Echelon Magazine Blog

The Paul and Matty Show

2012-05-23T13:42:00.003-07:00

The Paul and Matty Show is an entertaining, inspiring, and often lighthearted hour of internet radio that caters to the GLBT community. The boys like to say they’re the comic relief for the end of your day.

Broadcast live from New England every weekday evening, each hour is packed with celebrity guests, an all star team of regular contributors, and the always hilarious stories and antics straight from the crazy gay lives of Paul and Matty.

Thanks to their ability to be live, their content is fresh and topical: stories ripped from the headlines; celebrity gossip from the latest movie or TV show; the latest trends in music and fashion; and an up to date look at what’s going on in and of interest to the GLBT community. With every topic, their goal is to find that which is inspirational and entertaining to their GLBT audience especially when they can make a point that helps tear down the stereotypes. What sets these boys apart is their incredible rapport and their unique take on every topic as young gay men.

http://www.paulandmatty.com/

Gay Women's Gathering: Family Building

2012-05-18T11:53:00.001-07:00

The American Fertility Association (The AFA), in association with California Cryobank, announced today a free seminar focused on family building for the lesbian community.

The Gay Women's Gathering will take place on Thursday, June 7th, from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM at The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 North McCadden Place, in Los Angeles.

Critical information such as choosing a sperm donor, getting pregnant through insemination or in vitro fertilization (IVF) at home or not at home, unraveling the legal jargon, and maintaining optimum health will all be explored in a relaxed, conversational way.

"Finding a sperm donor, selecting an insemination procedure, and protecting both parents' legal rights can all have significant long-term financial, medical, and emotional impact on a lesbian family," stated Scott Brown, Director of Client Experience & Communications at California Cryobank, who will also be speaking at the event. Scott further stated, "California Cryobank is proud to be a part of this incredibly important evening of family building education and support."

Though the evening is focused on the lesbian community, family, friends, and supporters are encouraged to attend as well. A light meal will be served, and gift bags with educational content will be given to all participants.

The event is free, but reservations are requested by calling The AFA's Program Director, Corey Whelan, at 718-853.1411 or emailing Corey@TheAFA.org.

Gay Wine Weekend

2012-05-11T09:53:00.002-07:00

The LGBT-oriented travel-and-event company Out In The Vineyard is hosting Gay Wine Weekend during the heart of June’s Gay Pride Month. Highlights of the event-packed weekend include a Wine & Dine OUT dinner at which local winemakers pair wines with delectable treats from three of the area’s top restaurants, a meal and wine tasting at beautiful B. Wise Vineyards and Estate Restaurant, a cabaret night featuring drag-tastic “Russian opera diva Katya Smirnoff-Skyy” at Sebastiani Vineyards, a Winery Vista Tour at Gloria Ferrer and Nicholson Ranch Winery, a Twilight T-Dance to benefit the Sonoma County AIDS Network, the Big Gay Wine Auction & Brunch, and several more events. For more information on Gay Wine Weekend, visit www.outinthevineyard.com.

HARVEY MILK STREET APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY

2012-05-08T15:44:00.001-07:00

– FIRST IN THE COUNTRY HAPPENS IN SAN DIEGO

SAN DIEGO – Today, the San Diego City Council unanimously voted to give final approval to rename a street after LGBT civil rights hero, Harvey Milk. San Diego now becomes the first city in the country to have a street named for Harvey Milk.

“A year ago, a group of community leaders came together around the notion the time had come to honor an LGBT civil rights leader in San Diego the same way we have given honor to other civil rights leaders such as Cesar Chavez and Martin Luther King, Jr,” said Dwayne Crenshaw, San Diego LGBT Pride Executive Director. “Today marks a symbolic and significant moment in the movement forward towards the American value of equality.”

A celebratory unveiling of the new street is now planned for Harvey Milk’s birthday.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012
5:00 – 6:00 pm
at the corner of Harvey Milk Street (Blaine Ave.) and Centre Street

Speakers with include:

Nicole Murray-Ramirez – City Commissioner and Community Activist
Todd Gloria - City Council Member, District 3
Tony Young - City Council Member, District 4
Stuart Milk - Nephew of Harvey Milk
Dwayne Crenshaw - Executive Director - San Diego LGBT Pride
Delores Jacobs - Chief Executive Officer - The LGBT Community Center

A reception with refreshments, inside the LGBT Community Center, will conclude the evening after the program.

Harvey served proudly as a member of the United States Navy – including time served in San Diego as a diving instructor.

Harvey Milk’s ground breaking election in 1978 as one of the world’s first openly gay elected officials - and its most visible one - symbolized the freedom to live life in full authenticity to millions of LGBT women and men around the world.

Harvey served less than a year in public office before his assassination, but his life profoundly changed a city, state, nation and a global community. His courage, passion and sense of justice moved the nation and stirred the very core of an oppressed community; bringing forward new hope and a new vision of freedom.

National Geographic's American Transgender

2012-05-03T08:25:00.000-07:00

Male or female? Boy or girl? Most of us can answer that question without a second thought. But for some people, the answer isn’t so simple. Go firsthand into the daily lives of three people who are transgender, and witness their struggles for acceptance and the triumphs and hardships they face along the way. Clair’s family struggles to cope with losing a son and brother, while also learning to embrace their new daughter and sister. Jim became a heartthrob in the transgender community after participating on a transgender dating show but really wants to get married and raise a family. Eli returns home to his big, Italian-American family in Alabama hoping to win the support and guidance of his brother, so he can become the father and man that he wants to be. Hear their stories in their own words as we follow them through day-to-day life in a world that sees them as anything but normal.

Queering the Airwaves

2012-04-25T11:13:00.001-07:00

Webinar on Community Radio Opportunity

May 3, 2pm EST

Hosted by CenterLink with the Prometheus Radio Project

Free. RSVP now.

Community radio is transformative. It helps people connect, share local news and events, and participate in decisions that impact their lives. 90% of Americans use radio at least once a week, making it the most common point of connection today.

In the next year, there will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for local groups to start their own radio stations. 1000+ new licenses will be available in most cities in the U.S. including urban areas where their signal can reach up to a half million people.

This represents a major opportunity for LGBTQ organizations to amplify their messages and reach new audiences. LGBTQ centers are ideal locations for these affordable radio stations which will further extend our voices and issues to the whole community. Centers can share programming and information, helping to build our networks.

The Prometheus Radio Project seeks to educate and support groups in applying and getting on air. Join this exciting webinar with Prometheus to learn how your organization or center can plug into this one in a lifetime opportunity.

If you are interested in starting a station, sign up with Prometheus to stay in touch.

About the Presenter

Danielle Chynoweth is a Director at the Prometheus Radio Project. She co-founded the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center home to Radio Free Urbana and Uniting Pride Center. She worked on campaigns to add sexual orientation discrimination to Illinois’ human rights act and to promote marriage equality. She served as a member of city council in Urbana, Illinois, instigating a domestic partner registry, public arts and broadband programs, She assisted non-profits with strategic planning and communications for 12 years as VP of Pixo Technologies and has taught media arts in Thailand, Burma, Italy, and Kenya, and as an Evans Scholar at Evergreen State College.

ANYONE CAN BE AN ALLY IS A WINNER

2012-04-24T10:48:00.002-07:00

The Telly Awards has named Anyone Can Be An Ally, by SunShower Learning,as a Silver winner in the 33rd Annual Telly Awards. The video training program was among nearly 11,000 entries from all 50 states and numerous countries.

Anyone Can Be An Ally– Speaking Up for an LGBT Inclusive Workplace (http://ally-video.com) was written and presented by Brian McNaught, considered the world’s leading corporate diversity consultant dealing with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues in the workplace. The training program demonstrates how anyone can be an ally to create a respectful workpace that is inclusive of LGBT co-workersand customers.

The Telly Awards was founded in 1979, and is the premier award honoring outstanding TV commercials and programs, the finest video and film productions, and online commercials, video and films. Winners represent the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, TV stations, and corporate video departments in the world. Less than 10% of entries are chosen as winners of the Silver Telly, their highest honor.

“I knew we had a winner from the moment we started the project,” said Joel Lesko, owner and operator of SunShower Learning. “This award, and the terrific feedback we’ve received from our clients, affirms my expectations.”

The Ally training program has been used in corporations, universities and government settings. Deb Dagit, the Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion for a Fortune 100 company said, "In this short 14-minute video, Brian McNaught offers what we need to know, and what we need to say and do as allies - in a way that is compelling, informative and actionable. If you are looking for guidance about language choices, when to speak up, and how to foster inclusion as an authentic LGBT ally, this video (and a little courage and practice) is all you need to have the confidence and capability to make a difference."

SunShower Learning is the producer of many of the training industry’s most popular and widely used training programs in diversity and inclusion, including Ouch! That Stereotype Hurts, Ouch! Your Silence Hurts, and Inclusion Insights.

SPRING CLEAN YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILE

2012-04-11T11:21:00.001-07:00

5 Simple Steps to Make Social Media Work for You

So, it’s that time of year again and while many Americans refer to Spring cleaning of their personal homes, this should by no means stop at the professional front as well.

Keeping social media clean and tidy will help make social media work for you. Don’t let the weeds grow too long in your social media profile and certainly don’t keep your audience waiting. Keep them engaged and you may be surprised as to the real affect social media can have for you and your organization.

Let’s talk about your social media profile. Do you have old information, job history, photos, and posts? It’s time for a spring cleaning. Here are 5 simple steps you will want to do to stay social media savvy.

Go through your e-mails and add the names of contacts to your social media. You can start with LinkedIn. Go straight to that search field and start typing names. Do you collect business cards or have an app that does so for you? Bust this out right now and get going!

Go postal! When was the last time you had a social media posting? If it was older than 3 weeks ago, you are in need of spring cleaning. First, write a post about you, your company, positive news, upcoming projects, or something to get the ball rolling. Don’t stress too heavily on what to write – just start! Next, whip out your planner and begin writing some broad topics for certain days. Now make sure you post regularly. Our rule of thumb is posting at minimum twice per week for your audience to stay engaged.

Spring cleaning still involves cleaning. So, do you have old information on your profile? Maybe you still have a few colleagues or employees who have left your organization and know your social media passwords. Maybe your Facebook Timeline needs some ‘sprucing’. Or perhaps you have some comments which you wish to take down all together. This is the time to get this done. You will thank yourself!

Team work is great! Too busy to keep your social media tidy? Get some help! Get one or two employees in your organization, come up with a time-table of who will post and when (that way there is not duplicated effort) and make a plan. You might find this to be a fun project for them to be included in and also showcase new talents!

Toot your own horn! Do you have your LinkedIn profile link on every signature line of your e-mail? Why not? Let others know that you want to connect. Have you had a great accomplishment and want to share with others? Of course you can share this with social media.
Keep savvy!

About Jennifer Vickery/National Strategies Public Relations: Jennifer Vickery is CEO/President of National Strategies Public Relations and is considered a PR Social Media Coach and Expert. She advises organizations and professional individuals on public relations efforts and campaigns with an emphasis on the growing trend of social media. National Strategies Public Relations (NSPR) is a national public relations agency based out of Tampa, Florida. For more information visit nspublicrelations.com or call (727) 946-2082.

7-Eleven Sponsors Echelon's Expo

2012-04-09T19:20:00.001-07:00

7-Eleven Stores signed on as a Dignity Sponsor of The Echelon Pride in Business Expo taking place June 23-24, 2012 in Los Angeles. The event includes a franchise pavilion and expects over 2,000 in attendance. http://www.prideinbusinessexpo.com

Diversity. 7-Eleven takes great pride in the diversity of our franchisees and employees. It is one of our greatest strengths and a reason we’re nationally recognized every year as a top franchise opportunity.

We extend a warm welcome to all who are attending the 2012 Echelon Pride in Business Expo here in Los Angeles and invite you to explore the (exciting) business opportunities at www.franchise.7-eleven.com

The Advocate Celebrates 45 Years!

2012-03-30T15:29:00.002-07:00

Last night, The Advocate celebrated their 45th anniversary at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. What an awesome night!

Many of the LGBT movers and shakers were there including: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, David Burtka, Dustin Lance Black, Camille Grammer, George Kotsiopoulos, Mark Deklin, Perez Hilton, Rex Lee, Marisol Nichols, Renee Olstead, Reza Farahan, Willam Belli, Michelle Clunie, Tracey Heggins, Serinda Swan, Drew Droege, Bruce Vilanch, Billy Bean, Gloria Allred, Betty DeGeneres, David Millbern, Miss Coco Peru, and many more.

Sponsored by Lexus, Hilton, Macy's and American Spirits, the iconic publication presented video congrats from many celebrities and a historic illustration of many of the important issues since 1967.
The event benefited The Point Foundation, an organization that presents scholarships to LGBT students.

Last but not least, we got to see an amazing performance by the diva herself: Macy Gray.

Happy Birthday Advocate! Many more....

BrunchButler – LA’s First Brunch Delivery Service

2012-03-29T10:57:00.001-07:00

The most important meal of the weekend just got better. BrunchButler, the first-of-its-kind luxury brunch delivery and catering service from Switzerland makes its debut onto the Los Angeles dining scene on March 21, 2012.

“We are excited to share BrunchButler with Los Angeles,” said Founder and Co-President, Raphael Monsch. “Our customizable brunch boxes offer everything from Mini Organic Grilled Chicken Ciabatta Sandwiches with Avocado, Queso Blanco and Sun-Dried Tomatoes to Pan-Seared, Chile Ginger Glazed Duck Breast with Stir-Fried Baby Bok Choy, making them a perfect way to celebrate a special event, impress at a corporate meeting or even just enjoy a treat for the everyday.”

Los Angeles brunch-lovers have the option to customize packages including a choice of appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts or create a BreakfastBox from their favorite traditional breakfast items. Each BrunchButler box is designed to share, with two or more servings of fresh options, served chilled. BruchButler boxes are priced from $58 for the BreakfastBox and $66, $96 and $126 for the traditional BrunchBoxes. BrunchButler is available for select zip codes in Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Culver City and Marina del Rey with delivery fees depending on location. For additional information or to place a brunch order, please visit www.brunchbutler.com or call 866-264-7036.

One Anchorage Campaign Responds to Stigmatizing Cartoons of Gay and Transgender Individuals

2012-03-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

Today, supporters of Proposition 5 released a response ad to the opposition group depicting unacceptably offensive and distorted cartoon ads of gay and transgender individuals.

In the last two weeks, ads paid for and produced by those opposing Proposition 5 - Jim Minnery, “Protect Your Rights”, and Glenn Clary and Jerry Prevo’s Anchorage Baptist Temple’s “Protect your Freedoms” have made false claims about the legal effects of Proposition 5. Moreover, the TV versions of these ads contain highly offensive cartoon imagery which seeks to dehumanize and demean our transgender friends, family and neighbors.

The Yes On Proposition 5 – One Anchorage campaign has called for the offensive ads opposing Proposition 5 to be removed from all broadcast and internet media immediately.

To support or learn more about the Yes On Proposition 5 – One Anchorage campaign please visit www.oneanchorage.com.

Phoenix Teen To Raise Awareness On Bullying & Diversity

2012-03-22T13:40:00.001-07:00

Caleb Laieski, a high school student who was bullied, followed home and threatened for being gay, is now the youngest advocate on loan in the Phoenix Mayor’s Office and working to make a difference.
Laieski, 17, as a youth and diversity liaison, will work to raise awareness about bullying and diversity and serve as a point of contact for youth issues.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to work for one of the largest cities in our nation, and I look forward to continue making Phoenix a safer place for our entire community,” Laieski said. “Being a youth myself, I feel that this opportunity will allow me to bring a young person’s perspective to the administration. During my time in this office, I will strive to see the dropout rate lower, intervention by school administrations steadily increase and the suicide rate rapidly decline.”

Read on...

GLAAD and MTPC Launch "I AM: Trans People Speak" Video Series

2012-03-22T11:20:00.002-07:00

GLAAD, the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, and the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC), announced the upcoming national launch of the "I AM: Trans People Speak" video series and called for the public to submit their own stories. The campaign aims to spotlight the stories of transgender Americans and their allies in an effort to educate the public about transgender issues, as well as speak to transgender youth and adults.

A trailer video of Laverne Cox, Isis King, Noah Lewis and Kit Yan, as well as more information about the campaign is available here: http://www.glaad.org/transpeoplespeak, http://community.transpeoplespeak.org/

GLAAD and MTPC today asked members of the transgender community and their allies to create their own videos for the upcoming launch.

"The stories of transgender Americans remain relatively invisible in both national and LGBT media," said GLAAD spokesperson Herndon Graddick. "These stories will not only empower members of the transgender community who rarely see relatable stories, but also educate Americans everywhere about the fact that the community is a valuable part of the fabric of our culture. The campaign will also shine a light on the high level of discrimination that our transgender brothers and sisters continue to face in schools, the workplace and in their own neighborhoods."

Tyler Clementi - it's not cool to be mean

2012-03-22T09:01:00.004-07:00

Written by Geoff Rosenberger

"No one has done more stupid things than me."

We all say that to ourselves. I say it daily as I continue to do stupid things.
I am sure Dharub Ravi is saying it to himself over and over again.

This 20 year old faces up to 10 years in jail because he didn't separate stupid from mean.
This lack of separation triggered his gay college roommate,18-year-old Tyler Clementi, to jump to his death. Ravi is guilty of a hate crime – bias intimidation. In other words, he targeted Clementi because he is gay.

I have kids this age. I can only imagine how many stupid things they do daily, and how many stupid things I would have done at 20 had social media, webcams, and cell phones existed.

As a gay man, I am not happy about this young man's conviction, though fully in favor of it. I am not happy these situations exist at all. It is not easy coming out for many people. It took me much longer than some, as I hid from self, trying to fit societal and religious "norms." Since then, I have learned – who cares what others think? And as a result I am far more tolerant and accepting of self and others.
Now, here is what I am happy about: societal and religious awareness. We are killing each other over and over again with our words and our hatred. We can teach our kids and parents that it's not cool to be mean.

I have a straight friend in his 50s who carries inside him very painful memories from childhood. He was constantly picked on and harassed by other kids for reasons only children can justify.

Read on in OutinJersey

Jupiter Hotel Offers to “Keep Portland Queer” with New Program

2012-03-18T07:55:00.000-07:00

Locally-owned boutique property launches new room package for LGBTQ-friendly travel

This month the Jupiter Hotel continues welcoming travelers from all walks of life with a new room package, Keep Portland Queer. By focusing on the LGBTQ community, which has always been a pillar of support for the property, the Jupiter aims to provide tools that invite guests to come as they are for a comfortable travel experience.

While the place to rest your head comes standard, this special package encourages Jupiter Hotel visitors to bask in all that Keeps Portland Queer with an LGBT Travel Portland brochure, as well as complimentary goodies including Out City and PQ Monthly magazines, Voodoo Doughnuts, a gift card to Fantasy For Adults Only and a bottle of Barefoot Bubbly Pink Moscato, with ten percent of the proceeds from the package donated to the PDX Q Center.

Gay Activists Recruit Kids to Fight Homophobia

2012-03-14T14:05:00.000-07:00

H8SUX.com, a gay activist and T-shirt website, launched today and released its first viral video campaign targeting school kids with an offer of a free "OK4U2BGAY" T-shirt. The free pro-gay shirt will be shipped to any teen who simply makes a special YouTube video pledge to speak out against homophobia at school and support gay marriage. Inspired by the hit show "Glee," the organization released a slickly-produced musical commercial showcasing a same-sex teen kiss and kids dancing in front of hot-pink school lockers while singing a catchy pro-gay song.

Organizers say the teen-targeted campaign is in response to who they call, "ballot box bullies" - politicians who directly inspire a climate for schoolyard bullies to torment LGBT kids. They cite initiatives to ban gay marriage in North Carolina and Minnesota, "Don't Say Gay" Bills in Utah and Tennessee, and Rick Santorum's promise to "force-divorce" thousands of legally married gay and lesbian couples as motivation for their pro-gay message to kids.

LBGT Happy Hour @ SXSW

2012-03-09T09:33:00.000-08:00

SXSW just got a lot gayer!

dot429 & Unicorn Booty are proud to be hosting the 1st ever LGBT Tech event at SXSWi this Sunday from 1:30pm - 3:30pm!

The event will benefit The Trevor Project and will be a great opportunity to meet some of the panelists that will be on the "Elliot and Friends on GayTech" panel that is taking place the following day (Monday the 12th from 2-4pm Texas time) and will be live streamed here: http://www.ustream.tv/startupbus2012

The panel, hosted by Elliot Tomaeno, features leaders from the LGBT tech community discussing what it means to be gay in the world of online entrepreneurship and social media. Participants include Kara Swisher of AllThingsD.com; Joel Simkhai, CEO of Grindr; Nick Vivion, founder of Unicorn Booty; and Cathy Brooks, social media maven and spokesperson for dot429.com.

Details (flyer and RSVP page) for the LGBT Tech Happy Hour at Conduit Corner here: http://gaytechatsxsw12.eventbrite.com/

This is the 1st time we have ever had an LGBT Tech event at SXSW and it will definitely not be the last!

NARTH Becomes Main Source for Anti-Gay ‘Junk Science’

2012-03-08T10:12:00.000-08:00

PHOENIX — Michael Brown took the dais in a sterile Marriott ballroom last fall, beaming for the 40 or so therapists who form the devout core of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH). With a hulking frame packed tightly into a three-button black suit, one of the nation’s most vociferous anti-gay activists began his speech with a dire warning.

The “homosexual agenda” is on the march, he said, and shows no signs of slowing. Gay rights activists, aggressively working to undermine Christian values and the traditional family, have infiltrated the nation’s schools, civic centers and places of worship. The war for the heart of the country is on.

Read more on Southern Poverty Law Center site

Chad Griffin named new HRC President

2012-03-02T08:19:00.002-08:00

Chad H. Griffin was appointed today as the next president of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, by the organization’s Board of Directors. Griffin, a national communications and policy strategist, is widely credited for being the mastermind behind the federal lawsuit to overturn California's Proposition 8, which has now been ruled unconstitutional by two federal courts.

A native of Arkansas and a veteran of the Clinton White House, Chad Griffin was inspired by young people in taking on this new endeavor. He told the board this morning, "All over this country in big cities and small towns, there are families and young people who long to be accepted for who they are, and who want be treated with the same dignity and respect as everyone else. Today's generation of young people, and each generation hereafter, must grow up with the full and equal protection of our laws, and finally be free to participate in the American dream. As HRC president, I'll approach our work with a great sense of urgency because there are real life consequences to inaction."

Lady Gaga Born This Way Foundation Launch Event Closing

2012-03-01T10:13:00.000-08:00

StartOut Announces New Lesbian Entrepreneur Program

2012-02-28T11:13:00.001-08:00

In keeping with StartOut's commitment to create wealth and opportunity in the LGBT community by supporting entrepreneurs, we're thrilled to announce our pilot Lesbian Entrepreneur Mentoring Program. In speaking with lesbian entrepreneurs, it became clear that mentoring was high on the list of value-added things that StartOut could provide. So we decided to pilot the program here in San Francisco.

They are excited to announce they are taking applications for their first Mentees now. Click here to apply - please note the application deadline is March 31st . They are looking for 10 lesbian entrepreneurs who currently run their own business -- or plan to in the next year -- to be a part of our pilot program launching in June.

They are also looking for Mentors. As StartOut members, they invite you to be a mentor to these new lesbian entrepreneurs. They are looking for mentors from any industry, and with at least two years of experience with your own company. Whether you're well into your success or have only been doing it for a short time, you have valuable knowledge and experience that 'newbies' can benefit from. If you would like to learn more about being a mentor, please email Marie Trexler at Marie.Trexler@startout.org

www.startout.org

TONIGHT! Dan Savage hosts the "It Gets Better" special.

2012-02-21T07:06:00.000-08:00

Video & Movies - Logo: Fierce TV

The viral phenomenon is coming to television in a special event you can't miss. "It Get's Better" follows the stories of three young people at the crossroads of acceptance. Join the creators of the "It Gets Better" project, Dan Savage and Terry Miller, as they offer hope and support to these young adults.

With special appearances by Adam Levine, Zachary Quinto, Margaret Cho, Chaz Bono and more.

More info

GLAAD and Director Brett Ratner Announce Video Initiative to Rally Support for LGBT Americans

2012-02-15T10:11:00.000-08:00

Photo by Carell Augustus

GLAAD, the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, today announced plans for a groundbreaking video campaign to be produced and directed by Brett Ratner. Ratner met with GLAAD's Board of Directors this weekend in a meeting that included producer of the 84th Annual Academy Awards Brian Grazer, as well as directors Adam Shankman and Bryan Singer, among others.

"Working together with GLAAD has been a very positive and enlightening experience for me, and I could not be more pleased to be developing this crucial campaign to help educate people that we all share the same humanity," said Ratner. "I am excited to get to work on this program and hope that minds and hearts are opened by what we create."

The upcoming video series will feature a diverse group of Hollywood celebrities, athletes, musicians and politicians 'coming out of the closet' as supporters of equality. Participants will share personal stories about why and how they support the LGBT community and call on Americans to do the same.

"Straight allies are crucial to creating a culture in which LGBT people are respected and supported," said Herndon Graddick, Senior Director of Programs and Communications at GLAAD. "We look forward to working with Brett and these other inspiring Americans who are speaking out and standing up for their LGBT friends, family members, neighbors and coworkers."

In 2011, GLAAD released the 'Amplify Your Voice' public service announcement (PSA) campaign which featured celebrity talent, athletes and LGBT young people speaking out against anti-LGBT bullying. The videos and anti-bullying resource kits are available here: www.glaad.org/amplifyyourvoice. Comcast served as a leading media partner for the PSA campaign, contributing $3 million in national airtime and bringing the campaign to more than 20 million homes.

Valentine's Day Singles Mixer at the Queen Mary

2012-02-08T08:33:00.000-08:00

The Queen Mary is proud to present a unique Valentine’s Day event just for singles when the Red Hot Singles Mix ‘N Mingle takes over the Queen’s Salon aboard the iconic ship next Tuesday, February 14th.

While traditional Valentine’s Day celebrations cater to couples, offering themed entertainment, prix-fixed menus and the requisite box of chocolates, the Queen Mary invites single ladies and gents, both straight and gay, to enjoy a night of live music and dancing where you might just meet your Valentine. Whether you’re searching for that special someone or just out to enjoy a night with friends, the Mix ‘N Mingle event is the perfect opportunity to get away from the couples-only restaurant scene and enjoy a night of fun in one of the most romantic and historic venues in town.

Tickets to the event are $19.95 and can be purchased online at www.queenmary.com