, The Alexander Foundation


The Denver Power Gala began 22 years ago when the Colorado LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce decided to create an event to celebrate advocates for the LGBTQ community, to raise money for charity partners, and to provide an event for supporters of the LGBTQ community to network with other like minded people.


Seven years ago, the Colorado LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce realized that their gala took place around the same time in October as the Out Front Foundation gala. The two organizations decided to join forces so that they could create an event that was capable of having a greater impact.


This year, The Alexander Foundation is proud to have been named a Power Award Winner! TAF's Tradition is Caring. We believe that power comes from our community's resilience and desire to support one another. The Alexander Foundation is powered by dedicated volunteers striving to make a happy and healthy LGBTQ+ community in our State.


We are so grateful to be honored at this year's Power Gala. This year's Silent Auction is benefiting The Alexander Foundation - please consider bidding on silent auction items!




Netflix Announces 'Selena: The Series'

Today, Netflix debuted the date announcement, teaser video and key art for Selena: The Series, a coming-of-age story following Selena as she chases her dreams, and the heart-wrenching and life-changing sacrifices she and her family make as they navigate the highs and lows of success, loss, love, and music. Part one of the two-part series premieres on Netflix on December 4, 2020.

Before she became the Queen of Tejano Music, Selena Quintanilla was a young girl from Texas with big dreams and an even bigger voice. The two-part coming-of-age drama Selena: The Series explores the once-in-a-generation performer's journey as a young artist, from singing small gigs in Corpus Christi with her family to becoming one of the most successful Latin artists of all time — and the years of grit and sacrifice the Quintanilla family navigated together before Selena's meteoric rise to fame.

Monday, October 5, 2020

Lupin - KO Kid

Today, Lupin offers "KO Kid," the final exciting cut shared before the release of his self-titled solo debut this Friday. “KO Kid” is a sonic fever dream bolstered by a thunderously sluggish beat and Jake Luppen’s trademark falsetto, coyly dipping in and out of the proceedings. The production from longtime Luppen collaborator BJ Burton somehow manages to be both understated and bold, replete with keys from Frank Ocean keyboardist Buddy Ross and drums from JT Bates, whose most recent credit includes the new Taylor Swift album. The song is accompanied by a fittingly surreal claymation acid trip that perfectly conveys the anxious energy of the song, directed by Karla Mellett. Of the song, Luppen explains:

“I had the KO Kid guitar progression for a long time before I eventually worked it into a finished track,” says Luppen. “I was having a really difficult time trying to write a melody over it, so one day I decided to just improvise the vocals for the verses, which is why the melody feels more off the cuff than the other songs. The lyrics allude to the night I told my girlfriend at the time about my attraction to a non-binary friend. I’ve spent most of my life repressing my attraction to people that didn’t identify as women, so I wrote the idea of the KO KID-character as a way to fight those inhibitive and self-imposed judgments.”

Although Luppen rose to prominence as a vocalist and guitarist in St. Paul’s beloved indie outfit Hippo Campus, the songs of his debut solo album Lupin feel like meeting him for the first time. He puts it succinctly: “With this record I wanted to get to the point, and say how things were, as opposed to dancing around them.”
 

 

Screamfest LA Kicks off with Adaptation of Clive Barker's 'Books of Blood'

 

Screamfest LA will kick off on October 6 with the Opening Night screening of Books of Blood, based on Clive Barker’s acclaimed and influential horror anthology Books of Blood. The feature from director Brannon Braga and executive producer Seth MacFarlane is slated to premiere as a Hulu original film on October 7. The film will screen under the stars at the stunning opening night location of Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, CA, and will take audiences on a journey into uncharted and forbidden territory through three uncanny tales tangled in space and time. The feature stars Britt Robertson, Rafi Gavron, Anna Friel, Yul Vazquez, and Freda Foh Shen.

Friday, October 2, 2020

CYNDI LAUPER REUNITES WITH GRAMMY-WINNING PRODUCER TRACY YOUNG FOR “HOPEFUL” REMIX

With one month to go until the monumental high-stakes U.S. election, Cyndi Lauper has enlisted GRAMMY-winning producer/remixer Tracy Young to create an amped up version of “Hope.”

“There is so much going on right now - from the Coronavirus, to the perpetual mistreatment of our Black and Brown brothers and sisters, to the abhorrent targeting of our LGBTQ community, to the divisiveness that’s happening in this country. No matter what side of the aisle you’re in - in the U.S. or around the globe - we're all human beings and I believe we all want the same things - unity and peace,” said Lauper. “We have to remain hopeful that things will get better. That’s why we march, we speak out, we fight for each other’s rights, and it’s why we vote.”

This thumping take on Lauper’s “Hope” single from 2019 was created by Tracy Young, who made history in January when she became the first woman to win a GRAMMY Award for Best Remixed Recording.

Lauper and Young have previously worked together, on this searing remix of “Shine.”  The “Hopeful Remix” arrives with a video created by the talented young London-based animator Harifa, who has previously collaborated with Lauper, Ciara and more. The ultimate take-away? “Don’t give up.” 

“One of the things that I love about this project is that it really spans generations,” said Lauper. “You have three strong, creative women – me, Tracy, and Harifa – coming together to make magic.”

Lauper continues to reinforce her status as a role model, advocate and icon. Tik Tok is collaborating with Lauper and True Colors United on the #ShowYourTrueColors campaign for “National Coming Out Day” (October 11). In addition, Sony Music’s Legacy Recordings has commissioned a beautiful new lyric video for “Time After Time,” by Malikah Holder, also to premiere in time for National Coming Out Day.

Lauper is performing “Time After Time” on the PBS Great Performances: Salute To Grammy Legends concert that will air October 16, and was recently a part of the TIME100 and their broadcast on ABC last week, honoring her friend and collaborator Billy Porter.  She also doubled down on her fervent advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community via her True Colors United organization in this Op-Ed for the LA Times. Co-authored with former Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro and Shaun Donovan, the piece calls out the Trump administration’s transgender discrimination.

In addition, Lauper has been very active during the 2020 election season, performing at and participating a number of high-profile virtual events for #TeamBiden and Speaker Pelosi. She’s also enjoyed being a part of Richard Weitz’s pandemic Quarantunes parties, raising money for Broadway Cares and others.  

Lauper also has a key role in Rise Up: Songs of The Women’s Movement, a documentary that has been airing on PBS throughout the year.  She duetted virtually with Irma Thomas for CBS’s Grammy Salute to Unsung Heroes special tribute to healthcare workers in May, and continues to work on projects including the Working Girl musical coming to Broadway and a Netflix show with Jane Lynch and Carol Leifer.  Her original songs were featured in Apple TV’s animated musical comedy series Central Park, she appeared as a character in Nickelodeon's Bubble Guppies, and has new music in the upcoming new Spongebob movie

Thursday, October 1, 2020

Books - Lovers: Ten Years On

Of his new book, Lovers: Ten Years On, Sunil Gupta says, "These photographs were made in London. The couples define themselves as such by various criteria; some live together, some don’t, some have been together a short time, some a very long time. I believe the relationship between gay men is an important but often neglected component central to their lives."

 In 1984 Sunil Gupta's first long term relationship broke down shortly after he arrived in London in 1984. He had met his lover in the early 1970’s when the impact of the gay movement upon the consciousness of gay men was just gaining ground.

Then, gay was good, and gay was proud. The laws against gay sex had been turned back. The definition of homosexuality as a psychiatric disorder was successfully challenged. The commercial scene and the visibility of gay men expanded to unprecedented levels. The arrival of HIV/AIDS changed all that. Gay men came under attack, from the state and its various channels. The media mounted a vicious campaign to label gay men as sick and irresponsible. Gay men were almost exclusively represented as ill. Patients of some incurable disease that had been equated with their sexuality.

Couples though had come into their own. Gay self-help groups encouraged a change in sexual behaviour and a reduction in the number of partners. However, still without legal recognition, with the new emphasis on monogamy, with social attitudes reverting to hostility and given the invisibility of day-to-day life for gay men within relationships, being a partner in the 1980s proved to be as difficult as it had been decades ago.