Category Archives: Health and Wellness
STARS in the House for Actors Fund
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.
NY Passes Gender Expression Non Discrimination Act
HRC celebrated the historic passage of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) in New York as well as legislation protecting LGBTQ youth in the state from the dangerous and debunked practice of so-called “conversion therapy.” GENDA would solidify existing law by explicitly adding gender identity and expression to the New York Human Rights Law. The bill has passed the New York Assembly 11 times, and today marks the first time it has passed both chambers. Both bills will now head to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s desk to be signed.
Today’s passage of GENDA is the culmination of efforts that reach back for over a decade. In 2016, Governor Cuomo directed the New York State Division of Human Rights to adopt regulations, consistent with state case law interpreting the meaning of ‘sex,’ to make it clear that transgender people are protected from discrimination and harassment under the state’s Human Rights Law. Additionally, the bill adds protections on the basis of gender identity to the state’s hate crimes law. The passage and signing of GENDA will explicitly codify these protections into law once and for all. With the passage of legislation banning conversion therapy, New York joins 14 states and the District of Columbia in protecting LGBTQ youth from this dangerous practice.
World Pride NYC The Gayest Day of the Year!
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The Largest LGBTQIA+ Street Festival in New York City!
All eyes will be on New York City as we commemorate 50 years of the Stonewall Uprising. Our attendees are from all five boroughs and beyond making PrideFest the single best opportunity for businesses to connect directly with the LGBTQIA+ community.
Broadway Bares Raises $1.8 MILLION
Sexy seamen were ready to sink Battleships, frolicsome friends played “Striptionary,” and a rambunctious round of flashlight tag involved the entire audience during the steamy evening of sensational stripteases at Broadway Bares: Game Night.
This year’s record-breaking edition of the annual spectacular raised $1,875,090 with two standing-room-only performances at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom.
Produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Game Night gave your ordinary night out a tantalizing twist with striptease production numbers inspired by beloved board, video, and arcade games.
Check out more photos on Gay Cities
50th Anniversary of Stonewall Inn
The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative (SIGBI), the official 501(c)3 of the Stonewall Inn, announced that it will host its annual PRIDE reception on Monday, June 4th at the historic Stonewall Inn.
Launched in 2017, SIGBI is inspired by the struggles and ideals of the LGBTQ rights movement born from the Stonewall Inn Rebellion of 1969 though its awareness campaigns, educational programming, fundraising and candid public dialogue.
“We are excited to once again partner with Jet Blue and Brooklyn Brewery to support The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative. The Initiative supports grass roots organizations across the country and especially those in places where equality has been slow to arrive.” Said Stacy Lentz, Co-owner of the Stonewall Inn and CEO of the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative. “With their generous support the Initiative is able to do the much-needed work of helping some of the most undeserved LGBTQ communities.”
This year, in response to the devastating hurricane in Puerto Rico, SIGBI will highlight the work of Proyecto Matria www.proyectomatria.org, which works to advance the equity of LGBTQ communities from two areas: human rights activism and the offering of services in the field of economic development and housing. Matria also has educational programs to train other organizations, public agencies and communities on how to stop discrimination against LGBTQ people and create safe spaces from an equity perspective.
SIGBI will also announce two major campaigns:
The inaugural Stonewall Auction, running now through June 12th on Charitybuzz is offering once in a lifetime celebrity experiences and items for bid, https://bit.ly/2J1ztNZ . Also, the Stonewall Inn Ambassadors, a cohort of activists, celebrities, and influencers, who will work together to elevate awareness and support for SIGBI over the next 12 months and through the 50th anniversary of Stonewall on June 28, 2019. Stonewall Inn Ambassadors include Chelsea Clinton, Bryan Lourd, Laverne Cox, Robbie Rogers, Geena Rocero and Cleve Jones. Please see full list at the end of this release. www.stonewallinitiative.org/new-index/
Both campaigns are programs of Pride Live Nation, www.pridelivenation.org.
During the reception, there will be a performance by Michael Blume and remarks by featured speaker Chely Wright.
Indie/soul artist Michael Blume has released his latest songs “R U Mad” and “Blunder” – from his upcoming EP Cynicism &Sincerity, which will be out June 8th via S-Curve Records. The songs are available now at all digital music outlets, including Spotify, Apple/iTunes, and Amazon……
See the new video! (PRESS HERE to watch)
The forthcoming EP release comes following a whirlwind year for Blume. Since arriving on the scene in 2015, New York-based singer, songwriter, and artist Michael Blume has consistently delivered daring, diverse, and dynamic anthems blurring the lines between simmering and soaring. He’s attracted acclaim from Rolling Stone, GQ, Nylon, Ladygunn, Pigeons & Planes, Earmilk, and Dujour and turned the uninitiated into believers at Governor’s Ball, Firefly, Lollapalooza, and will be performing at the Bonnaroo Music Arts Festival on June 10th.
Chely Wright www.chely.com rose to fame as a commercial country singer in the 90’s and has since released eight studio albums and charted more than 15 singles on the Billboard charts. The Academy of Country Music named Wright “Top New Female Vocalist of 1995.”
About Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative
The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative is inspired by the struggles and ideals of the LGBTQ rights movement born from the Stonewall Inn Rebellion of 1969. Through awareness campaigns, educational programming, fundraising and candid public dialogue, The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative supports grassroots organizations across the country with a focus on those in communities where progress toward equality has been slow and discrimination, harassment, substance abuse, depression and suicide have become an unacceptable way of life. You can donate to SIGBI by visiting: www.stonewallinitiative.org/donate/
“ANGELS IN AMERICA” Establishes Angel Fund
Producers Tim Levy (Director, NT America) and Jordan Roth (President, Jujamcyn Theaters) announced today that the Olivier Award®-winning National Theatre revival of Tony Kushner’s masterwork, Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, has established the “Angels Fund” to provide hundreds of $5 tickets to each part of the play to NYC-area LGBTQ & HIV/AIDS service organizations.
Some of the organizations that have received these specially-priced tickets include: Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA), Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), SAGE, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center and The LGBTQ Center.
The Angels Fund is supported by Howard Gilman Foundation and SHS Foundation with additional support from Debby Landesman, Barbara Whitman/Purple Plume Foundation, Daryl & Steven Roth & Elizabeth Armstrong.
“Everyone should have the opportunity to experience art as important, topical, and challenging as Angels in America – especially people like the clients and staff of GMHC, the world’s first AIDS service organization, who may not otherwise get the chance,” said Gay Men’s Health Crisis CEO Kelsey Louie. “Thanks to the Angels Fund and the National Theatre, many of our clients and staff will be able to see the production.”
“This season’s revival of Angels in America is much more than revisiting Tony Kushner’s brilliant plays with a spectacular cast,” said BC/EFA Executive Director, Tom Viola. “It is a deep dive into how we find the courage, outrage and love to survive, even thrive in the midst of any calamity. Angels in America is a searing reflection of how we dare to love each other, as our best, worst and most exhilarating selves. I thank the producers for sharing that mirror with Broadway Cares, our staff and volunteers. We are blessed and ripped open by the experience.”
Angels in America producer Tim Levy said: “We wanted to make sure that individuals who are most directly connected to the content of the show, but who couldn’t afford full-priced tickets, had the opportunity to see it at an affordable price. We wanted to be able to share ‘The Great Work’ with those in the community who are actually doing The Great Work.”
Angels in America, which was nominated for a record-breaking 11 Tony Awards® will play its limited engagement through Sunday, July 15, 2018. The show began previews on February 23, and opened to ecstatic reviews on March 25 at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street).
Angels in America is directed by two-time Tony Award® winner Marianne Elliott, and stars Academy Award® and Tony Award nominee Andrew Garfield and two-time Tony Award winner Nathan Lane, and also features Susan Brown, Denise Gough, Amanda Lawrence, James McArdle, Lee Pace, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Beth Malone, Patrick Andrews, Glynis Bell, Amy Blackman,Curt James, Rowan Ian Seamus Magee, Mark Nelson, Matty Oaks, Genesis Oliver, Jane Pfitsch, Lee Aaron Rosen, Ron Todorowski, Silvia Vrskova, and Lucy York.
When it first premiered, Angels in America won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, seven Tony Awards, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, and the Evening Standard Award for Best New Play. HBO’s 2003 screen adaptation won both the Emmy® and the Golden Globe® Awards for Best Miniseries.
The design team includes Tony Award winner Ian MacNeil (Scenic Design), Tony Award nominee Nicky Gillibrand (Costume Design), Tony Award winner Paule Constable (Lighting Design), Drama Desk Award winner Adrian Sutton (Music), Tony Award nominee Ian Dickinson for Autograph Sound Ltd. (Sound Design), Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell (Puppetry Designers), Finn Caldwell(Puppetry Director and Movement), Robby Graham (Original Movement), Chris Fisher (Illusions), Steven Hoggett (Movement Consultant). Casting is by Jim Carnahan, CSA.
Angels in America is produced by Tim Levy for NT America, Jordan Roth, Rufus Norris & Lisa Burger for the National Theatre, Elliott & Harper Productions, Kash Bennett for NT Productions,Aged in Wood, Baruch-Viertel-Routh-Frankel Group, Jane Bergère, Adam Blanshay Productions, CatWenJam Productions, Jean Doumanian, Gilad-Rogowsky, Gold-Ross Productions, The John Gore Organization, Grove Entertainment, Harris Rubin Productions, HornosMoellenberg, Brian & Dayna Lee, Benjamin Lowy, Stephanie P. McClelland, David Mirvish, Mark Pigott,Jon B. Platt, E. Price-LD ENT., Daryl Roth, Catherine Schreiber, Barbara Whitman, Jujamcyn Theaters, The Nederlander Organization, and The Shubert Organization.
Angels in America is a two-part performance — Part One, Millennium Approaches and Part Two, Perestroika.
For a complete list of performances (including the final two weeks), please visit, www.angelsbroadway.com. Tickets ($99 – $318) of Angels in America are available at Ticketmaster.com, by calling 877.250.2929, or in person at The Neil Simon Theatre box office (250 West 52nd Street).
Susan Brown, Denise Gough, Amanda Lawrence, James McArdle, and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett are appearing with the support of Actors’ Equity Association. The Producers gratefully acknowledge Actors’ Equity Association for its assistance of this production
www.angelsbroadway.com
www.instagram.com/angelsbway
www.omdkc.com
NYC Pride 2018
NYC Pride 2018 is almost here! The 49th Year!
SO MANY things going on for 10 days of Pride.
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We all celebrate Pride in different ways, which is why NYC Pride offers something for everyone during NYC Pride Week. Click through the event listings here for an in-depth look at each unique event we have planned for this year.
Get Your Hairline Back with SMP
Scalp micropigmentation (SMP) is the modern way to combat male hair loss. Also known as a ‘hairline tattoo’ – the treatment involves applying natural pigments to the epidermal level of the scalp. This makes it easy to replicate the natural appearance of real hair follicles. As a non-surgical treatment it is tailor made to suit your exact requirements. They treat each hairline differently based on the extent of your hair loss.
Skalp® are the leading practitioners of this groundbreaking SMP treatment. Their micropigmentation NYC clinic has helped thousands of men to recover their confidence. All their practitioners are fully qualified in applying scalp microgpigmentation treatments. Read on below to discover more about this amazing hair loss solution.
How much does it cost?
Scalp micropigmentation is the most cost effective hair loss solution due its longevity. The price is very much dependent on the amount of treatment required. On average SMP costs range from $1500 to $4000 for standard male pattern baldness. The higher end of that scale recreates the full hairline, side profiles, top of the head and blending to cover for future hair loss.
Spending $4,000 on a hair transplant would only cover a tiny fraction of the same area. Scalp micropigmentation is not only cheaper way to deal with hair loss. It is also a permanent solution while transplants do not provide that same guarantee.
Is scalp micropigmentation safe?
This is a non-surgical procedure and completely safe. Receiving scalp micropigmentation treatment causes no harm to your skin or your health.
Skalp USA® adhere to the standards set out by the local hygiene regulatory bodies. Only sterile medical gloves are used during the procedure. All single-use needles used are immediately disposed of into sharps containers.
Skalp USA® practitioners have all gone through an advanced in-house scalp micropigmentation training program. They have also all undergone the procedure themselves. This means they can provide first-hand experience about the experience. They also carry full practitioners insurance to provide extra peace of mind.
How long does it last?
There are two options available for scalp micro pigmentation. You can opt for semi-permanent or permanent.
A semi-permanent treatment allows you to try out the service before committing long-term. However, when it starts to fade it can leave the treatment looking patchy or unnatural.
Skalp USA® in NYC provide only permanent solutions as it is more cost effective. This means you will not have to return for regular top-ups and treatments. It also reduces the amount of time you have to take out of your work. This also cuts down on travel time and accommodation costs you may have to incur.
Still unsure? Then try their free virtual hairline mock-up service
Changing your appearance takes trust in how it will look, especially when it comes to your hair. Before you commit to SMP treatment you can try their free virtual hairline. This free mock-up will show how your hairline will look after the application of the solution. You remain in control of the hairline shape, height, density and colour. Their professional team will then produce a professional photo realistic image. Take your time to take in and come to a decision that suits you best.
To find out more contact their scalp micropigmentation clinic in NYC by dialing 855-752-5787.
You can also arrange a free consultation with Skalp USA® online here.
Rebuild Collagen From Within – Peptides
I used to work in advanced skincare at Neiman Marcus in Chicago. I was there for three years. Seemed like every other month, some new product would come out, claiming to be revolutionary! Well it makes sense; Skin care is a $121 BILLION industry globally, and an $11 BILLION industry in the US. And it shows no signs of slowing down. People care about their skin and companies spend millions in research and development, searching for the “fountain of youth”. Or at least products the slow down the aging process.
Skin care awareness and consciousness are some of the driving forces behind the booming industry, says Kathleen Zacrep, MarketResearch.com.
Although older consumers are still key to marketing efforts, younger consumers are becoming more aware of the value in taking care of their skin, notes Zacrep. (read more about the markets and trends here.)
I was at a party recently and someone was talking about collagen supplements. “Injestibles” vs topicals. I guess they have been around for a few years, but I had not heard of them. It’s all about healing and repairing from the inside.
While collagen supplements have long existed in specialty vitamin stores, in the past couple years they’ve expanded to drug and grocery stores and are proliferating rapidly. The promise of all these pills, powders, and drinks is enough to get anyone’s attention and sounds too futuristic to be real: You can swallow a pill and turn back the clock, not just by plumping fine lines for a few hours or days, but by causing your own body to rebuild its collagen from within.
It is backed with clinical research. Research seems to indicate that there’s something real to those claims. In a large double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in early 2014, women took 2.5 g of a particular hydrolyzed collagen peptide once a day; after 8 weeks, researchers measured a 20% reduction in wrinkle depth around the women’s eyes.
I am all about turning back time!
After doing my own research, I found this company, Vital Proteins.
They say, “Vital Proteins helps people feel better and live fuller lives through sustainably-sourced nutrition products, promoting health, fitness and natural beauty. We do that by providing nourishing collagen and promoting our production of collagen – an essential nutrient stripped from our diets by modern food-processing.
We know that while our bodies’ collagen production slows as we age, our need for it only grows as our bodies become less efficient and we maintain a vibrant life. And Vital Proteins believes that if you want to, you can make the most out of every moment you’re given – that your body shouldn’t be a limitation, but a catalyst.”
QUALITY – “Our products are natural sources of essential proteins, sourced from pasture-raised cows in Brazil and New Zealand and wild-caught fish in Hawaii. Why go so many extra miles for these sources? Because there’s nothing more important than one’s health, and we believe the body needs and deserves high-quality building blocks for life’s adventures.“
So I decided to give it a try. Not only is it supposed to be good for your skin, but helps your hairs, nails, bones and digestive system.
The company arranged for me to try a 30 day kit. It included 2 pills; Beef liver capsules and Beauty Boost Capsules. A box of Collagen peptide powder – that I made a drink with. And Collagen Creamer to add to morning coffee. It was a 30 day supply but I did miss a few days. So it lasted about 40 days. I can honestly say, and I was not paid to say this, I thought my skin had improved and looked better, it had a bit of a “glow”, my hair felt thicker, and my digestive tract felt like it had improved. (I am 53, by the way).
And you don’t have to take my word for it – this company has been featured in many prominent articles.
I strongly encourage you to check these products out! – we give it 5 pink crowns!
Rainbow Flag Dedication
RAINBOW FLAG TO BE DEDICATED ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11,
AT STONEWALL NATIONAL MONUMENT
ON MANHATTAN’S CHRISTOPHER STREET
NEW YORK CEREMONY MARKS FIRST TIME
THAT THE INTERNATIONAL LGBT SYMBOL
WILL BE DISPLAYED PERMANENTLY ON FEDERAL LAND
The Rainbow Flag, the international symbol of LGBT liberation and pride, will be unveiled in a special ceremony on Wednesday, October 11 at 12:00 Noon at the historic Stonewall National Monument, where, thanks to the efforts of activists, it now claims a permanent home. This historic event marks the first time that the LGBT flag waves over federally-funded land, under the permanent stewardship of the National Park Service.
Stonewall National Monument is located in Christopher Street Park in New York’s Greenwich Village. The park is on the corner of Christopher Street and 7th Avenue South.
The event will be emceed by Gay USA television co-host Ann Northrop. Performers will include Telly Leung, who plays the title role in Disney’s “Aladdin on Broadway” and Cantor Steve Zeidenberg of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah. Speakers will be Leslie Cagan, an organizer of the 1987 March on Washington for LGBT Rights, National Park Service’s Chief of Interpretation, Education and Visitor Services Barbara Applebaum, Kiara St. James, Executive Director of New York Transgender Advocacy Group, and LGBT and AIDS activist Michael Petrelis who spearheaded this initiative.
“It is a victory for our Community to have these symbolic colors flying majestically over our Stonewall, designated as a National Monument by President Obama, even as our LGBTQ brothers and sisters are under attack by the current regime in power,” said Michael Petrelis. He went on to say, “As we gather today, we are reminded of another October 11, thirty years ago, when the names of our fallen comrades were symbolically celebrated on another national monument – the AIDS Quilt — during the reign of another President who waged an attack against us.”
October 11 marks the thirtieth anniversary of the historic 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian Gay Rights–when the NAMES Project AIDS Quilt was unfurled on the National Mall. The date also marks the annual National Coming Out Day, a day celebrating the idea that all members of the LGBTQ community should be able to live their lives openly, honestly, and with pride.
The flag, which was originally designed by the late artist and activist Gilbert Baker, consists of six stripes: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. The flag is typically flown horizontally, with the red stripe on top, as would appear in a natural rainbow.
Support for the ceremony is being generously provided by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS helps men, women and children across the country and across the street receive lifesaving medications, health care, nutritious meals, counseling and emergency financial assistance. broadwaycares.org
Gilbert Baker died in New York City on March 31 at the age of 65. Memorials to the internationally known activist were held across the globe in subsequent weeks.
The Stonewall Inn was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources, and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 BC/EFA has raised more than $300 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.
Best Scalp Hairline Tattoo in New York!
USE YOUR HEAD WITH SKALP®
Hair loss is a difficult subject to broach for many people. It is a topic that can cause embarrassment and social awkwardness, creating undue pressure and stress. Hair loss is as old as mankind itself but still far too many people are left to deal with this unfair stigma in silence.
While the scientific search for a permanent cure for baldness continues, recent advances in medical technology has seen an exciting new treatment become available that was never before possible. This simple technique has changed the lives of thousands of men and women in both the UK and America.
The Skalp™ Micropigmentation solution has revolutionised the hair restoration industry, offering people the chance to regain their hairline and, just as importantly, their confidence. This breakthrough procedure avoids the need to undergo invasive surgery and its adaptability allows it to be applied to men, no matter their age, colour or stage of hair-loss.
Skalp™ lead the way in breaking down outdated taboos and fears associated with hair loss. You may have read about their amazing technique in Men’s Health, or seen their exclusive features on ITV and Channel 4’s Bodyshockers in the UK.
What makes their micropigmentation treatment so effective is the ability to offer such consistent coverage. A front, side or rear hairline can be simulated to give the look of a full head of hair. It can also be used to complement a recent hair transplant operation, or help to camouflage any scarring, alopecia or birthmarks.
How it works couldn’t be easier. Using a micro needle application, Skalp’s fully qualified and highly skilled practitioners are able to create a permanent medical hairline tattoo, which in most cases only takes 2-3 sessions to complete. In order to create the most realistic finish to match the existing texture of your hair follicles, 3-4 pigment shades are used to ensure the best accuracy possible.
Best of all, it doesn’t matter if you are in the early or latter stages of hair loss because the Skalp™ Micropigmentation treatment can perfectly restore a full or partial hairline.
There are six stages involved, with each one carefully implemented to guarantee you get the most out of the application. Skalp offer a free consultation as the first step so you can find out everything you need about the process, while their staff talk through the best options available to you. If you decide to proceed, you will then see an invaluable and free virtual hairline mock-up of how it will look once finished.
The treatment process itself is spread across 2-3 sessions, with each one lasting up to 4 hours, depending on the depth of micropigmentation required. Once perfection has been reached the service doesn’t stop there. Their aftercare support provides detailed advice to help customers keep their scalp in the best condition.
With clinics located in the UK and US in New York, Skalp™ is an accessible procedure open to a vast majority of the country. Rather than just take my word for it, get in touch and discover how it can change your life.
For more information call Toll-free 1-855-752-5787 or email usa@skalp.com
BROADWAY sings for PRIDE
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Tyler Clementi Foundation
The Tyler Clementi Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to end online and offline bullying, harassment, and humiliation.
Max Emerson’s HOOKED June 26
Max Emerson & NewFest to Debut the U.S. Premiere of Hooked , An Original Film on LGBT Homeless Youth
Instagram Icon Max Emerson (@Maxisms) will premiere his crowdfunded film Hooked in New York City on Monday, June 26th.
The feature film Hooked , written and directed by Instagram superstar Max Emerson, will make its U.S. premiere on Monday June 26th at 8pm. Hooked received its world premiere last month at Toronto’s Inside Out Festival, propelled by more than $200,000 in crowdfunded donations from over one thousand participants.
The premiere is presented in partnership with NewFest: New York’s LFBT Film & Media Arts Organization and the Ali Forney Center.
Hooked tells the story of Jack, a homeless teenage prostitute with a smart mouth and impulsive tendencies. He battles through a violent world of reckless “Johns” between New York City and Miami, desperately seeking a better life with his boyfriend Tom. This timely narrative feature debut from Emerson poignantly captures the under-covered plight of LGBTQ youth. Funded through crowdsourcing and a commitment to donating to LGBTQ organizations, Hooked is proof that cinema can tell powerful stories of underrepresented populations while directly giving back to the community. Half of all proceeds from Hooked will be donated to LGBTQ homeless youth shelters including Ali Forney Center, Albert Kennedy Trust, LA LGBT Center and Lost N’ Found.
All proceeds from this evening will benefit homeless LGBTQ youth via the Ali Forney Center. The film premieres at 8:00pm, preceded by a 6:30pm cocktail reception. Tickets are $25 ($15 for NewFest Members) and can be purchased
here: newfest.org/film/hooked . VIP tickets are also available for $75 and include a “meet and greet” with Max and a gift bag. Both tickets include cocktail reception.
There will be a talkback directly following the screening with Max Emerson and the cast and crew.
The film stars Conor Donnally, Katie McClellan (NBC’s Believe) , Terrance Murphy (USA’s Burn Notice ), Sean Ormond, Jared Sandler (CBS’s Kevin Can Wait ), Casper Andreas (Kiss Me, Kill Me) and Steve Hayes (Trick). Max Emerson and Melissa Llewellyn serve as producers, alongside executive producer (and GLAAD Board Member) Anthony Watson.
Writer & Director Max Emerson says: “I couldn’t be more excited to finally be sharing this piece with my community. Working with NewFest and Ali Forney Center is such an honor, and has been nothing less than a pleasure. It’s taken countless time and effort from everyone involved in this project, so it’s a real treat to finally be able to put this little melodrama out into the world.”
“NewFest has a long history of supporting emerging filmmakers and community partners,” said Robert Kushner, Executive Director of NewFest . “Max Emerson’s poignant debut feature Hooked is an opportunity to celebrate a new voice in filmmaking, while shining a light on marginalized members of the LGBT community via The Ali Forney Center for homeless LGBT youth.”
“As longtime partners with Max Emerson, the Ali Forney Center is humbled and honored to be a beneficiary of his first feature-length film, which we have so proudly watched grow from idea to reality,” said Carl Siciliano, founder and Executive Director of the Ali Forney Center . “Support and generosity from individuals like Max helps educate people worldwide about the perils of LGBTQ youth homelessness, and for that we are most grateful.”
Max Emerson ( @Maxisms ) is an actor, model, YouTuber, activist and media personality. Well known in the gay and entertainment landscapes, he’s built a rabid fanbase among his 750,000+ Instagram followers with his adventurous spirit, good looks and fearless attitude. Max has been seen on numerous TV shows including ABC’s The Real O’Neals and FOX’s Glee, and is often recognized from ad campaigns with major brands like Abercrombie and Target. He recently wrote, directed and produced his first feature length film Hooked and is the author of Hot Sissy, now available via his website: www.maxismsmedia.com.
Founded in 1988, NewFest is a non-profit 501(C)(3) dedicated to giving voice and visibility to the full spectrum of the LGBT experience through year-round screenings, community empowerment programs, and our signature annual event, New York’s LGBT Film Festival. As the largest convener of LGBT audiences in New York, we proudly shine a light on the diverse stories that make our community unique, while nurturing and supporting the filmmakers whose work inspires dialogue, shifts cultural bias and creates positive
change. For information on our programs, partnerships, or how to support, visit www.NewFest.org .
The Ali Forney Center ‘s mission is to protect LGBTQ youths from the harms of homelessness and empower them with the tools needed to live independently. Since AFC’s launch with just six beds in a church basement, the organization has grown to become the largest agency dedicated to LGBTQ homeless youths in the country—assisting nearly 1,400 youths per year through a 24-hour Drop-In Center which provides over 70,000 meals annually, medical and mental health services through an on-site clinic, and a scattered site housing program.
INFORMATION ABOUT HOOKED:
www.HookedProject.com
Trailer: http://bit.ly/HookedTrailer Photos/Poster: http://bit.ly/
INFORMATION ABOUT MAX:
www.youtube.com/TheMaxVicious www.instagram.com/Maxisms www.maxismsmedia.com
Broadway Bares 2017 Highlights
THIS YEARS 27th edition of Broadway Bares pulled in a whopping $1,568,114 in two performances at NYC’s Hammerstein Ballroom to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
This year’s Broadway Bares stripped away the fears of freshmen and saluted seniors as a journey across the Strip U campus took us to a seductive observatory, exploding chemistry lab, flirty fine arts class, frat party-turned-Greek god fantasy, a lesson in stiletto strutting and Havana, Cuba, for a sizzling semester studying abroad.
Two-time Tony Award nominee and seven-time Emmy winner Allison Janney started the show with a video invitation as Strip U’s president, offering sexy salutations, a campus history and words of wisdom: “Our motto reminds us of our core values every day: Honorem, Integritas, Nuditas, Erectus.”
Internet personality Randy Rainbow and On Your Feet’s Ana Villafañe made special guest appearances as a psychology professor and a foreign exchange student.
In the finale, Instagram sensation Tom Lenk (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), playing a pesky Department of Education auditor who appeared throughout the show, finally saw the Strip U way and offered the university full federal funding. The entire cast of more than 180 dancers flooded the stage, providing an electrifying finale to the show.
Tony-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell, who created Broadway Bares in 1992 and serves as executive producer, and Tony winner Judith Light thanked the audience at the show’s close. “We must take the power of our diverse communities and dedicate our energies to the importance of taking care of ourselves and each other,” Light said. Light and Mitchell also reminded the audience: “Safe sex is hot sex. We can best love each other by protecting each other.”
WATCH the video highlights HERE
Gilbert Baker Rally and March June 14th
To Honor the Late Gilbert Baker, Rainbow Flag Creator,
On Flag Day: Wednesday, June 14
Followed by Protest March to Christopher Street Pier
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A celebration of Gilbert Baker in San Francisco, his home for decades and the site of the creation of the Rainbow Flag in 1978, will happen Thursday, June 8, at 7:00pm at the Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA 94114. People globally are urged to hold their own protests and memorials.
Baker was born in Chanute, Kansas, on June 2, 1951. He served in the US Army 1970-1972, which stationed him in San Francisco just at the start of the gay liberation movement. After being honorably discharged, Baker stayed in San Francisco and taught himself to sew. He began creating flags for civic and state events, most notably the 1984 Democratic National Convention.
In 1994 Baker created a mile-long Rainbow Flag for the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall Riot 1969 in New York City. Carried by 5,000 people, it was the world’s largest flag before Baker broke his own record in 2003 with a new flag created for Key West Pride that extended from the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean Sea. Baker also created a series of Rainbow Flag-inspired paintings for galleries and museums internationally. The Rainbow Flag is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Most recently, Baker completed a new nine-color Rainbow Flag, adding a lavender stripe for diversity.
Gilbert Baker leaves behind mother Patricia Baker and sister Ardonna Baker Cook.
Broadway Bares STRIP U
More than 150 of New York’s hottest dancers will be hitting the books ― figuratively, at least ― this June, but the lessons they’ll impart are decidedly not for kids.
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS officials whetted fans’ appetites for “Broadway Bares: Strip U” this week with some steamy photos and a behind-the-scenes video. The 27th installment of the wildly popular Broadway-meets-burlesque fundraiser will feature a collegiate theme, and its chiseled cast will “school” audiences with steamy art, math and sport-themed dance numbers. This year’s show will hit New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom June 18 and will be directed by Nick Kenkel, whose Broadway credits include “Catch Me If You Can,” “Evita” and “The Wedding Singer.”
“Class will be in session this summer at the only college campus where clothing is optional and bodacious burlesque is always in the curriculum,” officials wrote in a press release, before promising “a science lab exploding with sizzling chemistry or sculpted studs exhibiting model behavior in art class.”
Created in 1992 by Tony-winning “Kinky Boots” director Jerry Mitchell, the event has raised more than $15.8 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, a nonprofit group dedicated to AIDS-related causes across the U.S. Previous installments of the show have ranged from 2012’s fairy tale-themed “Happy Endings” to 2016’s tech-driven fantasy “On Demand.”
GET TICKETS AND Read more about “Broadway Bares: Strip U” here.
Aids Walk New York 2017
AIDS Walk New York is the largest single-day AIDS fundraising event in the world!
In its over 30 years, AIDS Walk New York has inspired nearly 890,000 people to walk and millions more to donate, raising nearly $150 million to combat HIV and AIDS. The funds raised at the event remain a vital lifeline sustaining the prevention, care, and advocacy programs GMHC provides for the thousands of men, women, and families affected by the disease in the tri-state area. The proceeds also benefit dozens of other HIV/AIDS service organizations that are able to participate as teams and raise funds through the Community Partnership Program (CPP).
During the next few weeks – there is LOTS GOING ON! Fundraising Workshops and MORE. See the list here and get involved!
New to fundraising?
First time participating in AIDS Walk New York?
Need a refresher course to boost your total? They have the tools to get you going! Follow these easy steps to becoming a successful fundraiser—aim high and you could be one of our next Star Walkers™! Raise $200-$300 and qualify for cool prizes!
Facebook page is HERE
Micropigmentation …Medical Hairline Tattoo in New York
Micropigmentation…. the only affordable solution for male pattern baldness
Scalp Micropigmentation (medical hairline tattoo) is the ultimate in non-surgical male and female scalp grooming; an incredible life-changing treatment where natural pigments are applied at the epidermal level of the scalp to replicate the natural appearance of real hair follicles or strands – depending on your hair loss extent, and desired look. Our method is regarded as the best treatment of its kind available in the world today, using only natural pigments and application methods. Our practitioners are fully qualified to Diploma standard for permanent cosmetics and micro pigmentation treatments and recognise that your follicles don’t always naturally grow in the same direction, our team will replicate the natural eddies and idiosyncrasies of your hair pattern. They also understand that your hair follicles are not all the same shade, our team frequently use 3-4 shades of pigment to create the most realistic finish – giving a younger more confident hairline.
We asked Tom Rigden to tell us his story and why he chose to have micropigmentation.
“For me baldness was a horrible part of my life in my early twenties, I tried everything offered out on the market including all the lotions, pills, and potions and you guessed it nothing worked! I spent a lot of time on Google looking for solutions and convinced my self that a hair transplant was the solution, after all celebrities rave about having it done so it must work right?
I remember traveling to a hair transplant clinic for a consultation thinking great I will get my hair back and the problem will be solved. The harsh reality couldn’t be further from what I expected. Being that I was a Norwood 6 on the scale it was going to cost me in excess of 20K and I wouldn’t even have a full head of hair, at best I would look “thinning” as the surgeon informed me. I still remember how horrible I felt traveling home that day I just felt like I wanted to lock my self in the house and never leave.
I carried out more Google searching determined to find a solution and discovered www.skalp.com this is the point when I could see some light at the end of the tunnel. I went along for a consultation in the Manchester clinic with a nice practitioner who also had micropigmentation. Like a lot of guys out there I was skeptical about having micropigmentation, I had lots of questions and hesitations and in fact it took me a
further 12 months to finally have the procedure carried out.
What impressed me about the practitioner at skalp now that I think back was he didn’t try and sell this to me, he simply told me all the pro’s and con’s and left me to go and think about it.”
Now that you have had micropigmentation Tom, can you tell us how it has made you feel?
“Well to put it in words I guess I would have to first say it has changed my life completely, I remember getting home after my first treatment and I just spent hours looking in the mirror and taking selfies of my head.
For me being bald was like carrying around a big dark cloud with me, when I looked in the mirror it was all I could see, I would say it had a very detrimental effect on my mental health, and general self image.
I remember this negative feeling lifting instantly when I looked at myself in the mirror even after treatment 1.
Now I am 1 year on from having my micropigmentation and I can honestly say it is the best thing I have ever done for myself, I would recommend it to any guy out there struggling with hair loss, it will change your life completely.
My top tip would be visit www.skalp.com today.”
The World’s Number One in Scalp Micropigmentation
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The largest AIDS memorial in the U.S.
The idea for the New York City AIDS Memorial was first born in early 2010 while Christopher Tepper was reading “And The Band Played On,” one of the definitive histories of AIDS in America, for the first time. A midwesterner by birth, Tepper was shocked by how much he didn’t know about the early years of the AIDS crisis, even though he had never lived in a world without HIV.
“I found that what was really disturbing was that that ignorance that I had was really prevalent across a lot of my peers,” he told NBC OUT.
Tepper was equally shocked to read about so many new heroes within the LGBTQ community, who he had never had the opportunity to learn about while he was in school.
“One of the things that was really upsetting to me was that there was this giant community of heroes, of activists and caretakers, who really should be like war heroes up on pedestals and honored by our community,” Tepper said.
READ THE WHOLE STORY about the largest AIDS memorial in the U.S. @ NBC
Human Touch and Well Being
STRAIGHT OR GAY – Everyone can benefit from Cuddling!
When H. Melinda Krakowski, a customer service representative in New York City, was married, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was alone, even when her husband was in the room with her. That’s because they almost never touched, and she felt starved for physical affection.
After Krakowski and her husband separated, she sought out group activities to curb her loneliness. That’s when she discovered cuddle parties: gatherings for people to engage in consensual, nonsexual touch. One facilitator of these events, entrepreneur Adam Lippin, was in the process of creating a professional cuddling agency.
Lippin had gotten into yoga and meditation and wanted to start a new business venture that promoted wellness. His co-founder, Madelon Guinazzo, also a cuddle party facilitator, had already been seeing clients who paid her for private cuddle sessions. So late last year, the two scouted out cuddle party attendees who might be interested in working with them. Read more at WASHINGTON POST. Contact CUDDLIST for more information.
