Freedom Center reflects on the life of Archbishop Desmond Tutu

By Woody Keown, Jr., President & COO, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center mourns the passing of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Archbishop Tutu lived a life dedicated to equity and freedom, to love of his fellow man. He received some of the world’s highest accolades for justice for his advocacy and his work, including the Nobel Peace Prize and our own International Freedom Conductor Award (2000). We have lost a bright light in the world with his passing, and freedom has lost one of its great defenders.

Archbishop Tutu lived a remarkable life, overcoming obstacles and breaking down barriers in the name of equity and inclusiveness. He is perhaps best known for his work to end apartheid in South Africa – the despicable, institutionalized racial segregation of South Africa from 1948 to the 1990s. Together with his friend and contemporary Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Tutu toppled the decades-old practice. He loved all people and sought to strike down oppression wherever he saw it. He was equally passionate about and intimately involved in efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic, advocating for a free Tibet, fighting child trafficking and defending LGBTQ+ rights. His life was one of action, his message one of love, his spirit once-in-a-generation.

As the march of time continues to reclaim a generation of great lions of justice, we carry forward their legacy. On their shoulders we stand to raise a new generation even higher, so the walls that once deprived so many of justice will no longer be a barrier to equity. We are that new generation. And we must continue Archbishop Tutu’s work, using his lessons and his example to guide us ever closer to true inclusive freedom for all.

Books: THE AGE OF THE STRONGMAN

Building off his critically acclaimed 2017 book Easternization, THE AGE OF THE STRONGMAN details how so-called “strongmen” now have a foothold in countries ranging from Brazil to the Philippines, and everywhere in between—places where nationalist and socially conservative agendas have surged in tandem with xenophobia, especially in the wake of the global migrant crisis. 

At home, these nationalist and social conservative leaders claim to be standing up for ordinary people against globalist elites; abroad, they posture as the embodiments of their nations. And everywhere they go, they encourage a cult of personality. What's more, these leaders are not just operating in authoritarian political systems but have begun to emerge in the heartlands of liberal democracy. From Trump, Putin and Bolsonaro to Erdogan, Xi and Modi, Rachman delineates the danger these figures, with little tolerance for minorities, dissent or the interests of foreigners, pose to the future of democratic systems worldwide. t.

Each chapter focuses on a different leader, or group of leaders, and contextualizes their ascent to authoritarianism. In Russia, Vladimir Putin utilized his connections to the KGB (now known as the FSB), to rise to power and then hired spin doctors who polished his image and crafted a machismo persona for him. 

In contrast, China’s Xi Jinping shaped his political narrative by highlighting the time he spent in rural exile as a teenager and later by writing his own ideology into the Communist Party’s constitution, making him the first living leader after Mao to do so. 

Rachman also discusses how European politicians such as Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron have attempted to combat the tides of nationalism through their responses to the refugee crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic. One of the first works to provide a detailed, global overview of 21st-century nationalism, Gideon Rachman pays full attention to the strongman phenomenon around the world and uncovers the complex and often surprising interaction between these leaders. Whilst others have tried to understand the emergence of these new leaders individually, THE AGE OF THE STRONGMAN provides the first truly global treatment of the new nationalism.

Survey: 1/4 of Sexually Active Singles Not Worried About Contracting HIV

Testing.com, a trusted informational guide for medical lab testing and at-home
screening has published a survey report examining Americans’ attitude towards HIV/AIDS and fear of contracting the virus. Researchers conducted an online survey of 1,250 single adults ages 18 and older.

According to the survey, 26% of sexually active single adults are not concerned about contracting HIV, while 55% say they are extremely or very worried about the virus. The most cited reasons among unconcerned respondents are that they use condoms and believe their partners do not have HIV.

Survey results also indicate that HIV is still a crucial issue for single gay men. Sixty-eight percent of sexually active gay men say they are extremely or very worried about contracting HIV. Regardless of sexuality, men are more likely to be scared of the virus than women by a rate of 49% to 24%.

Data shows that Black and Latino Americans are less concerned about HIV infection than White or Asian people. Thirty-four percent of Blacks and 31% of Hispanic/Latinos say they are not worried about contracting HIV, compared to 27% of Asian Americans and 24% White Americans. Additionally, Black Americans and Hispanic/Latino Americans disproportionately account for 41% and 23% of HIV/AIDS cases in the U.S., respectively.

The research team at Testing.com conducted this survey to gauge public perception andvincrease awareness about HIV testing. The survey was created and paid for by Testing.com and administered by Pollfish, the online survey platform, on June 4, 2021.

Four Child Welfare Agencies in Colorado Working with Human Rights Campaign Foundation Toward Fully LGBTQ+ Inclusive and Affirming Care

Recently, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, released a new report, 2021 Change-Makers, highlighting the HRC Foundation All Children-All Families (ACAF) program’s partnership with 119 organizations -- a 19% increase in participation from last year -- working to improve the services they provide to the LGBTQ+ community, including children in foster care, 1 in 3 of whom are LGBTQ+, and prospective foster and adoptive parents. These organizations serve more than 1 million clients annually in 35 states and employ more than 24,000 employees.

The organizations located in Colorado featured in the report include:

• Adams County Department of Human Services - Children & Family Services Division
• Adoption Options
• Colorado Office of Children, Youth & Families - Child Welfare Division
• Raise the Future

“The third edition of our Change-Makers report shows that, despite the many hardships of the last year, more organizations than ever before are working alongside the Human Rights Campaign Foundation to make impactful change for the LGBTQ+ youth and families they serve,” said Alison Delpercio, Human Rights Campaign Foundation Director, All Children - All Families. “This year’s participants also demonstrated a growing commitment to intersectionality and ensuring organizational policies and practices do not reinforce the same systems of oppression that put youth and families at risk in the first place. By taking on these challenges, the change-makers featured in our 2021 report are models for youth-serving professionals everywhere.”

The release comes at a time when many have been sounding the alarm about the particular risks foster youth face due to COVID-19. LGBTQ+ inclusion work in foster care systems could not be more important. Studies have shown us that LGBTQ+ youth are overrepresented in foster care, and that child welfare systems must do more to ensure that the trauma of foster care, where LGBTQ youth already face an increased risk of both negative experiences and outcomes, is never compounded by that caused by unsafe and non-affirming foster homes:

• Approximately 1 out of every 3 youth in foster care is LGBTQ+
• LGBTQ+ youth report higher rates of mistreatment while in care
• LGBTQ+ youth report more frequent placement disruptions
• LGBTQ+ youth report a higher likelihood of being placed in congregate care settings

The agencies featured in this report conducted an internal self-assessment, provided professional development to staff and implemented ACAF’s “Benchmarks of LGBTQ Inclusion,” which track policy and practice changes within agencies. The 2021 Change-Makers report features three “Tiers of Recognition,” which celebrate the progress agencies have made toward becoming fully welcoming to their LGBTQ+ clients. With 32 new participants this year, ACAF also expands the program’s reach into six new states -- Alabama, Connecticut, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico and North Carolina -- and the District of Columbia for the first time. 92% of participants met a tier of recognition, and 14 of the returning organizations advanced to a higher tier of recognition.

• Innovative Inclusion: 44 organizations met all 25 applicable criteria and are going beyond to innovate their services for LGBTQ+ youth and families
• Solid Foundation for Inclusion: 40 organizations met all 25 applicable policy and practice criteria for LGBTQ+ inclusion
• Building Foundation for Inclusion: 25 organizations met foundational criteria, including non-discrimination protections

The report features profiles of four child welfare organizations that are setting the bar for LGBTQ+ inclusion while adapting to the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic and responding to calls for an end to systemic racism -- including in child welfare: Vista Del Mar in California; Extraordinary Families in California; Texas Casa in Texas; and 360 Youth Services in Illinois. The report also features interviews with individuals who have been impacted by LGBTQ+-inclusive services, including: Manuel Padilla, a foster parent in Colorado; and Victoria, a former youth in care and now trainer at Lawrence Hall in Illinois.

Since 2007, hundreds of child welfare agencies across the U.S. have used ACAF’s resources to enhance their efforts to achieve safety, permanency and well-being for LGBTQ+ youth and families. Read the full report here.

DRACO ROSA - SOUND HEALING 1:11

Award-winning Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, producer and actor Draco Rosa has released Sound Healing 1:11, one of his most immersive listening experiences to date. Draco’s new album combines ambient music with mystical and atmospheric instrumental songs of the soul.

Recorded in Draco’s studio in Puerto Rico, Phantom Vox Studios, with most of the instruments and voices performed by himself, it also features majestic orchestral arrangements and the Prague Philharmonic.

From the epic “Fragancia De Una Flor,” which offers us the unmistakable voice of Draco at the peak of its powers, to the esoteric “Más Allá del Tiempo” and the shamanic energy of “Selva,” this record pulses with positive force. It offers a hopeful vision of the human condition, and its ability to find understanding and healing.

“This is the most authentic moment of my life,” Draco notes. “Recording this album gave me a sensation of intimacy that I had never felt before. It seemed important to create a stripped-down and organic work, one that lets the listener disconnect and relax. I love the feeling of discovery that emanates from these tracks. The process brought me joy, and here I am.”

As sessions progressed, Draco found an unexpectedly and infinitely wise collaborator: Sadhguru, who contributed to “Más Allá Del Tiempo.”

“People go through life with their labels – I’m goth, I’m emo,” Draco says. “But it’s not very interesting to do the same thing twice. Maybe we experiment with cubism for a while, before gravitating to something different. When your life is dedicated to music, risk is your most reliable companion. This record is a sincere reflection of where I am, the reflection of a second chance.”

Young Mountain - "If You Leave"

 

Seven-piece alternative rock band Young Mountain have shared their brand new music video for their latest single “If You Leave." The single is the title track from the band’s debut EP If You Leave, due to be released January 7, 2022. 

Of the new video the band shares, “Visually we wanted to keep things pretty simple and let the emotive qualities of the song be the primary focus. A huge thank you to our friend (and talented director) Zak Washburn for making such an amazing visual companion for this song.”

“The EP was written back in 2018 believe it or not. Jason and I had gone through our own versions of losing something that meant a lot to us," adds vocalist Matt Mulkey about their debut EP. "’If You Leave’ really started as a therapy project. Expressing how we felt or what we were going through or had gone through. There’s an overall theme of loss. If that pain is something you’ve felt before, I feel you will strongly connect to our music.”

Research from GLAAD and Getty Images Shows that Visual Representation of the LGBTQ+ Community Remains Low and Stereotypical

Getty Images, a world leader in visual communications, in partnership with GLAAD, the LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization, has announced the latest initiative in their exclusive partnership that aims to increase visibility while also challenging harmful, cliched visual stereotypes of the LGBTQ+ community. The guidance is a direct response to recent research from Getty Images demonstrating that overall LGBTQ+ visual representation remains low and stereotypical.

"While we know that increased representation positively impacts increased acceptance, our research has also shown that LGBTQ+ individuals remain grossly underrepresented in media," said Tristen Norman, Head of Creative Insights for the Americas at Getty Images and iStock. "And even when this community is represented, businesses and media rely too heavily upon stereotypical, inauthentic imagery."

Getty Images' 2021 Visual GPS survey found that only one-fifth of global Visual GPS respondents stated seeing LGBTQ+ people represented regularly or frequently in visuals, and said that when they do, it is often narrow and stereotypical. In the U.S., that number is somewhat higher, sitting at one-fourth. Global respondents stated that:

• 30% of such visuals depict gay men as 'feminine'
• 29% of such visuals depict LGBTQ+ people carrying the rainbow flag in some capacity
• 29% of such visuals depict lesbian women as 'masculine'
28% of such visuals depict gay men as 'flamboyant'

That reliance has left some advertisers feeling hesitant when it comes to proactively depicting the LGBTQ+ community in their campaigns and communications, especially outside of Pride month. Earlier this month, GLAAD and Procter & Gamble launched "The Visibility Project," a new GLAAD program dedicated to growing the quality, quantity, and diversity of LGBTQ images in advertising. P&G and GLAAD also announced findings from a recent study of marketing and advertising executives in which nearly 81% of advertisers agreed that an "inauthentic execution of LGBTQ people would lead to a larger backlash than not including them at all" and nearly 80% of advertisers agreed that it is "difficult to adequately represent the LGBTQ community because the community is complicated and has many nuances."

"The guidance we've created with Getty Images seeks to give brands and businesses of all sizes the confidence they need to depict the LGBTQ+ community in inclusive, authentic and thoughtful ways, without fear of backlash or fear of 'getting it wrong'," said Nick Adams, Director of Transgender Representation at GLAAD. "Instead of shying away from depictions or relying on stereotypes, we've created guidance on how to authentically represent the LGBTQ+ community in ways that will create lasting connections. Increasing representation of LGBTQ+ people in your communications demonstrates your intentional emphasis around diversity and makes a public commitment of your support for this community."

"Furthermore, our research suggests that LGBTQ+ people in countries with less LGBTQ+ representation in the visuals that surround them, including media and advertising, actually report experiencing more anti-LGBTQ discrimination and bias — for example, in Germany, where representation is lower, discrimination is higher, as opposed to in the U.S. Which is to say that authentic imagery which accurately and positively captures the nuances of this diverse community is not only needed, but can have a positive impact globally," Norman said.

In fact, two-thirds of U.S. Visual GPS respondents stated that it's important to them that the companies they buy from celebrate diversity of all kinds. "To create real change for LGBTQ+ representation, we need the advertising and media industry to act. Creatives and marketing professionals have the opportunity to not just encourage the creation of this kind of imagery, but also to choose to use it," Norman said.

The LGBTQ+ Guidebook for Inclusive Visual Storytelling gives brands and businesses practical recommendations for confidently making more inclusive visual choices when depicting the broader LGBTQ+ community. Created as part of an ongoing collaboration with GLAAD, this guidance follows the December 2020 release of the Getty Images and GLAAD Transgender Guidelines which were designed to support Getty Images and iStock photographers and videographers in their efforts to better represent the diversity of the transgender community, addressing terminology, clichés to avoid, and how to create a safe and welcoming set.

Pride Journey: Chicago

 

By Joey Amato

Chicago is my kind of town…it really is. I’ve been to Chicago more times than I can count over the years, however I have never written a Pride Journeys article about the city. Well, it’s about time I did!

I planned my visit to the Windy City to coincide with Market Days, one of the city’s premier LGTBQ festivals. Since relocating to Nashville and then Indy, I had heard dozens of stories about this event from friends from around the country who would travel to Chicago specifically to attend. This year’s festival was going to be iconic since last year’s event was canceled due to the pandemic.

Trixie Mattel, Todrick Hall and Greyson Chance were among the headliners performing this year, however, I was most excited about seeing Lisa Lisa, Jody Watley and Ty Herndon.

Tyler and I arrived on the first day of the festival and it appeared to be similar to a pride event. Vendors lined the street selling everything from artwork to sunglasses as well as some other more risqué items. It didn’t take long for us to run into a few friends, some of which I hadn’t seen in many years. Market Days is what you make it. You can spend the afternoon strolling Halsted Street or you can skip the street fair and head straight to the bars, clubs, and circuit events in the evening.

Take some time the next morning to check out the hotel’s 2-story art gallery space or maybe find time for a quick workout in their fitness center before heading to Hutch American Bistro for brunch.

Hutch is located off the same red line stop as Boystown so it’s quite convenient. I ordered the smoked salmon avocado toast which came with fruit salad. It was light yet filling and the perfect way to begin the day. We went back to Hutch for happy hour of a different day and sampled a few additional items including the guacamole + queso and Chicago meatballs. The restaurant offers a daily happy hour menu consisting of half-off select appetizers as well as $3 champagne. Yes, please!

When in Chicago, you would be remiss if you didn’t visit one of the city’s numerous cultural institutions. Since the Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium are in the same complex, we decided to visit both in the same morning.

Tyler and I are both huge animal lovers, so we headed straight to the beluga whale and penguin habitats. Beluga whales are one of my favorite mammals, so it was wonderful to see them up close.

The Field Museum is home to one of the largest (and best in my opinion) dinosaur exhibitions in the country. The chronological display brings guests through history and mass extinctions leading up to the birth of dinosaurs. The Field Museum is also home to Sue, the largest and most complete T-Rex skeleton ever discovered. This is a must-see for any dinosaur lover.

After a fun-filled day of partying, head back to the 21c Museum Hotel located in the River North neighborhood, about a 25-minute red-line commute from Boystown. The boutique property is one of the newer hotels in the 21c family. I’ve stayed at their properties in Oklahoma City, Nashville and Kansas City and they never disappoint. The 21c Chicago was kind enough to provide me with a wonderful corner suite as well as their Love is Love package, which included a pride tank top, perfect to wear during the festivities.

We decided to walk back to our hotel after visiting the museum as the weather was perfect for a leisurely stroll along the lake – until it started raining. With nowhere to take cover, we just admired the beauty of Chicago’s architectural wonders as well as the sculptures in Millennium Park including the world-famous Bean.

Speaking of walking, the city offers free walking tours through Chicago Greeter. Local guides volunteer their time to take guests on customized walking tours of the city. We decided to focus our tour on architecture and landmarks. Our knowledgeable guide took us to some places we would have never known about if we had set out on our own. While we took a journey through the North Loop, the Greeter Tour service can take visitors through many of the 77 neighborhoods in the Chicago area.

Before heading back to Boystown, grab a quick bite at Tied House. I was thoroughly impressed by both the food and service of this establishment. Tyler and I shared a few items including the Black Bean Hummus prepared with salsa roja and lime crema as well as the Watermelon & Bigeye Tuna which came with pickled ginger and a koji vinaigrette. The Short Rib Risotto was served with roasted sweet corn Risotto, cherry tomato, summer squash. While the short rib portion was a bit fatty for my liking, I found the risotto part to be incredibly flavorful and cooked to perfection. I would order the risotto by itself next time…it was so good!

Boystown of course is the heart of Chicago’s LGBTQ community. There are dozens of shops, restaurants, businesses, and nightlife venues catering to every gay under the sun. Some of my favorites include Sidetrack, Hydrate Nightclub, Splash and Progress Bar.

What many tourists don’t know is that Chicago has a gay beach. While it may not have the waves of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood Beach attracts some of the most beautiful people in the Midwest and is only about a 10-minute Uber ride from Boystown. With only a few months of beach weather per year, locals flock to Hollywood Beach every opportunity possible to soak up the sun.

There is way too much to see in Chicago to fit everything into a weekend. Especially when you include a festival as well. I am going to make an effort to visit more frequently, especially since it’s so close to my home in Indianapolis.

To book your next Chicago gaycation, visit www.Orbitz.com/Pride.

Enjoy the Journey!

Phantom Feel - Body Sculptures Inspired by Top Surgery

Multidisciplinary artist Holly Silius presents a new series of stone body sculptures ‘Phantom Feel’, inspired by writer and actor Lio Mehiel’s top surgery. The new series reimagines traditional figurative sculpture with a gender-queer and transmasculine body. All profits will be donated to the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, which works to guarantee that all people are free to self-determine gender identity and expression regardless of income and race without facing violence.

Holly Silius is a fast emerging contemporary artist, based between the UK and LA. Silius’ body of work explores the human form, both raw and adorned, from body cast stone sculptures to masks and wearable body jewelry. The duality of raw and adorned mirrors Silius’ background in fine art and SFX.

The title “Phantom Feel” refers to a question Holly Silius posed to Lio Mehiel, whether they still have phantom feelings of their breasts. The question inspired Mehiel to respond with a poem, including the verse “She asks if I have phantom feelings. Whispers from breasts no longer there. I assume yes. Why wouldn’t it be the same as a soldier who lost his limb? That is, if I lost something.”

Vintage Theatre Productions "Who’s Holiday," A New Play with a Twist of Rhyme!

Vintage Theatre Productions presents the regional premiere of “Who’s Holiday” December 1 - 31. Performances are Wednesdays and Thursdays; Tuesday, December 14, 21, 28; Monday, December 20 and Friday, December 31 at 7:30 p.m. Vintage Theatre is located at 1468 Dayton St. in Aurora. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling 303-856-7830 or online at www.vintagetheatre.org.  

“Who’s Holiday” is a wildly funny and heartfelt adults-only comedy that tells the story of Cindy Lou Who.  She’s throwing a Christmas party in her trailer and boy does she have a story to tell!  As she recalls the Christmas Eve she first the Grinch, we learn the twisted and hilarious turns her life has taken. 

Jenny Mather stars as Cindy Lou Who in this raucous one-woman show. She has been seen on the Vintage stage as an ancestor in “The Adams Family” and in the ensemble of “Bullets Over Broadway.” Some of her favorite roles have been Anytime Annie in “42nd Street” (PNTC) and Kitty in “Drowsy Chaperone” (Aurora Fox).  Jenny is married to the uproariously funny actor/comic Eric Mather.

Matthew Lombardo is best known for “High” with Kathleen Turner at the Booth Theatre and “Looped” starring Valerie Harper in a Tony-nominated performance at The Lyceum Theatre. Other work includes “Tea at Five” (w/ Kate Mulgrew), “Mother and Child” (w/ Ann Wedgeworth), “End of the World Party” and “Guilty Innocence.” He has presented concerts throughout the country for Broadway legends such as Carol Channing, Patti LuPone, Tommy Tune, Bernadette Peters, Barbara Cook, Billy Porter, Betty Buckley, Andrea McArdle, and Faith Prince.

morgxn's New EP 'MERIDIAN: vol 2' Out Now, Tour Coming to Denver in 2022

Nashville-born and based artist morgxn’s highly anticipated new EP, MERIDIAN: vol 2, is out now. Listen/share HERE.

“This project might be the most ‘for me’ thing I’ve ever made, because when everything stopped last year I found myself coming back to these songs not as a way to just ‘work’ but to find meaning and keep going,” morgxn explains, “Making this project was more about reminding myself that there is hope in hopelessness—possibility in impossibility, and that when everything falls apart there is purpose in the rubble. How things change, how we change because of it, and how we keep moving—these themes are all present in these songs.”

The EP is the completion to his MERIDIAN series, following MERIDIAN: vol 1 which was released earlier this year. He is currently in the midst of a U.S. tour with Smallpools, as well as will be playing a recently announced string of intimate Sofar Sounds shows in five cities. Complete list of dates below.

Watch morgxn perform with Sara Bareilles on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Read interviews with Philadelphia Weekly, American Songwriter, Unpublished, HAZZE, Mundane and listen to interview with Bringin’ It Backwards Podcast.

For his most recent single, “THE WAY IT WAS,” morgxn teamed up with The Trevor Project—a support organization offering a 24/7 hotline and trained counselors to LGBTQ+ youth—donating a portion of the sales from his new merch to the organization. More info HERE and listen HERE.

MERIDIAN: vol 1 was heavily inspired by a rollercoaster 24-hour period in which morgxn experienced some of his highest highs and lowest lows. Just as the world was going into lockdown due to the pandemic in March 2020, morgxn saw a lifechanging day in which Billie Eilish included morgxn’s single “home” in a list of inspirations behind her Grammy-award winning track “bad guy.”

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LGBTQ+ Sports Festival Sin City Classic to Honor Late Executive Director Ken Scearce

The Sin City Classic Sports Festival Presented by Lexus, the largest annual LGBTQ+ sporting event in the world, today announced the creation of the Ken Scearce Leadership Award. The Sin City Classic organizers created the award to honor the memory and legacy of Ken Scearce, the Executive Director of the Festival who passed away suddenly on July 7, 2021. The inaugural Ken Scearce Leadership Award will be presented at the festival’s Opening Night party on Friday, January 14, 2022.

“Ken was dedicated to expanding the LGBTQ+ sports community. He worked tirelessly to grow the Sin City Classic and make sure all athletes were able to compete and have fun in a safe and welcoming environment,” said Sin City Classic co-Directors Larry Ruiz and Jason Peplinski. “The organizers of the festival created this award to honor a member of the LGBTQ+ sports community who shares Ken’s passion and exhibits all the traits that Ken embodied, including leadership, dedication, and community.”

The Ken Scearce Leadership Award will recognize athletes, leaders, coaches, referees, and other volunteers who dedicate their time and skills to promoting the value and importance of LGBTQ+ sports. Their participation, both on and off the playing field, inspires others within their organization and builds community. Their hard work and selfless commitment directly and positively impacts the lives of others.

The organizing committee of the Sin City Classic will determine the winner of the Ken Scearce Leadership Award based on the following criteria:
This individual is always a “team player” putting the needs of the team first;
This individual is dedicated to growing their sport within the LGBTQ+ community and has extended outreach to allies and other supporters;
This individual is passionate on and/or off the field and leads by example; and
This individual’s motivation is to give back to LGBTQ+ community, which is, first and foremost, what ultimately makes them a LEADER!

You can submit your nomination for the Ken Scearce Leadership Award here or via email by completing this form.

During his tenure as the Executive Director of the Sin City Classic, Scearce grew participation in the festival, while also expanding the number of social events that took place throughout the course of the weekend. He encouraged participation at all levels – from experienced to those who were new to sports – while providing a safe environment for athletes and fans to compete and connect. He also moved the Closing Night Party to the Promenade’s Brooklyn Bowl, where performers have included Deborah Cox and Kristine W, among others.

Books: Solo Dance

Solo Dance is a powerful novel about the LGBTQ rights movement and gay love in Japan and Taiwan, from the most important queer voice of East Asia's millennial generation, Li Kotomi.

Cho Norie, twenty-seven and originally from Taiwan, is working an office job in Tokyo. While her colleagues worry about the economy, life-insurance policies, marriage, and children, she is forced to keep her unconventional life hidden—including her sexuality and the violent attack that prompted her move to Japan. There is also her unusual fascination with death: she knows from personal experience how devastating death can be, but for her it is also creative fuel. Solo Dance depicts the painful coming of age of a gay person in Taiwan and corporate Japan. This striking debut is an intimate and powerful account of a search for hope after trauma.

Li Kotomi is a bilingual Japanese-Chinese writer, translator, and interpreter. She was born in Taiwan in 1989 and moved to Japan in 2013. In 2017, she won the 60th Gunzō New Writers’ Prize for Excellence for her first novel, Solo Dance, written in Japanese, her second language. Since then she has been nominated for numerous prizes in Japan, and in 2021 she received the Minister of Education Award for Fine Arts, a prize for upcoming writers.

PrideArts announces slate of five feature films streaming in January

In its continuing efforts to make LGBTQ-themed films more readily available to audiences, PrideArts has announced titles for five weekly engagements of LGBTQ feature films to be streamed for eight days each, from December 26, 2021, through January 31, 2022. PrideArts Films run throughout the year, and consist of features, documentaries, and short film festivals.

The first will be the 10th Anniversary remastering of the 2009 film DARE, a classic about high school kids – an aspiring actress, her misfit best friend, and a loner - who become engaged in an intimate and complicated relationship. The starry cast includes Emmy Rossum, Alan Cumming Sandra Bernhard, Rooney Mara, Ana Gasteyer, and Evanston native Zach Gilford. DARE will stream from December 26 – January 3. It will be followed by the 2021 SWEETHEART, a charming and quirky coming-of-age story set on the English coast that won two British Independent Film Awards and the Audience Award at the Glasgow Film Festival. SWEETHEART will stream from January 2 – 10, 2022.

Zach Gilford (left) and Ashley Springer (right) in DARE.