Category Archives: Benefits
Christmas with the Queens – Lady Bunny and Jackie Beat Holiday Shows
Two of our favorite queens have holiday streaming specials this month!
“What Child Is This?” with Lady Bunny features:
4 WIGS, 7 COSTUMES and 20 SONGS!
45 MINUTES OF LAUGHS!
AND CHEAPER PRODUCTION VALUE THAN 1980s MANHATTAN PUBLIC ACCESS CABLE TV!
WITH CHEAP $9.95 TICKETS, TOO!
Expect new holiday parodies, a dreadful puppet, and a “glamorous” intro video shot all over Manhattan. Laugh and hiss at my scandalous new version of ’Twas The Night Before Christmas—this year, it’s at the White House! And a few other tricks Lady Bunion has up her ba-rum-pa-pa-pum!
“What Child Is This” is adult content for those who love to laugh at twisted shit! Don’t watch with kids, but it is a guaranteed way to horrify prudish or religious relatives. In the show, I also offer an unorthodox solution to those awkward, family political convos around the holidays.
Co-written by Beryl Mendelbaum
Shot & Edited By Mikhail Torich
Special appearance by Chauncey Dandridge as Bitter Gay Sound Man
Not a live event, so you can view it on demand through Jan 4th.
22nd Annual Holiday Show by Drag Icon Jackie Beat
(On Demand this year)
CHRISTMAS IS NOT CANCELED!
Now thru December 26
This year, there are no Rockettes at Radio City, Scrooge can’t hoist
Tiny Tim onto his shoulder for fear of COVID and The Nutcracker has
been hobbled, but drag icon JACKIE BEAT wants you to know that
CHRISTMAS IS NOT CANCELED! The big and bawdy, bold and ballsy queen’s
holiday shows are legendary, and this year (her 22nd annual holiday
show) she’s gone virtual, streaming her festive freak-out right into
your living room.
Whatever you celebrate, watch for Jackie’s holiday
classics and new song parodies aimed at everything you cherish. Plus,
this year some of Jackie’s closest “friends” have popped by to join in
the holiday spirit! Who’s that knocking on the door? It’s Alan
Cumming, Alaska, Alec Mapa, Alison Arngrim, Amanda LePore, Babette
Bombshell, BenDeLaCreme, Bianca del Rio, Boomer Banks, Calpernia
Addams, Christeene, Coco Peru, Conchita Wurst, Daniel Franzese,
Elvira, Heklina, Jackie Hoffman, Jinkx Monsoon, Jun Nakayama, Kate
Flannery, Leslie Jones, Margaret Cho, Michael Urie, Murray Hill, Nina
West, Parker Posey, Peaches Christ, Peppermint, Ross Mathews, Selene
Luna, Sherry Vine, Tammie Brown, The Vivienne, Varla Jean Merman and
Willam!
JACKIE BEAT: CHRISTMAS IS NOT CANCELED! is now available to watch On
Demand through December 26. Tickets are $20 per device, available at
www.SpinCycleNYC.com.
Actors Fund Benefit STARS IN THE HOUSE
Have you heard of this show on YouTube?
Music, community, and education to support The Actors Fund and its services.
Live-streamed daily at 2 PM ET and 8 PM ET/ Listen on SiriusXM VOLUME at 9AM ET, M-F
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and theatres across the world closing their curtains indefinitely, SiriusXM host Seth Rudetsky and his husband, producer James Wesley have created Stars in the House, a daily live streamed series to support The Actors Fund and its services.
NEW SHOWS DAILY!
With new shows airing daily at 2 PM ET and 8 PM ET, Stars in the House is a combination of music, community, and education (from CBS Chief Medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook) located on the Actors Fund YouTube Channel. With musical performances by stars remotely from their home and conversations with Seth and James between each tune, viewers can also donate to the charity and interact with the guests in real time.
RAISING MONEY!
Stars in the House raised over $50,000 in the first four days of airing. Guests include Andrew Lloyd Webber, John Lithgow, Jason Alexander, Kristen Chenoweth as well as couples confined together like Audra McDonald and Will Swenson, Frozen composers Bobby Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, writers Tina Fey and Jeff Richmond, and many more. Stars in the House plans to stream daily until Broadway re-opens.
LOTS of upcoming shows PLUS 3 months of Archives!
The Actors Fund is a national human services organization that fosters stability and resiliency, and provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals over their lifespan. Through offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, The Fund serves everyone in film, theater, television, music, opera, radio and dance with programs including social services and emergency financial assistance, health care and insurance counseling, housing, and secondary employment and training services.
Broadway’s Carols for a Cure 21
365 Days of Love Letters
Dive into the modern games of love.
“365 Days of Love Letters,” an episodic romantic drama, follows two Millennial best friends who embark on a path of self-discovery, chronicling romance, heartbreak, and rebirth through the lens of technology. Together, the two face addiction to love, security, and fantasy. Join the movement to make a new series come to life.
With Chris Salvatore (the Eating Out series), RJ Aguiar (social media pioneer), and Caitlainne Gurreri (Grey’s Anatomy, All My Children) headlining the show, this new series is generating buzz already and has begun to attach several key players who round out the team across acting, producing, marketing, fashion, and music. From the team alone, we have cumulatively generated over 13 million YouTube views, 2 million Facebook fans, 405K Instagram followers, 171K YouTube subscribers, and 169K Twitter followers. Created by Kyle Thomas and produced by Jessica Bryant, the show was shot by Jessica Ramos (worked on Breaking Bad, Hail, Caesar!, and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty) and will be scored by powerhouse Craig J Snider (worked with Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, and Kelly Clarkson). Craig J Snider will also produce three pop singles that will be released in connection with the series.
What They Need & What You Get
We are looking for $50,000 in finishing funds to complete the first season. All funding will be going to cover the costs of equipment, rentals, food for our actors and crew on set, production expenses, and post-production. We believe in building a community that lives and breathes stories that are raw, authentic, and intimate. We want you to become a part of our series — a part of our journey — and share your own love letters in the process. We have many different perks, ranging from original music, personalized calls from the cast and crew, as well as ways to bring your own art into the series.
Other Ways You Can Help
While we understand that not everyone has the ability to donate, we appreciate each and every person who supports our team and story by spreading the word about our series. Whether that’s by sharing this Indiegogo on your social media, hashtagging #Our365Letters, or telling your friends about the show/trailer, your support means the entire world.
Broadway Cares – Christmas Carols for a Cure
Dear Evan Hansen, Come From Away, Hamilton, Waitress and A Bronx Tale.
The Christmas season is in full show tune swing now that the 19th volume of Broadway’s Carols for a Cure has arrived. The latest compilation from the beloved series continues Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ tradition of pairing the casts from award-winning Broadway musicals with seasonal songs that are both classic and new. Once again, the result is pure magic and is sure to help make the 2017 holiday season shine brighter than ever before.
“These are all new, original recordings, creatively arranged and performed by the incredibly talented performers and musicians from the 2017 Broadway season,” explains producer Lynn Pinto who, once again, collaborates with engineer Andros Rodriguez on the album. Pinto allows each company a great deal of freedom in choosing the material and the style of the arrangement. She adds, “We record the musicians and singers in layers, utilizing isolation booths for a higher quality recording. It gives the album a unique sound from most cast albums and allows us to showcase some of the best voices and instrumentalists in the world.”
The first Broadway’s Carols for a Cure album debuted in 1999, making this year’s album the 19th in the annual series. Fans of Broadway will be overjoyed to hear recordings from Tony Award winning casts of Dear Evan Hansen, Hamilton, Come From Away and many more:
WICKED God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Highlights are copious but include Billy Porter and the cast of Kinky Boots singing an all-new, rockin’ version of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and the cast of A Bronx Tale performing “I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day” in a New Yawker-style that will have listeners humming for days.Additionally, Meghan Toohey (Sara Barielles’ long-time guitarist) serves up a lovely 1960s-style original song, “Wonder What You Got For Me,” featuring the talented Anastacia McCleskey and the rest of the company and band from Waitress; and Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, the composer/lyricist team behind Anastasia perform their original carol, “All Those Christmas Cliches,” along with their award-winning cast.
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is a nonprofit organization that helps individuals with serious illnesses including AIDS receive the health care and support they need. In addition, they provide financial support in the form of grants to AIDS and family service organizations throughout the country.
“The 19th volume of Broadway’s Carols for a Cure is the best yet,” promises Lynn Pinto. “It exudes such warmth, like a cozy blanket on a snowy Winter’s day.”
The 2-CD set is in the web store at BroadwayCares.org or by calling Broadway Cares at 212-840-0770.
Tom of Finland Red Wine
Tom of Finland Wines (tomoffinlandwines.com), a new label created in tribute to the legacy and artwork of Tom of Finland (Touko Laaksonen, Finnish, 1920-1991), popularly known as Tom of Finland, is pleased to announce its inaugural release – the 2015 OUTstanding RED. Following a successful launch in Finland in 2016, Tom of Finland Wines is making its US debut, with the wine available exclusively direct-to-consumer on the website for $24 per bottle.
Tom of Finland Wines is made in partnership with the Tom of Finland Foundation, a non-profit started in 1984 by TOM and Durk Dehner. Though the Foundation’s original purpose was to preserve TOM’s vast catalog of work, today the Foundation has greatly expanded its efforts and exists to educate the public as to the cultural merits of erotic art and the promotion of healthier, more tolerant attitudes towards sexuality through experiential workshops, residencies and exhibitions.
Terry Miller, Official Tom of Finland “TOM’s Man” and spokesman for Tom of Finland Wines comments on the project: “Tom is about pleasure and enjoying life. A part of enjoying life involves indulging your sensual side and appreciating the finer things… self-expression, openness and freedom – that’s why wine is the perfect manifestation in honor of the legendary artist. As for the wine, OUTstanding RED is remarkably smooth, delicious and sexy. Tom of Finland’s work is the most recognizable and important gay iconography in the world, and it both warms and excites me to see it presented front and center on the bottle of OUTstanding RED.”
Tom of Finland Wines will host an official launch party for media, trade, and consumers on December 14th in at The Oasis in San Francisco. Guests can expect a meet-and-greet and photo opportunity with Terry Miller, and of course, plenty of OUTstanding RED. Additional details to be published at a later date. Learn more about Tom of Finland wines on the new website www.tomoffinlandwines.com, on Facebook at ‘Tom of Finland Wines’, on Instagram at @tomoffinlandwines, and on Twitter at @tofwines.
About Tom of Finland Wines:
Tom of Finland Wines is the first time Tom of Finland enters into the world of wine. Tom of Finland Wines first introduced the OUTstanding RED California red-blend in the artist’s native home of Finland in 2016. Now available in the U.S. market, Tom of Finland Wines offers a high-quality wine crafted with detail, passion and a desire to satisfy even the most discerning wine drinker – a true tribute to TOM and his significant contribution to contemporary art and popular culture. Learn more and purchase the wine at www.tomoffinlandwines.com
Cher and Barbra and Oprah and More
from NEWSDAY –
Celebrities from stage, screen and sports — from Barbra Streisand to Justin Bieber, Julia Roberts to Jamie Foxx — banded together in a telethon Tuesday night that aired on every major network to raise money for those affected by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.
“Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Relief” raised nearly $15 million in an hour featuring numerous pleas including one from Beyoncé, a native of Houston, which was hit hard by Hurricane Harvey. “Natural disasters don’t discriminate,” she said. “They don’t see if you’re an immigrant, black or white, Hispanic or Asian, Jewish or Muslim, wealthy or poor . . . We’re all in this together.”
CAN YOU IMAGINE calling in and getting Cher or Barbra or Oprah on the phone???
Before leading a gospel choir on “Lean on Me,” however, Stevie Wonder couldn’t resist making a slight dig at climate change deniers.
“We should begin to love and value our planet,” he said. “And anyone who believes that there is no such thing as global warming must be blind or unintelligent.”
Apple Gay Pride Watch
Apple launched a special Pride Edition Apple Watch band Thursday, with a part of its sales to go to LGBT support groups. The nylon band will come in two sizes — 38mm and 42mm, and cost $49 each.
“Apple is proud to support LGBTQ advocacy organizations working to bring about positive change, including GLSEN, PFLAG and The Trevor Project in the U.S. and ILGA internationally. A portion of the proceeds from Pride Edition band sales will benefit their important efforts,” the company said on its product page.
The company’s endeavor coincides with the back end of Pride Month, which is generally considered to be in June, to honor the 1969 Stonewall Riots. The company says its latest band is made up of 500 threads woven together to form a rainbow pattern to denote the official symbol of the LGBT movement. Read more here.
New York Lawyer Raises Money for Chechnya Men
For months now, we had heard many awful news reports coming out of Chechnya, the semi-autonomous state in southwest Russia, where authorities carried out a brutal, months-long campaign of kidnapping, imprisoning, torturing and killing LGBTQ people. But over the past month, we’ve learned of Lithuania, France and Germany issuing visas to queer Chechen refugees escaping the violence, and now of Fred Erick, a New York attorney who raised $256,278 to help queer men flee Chechnya.
Erick, a 33-year-old lawyer whose Jewish family fled Ukraine in 1987 to escape anti-Semitic persecution, hated hearing about the violence in Chechnya. He said, ” I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It was frustrating and scary — it makes you angry because you can’t do anything.”
So he started a now-completed Facebook fundraiser entitled Helping Gay Men Flee Chechnya to aid Rainbow Railroad, a Canadian organization that has helped 37 men flee Chechnya by working closely with the Russian LGBT Network, a non-governmental organization who has helped Chechens escape the region.
“After the Holocaust everyone asked, ‘How did the world standby and do nothing?’” Erick’s fundraising page said. “Well, here is your chance to do something. Or will our grandkids ask the same question of us?”
Erick says that 6,000 people donated and 7,300 thousand shared the campaign’s page including gay Star Trek actor George Takei which helped boost the campaign’s notoriety. Erick has encouraged others to start their own fundraisers as well to help Chechen refugees.
There has been little news of Chechnya’s anti-LGBTQ purges since May 26, 2017 (the start of Ramadan, the date that Chechen officials reportedly wanted to exterminate all LGBTQ residents by). Russia denied the reports of violence, Chechen officials obstructed the official investigation into it and worlds leaders (including the U.S.) stayed mostly silent during the purge.
read more at UNICORN BOOTY
TRANSGENDER Category at TINDER
Tinder’s founder, Sean Rad, announced that since GLAAD worked with Tinder to make the platform trans-inclusive, Tinder has matched over 250,000 trans users. That’s a huge number and shows that transgender inclusion really works.
When Tinder released its “More Genders” update last November, it sent a strong message to tens of millions of people that trans people were welcome at Tinder.
It’s particularly important that this news came out at an event in Texas, where the message is sorely needed — Texas is currently considering a law, SB6, that would codify discrimination against trans people.
From working with companies like Tinder and the cast of Transparent, to fighting back against SB6 and the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back protections for trans kids, GLAAD is fighting on the front lines to accelerate acceptance for trans people. Today, we’re asking you to be a part of that work.
Your contribution of just $25 is an important way for you to voice your support for all trans people — and to make an unequivocal statement that all of us deserve nothing less than full acceptance:
| Derrick, donate $25 |
Thank you for being one of GLAAD’s best supporters. We can’t do this without you.
Neil Patrick Harris in New York City
This year marks the monumental 10-year anniversary of (RED).
It is astonishing that in 2005, 1200 babies were born every day with HIV. In 2015, that number was cut by two-thirds to 400.
Playing a role in this pivotal fight and extraordinary anniversary, Neil Patrick Harris is partnering with Coca-Cola and (RED) to help bring additional awareness to this cause.
Beginning today, you can head over to Omaze.com/NPH to donate. A $10 donation will get you 100 entries for Neil’s exclusive experience. One lucky winner + guest will join Neil and his husband for a fun night out in New York City! In addition to getting flown out and staying in a 4-star hotel, the winner will catch a Broadway show with the couple and grab dinner at one of Neil’s favorite spots in the city.
Donations can be made at many levels and include additional campaign perks – anything from a (RED) campaign shirt to signed merchandise from Neil himself. Coca-Cola will also match every dollar raised by Neil Patrick Harris’ campaign this year, up to $2million.
Celebrity Auction for Stonewall
On June 24th, 2016, President Obama designated Stonewall National Monument as the newest addition to America’s National Park System. Stonewall is the first national monument to tell the story of the struggle for LGBT rights in America.
New York’s Stonewall Inn has long been hallowed ground: The Greenwich Village tavern was home to the 1969 Stonewall riots, which are widely considered to be the birth of the modern gay rights movement. More than 40 years later, when the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, the celebration was (unofficially) headquartered there. Now the legacy of the Stonewall Inn will officially live on, as President Obama will reportedly name the space outside the iconic bar a national monument, the first of its kind recognizing LGBT rights.
In support of this historic designation, Pride Live Nation has partnered with Charitybuzz and some of the biggest names in entertainment to raise funds directly for the Stonewall National Monument.
Visit charitybuzz.com/stonewall and bid on exciting experiences and items donated by
Anderson Cooper http://chrty.bz/2dFFrIU,
Cher http://chrty.bz/2dFFdS4,
George Clooney http://chrty.bz/2dFF4hG,
Taylor Swift http://chrty.bz/2dFIAZk,
Justin Tranter http://chrty.bz/2dFHqNt,
Jonathan Adler http://chrty.bz/2e7DLEd,
Andy Cohen http://chrty.bz/2dFGh8B,
Bryan Lourd [http://chrty.bz/2dFI1id]
Cyndi Lauper http://chrty.bz/2dFJhl7,
Mick Rock http://chrty.bz/2dFIWiC,
David Karphttp://bit.ly/2ej1EJ6,
Taylor Swift http://chrty.bz/2dFIAZk,
Dustin Lance Black http://chrty.bz/2dFEq3K,
and Moncho1929 http://chrty.bz/2e7BA3C,
In addition, Madonna has donated a pair of cherry red & purple velvet Prada couture shoes http://chrty.bz/2dFHpc7, Stevie Nicks has donated a trademark rhythm tech tambourine designed exclusively for Stonewall National Monument http://chrty.bz/2dFIukq,and Demi Lovato has donated one of her specially designed Michael Costello sequin costumes worn on her Future Now tour http://chrty.bz/2e7AV23,
The auction runs through November 10th, 3P EST.
Pride Live Nation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that raises awareness and support for the LGBT community via social advocacy and community engagement to advance the fight for full equality. www.pridelivenation.org
Charitybuzz is the world’s premier online charity auction platform and a proud member of the CHARITY NETWORK. It offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences and incredible luxury packages, with 80% of net revenue benefiting charitable organizations. Charitybuzz has the largest online audience of high net worth, philanthropic individuals in the world and has raised more than $180M for charity to date. www.charitybuzz.com
49 Celebrities Honor 49 Victims of Orlando Tragedy
Stop the Hate: 49 Celebrities Honor 49 Victims of Orlando Tragedy in Ryan Murphy-Produced Tribute
For too long, a toxic combination of anti-LGBTQ hate and easy access to guns has put LGBTQ people at disproportionate risk of violence and murder. On June 12, forty-nine innocent people — most of them Latinx — were killed at Pulse nightclub in Orlando simply because of who they were. It’s on all of us to keep their memories alive, and to ensure part of their legacy becomes meaningful action to end hate violence. Join the Human Rights Campaign and urge your legislator to support legislation that will ensure LGBTQ people are safe and equal in every community and find out how to support the survivors and families of the Orlando victims. Learn more at:
http://www.hrc.org/StopTheHate
Special thanks to Ryan Murphy, Ned Martel and their colleagues at Ryan Murphy Television for making this project possible and all of our friends in the entertainment community for their support of this project including (in order of appearance) Lady Gaga, Chris Pine, Cuba Gooding Jr., Connie Britton, Matt Bomer, Sarah Paulson, Angela Bassett, Lea Michele, Colton Haynes, Sophia Bush, Jane Fonda, Harry Shum Jr., Denis O’Hare, Rob Reiner, Melissa Benoist, Caitlyn Jenner, Édgar Ramírez, Max Greenfield, Chaz Bono, Cheyenne Jackson, Emma Roberts, Kerry Washington, George Lopez, Evan Rachel Wood, Sofia Vergara, Diego Boneta, Nina Jacobson, Demi Lovato, Tyler Oakley, Yeardley Smith, Kid Cudi, Kaitlin Olson, Kevin McHale, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lee Daniels, Chace Crawford, Evan Peters, Gerard Butler, Katey Sagal, John Stamos, Laverne Cox, Jordana Brewster, Wes Bentley, Finn Wittrock, Darren Criss, Kathy Bates, Anna Paquin, Guillermo Díaz and Joe Mantello.
Gay Days Anaheim @ Disneyland
About 12 weeks away!
It’ll be here before you know it!
GAY DAYS ANAHEIM @ Disneyland!
This is one of our favorite parties – and favorite cities!
Gay Days Anaheim 2015
October 2 – 4
The schedule is awesome this year and you can pick and choose which parties and events you wish to attend. Coco Peru will be back this year and the fabulous WILLAM from Ru Pauls drag race fame. The parties run Friday thru Sunday but I encourage you stay a few more days. There is SO MUCH to see and do in Anaheim and Orange county. CHECK OUT THESE PAST ARTICLES! Shopping, dining, fresh air, art galleries and ocean waves. The historic Packing District showcases culinary offerings and events in a communal gathering space in the heart of downtown Anaheim, and celebrates their one year anniversary next month. You could spend an entire day here.
Discounted Park Tickets Available Now! Click here
Check out the Schedule of Gay Days Anaheim events HERE
Introducing the Gay Days Anaheim Concierge! Click for more information
If you’re not already on the Private Email List, sign up now!
Boy Scouts Challenge
- Scouts For Equality has challenged Boy Scouts President Bob Gates to overturn the Scouts’ policy banning gay adults!
- Anyone can make a donation directly to the Boy Scouts to support the challenge – but the Scouts won’t get the money unless they reverse their discriminatory policy
- $53,000 has been raised ! 4 days LEFT!
This is made possible by the new crowdfunding platform Challeng.org, which aggregates charitable donations to enact social change. This campaign is the official launch for Challeng.
Oakland A’s Support Gays!
Oakland Athletics pitcher Sean Doolittle and his girlfriend, Eireann Dolan, stepped in to head off what she described as a negative response to the team’s first LGBT Pride Night this coming season, the San Jose Mercury News reported.
Late last week, Dolan offered to buy tickets for the A’s June 17th game against San Diego, saying several season ticket holders were refusing to attend and trying to sell their tickets because they were uncomfortable with the event.
“If you’d like to sell your tickets to June 17th’s LGBT Pride Night game, I will buy them from you at face value. As many as I can. No judgments. No questions asked,” she wrote on her blog. “From there, I will donate any tickets I purchase to the Bay Area Youth Center’s Our Space community for LGBTQ youth.”
She revealed in the post that her biological mother is part of a same-sex couple living in San Diego.
“In fact I’m starting to suspect that the Athletics focus-grouped this event idea with just my two moms and nobody else,” she wrote. “It couldn’t be any more perfectly tailored to my moms than if the team announced that NPR’s Terry Gross will also be throwing out the first pitch and there will be a free notepad giveaway on which my moms can write down all of the reasons I should have majored in something more practical in college.”
On Monday, Dolan said, Doolittle agreed to match her donations up to $3,000. She also started an online fundraising campaign to purchase more seats to donate to the youth center group.
Read More at Raw Story
Lesbians in Alabama Need Help
It is sad that we have to PAY to defend ourselves and what is right. There should be a reimbursement system in place. ALABAMA should be eating these court costs!
“The two women in Mobile are the bravest two women I’ve ever known,” [Alabama Rep. Patricia Todd, D-Birmingham] said. “They’ve been through a lot, and they will continue to go through a lot, and we can never forget them.”
Todd said Searcy and McKeand have “incurred a great debt over legal fees” in their eight-year fight to have their California marriage recognized. She urged attendees to donate to the couple at their website, IAmAParent.com.
[Living in Limbo Executive Director Lara] Embry said Searcy and McKeand are $40,000 in legal debt “because they fought this fight for a long time in Alabama while we were not considered low-hanging fruit to national organizations who would then pitch in and help with that fight.”
“If you want to send someone a wedding gift, maybe make it honor of Cari and Kim, and make a donation to help them, to help pay for marriage equality in Alabama,” Embry said. “Because they got the bill.”
Visit I AM A PARENT
or the GO FUND ME PAGE
FCKH8 Male Model Charity Calendar
Straight and Gay Hunks Get Naked Together, Lowering Their Underwear to Raise Awareness and Funds with 2015 HIV/AIDS Charity Calendar
FCKH8.com Teams Up with Photographer Justin Monroe to Create Sexy Poolside Photo Spread.
Hot on the heels of the massive viral success of their anti-sexism “Potty-Mouth Princesses” video that garnered almost 20 million views and raised $30,000 for charities promoting girls and women’s rights, FCKH8.com is campaigning to benefit HIV/AIDS charities with a sexy new 2015 benefit calendar that features straight and gay men getting naked together for a cause.
Lensed by renowned photographer Justin Monroe, and promoted by the gay social app Jack’d, the 12 month photo calendar features beefy straight and gay hotties stripped down to their bathing suits… or their birthday suits. The calendar, as well as the behind the scenes video that shows even more of the guys than the calendar does, were shot by the pool in the Hollywood hills in the hot California sun.
With a behind-the-scenes video on the FCKH8.com home page, the 9 inch x 12 inch glossy calendar is available for purchase for $9.99 on the FCKH8.com campaign website. To support the cause, 50% of all the money raised will go to HIV/AIDS charities that online supporters will be able to vote for on the campaign’s Facebook page.
The video and calendar shoot were made with the help of the guys at Jack’d, the fastest-growing gay social app in the world, who are promoting the cause to their audience of millions of gay and bi men to turn them on and turn up their support.
Behind the Scenes Video Can Be Seen HERE
Mark MacKillop Photo Book RM. FOURTEEN
Mark MacKillop is a singer actor dancer. Originally from Vancouver he studied ballet in Vancouver with Li Yaming at Pacific DanceArts and spent summers training with the Boston Ballet and American Ballet Theater in New York, both on full scholarship. After three years dancing with the Atlanta Ballet Mark moved to New York to pursue musical theatre and just finished a year on tour playing Riff with the international production of West Side Story – which leads us to this story about Mark!
From Huffington Post: New York performer Mark MacKillop offers musical theater fans a provocative peek at the offstage life of a working actor in his coffee table book, Rm. XIV.
The new book comprises 80 black-and-white selfies of MacKillop in various stages of undress, shot in various hotel rooms around the world while he was in the midst of an international tour of “West Side Story” last year.
Though the steamy images will no doubt set pulses racing, MacKillop sees Rm. XIV as capturing “physicality, composition, reflection” as opposed to being intentionally scintillating.
“I had just finished a year touring all over Europe and Israel with the international production of West Side Story. During the course of my time abroad i started taking pictures of myself in each hotel room I stayed in. This quickly became a staple of my experience on tour.”
“ Surprisingly traveling around with 30 cast members and a 30 piece orchestra left me feeling incredibly isolated and at times lonely. I used the photos as a way of connecting with friends who I was separated from to give them a unique, intimate look at my life on the road,” MacKillop, who originally hails from Canada, told The Huffington Post. Noting that he shot all of the images on his iPhone with a self-timer app, he added, “I definitely wouldn’t call myself a photographer. I would just call myself an artist exploring in various mediums.”
MacKillop, who is openly gay, said the photos also represent a very personal journey, and were partly inspired by Tom of Finland in addition to his own ballet and modern dance training.
A very successful kickstarter campaign was launched and the book was printed!
(Photo Right : is from one of the MANY fashion shoots Mark has done. Photographer Walter Kurtz Emporio Armani Underwear. See more on Pinterest.)
Having performed in the 2014 installment of “Broadway Bares,” MacKillop will donate a portion of the proceeds from Rm. XIV to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA). In addition, the book will feature an introduction by Tony Award-winning “Kinky Boots” star Billy Porter and a foreword authored by New York artist Robert W. Richards.
You can read more about Rm. XIV here. BUY THE BOOK!
Sneak Peak Video on YouTube
Instagram @markmackillop
Twitter @mark_mackillop
markmackillop.net
1 LIFE FEST….Gay Lollapalooza? Gay MASSIVE
The newest, hottest, biggest celebration on earth!
Come Celebrate Equality and Diversity this Independence Day Weekend and make history at The National Orange Show Event Center! Full details at the 1LIFE FESTIVAL Official Website www.1LIFEFEST.com
W A T C H
“AMERICA’S FIRST GAY MASSIVE” 1LIFE FESTIVAL COMES TO LIFE
WITH EDM FOR THE LGBT COMMUNITY JULY 4th WEEKEND
1LIFE Festival – America’s First Gay Massive, the first large scale electronic dance music festival produced for the LGBT community, has joined forces with producer Jeffrey Sanker, following the success of White Party Palm Springs 25th Anniversary, to deliver an unforgettable experience with state of the art visuals and effects, top caliber production values and world class performers. The production will come to life on Sat. July 5 at Southern California’s National Orange Show Fairgrounds – just 40 minutes from downtown LA.
For 14 HOURS, from 4pm-6am, friends and fans from all over the globe will gather for a sonic armada fueled by more than thirty of the world’s most prominent LGBT and mainstream DJ/Producers and fifty breathtaking live performers, to ignite the senses across three main stages. Kick-off and closing parties on Fri. July 4 and Sun. July 6 will round out the festival schedule. 1LIFE Festival is produced by the creative masterminds behind MOMENTUM, So Cal’s largest monthly themed gay event. Weekend passes, tickets and event information are available now at www.1lifefest.com
Confirmed DJs to date include: Robbie Rivera, Chus+Ceballos, Antoine Clamaran, Maor Levi, Tom Stephan aka Superchumbo, Oscar G (of Murk), Tony Moran, Bent Collective (Danny Verde & Steven Redant), DJ Paulo, Mark Eteson, Kristina Sky, Nitrous Oxide, Victor Dinaire, Greg Downey, Hector Fonseca, Alex Acosta, Nacho Chapado, Alyson Calagna, Cajjmere Wray, Wayne G, DJ Alexander, Manny Lehman, DJ Phil B, Kevin Wild, Eddie Elias, Alain Jackinsky, Novaspace, Swedish Egil, Eddie Martinez, Big Kid and Dan De Leon with more to be announced soon.
“The LGBT community has always been at the forefront of dance music. It’s time for a world-class
festival that focuses on serving that community while recognizing the diversity of the LGBT dance
music audience.” – 1LIFE Festival
AMERICA’S FIRST GAY MASSIVE
Taking its cue from the UK and Europe’s “massive” rave dance music fests, 1LIFE Festival, billed as “America’s First Gay Massive,” is a departure from traditional gay “circuit parties” or gay pride events. This 14 HOUR DJ-driven musical explosion celebrates the best of both LGBT and dance music cultures in an inclusive and welcoming environment, boasting mind blowing effects and production values across three main stages, along with carnival rides, art installations, vendor villages and more.
Do I Sound Gay?
It’s a question many gay men have asked of themselves at some point. And it raises all sorts of fascinating questions about the origins of sexual orientation. Is sounding your sibilants a little excessively in the genes or from the environment?
Is the gay voice a function of learning from others and creating your own community, or is to something embedded in our nature? Why is there such a wide spectrum of gay voices – from gruff masculinity to elaborate femminess? A documentary exploring this is almost done and just launched a kickstarter campaign to finish it.
You can help here.
FEDERAL Government WILL Recognize Same Sex Marriages
The U.S. Department of Treasury has just made it official: legally
married same-sex couples will receive the same tax benefits as
opposite-sex married couples, regardless of where they reside.
In
a call earlier today, U.S. Treasury Department Secretary Jacob Lew told
leadership of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
(NGLCC) and other LGBT interest groups that effective immediately the
U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
ruled that same-sex couples, legally married in jurisdictions that
recognize their marriages, will be treated as married for federal tax purposes.
The ruling applies regardless of whether the couple lives in a
jurisdiction that recognizes same-sex marriage or a jurisdiction that
does not recognize same-sex marriage.
“Today’s ruling provides
certainty and clear, coherent tax filing guidance for all legally
married same-sex couples nationwide. It provides access to benefits,
responsibilities and protections under federal tax law that all
Americans deserve,” said Secretary Lew. “This ruling also assures
legally married same-sex couples that they can move freely throughout
the country knowing that their federal filing status will not change.”
This
is a major victory for the entire equality movement, but especially for
married same-sex couples who own and operate businesses. LGBT people
who are legally married in one of the 13 states that grant same-sex
marriage, can now ensure their business is a “family” business and are
legally entitled to determine the legacy of their wealth.
The
NGLCC will continue to work with LGBT small business owners to ensure
they are equipped with all the pertinent knowledge and resources
throughout this transition. The organization will also advise dozens of
our more than 140 corporate partners who will be augmenting grossing-up
best practices as a result of this announcement.
Other key takeaways:
- Joint filing beginning 2014 for couples married in 2013.
- Retro-active filing for those married in the past three years.
- Same tax treatment for items like income, gifts, and estate.
Secretary
Lew acknowledged there would be further refinements needed and that
both his department and the IRS are looking to the public to help
identify these needed refinements; for instance, child tax credit issues
surrounding same-sex parents where it is not legal at the state level
for a same-sex second parent to adopt.
