Joy Ruckus Club 3: Virtual Lunar New Year

Today, Sessions is excited to announce, in partnership with Kublai Kwon's Joy Ruckus Club, the third edition of the largest Asian American virtual music festival in the world, The Joy Ruckus Club: Virtual Lunar New Year Festival, February 16th-21st. Sessions is committed to partnering with promoters and booking agents to co-promote artist driven virtual festivals to a worldwide audience.

Kublai, who has been promoting Asian artists in the US for 20+ years, believes in Sessions’ forward-thinking assessment. "With more acts and more stages than Coachella, Joy Ruckus Club 3 will be the biggest Lunar New Year music festival in the world in 2021, adding another milestone to the fastest growing live stream platform, Sessions, with 180 artists on 9 virtual stages across 6 days. As a celebration of Asia's most spiritual and important holiday, the event will be free and accessible for the entire world to experience. In a year in which public gatherings to observe Lunar New Year will not be happening, Joy Ruckus Club 3 will fill the void and enable audiences from over 230 countries to congregate virtually to celebrate the Year of the Ox through music.”

Co-founded by digital music pioneer and former Pandora founder Tim Westergren and fellow entrepreneur and long time developer of virtual games Gordon Su, Sessions is driving a surge in rising artists who have never had the opportunity to reach such a large audience. "We are thrilled to continue our exclusive partnership with Joy Rukus Club," said Westergren. "JRC3 takes virtual concerts to a whole new level. This nonstop global festival, spanning six days and 180 artists across multiple continents and time zones will bring together a community of fans from over 230 countries to enjoy and discover a diverse and talented collection of Asian artists."

180 artists of all genres will perform in one continuous live stream from locations around the world, including North America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Copenhagen, London, Dubai, Vietnam, Malaysia, UK and more, on 9 virtual stages (Ox Stage, Canada Stage, Viet Q Live Stage, Dubai Stage, Europe Stage, Traktivist Stage, Australia/NZ Stage, Dragon Stage, and Hip Hop Stage).

JRC has grown from 2 days to 6 days, from 2 stages to 9 stages, from 40 artists to 70 artists to 180 artists. With stages showcasing Asian artists from Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and Canada, JRC 3 is far more intensely international in scope than its predecessors, although Asian American artists still comprise the majority. This time, also, since JRC 3 coincides with the Lunar New Year holiday, it is not just an Asian music festival, it doubles as a Lunar New Year festival. JRC 3 is a world community cultural event in a year in which most Lunar New Year parades and public celebrations will not be happening.

The debut of Joy Ruckus Club in late August attracted over 700,000 music fans. Partnering with Sessions for their third festival, Joy Ruckus Club plans on expanding their reach to over 200 countries by leveraging the proprietary marketing technology of Sessions.

Joy Ruckus Club is a space for Asian artists from the underrepresented demographic to come together as one and showcase their talent exclusively on SessionsLive.com.

The event will be free for the whole world to experience.

In New Planet Classroom Podcast Youth Teach Youth How to Create Impactful Stories for a Modern World

Humans appear to be in the middle of a cultural shift in communication. Research studies point to people’s attention spans continuing to shorten. A new global writing contest by Book Creator featured on the Planet Classroom Network YouTube Channel challenges young writers to create an impactful story for the world in just one page.

According to Orb, the virtual host of the new Planet Classroom show, 55,000 word novels are often competing with 280 character tweets. And so, if technology has changed the way audiences connect with stories, what does this mean about the communication skills young people around the world need to flourish?

According to young student writers in Scotland, Greece, and Texas, people must rethink the way they express themselves to modern audiences. “Before technology, the only way to tell stories was by mouth or in a book. Now we have audiobooks, podcasts, television, and many more,” says Magnus, a student in Scotland. Nikos, a student in Greece, notes that thanks to the internet, people’s lives are “full of images and rapid snap shots.” And as a result of this, writers “should be able to tell short stories and show in a vivid and colorful way various pieces of people’s experience.” Lennon in Texas stresses the importance of networking skills, pointing out that telling “short” stories is “a large part of how we develop personal connections with others as life goes on.”

National AIDS Memorial Observes Black History Month with AIDS Memorial Quilt Virtual Exhibition Honoring Black Lives Lost to AIDS

During Black History Month, the National AIDS Memorial honors Black lives lost to AIDS with a specially curated selection of 56 blocks of the AIDS Memorial Quilt (the Quilt). The exhibition uses the beauty and power of the Quilt to bring to light stories of the countless men, women and children who have died, and the impact AIDS has had on Black Americans.

“This virtual exhibition shares stories of hope, healing and remembrance to honor Black lives lost to AIDS,” said John Cunningham, Executive Director of the National AIDS Memorial. “Our hope is that it helps raise greater awareness about the ongoing struggle with HIV and the impact systemic barriers have to positive health outcomes, particularly among the Black community.”

In the 40 years since the first cases of AIDS were reported, Black Americans and communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by AIDS. By 1993, HIV was the leading cause of death for Black men between the ages 25-44 and by 2004, HIV became the leading cause of death for Black women in the same age group. In 2018, Black Americans made up 42% of the nearly 38,000 new HIV diagnoses in the U.S., with half of those living in southern states. The Quilt is a powerful tool to reach these communities through its stories of resilience, healing, hope and remembrance represented in each panel.

Partners for the Black History Month AIDS Memorial Quilt Virtual Exhibition include the Black AIDS Institute, Gilead Sciences and Vivent Health, national leaders in the fight against AIDS.

“Today, Black Americans face the highest impact of HIV/AIDS compared to all other races and ethnicities. This highlights the need to center Black and LGBTQ people in the fight to end the epidemic,” said Raniyah Copeland, President and CEO, Black AIDS Institute. “By sharing these powerful stories from the Quilt, we can continue to advocate for Black people living with HIV, defy stigma, and create awareness around prevention and treatment options available today that can end HIV in Black communities over the next decade.”

In 2013, as part of ongoing awareness and educational efforts, a special Quilt program, Call My Name, was created to draw attention to HIV/AIDS in the Black community and the public health crisis that still exists today. The program aims to create a greater number of Quilt panels that reflect the impact of HIV/AIDS within the Black community and the effect stigma and prejudice have on increased infection rates.

“We selected Quilt panels for this exhibition that tell some of the many stories of Black Americans who lost their lives to AIDS, and whose loved ones honored them by stitching their stories, their memories, their hopes into the Quilt,” said Gert McMullin, National AIDS Memorial Quilt Conservator. “These stories are of children, women and men who we lost to AIDS and who all are remembered through the Quilt.”

Some of the featured stories in the exhibition include:

· Panels made as part of the Call My Name program, one of which honors Wandra, made by her hairdresser, who kept Wandra’s secret of being HIV-positive for 10 years, until her death. She wanted to honor Wandra, a neonatologist in Atlanta, who “had a life of accomplishment” noting that her friend loved to ski and watch ballet, “I wanted to honor that.” (Block 5788)

· Black children who lost their lives to AIDS, including one panel that honors two year old Alexzandria that shows her photo, a teddy bear, Big Bird and a poem written by her mother Charlene, who says she pours her grief into the poems and stories she has been writing since Alexzandria died. "I can be angry about it, but instead I soothe myself with my writing." (Block 2542) Another memorializes “Dougie,” who lost his life to AIDS at the age of eight. His mother lovingly made his panel, which includes a painting of him from a photo taken when he met musical artist Ice-T. (Block 2268)

· Panels in memory of Black women who died of AIDS, such as Belynda, a Massachusetts AIDS activist who dedicated herself to helping organize Black churches in the fight against AIDS. According to her pastor, “within a few years, she had 45 black churches doing prevention education...she helped us cross ideological and theological lines.” (Block 5718)

· Black celebrities – musicians, artists, designers, journalists – lost to AIDS, and, through their work and connection to people, brought awareness to the pandemic. A Quilt panel honors Sean Sasser, an AIDS activist who appeared on MTV’s The Real World: San Francisco, and who openly shared his relationship with Pedro Zamora, helping open hearts and minds to LGBT issues and those living with HIV/AIDS. (Block 5975) Another remembers the iconic “Sylvester” James, Eazy-E, Max Robinson, Author Ashe and Willi Smith, with records, CDs and photographs sewn onto it. (Block 5888)

· Several panels honor Black men who died of AIDS, including three that have military uniforms sewn into them to honor their service. (Block 5976) Another honors George Gramby, who spent the last decade of his life helping people overcome substance abuse, forming a program called “Beginnings”, which still operates today. For more than 25 years, the town of Morristown, New Jersey holds an annual day in his memory. (Block 5592)

PEOPLE Exclusive: Laverne Cox Launches New Podcast in Hopes of Experiencing 'Spiritual Makeover'

Laverne Cox is making big moves.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the Emmy-nominated actress and activist opens up about the launch of her first podcast, The Laverne Cox Show, why she made the decision to share her vulnerability with listeners and what she hopes to gain from her journey.

"Shondaland approached me a couple of years ago and asked me if I wanted to do this," Cox, 48, says of the how the podcast — a project produced by Cox and Shondaland Productions alongside iHeartMedia — came about. "And I was like, 'Well, if I do it, then I think I want to have intimate conversations with people who I can learn something from.' And so that's really what the podcast is. It's me, in intimate conversations with people — some people I know, some people I don't know — about topics that I want to learn more about and want our listeners to learn more about."

The podcast, which launched on Thursday, will release weekly episodes featuring guests from various walks of life discussing thought-provoking topics while offering different perspectives.

For Cox, the decision to take on the project had everything to do with "personal growth."

"We have an episode about residential segregation and systemic racism, but then we have some stuff about dating — a good number of things about dating," Cox reveals. "A lot of this is about my own growth."

"I really am interested in having a spiritual makeover and that's really what this is about," the actress adds. "It's about having conversations that will inspire new perspectives, that hopefully will encourage us to live differently and make different choices."

Since Cox began her podcast journey as "the interviewer," the star says she's evolved significantly.

"I've grown since the podcast has happened," she says. "But that is an ongoing process, and sometimes it's two steps forward and one step back when it comes to spiritual growth and psychological and emotional growth."

"So today I'm feeling really good, tomorrow something might come up, and I might be challenged," she continues. "And I'll have to pull out some of my skills from the community resiliency model. I might need to pull out some shame resiliency tools. A lot of it's about having different frameworks. Because then we can usually use a calmer lens to look at something."

Cox hopes listeners take "whatever they need for themselves to be the very best version of themselves."

"There's a phrase, 'Take what you want, and leave the rest,'" she says. "And sometimes, we listen to something or we read something and it doesn't resonate with us in the moment, or one part of it will resonate with us in the moment. Because that's what we need at the time. And then we might listen to it a year later, and something else resonates, because that's what we need at the time."

"So I hope my listeners get what they need to be the best version of themselves in that moment," she continues. "And what they need to grow in this moment. Because it's really about individual moments. That's what our lives are. The only thing we can really be guaranteed, is this moment."

New episodes of The Laverne Cox Show will be available every Thursday on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

Transgender Drama “Lupe” to Premiere on HBO Latino & HBO Max

HBO Latino has acquired film festival darling the moving LGBTQ immigrant story “Lupe,” co-directed by André Phillips (“Never Surrender: A Galaxy Quest Documentary,” “This Killing Business”) & Charles Vuolo (“Rot,” “Alice Fades Away”), to premiere on Friday, February 26 (8:00 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO Latino and available to stream on HBO Max. “Lupe” is an extraordinary trifecta of an emotional drama that explores the topics of family, immigration and embracing one’s true identity. In the feature film debut of directing team André Phillips & Charles Vuolo, we are introduced to the complex world of Rafael (Rafael Albarrán in a star making turn), a Cuban immigrant and boxer, struggling with their transgender identity while searching for their missing sister, Isabel (the luminescent Lucerys Medina) in New York City’s underground sex industry. “Lupe” was written and directed with consultation from Celia Harrison, a transgender artist, and additionally shepherded through by transgender executive producer Kerry Michelle O’Brien (“Chopin to Infinity”).

“Lupe” shines an intimate light on the complex story of an immigrant struggling with their transgender identity while searching for their missing sister, Isabel in New York City’s underground sex industry.  The city's underworld turns bloody as Rafael continues their quest to liberate their sister from a life of exploitation. Rafael’s search is routine and bloody until the growing need to understand their gender identity beings to compete with their mission? A film of many contrasts (Cuba vs. NY City, a chiseled boxer vs. a femme fatale), this moving film moves seamlessly between English & Spanish and features a rich cinematic landscape lensed by cinematographer T. Acton Fitzgerald (“Gutterbug”). Celia Harrison portrays the role of Lana, the protagonist’s friend and advisor. All of Celia’s  scenes were unscripted, as the directors emphatically sought to retain Celia’s voice and perspective. This rich tapestry of a transgender immigrant was written by Celia Harrison, André Phillips & Charles Vuolo,  featuring a score by Christopher French (“Unlovable,” “Young & Hungry”) edited by Shiran Amir (“Z Nation,” “Student Body”) produced by Anthony Ambrosino (“The Wrong Todd,” “Painless”), Andrew McCarthy (“Radio Days,” “Alice Fades Away”), Leigh Lanocha (“The Clear,” “Gutterbug”), and executive produced by Kerry Michelle O’Brien.

“We are incredibly proud to have ‘Lupe’ debut on HBO, this bilingual story of loss, identity and discovery has found it’s perfect platform. To have a film that features transgender individuals portrayed not as victims but actual champions of their own destiny is such an important message to be seen and heard, front and center without having to be hidden in allegories,” Kerry Michelle O’Brien, executive producer.

The ultimate hope with “Lupe” was to create a work of expression that avoids overt category and classification. To show the character of Rafael, a struggling immigrant and transgender woman, can be seen as realistic, flawed but strong. Many films have portrayed transgender characters as drug addicts, prostitutes and mentally unstable. The filmmakers and cast believe the most interesting characters are imperfect, honest and tangible. “Lupe” is a film that seeks to showcase some of the real-world issues and struggles facing the transgender community in a grounded and positive manner. To lend the film a quasi-documentary feeling, the filmmakers embraced a bare-bones style of filming utilizing hand-held cinematography while filming in both NYC and in the Dominican Republic.

Colorado Tourism Office Teams With Local Celebrities to Reduce COVID Risk

 

Enlisting a lineup of Colorado-based celebrities and a humorous approach, the Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) today launched a campaign aimed at educating winter season visitors to avoid spreading COVID-19.

The campaign, announced during Gov. Jared Polis’ Tuesday press briefing, features five high-profile locals in a series of snappy videos explaining how to “Do Colorado Right,” whether by distancing, wearing a mask or staying home when sick. The lineup includes Olympic Gold Medalist Red Gerard of Silverthorne, two-time Top Chef competitor Brother Luck of Colorado Springs and three well-known Denver residents -- Bachelor contestant Ben Higgins, TV medical advisor Dr. Payal Kohli and fashion blogger Esther Leach.

“Colorado’s small businesses and workers have gone above and beyond to instill consumer confidence, and keep themselves and their communities safe during this challenging time,” said Governor Polis. “We continue to urge locals, and those visiting our beautiful state, alike, to continue to do their part to slow the spread of this deadly virus, and to help ensure we can all have a successful and safe winter season and build back stronger than before.”

The “Do Colorado Right” campaign is a departure from the Colorado Tourism Office’s typical inspirational winter travel campaign and is part of the office’s strategy this winter to mitigate major threats to winter tourism. The Winter Backcountry Safety campaign launched in December to equip enthusiasts, both seasoned and newcomers, to recreate safely and responsibly in Colorado’s vast outdoors and take the Backcountry Safety Pledge.

“We saw an opportunity to leverage the CTO’s marketing might to keep Colorado communities safer and our ski slopes and tourism-related businesses open by mitigating the spread of COVID-19,” said CTO Director Cathy Ritter. “We are so grateful to these five well-known Coloradans for sharing these important messages Colorado-style, in ways that we hope will especially connect with the Millennials and GenXers who are leading the return to travel.”

Aimed at both Colorado residents and people actively booking travel to Colorado, the “Do Colorado Right” videos will be shared on the influencers’ social channels, through paid advertising and via CTO’s Colorado.com and Visit Colorado social channels, including Instagram and TikTok. Additionally, Dr. Kohli will host a live session via YouTube on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 2:00 p.m. MST to answer COVID-related questions from both Colorado residents and visitors.

“It’s an honor to support my home state and partner with the Colorado Tourism Office to share this important safety message,” said Ben Higgins, a contestant on season 20 of ABC’s The Bachelor and Denver restaurant owner. “We as a state depend so much on tourism. During this time it is important to enjoy all of the activities we are blessed to have here in Colorado in a smart and healthy way. I want to do my part to help keep Colorado safe, and this campaign highlights practical ways to do that.”

For more information and to see the “Do Colorado Right” tips and videos, visit www.Colorado.com/DoColoradoRight.

After SOPHIE’s death, thousands ask NASA to name a planet in her honor

As fans and collaborators continue to mourn SOPHIE’s death from an accidental fall, one fan has taken Change.org by storm with a popular idea of how best to honor the electronic music pioneer: in just two days, more than 20,000 people have signed Christian Arroyo’s petition asking NASA to name a newly discovered planet in SOPHIE’s honor.

Signatures skyrocketed after Charli XCX, one of SOPHIE’s frequent collaborators, voiced her support for the campaign on Twitter today. The campaign is now one of the fastest-growing petitions on Change.org this week, currently growing at a rate of one signature every 18 seconds.

In the petition description, Arroyo explains why SOPHIE meant so much to him and others in the LGBTQIA+ community: “SOPHIE was a highly influential singer, songwriter, and producer who was a source of great inspiration to the LGBTQIA+ community. Her messages, actions, and music left a lasting impression on many LGBTQIA+ individuals. She always pushed a message of individuality and expressing your true self that resonated throughout everything she did.”

Arroyo goes on to share why he chose to ask NASA to name the planet after SOPHIE: “SOPHIE released an album in 2018, titled Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides. On the cover art for the album, SOPHIE sits surrounded by water in an ethereal setting. Recently revealed images TOI-1338 b, a planet discovered in the Summer of 2019 by Wolf Cukier, bear a resemblance to the setting pictured on the cover of Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides."

In addition to her own music, SOPHIE produced for Madonna, Nicki Minaj, Kim Petras and stars. In 2019, she made history as one of the three first openly trans women to be nominated for a Grammy.

Guadalajara Among Finalists to Host Gay Games XII in 2026

Guadalajara has been named to the shortlist of three cities worldwide vying to host the Gay Games XII in 2026. Host cities are chosen based upon their support of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as their cultural and leisure offerings, and their ability to provide a welcoming and fun experience to the thousands of athletes and spectators that flock to the games. A record number of 20 cities from around the world expressed interest in hosting the 2026 Gay Games, which stands to have a considerable economic impact on the host city. The most recent games, held in Paris in 2018, had a total economic impact of US $117.9 million, generating more than US $72 million for the local tourism and hospitality industries.

“We are thrilled that Guadalajara has been recognized a finalist to host the Gay Games XII, as the city has long been committed to furthering equality and offering an exceptional destination experience to LGBTQ+ visitors,” said Gustavo Staufert CEO Guadalajara Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We would be overjoyed to host an event of this magnitude celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. The Guadalajara Convention and Visitors Bureau wholeheartedly supports the Gay Games’ core principle of ‘Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best™,’ and hope to see these qualities on display in a big way in 2026.”

Guadalajara was also on the shortlist in 2017 for the upcoming Gay Games XI, which will be hosted by Hong Kong in November 2022. The next step in the bid process consists of site inspections which will begin in June 2021, depending on the status of COVID-19. The final vote determining the host of Gay Games XII will take place at the Federation of Gay Games’ Annual General Assembly meeting in Hong Kong in November 2021.

Senator Markey and Congressman Lowenthal Reintroduce Legislation Affirming U.S. Commitment to International LGBTQI Rights

Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.)(left) and Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) (below left)today announced they will reintroduce the International Human Rights Defense Act, a bicameral effort to reaffirm the United States' role as a world leader in the promotion of LGBTQI equality. Nearly 70 nations around the world have enacted laws that criminalize
homosexuality, as abuses in Russia, Tanzania, Uganda, Indonesia, Central America, and elsewhere demonstrate a continued threat to the fundamental rights of LGBTQI communities in every region of the world. The coronavirus pandemic has also exacerbated the threat to LGBTQI communities, who frequently lack access to adequate health care, often live in unsafe or unwelcoming environments, and have faced discrimination and stigma associated with the spread of COVID-19.

At the urging of Senator Markey and Congressman Lowenthal, then-Secretary of State John Kerry first appointed a Special Envoy for LGBTQI rights in 2015. While the Trump administration left the position vacant, President Joseph Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have committed to filling this role early in the Biden administration. The International Human Rights Defense Act would make the special envoy position permanent and allow for the position to be named at the rank of Ambassador.

“The United States must reaffirm its support for the promotion and protection of LGBTQI rights around the world and reengage as a leader on these issues after four years of harmful and discriminatory policies,” said Senator Markey, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “This legislation will make it clear that the United States is committed to protecting the human rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The COVID-19 crisis has put LGBQTI communities all around the world at greater risk and this moment requires a concerted and global effort to recommit to the protection of human rights everywhere.”

“The United States has a chance to once again be a global leader on human rights issues. We must promote and defend our fundamental values of equality, equity, and diversity, both at home and abroad,” said Congressman Lowenthal, a member of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission’s Executive Committee. “We cannot halt the extension of these values at our borders. The United States must continue to defend the innate rights of all human beings across the globe—including the LGBTQI community—to live, love, and prosper. We can and must do no less.”

A copy of the legislation can be found HERE.

The International Human Rights Defense Act would direct the Department of State to renew efforts in defending the human rights of LGBTQI people around the world. Specifically, the act would direct the Department of State to:

• Prevent and respond to discrimination and violence against the LGBTQI community;
• Devise a global strategy to address discrimination against the LGBTQI community;
• Coordinate with local advocacy groups, governments, multilateral organizations, and the private sector, to promote international LGBTQI human rights;
• Create the permanent position of "Special Envoy on the Human Rights of LGBTQI People" in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, at the Department of State, which will be responsible for coordinating the efforts of all federal programs to defend the human rights of the LGBTQI community internationally, and allow for that position to be appointed at the rank of Ambassador;
• Track and report on all U.S. Government programs, projects, and activities that relate to prevention and response to criminalization, discrimination, and violence against LGBTQI people internationally; and
• Continue to include a section on LGBTQI international human rights in the annual State Department Report on Human Rights. 

“The Council for Global Equality is delighted that Senator Markey and Representative Lowenthal are reintroducing IHRDA as a global LGBTQI priority in the new Congress,” said Mark Bromley, Chair of The Council for Global Equality. “We urgently need a U.S. global strategy to respond to the egregious human rights abuses targeting LGBTQI communities globally, especially in this time of COVID-19, as marginalized communities are facing unprecedented new threats.  And we need a Special Envoy to coordinate that work.  This bill provides both the leadership and the policy framework needed to operationalize President Biden’s commitments to global equality.  We applaud the bill’s introduction and call for its swift passage as a human rights priority.”

“The International Human Rights Defense Act will ensure that the rights of all LGBTQI people -- from every background -- continues to be a top priority in America’s foreign policy,” said Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David. “This legislation would strengthen the ability of the Biden administration and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI people at home and abroad. Thank you to Senator Ed Markey and Representative Alan Lowenthal for their leadership as human rights champions in Congress.”  

“For the last four years, the Trump administration has undermined LGBTQI+ rights. Now, we have an opportunity and a duty to make meaningful change to protect and promote LGBTQI+ communities around the globe,” said Rori Kramer, Director of U.S. Advocacy at American Jewish World Service. “We commend Senator Markey and Representative Lowenthal for this legislation that will enshrine the Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI Persons into the State Department, making necessary steps for full inclusion.”

“The US lost credibility under the Trump Administration as a reliable voice in support of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex people at home and abroad. Trump courted governments hostile to human rights, including the rights of LGBTQI people, such as Egypt, where imprisonment and torture is routine; Hungary, where an authoritarian government has curtailed the rights of trans people and LGBT families; and Poland, where local authorities have declared ‘LGBT free’ zones. It’s time to restore US credibility through the passage of the International Human Rights Defense Act, which institutionalizes a firm commitment to promoting LGBTQI rights everywhere,” said Graeme Reid, Director of the LGBT Rights Program at Human Rights Watch.

“Over the last four years, LGBTQI people have been at the forefront of vicious attacks, our basic rights questioned in countries around the world and by the highest office in the US. This is precisely why we need the International Human Rights Defense Act,” said Jessica Stern, Executive Director, OutRight Action International. “LGBTQI people cannot be left to suffer because of changes in the White House.  We need the IHRDA to ensure that the US protects and upholds LGBTQI rights as a consistent, integrated and essential foreign policy priority.”

Revry Celebrates BHM All Month Long With Films, Series, and Music Videos

Revry celebrates Black History Month with an entire February calendar highlighting incredible Black Queer content made by and for the community.   "Black History Month is a time to celebrate the rich heritage and contributions of Black Americans. It is especially poignant in this moment in history because we are so divided as a nation,” says Black Revry Co-Founder and Army Veteran, LaShawn McGhee. “Taking the time to highlight Black Americans and more specifically Queer Black American voices that unappologeticlaly explore the Black Queer experience is a necessity, and I’m proud to be able to do that through Revry."   To kick off Black History Month, Revry will premiere three new powerfully entertaining documentaries on February 1st: We Can’t Breathe, Voguing the Message, and Heavenly Brown Body. Throughout the month, brand new content will continue to premiere including series like Miseducated, Boys Hurt Too, His Story and Exhale. In addition, Revry Originals will also be featured including Linish about international trans DJ phenom; the Australian comedy Little Sista; To Be Me starring Emmy winner Kim Estes; and the powerful intersection of Black and Queer conversation series, Amplify Voices.   The global Queer TV network, 75% founded by people of color and 50% Black women, has already been specifically championing Black voices with its existing Black Lives Matter curation of films, series, and music videos. This month is an opportunity for audiences to find even more free Black entertainment playing on Revry’s Live Linear channels and On-Demand at www.watch.revry.tv. The full calendar of events is after the jump, including hyperlinks on titles available to watch immediately.

WalletHub Names Best Places for Valentine’s Day 2021

Source: WalletHub

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner and America’s sweethearts planning to spend $21.8 billion on the holiday even with COVID-19 limiting celebrations, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2021's Best Places for Valentine’s Day, as well as accompanying videos, along with its nationally representative 2021 Valentine’s Day Spending Survey. 

To determine the most romantic yet affordable cities for celebrating the Day of Hearts, WalletHub compared 100 of the largest U.S. cities across 14 key metrics, ranging from florists per capita to COVID-19 cases to high-quality takeout food.
 

Top 20 Places for Valentine’s Day 2021
1. San Francisco, CA	11. Fremont, CA
2. Honolulu, HI	12. Raleigh, NC
3. Portland, OR	13. Virginia Beach, VA
4. Seattle, WA	14. Kansas City, MO
5. San Jose, CA	15. Atlanta, GA
6. San Diego, CA	16. Houston, TX
7. Austin, TX	17. Durham, NC
8. Oakland, CA	18. Plano, TX
9. Orlando, FL	19. Cincinnati, OH
10. Sacramento, CA	20. Denver, CO

JOSHUA SADE JAMES Aims to Get “Closer” in New Single

If the equation for a bop = pure fun x a bit of drama, Canadian artist Joshua Sade James and his new single “Closer” — available now — proves he’s a wizard with the formula.

“I feel like, if Twilight had a pop theme song for Bella’s mood swings between Jacob and Edward… This would be it,” the multi-talented artist explains. “I want people to start jamming out, then catch themselves saying, ‘oh, WAIT. I thought this was a happy song.’

“I wrote this song at the beginning of mine and my partner’s relationship and, over a year later, it rings more true than ever,” James shares of his personal and evolving inspiration behind the track. “Since COVID-19 restrictions shut down the borders, we haven’t seen each other in over nine months, so ‘(pushing) people out of my way to get a little bit closer’ doesn’t sound too far off.

“I bet it’s the same for anyone who’s separated right now.

“I hope that polarizing feeling reaches people, especially those who relate a little too well to this kind of situation, being separated from your loved one… I connect on another level with you right now, if you do. It has not been easy, but I can say: stay strong, stay sane, and stay home. You are worthy, you are loved, and you are perfectly you. We’ll get through this.”

One way Joshua Sade James is getting through is by pouring himself even further into his craft; with streams topping 375,000+ across platforms, he released his previous single and video, “All Fall Down,” in 2020, and has since been applying the finishing touches to his forthcoming EP, JSJ, (Joshua Sade James).

It was also from this itch to escape stagnation that he leapt at the opportunity to create a knockout video for “Closer,” this time with a small-but-mighty crew of creative powerhouses.

“I got lucky with this project,” he offers. “My friends had all been cooped up and quarantined in their homes for almost six months by that point, so I thought ‘okay, let’s do something. Let’s do a minimal music video.’

“First up, I asked my fellow Sheridan alum, choreographer and dancer Alexandra Gratton, to be a part of the project. I knew I’d be challenged — but just enough that I would have fun, and not look terrible while doing it. I remember saying, ‘whatever you choreograph, I gotta be able to do it in platform shoes on grass, so just don’t break me…’

“Once again, I got lucky; Alexandra just so happened to be dating Alex Gayoso — an incredibly talented videographer, cinematographer, and photographer extraordinaire who’s done a lot of work with Neon Dreams, and just did Carl Wolf’s fully animated video. Suddenly, not only was Alexandra wanting to choreograph, but now Alex became interested in the project as well!”

From there, the three masterminds executed on James’ concept underscoring juxtapositions between ‘light’ vs ‘dark,’ bright colours vs black and white, and love vs rage.

“In particular, I wanted to show our emotions that take over our thoughts when faced with conflict,” James explains. “Especially during this lockdown and being long-distance.

“When planning the video, I remember saying I wanted it to be like the ‘Gay Matrix,’” he continues. “I want it to seem like I’m battling my inner thoughts and temptations, jumping back and forth between this colourful, monogamous gay icon, and this gothic vampire slut.”

That these inventive visions for videos accompany James’ songwriting artistry is of little surprise; a Sheridan College alum for Musical Theatre Performance — and winning the Sheridan: Pop Award for Outstanding Performance — James also co-choreographed, co-directed and starred in the College’s PREP Production original, Revue Diva Dynasty.

Hailing from the tri-city Kitchener/Waterloo area — with country artist Jamie Warren for a dad — he’s been featured coast to coast, including Newfoundland to play ‘Pepper’ in Mamma Mia!, The Calgary Stampede’s Talent Search, Ontario’s Western Fair’s Rise2Fame, PEI’s Charlottetown Festival, and more.

In addition to his extensive performing and recording work, Joshua Sade James is an active advocate for mental health rights and proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

National LGBTQ Task Force Launches its 2021 Sex Ed Leadership Project

National LGBTQ Task Force is launching the third iteration of the Sex Ed Leadership Project, which aims to strengthen local efforts by young LGBTQ people to advocate for sex ed policy changes. This year, the project will be a virtual course, consisting of ten sessions designed to deepen advocacy skills and focus on how to navigate democratic processes to enact sex ed policy change. 

The course is designed for young LGBTQ advocates, activists and people who are new to advocacy or want to learn more about how to advance comprehensive, LGBTQ-centered and inclusive sex ed. If you have question or want to learn more about the project, an informational session will be held February 17 at 6:00 PM ET.  The course itself will formally begin in early March.

If you already know you would like to apply to be a part of the 2021 Sex Ed Leadership Cohort, you can apply here.

Human Rights Campaign and National Education Association in Conversation

 

Earlier this week, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Alphonso David and National Education Association (NEA) President Becky Pringle held a fireside chat to discuss achieving LGBTQ equity and inclusion in schools. 

Said Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David:

“Prior to COVID-19, the health experiences of LGBTQ young people were already compromised. We’re talking about high rates of bullying, high rates of harassment at school, and the subsequent struggle with mental health that results from the bias and from the discrimination,” said Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David. “For some students, the distanced learning experience… may be a reprieve from bullying at school or for those who may be terrified of being outed. But it was also probably less ideal for students who have non-affirming parents or family members, and for whom the school provided some solace. … We clearly need to do a better job in creating safe, welcoming schools across the country.” 

Said National Education Association President Becky Pringle:

“We know that as we talk about those multiple identities that our students and educators bring to the education system, to our classrooms, that we need to first recognize them and we need to honor them. We need to respect them and we need to talk about that rich tapestry that those multiple identities bring to creating that culture of care, that culture of inclusion and acceptance, that culture of an environment that builds on the diversity that our students bring to our classrooms and our work spaces,” said National Education Association President Becky Pringle. “It is absolutely essential that as we talk to our kids… we have to create the space so that we can listen to our students. As they describe who they are for us, and we listen to them, what they’ve told us is that… when we arrive at that intersection – whether it’s race, or whether it’s class, or whether it’s LGBTQ status – whatever it is, that we know that when [intersectional identities] come together, they compound too often to put our students in a place where they are discriminated against, where they are marginalized, where they don’t get what they need so they can be their fullest selves.”

Cengage Earns HRC Designation of "Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality"

Cengage, a global education technology company, announced it has received a top score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2021 Corporate Equality Index, earning it a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality designation. The Corporate Equality Index (CEI) is the nation's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality. This is the second consecutive year Cengage has been recognized.

"Cengage is honored to once again be recognized by HRC as part of the Corporate Equality Index," said Michael E. Hansen, CEO, Cengage. "Inclusion and diversity are core tenents of our culture at Cengage and a driver of our industry- leading performance. We are committed to creating an environment where employees feel comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work--which leverages everyone's skills for shared success."

"We recognize the immense importance of fostering trust, respect and equity among all employees," continued Hansen. "While there is still work to be done, this recognition affirms the strides we've made together towards workplace equality, particularly for LGBTQ employees. We will continue to drive forward these efforts to ensure inclusion and diversity are sustainable parts of our culture and business."  

Cengage has taken a number of actions to showcase its commitment to workplace equality for LGBTQ employees, as well as inclusion and diversity more broadly. In the past year, this has included an expansion of transgender health benefits, inclusion and diversity training  (including on topics of inclusive leadership, racial justice, intersectionality, and unconscious bias), and a re-evaluation of company holidays to ensure time-off is reflective of Cengage's I&D goals. Furthermore, the company's Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), including the PRIDE group for our global LGBTQIA+ population, provide a strong forum for community, connection and advocacy for all employees.

"From the previously unimaginable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to a long overdue reckoning with racial injustice, 2020 was an unprecedented year. Yet, many businesses across the nation stepped up and continued to prioritize and champion LGBTQ equality," said Alphonso David, Human Rights Campaign President. "This year has shown us that tools like the CEI are crucial in the work to increase equity and inclusion in the workplace, but also that companies must breathe life into these policies and practices in real and tangible ways. Thank you to the companies that understand protecting their LGBTQ employees and consumers from discrimination is not just the right thing to do—but the best business decision."

The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:

• Non-discrimination policies across business entities;
• Equitable benefits for LGBTQ workers and their families;
• Supporting an inclusive culture; and,
• Corporate social responsibility.

Cengage joins the ranks of 767 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year. The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei.