“Queen of Kink”, Madison Young, Presents Sex-Positive Series “Submission Possible” on Revry

In Submission Possible, streaming on Revry, the “Queen of Kink”, Madison Young, takes you on a titillating adventure into queer fetishes, kink, and sexual exploration.

 

Written, directed, and created by Young, a feminist porn icon, author, and sexual revolutionary, Submission Possible is an hour-long docuseries that explores the queer sexual underground worlds of kink, fetish, and BDSM around the world. The sex and fetish-positive series stars Young, as the entrancing guide to an unconventional travel adventure, exploring the kink culture in communities around the world–all through the lens of the queer experience.

 

In the premiere episode, Young visits the hauntingly sensual city of New Orleans and delves deep into sex magic rituals, cemeteries and sexy seances, and even spectrophilia. Madison’s explorations lead her to ecosexual sex magician, Sura Hertzberg; herbal alchemist, Gypsi Sandiego; kinky witch and tarot reader, Ashton Young; and queer leather title holder, Elyse the Beast. Each unique guest shares a different aspect of their queer, sacred, kinky journey as Young unfolds another layer of her own sexual self; connecting in bold and intimate ways with refreshingly new cultures, communities, and perspectives.

 

“Submission Possible is a dare.  A challenge for us to shift the narrative.  For us to celebrate our differences and our sameness, our connections,” proclaims Madison Young. “It is a culmination of my deep desire to gather women, POC, queers, trans folk, non-binary community, femmes, butches, sex workers, kinksters around the kitchen table, around the fire, to share our stories, of who we are as sexual beings.  Because our desires matter.  Our stories matter.  We are claiming our space.  This is the time.  It is time for us to talk loudly and boldly about our orgasms, our pleasure, our kinks, our fetishes, our desires, our relationships.”

"Madison's work is so ground-breaking because she's having conversations that, even within the queer community, can be taboo: fetish pride, embracing sexual quirks, challenging traditional standards of beauty,” says Christopher J. Rodriguez, Revry Co-founder and CBO. “This is exactly what Revry is about and we're thrilled to offer a space for these conversations on our network–especially now when people are craving human connection. Love & Sex in the Time of COVID."

 

What people are saying about Submission Possible and Madison Young:

“Madison Young’s work is some of the most radical I have seen in a long time. She stretched my boundaries.”  – Maggie Gyllenhaal, Producer & Star of THE DUECE 

“Madison Young goes deep and brings some universal truths to light.” – Diablo Cody, Academy Award Winner of JUNO

“Madison Young has the ability to blend both eroticism and intellect.” – Dave Navarro, musician and television host and producer

“Madison Young is an incredible and singular force in the world of art, and her talent, spirit and energy never fail to impress me.  We need her voice now more than ever.” –  Margaret Cho, writer, producer, comedian

OUT on DVD & Streaming - HomoSayWhat

 

Craig Bettendorf, an LGBTQ+ activist, early signatory on the 1996 National Freedom to Marriage Resolution and author, has parlayed his unique perspective into a TV series, Treading Yesterday, and a feature-length documentary. HOMOSAYWHAT explores the origins of homophobia against men that became institutionalized in the 1950s and how that continues to negatively affect all genders and sexualities to this day. The feature length documentary, which won awards at film festivals including South Texas Underground, Colorado International Activism and Queen City - is now out on DVD and Streaming.

Homophobia didn’t just happen. Orchestrated campaigns by cultural institutions and public figures have systemically instilled anti-LGBTQ prejudice into American culture by shaping public opinion.

In the 1960s, propaganda films warned parents of “predatory characters” at local parks under the guise of public service announcements. Anita Bryant’s Save Our Children campaign in the 70’s galvanized a coalition of conservative religious groups that spread the idea that sexual abnormalities would corrupt the nation and its children. The 80’s AIDS pandemic further exacerbated fears about homosexuality and “making fun” became a way to marginalize those who were different, which subsequently generated anger, fear, violence and even murder against targets deemed inferior.

Celebrate the Holidays with the CJRO

The Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra’s (CJRO) is in full swing and ready to celebrate the holidays.

On Friday, November 26, the full CJRO orchestra will kick off Thanksgiving weekend with Celebrate the Holidays with the CJRO! at the PACE Center in Parker. Get your Black Friday shopping done early and join them for a spirited evening of holiday music. The CJRO along with vocalist Heidi Schmidt will perform tunes such as "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm," "(Better) Go Tell It on the Mountain,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Let It Snow!” and selections from Duke Ellington’s album "The Nutcracker Suite." 

In December, the CJRO returns to Lakewood Cultural Center with Jazzin’ Up the Holidays! The full orchestra along with vocalist Heidi Schmidt will perform favorites to keep you in the spirit of the season. 

Founded in 2012 by bandleader, Art Bouton, with a mission to perform the best music with the best musicians, the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra does just that and more. Exciting world-renowned guest artists and many of the finest regional musicians perform anything from rollicking big band classics to contemporary large and small ensemble jazz to sold-out crowds across Colorado. Audiences at the Arvada Center, PACE Center in Parker, Lakewood Cultural Center, Lone Tree Arts Center, Rialto Theater in Loveland, and beyond have heard the CJRO perform music from Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Duke Ellington, Maynard Ferguson, and Buddy Rich as well as original arrangements by CJRO composers and other artists. For more information go to Coloradojazz.org.

Anti-transgender bills threaten to harm trans youth

In 2021, lawmakers from 33 state legislatures and assemblies representing every region of the country filed 98 bills that seek to restrict of the ability of transgender and gender diverse youth (TGD) to access health care, school facilities, and school athletics. A policy brief released last week by Fenway Health examines the potential harms to health that these bills pose to TGD youth—regardless of whether they are enacted into law or not.

“We are midway through National Transgender Awareness Month, which is a time to honor, celebrate, and advocate for transgender and gender diverse people,” said Carrie Richgels, lead author of the study and Manager of Policy and Advocacy at Fenway Health. “Despite the many barriers to health and well-being that transgender people face, many politicians are all too willing to play politics with the lives of transgender and gender diverse children and teenagers. We hope this policy brief can be used as a tool by health and legal advocates working to defeat these discriminatory bills.”

Approximately one-third of the bills filed in 2021 relating to TGD youth seek to prohibit or limit access to health care. The remainder seek to prohibit or limit the participation of transgender youth in school sports, with some also seeking to restrict access to public facilities such as school locker rooms and bathrooms.

“It is deeply concerning that at least six Arkansas TGD youth attempted suicide following passage of that state’s new law banning the practice of gender-affirming health care for youth,” said Julie Thompson, PA-C, Medical Director of Trans Health at Fenway Health. “Research shows that public debate about the rights of people who have been marginalized, including TGD youth, can have a significant negative impact on mental health, and these bills harm the health of TGD children and adolescents in three distinct ways. The first is by denying access to medically-necessary health care. The second is by subjecting TGD youth to government-sanctioned stigma and discrimination. The third is by denying access to educational activities and depriving TGD youth of the social, emotional, and health benefits such activities bring. Most troubling is that we now know that that lack of access to gender-affirming health care during childhood and adolescence can harm the mental health of TGD people over the course of their lifetimes, so the impact of these bills to the health of TGD youth will extend well into adulthood.”

“Without exception, these bills are based on bad science, and ignore the consensus of experts in medicine—including endocrinology, psychiatry, and psychology—in support of gender-affirming medical care,” said Sean Cahill, Director of Health Policy Research at Fenway Health.

The American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the Endocrine Society, and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health have each issued formal, public statements opposing passage of these bills.

“In stark contrast with states like Texas and Idaho that have enacted laws prohibiting transgender youth from participating in sports, the most elite athletic organizations in the world allow transgender athletes to compete in accordance with their gender identity,” Cahill added. “The National College Athletics Association adopted a policy in 2011 that allows transgender women to participate in women’s sports after one year of testosterone suppression. The International Olympic Committee requires transgender women to demonstrate that their total serum testosterone level has been below 10 nmol/L for at least one year prior to competition.”

“Lawsuits have been filed in state and district courts challenging the legality of the SAFE Act in Arkansas and other anti-transgender bills that have been enacted into law,” said Mason J. Dunn, JD, Deputy Director, Division of Education and Training at The Fenway Institute at Fenway Health. “While this legal advocacy continues, it is incumbent upon school officials to remember that every child has a right to public education in this country and educators must create school cultures that support all youth, including TGD youth.”

The policy brief, titled “State bills restricting access of transgender youth to health care, school facilities, and school athletics threaten health and well-being,” outlines recommendations for clinicians, parents and other caregivers, school officials, and lawmakers. They include the following:

• Medical providers have a responsibility to be familiar with the most up-to-date scientific and clinical information.
• Parent and other caregivers should create a supportive home environment, connect their child or adolescent with gender affirming health care providers, and collaborate with school officials to create a plan to support your child.
• School officials must
  • Incorporate LGBTQIA+ history into the curriculum for all students.
  • Ensure that all students hear from LGBTQIA+ people, so that young people have a human face and experience to reference and relate to.
  • Establish firm policies around harassment to prevent bullying with clear procedures staff can follow.
  • Create space for kids to meet and interact with other kids like them. Gender-Sexuality Alliance programs allow LGBTQIA+ students and allies to come together in a protected space to share experiences.

“State bills restricting access of transgender youth to health care, school facilities, and school athletics threaten health and well-being,” is available online.

Polina - Faena (Yves V Remix)

 

Global pop artist and songwriter POLINA released her international smash “FAENA” to much acclaim this past August, and now it’s seeing a reboot courtesy of Yves V. The incredible Belgian producer boasts five million + listeners monthly on Spotify alone and has worked on remixes for the likes of Timbaland & Missy Elliot amongst others. Preview Faena - Yves V Remix.  The original track, written by POLINA and produced by ORGAN was inspired by the South Beach Faena Hotel and has been streamed well over a million times, with the epic video (also shot at the Faena hotel) also seeing streaming numbers hitting a million.  

POLINA is a Russian-born artist and songwriter living in Los Angeles. Born in Moscow into an artistic family (her mom is a Russian 90's pop singer ANKA, father is an abstract painter Ruslan Gudiev) it was inevitable that Polina would find her way into an artistic medium, and songwriting became her passion. As a songwriter and vocalist, the musician’s credits include: “Legacy” from Eminem’s Grammy-winning album The Marshall Mathers LP (songwriter, guest vocalist), Sean Kingston’s Top 10 UK hit “Party All Night (Sleep All Day)” (co-writer) featured in the movie “The Inbetweeners,” as well as writing credits for global pop stars (Katy Perry, Rihanna) and vocal features on singles for EDM icons (Tiesto, Steve Aoki, Kaskade).

PEOPLE Exclusive: JoJo Siwa Hasn't Started Dating After Kylie Prew Split, But She Wouldn't Mind a 'Cuddle Buddy'

JoJo Siwa hasn't quite gotten into the dating scene since her split from ex-girlfriend Kylie Prew.

The Dancing with the Stars finalist, 18, tells PEOPLE she's keeping herself busy with her career and her new partnership with Cash App amid the breakup, but she's also open to any possibilities.

"I haven't started dating at all, anybody, but whatever happens happens," she says. "I fell in love with somebody who I didn't ever expect to fall in love with. We met on a cruise ship, she was my best friend. And then we went to Disney together and all of a sudden ... it kind of all happened. And so I think I learned to just trust life and whatever's supposed to happen is going to happen."

"But trust me, I want to have a cuddle date. So if anybody out there needs a cuddle date, cuddle buddy, I'll take it," Siwa adds.

She notes that her time on DWTS and her own Peacock dance competition series Siwas Dance Pop Revolution has kept her "occupied" during the breakup. But Siwa still talks to her ex occasionally.

Acclaimed Series POV Shorts Returns to PBS Tonight

Episode 2 of POV Shorts’ fourth season airs tonight on PBS (check local listings) in addition to its streaming debut on POV.org. Dreaming Life contains two films about finding self-acceptance and joy -- Another Hayride and the animated film To The Future, With Love. 

Another Hayride is directed by acclaimed filmmaker Matt Wolf who continues his engagement with queer history in this short film. Following self-help guru Louise Hay, Wolf’s film tells the story of her ‘Hayrides,’ healing spaces for gay men during the height of the AIDS pandemic in the early 1980s. Drawing hundreds of gay men confronting a deadly pandemic, Louise promised that self-love would help them overcome AIDS.

To The Future, With Love is the latest short film from Emmy-award winning director and producer Shaleece Haas who produced The Genius of Marian, a POV feature film from 2014. Her films, marked by a balance of poignancy and humor, invite audiences deep into the interior worlds of their protagonists. In this film, it is 9-year-old Hunter “Pixel” Jimenez, a nonbinary trans boy caught between the expectations of his Guatemalan immigrant family and his dreams of living happily ever after.

As part of the POV Shorts catalogue these films will be streaming year-round online. POV Shorts’ third season was named the ‘Best Curated Shorts Series’ at the 2021 IDA Awards, and The Love Bugs from the same season won ‘Best Short Documentary’ at the 2021 News and Doc Emmy awards. 

Rainbow Railroad Hosts ‘When I Am Free’ Benefit Concert To Get LGBTQI+ Individuals To Safety

The annual Chicago 5 Lives Fundraiser hosted by Rainbow Railroad is proud to return this year with “When I Am Free”, a benefit concert offering attendees a premier evening of classical music from esteemed young musicians. Hosts will include U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky and Chicago Reader publisher Tracy Baim.

The concert will be held on Friday, December 3rd from 7:30-9pm at the Hoover-Leppen Theatre and will also be livestreamed. Tickets are $100 and all proceeds go directly to Rainbow Railroad to support its mission to assist LGBTQI+ refugees fleeing persecution. The Chicago 5 Lives Campaign will aim to raise $50,000 - enough to move five additional people to safety. Purchase via Eventbrite.

"Although the persecution of LGBTQI+ people worldwide is tragic and epidemic, 'When I Am Free'' is all about hope - especially the hope that is Rainbow Railroad. Primarily through music, the concert will convey what cannot easily be expressed in words: the journey from anguish and fear to freedom and hope,” said Bruce Koff, vice chair of the Rainbow Railroad board of directors.

“I am proud to stand with Rainbow Railroad and support their vital work to help LGBTQI+ people fleeing horrific situations around the world,” said Congresswoman Schakowsky. “Working together, we can support the people who simply want to live freely as themselves, a right many take for granted here in the United States.”

Of particular interest at this year’s concert is the premiere of an exciting original piece by local composer Carlos Jaquez Gonzalez. Gonzalez composed the piece for two singers based on interviews he did with two gay Egyptian men who fled Egypt together with the help of Rainbow Railroad, and then subsequently fell in love. They are still together today. Gonzalez recently unveiled another groundbreaking work called, "Immigrant Mass," a multimedia music film that uses the verbatim testimony of immigrants who experienced detention in the U.S. Other musicians include Venezuelan violinists Gabriela Lara and Julimar Gonzalez, both students of the revered Almita Vamos, named a distinguished teacher by the National Endowment for the Arts. 

House Wine Receives 'Social Visionary of the Year' Honor

Wash.-based The Original House Wine (House Wine) will receive the 2021 Social Visionary Award for its partnership with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) on a limited-edition Rainbow Rosé Bubbles can which celebrates and supports LGBTQ+ equality and love in all its forms. Wine Enthusiast Magazine announced the honor today, along with the other 2021 Wine Star Awards winners. House Wine becomes the first wine brand and product to win the Wine Enthusiast social visionary award.

The House Wine partnership with the Human Rights Campaign was conceived out of the brand's founding belief that "Everybody is Welcome in Our House." With a grassroots force of more than three million members and supporters nationwide—and serving as America's largest civil rights organization working for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer equity— HRC was the natural partner for House Wine to maximize impact for the LGBTQ+ community.

"House Wine's authentic and unapologetically bold voice are a natural fit for a message of inclusion and acceptance," said Brad Mayer, vice president of communications at Precept Wine, parent company of House Wine. "I am extremely proud of our HRC partnership and what we have accomplished with the brand to raise awareness both in my community and my industry."

House Wine donates $2 for every case sold to the HRC with the goal of building lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer equity. To date, the project has contributed over $100,000 in financial and product support to the important work of HRC.

"We are delighted that House Wine is supporting and uplifting LGBTQ+ equality through this impactful partnership," commented Luigi Lewin, Human Rights Campaign director of corporate partnerships. "It's inspiring when well-recognized and respected brands embrace positive change, and House Wine Rainbow cans symbolize a celebration of love and acceptance, and we are proud to partner with House on this unique product."

House Wine is the leader in the can wine category— it's the #1 overall wine brand selling 375ml can and the Rosé Bubbles is the # 1 selling can wine in the country among all can sizes. (Nielsen, $ Volume, Period Ending 10/29/21). Additionally, Wine Enthusiast has rated more than 25 House Wine products as Best Buys over the past 10 years.

"We are honored to be recognized by Wine Enthusiast for this partnership," noted Alex Evans, chief marketing officer, Precept Wine. "House Wine Rose Bubbles was born from a place of love and a desire to make impact in our industry and the LGBTQ+ community as whole; at Precept, we recognize and seek to address the underrepresentation of this community within the wine business."

Now in its 22nd year, the Wine Star Awards are produced and presented by Wine Enthusiast Media and annually recognizes individuals and companies that make outstanding contributions to the wine and alcohol beverage world. The award ceremony will take place on February 7, 2022, in Miami, Fla.

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.

Mr. Man Whips Out its Top 100 List of Celeb Scenes

Mr. Man, the #1 Authority On Male Celebrity Nudity, presents its Top 100 list of All-Star Penis Scenes, exclusively for its premium subscribers at MrMan.com.

From Daniel Craig (#1), Antonio Banderas (#32), Kevin Bacon (#52) and Chris Pine (#61) to Nick Offerman (#75), Jim Parsons & Matt Bomer (#85), Ryan Reynolds (#90) and Michael Fassbender (#3), actors have been doffing their pants for the sake of their art… and fans LOVE them for it!

Who can forget Robert DeNiro and Gérard Depardieu’s (#5) wild threesome in 1900, Christopher Meloni (#22) and Luke Perry (#29) in Oz, Jason Biggs (#43) in American Reunion, Ben Affleck (#54) in Gone Girl and Heath Ledger & Jake Gyllenhaal (#64) in Brokeback Mountain?

“It took a lot of long hours of viewing to find the best of the best and whittle down the 100 most impressive penis scenes onscreen, but somehow we made it through!” said a Mr. Man company rep. “But these extraordinary members are ONLY available to Mr. Man’s premium members, so be sure to join in on the fun and see what all the talk is about!”

Where else can curious viewers spot Tom Cruise (#94), Javier Bardem (#35), Viggo Mortensen (#6), Harvey Keitel (#28), Jason Siegel (#8), Mark Ruffalo (#33), Ewan McGregor (#9), Christian Bale (#53) and both Stellan (#66) AND Alexander Skarsgård (#57) ALL IN ONE PLACE?

Get a long, lingering look at Mr. Man’s Top 100 Celeb Penis Scenes at MrMan.com/promos/top-100-celeb-penis-scenes.

4th Annual Winter PrideFest Returns to Oregon's Mt. Bachelor

The fourth annual Winter PrideFest, a celebration of winter sports among the LGBTQ+ community and allies, is returning to one of the country’s top destinations for outdoor recreation for four days of on- and off-mountain sports and social activities, March 3-6, 2022, at Mt. Bachelor in Bend, Ore.

“Winter PrideFest was conceived as a way to bring the LGBTQ+ community together over a shared passion for outdoor recreation and winter sports, and to do so in a way that is inclusive, social, educational, and above all, fun,” said Jamie Nesbitt, president of OUT Central Oregon, which organizes the annual event. “What started as a local grassroots effort in year one has quickly evolved into an event with regional and national cache, and we think there’s no better venue to celebrate diversity and inclusivity in the outdoors than Mt. Bachelor and Bend.”

At Mt. Bachelor, Winter PrideFest will feature daily Alpine and Nordic skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. In town, attendees can take part in a Welcome Snocial, Wigs Ice Skating at Seventh Mountain Resort, a panel discussion on inclusivity in the outdoors, a downtown Apres Ski Party, a Dance Party, and much more.

“We have seen attendance at Winter PrideFest increase exponentially from 150 attendees in year one, to over 700 attendees in year three, and we estimate that more than 1,000 people will be at this year’s event,” said Nesbitt. “With two-thirds of those attendees coming from outside of Central Oregon, there’s no question that Winter PrideFest has quickly established itself as a marquee winter event for the LGBTQ+ community and our allies to rally around.”

POV Series & Films Receive 12 Nominations at the IDA Awards

The International Documentary Association revealed yesterday the full list of nominees for the 37th edition of its annual IDA Documentary Awards. Each American Documentary series received a nomination in the IDA Awards’ series categories as both POV and America ReFramed were named among the contenders for ‘Best Curated Series,’ while POV Shorts received a nod for ‘Best Short-Form Series.’ POV season 34 filmmaker Cecilia Aldarondo was awarded the Emerging Filmmaker Award, which is presented to a filmmaker who by virtue of their early work shows extraordinary promise in exploring the possibilities of the nonfiction art form. Aldarondo’s latest film, Landfall, broadcast on POV on July 12th.

POV films also received a total of 9 nominations, including ‘Best Feature’ nominations for Not Going Quietly and North by Current, a ‘Best Director’ nomination for Nicholas Bruckman, director of Not Going Quietly, ‘Best Short’ nominations for Águilas and A Broken House, ‘Best Writing’ nominations for North by Current and Not Going Quietly, a ‘Best Music Score’ nomination for The Neutral Ground, and a ‘David L. Wolper Student Documentary Award Nomination’ for the short subject documentary Seahorse.

“We are so excited for our series, our staff and our filmmakers,” said American Documentary executive director Erika Dilday. “This is the first time all three of AmDoc’s series have been nominated, which is a testament to our continued growth as an organization and our commitment to exploring new ways of sharing life-changing stories with the public.”

Currently in their 34th and 9th seasons, respectively, POV and America ReFramed highlight the best in independent documentary feature-length filmmaking. America ReFramed’s latest season affirms its mission to illuminate the changing contours of the United States; recent broadcasts include Blood Memory, recipient of a 2021 National Native Media award, and Hamtramck, USA, a documentary exploring life and democracy in America's first Muslim-majority city. POV’s next title, Unapologetic, is set to air on PBS on December 27th. POV last won this award for its 30th season in 2018.

This is POV Shorts’ second IDA Documentary Awards nomination in as many years after winning the award last year. Now in its 4th season, POV Shorts features a lineup of award-winning documentary shorts, including IDA nominees Águilas and A Broken House. The POV Shorts season continues on November 22nd with the broadcast and streaming premiere of Dreaming Life, two films about self acceptance and finding joy: Another Hayride and To The Future, With Love. Additional episodes will debut on November 29th, December 6th, 13th, and 27th.

HERE TV PARTNERS WITH FRAMELINE DISTRIBUTION; RELAUNCHES FRAMELINE VOICES PROGRAM

HERE TV has announced its partnership with Frameline Distribution, the world’s only non-profit LGBTQ+ film distributor, to relaunch the Frameline Voices program, a curated program of diverse and impactful short films representing experiences unique to LGBTQ+ people and communities. Five of the seven short films (Flex, Blackness Is Everything, Four Fruitbites, The Rogers, and My Aunties) are available now on all HERE TV platforms. Two additional titles, Noor and Layla, and Luv U Cuz will premiere on HERE TV in January 2022. 

“We are honored to partner with Frameline Distribution for the launch of the 2021 Frameline Voices program,” says Christopher Donaldson, VP of Content at Here Media. “Together, we can accomplish our shared commitment to amplifying and supporting queer voices and to further representation by showcasing a rainbow-wide range of stories about LGBTQ+ people that illustrate the power of diversity and inclusion.”

HERE TV has also partnered with Frameline Distribution to acquire three projects from acclaimed director Mark Christopher for a retrospective of his award-winning short films, in addition to a special Director’s Voice, which features interviews with Mark and is only available on HERE TV. Christopher is a screenwriter and director most known for directing “54” (1998), starring Ryan Phillippe, Mike Myers, Salma Hayek, and Neve Campbell. Christopher also directed three short films, all of which are streaming on HERE TV: The Dead Boys Club (1992), an influential short of the New Queer Cinema wave as cited by B. Ruby Rich in her Sight & Sound article that defined the genre; Alkali, Iowa (1995), winner of the Teddy at the 1996 Berlin International Film Festival, and Heartland (2007), which screened at numerous festivals including Frameline and Outfest.

“We're delighted to continue our collaboration with Here Media to bring the special fun of a Frameline festival to all screens everywhere, with our Frameline Voices program,” says Lindsey Hodgson, Frameline’s Director of Distribution & Educational Programming. “Our new cohort of Voices filmmakers are the fiercest and freshest of LGBTQ+ storytellers, bringing us stories with unique points of view and all kinds of hilarity, heart, and soul. While also acknowledging the ongoing and generous support of the NEA Grants for the Arts, without whom this program would not be possible.'

UNGA Adopts Resolution on Free and Fair Elections With Second Ever Mention of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

During the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Third Committee adopted the resolution “Strengthening the role of the United Nations in the promotion of democratization and enhancing periodic and genuine elections” including an explicit reference to sexual orientation and gender identity. This is only the second UNGA resolution which explicitly mentions sexual orientation and gender identity. 

The Third Committee is one of six committees at the General Assembly of the UN. It deals with human rights, humanitarian affairs and social matters. It has been a key body of the UN recognizing the human rights of LGBTIQ people. The resolution on elections is renewed every two years. This year the resolution focused on gender-based barriers to accessing free and fair elections. Paragraph 7 of the resolution recognizes limitations in access to free and fair elections due to a number of characteristics, including sexual orientation and gender identity.

Specifically, paragraph 7 calls on states "to take measures to eliminate laws, regulations and practices that discriminate, directly or indirectly, against citizens in their right to participate in public affairs, including based on race, color, ethnicity, national or social origin, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, language, religion, political views or on the basis of disability". 

An amendment to exclude the reference to sexual orientation and gender identity was proposed by Nigeria on behalf of a group of countries, but the effort failed in a vote of 90 voting against, 58 in favor and 13 abstentions. A separate amendment was also proposed to exclude a reference to women and girls in all their diversity; it also failed.  

Sahar Moazami, UN Program Officer at OutRight Action International, comments:

“Explicit inclusion of the fact that there are barriers to accessing free and fair elections based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the resolution adopted today is no small feat. It builds on progress in recognition of the human rights of LGBTIQ people at the UN, and shows that the institution is looking at identity from a complex lens. People are not a homogenous group; our sexual orientations and gender identities are merely one aspect of our identities. The vulnerabilities and risks LGBTIQ individuals face across the globe are diverse, ranging from violence and hate, to barriers accessing services such as healthcare, or, indeed, accessing free and fair elections.”

Maria Sjödin, Acting Executive Director of OutRight Action International, comments:

“Human rights should be guaranteed for everyone regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, but we know that too often that is not the case. We welcome the addition of one more resolution that explicitly mentions the vulnerability that many LGBTIQ people experience. This will make it harder for states to deny the basic rights of our communities.”

The resolution includes other references to diversity in all its forms. It was co-sponsored by 87 states, showing growing, cross-regional support for the resolution as a whole, including the explicit reference to sexual orientation and gender identity.