Stonewall Gazette

Written by Shane Smith, Editor of Stonewall Gazette


I'm super-excited to share with you news about an LGBTQ endeavour that's in the early stages of getting off the ground!

Harvey Milk, Sally Ride, George Takei | Illustration by Allie Kolarik

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Two weeks ago, I wrote about photographer Mike Ruiz and his work on Louie's Legacy Pecs and Pups Calendar. 100% of the proceeds from a calendar purchase benefits the non-profit Louie's Legacy Animal Rescue charity. Louie's Legacy helps give abandoned and abused animals a second chance!

Written by Shane Smith, Editor of Stonewall Gazette


The homeless are everywhere, from the largest urban centers to the smallest of heartland towns. They 'live' in doorways and alleys, abandoned buildings and vehicles, and their numbers are overwhelming. Did you know, for example, that approximately 40% of homeless youth are LGBT? According to a report from the Williams Institute at UCLA, "... nearly all homeless youth service providers in the U.S. now serve LGBT youth."

Written by Shane, Editor of Stonewall Gazette


A few weeks ago, Erin Burrell released a dance video (see below) on his YouTube channel which shows him dancing all over the urban landscape of Los Angeles. The song featured in the video is Bronski Beat's classic 1984 synthpop hit, "Why?". Burrell shares that it's "Dedicated to the Pulse nightclub victims in Orlando". He adds, "They were dancing. We will keep dancing for you." There is a sense of grace, purpose and heartfelt energy in Burrell's dancing that I found very moving.


The video was directed John Wesley Whitton. The other dancers are: Adrian Ayala, Lou Becker, Richie Michael, Elija, Thed Jewel, George Koop, Tom Moore, Kris Rapp, Aaron Smith, John Wesley Whitton, Adam Ziv.

You can donate to the Pulse Victims Fund HERE

You can follow John Wesley Whitton on Twitter

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A few weeks ago, I reported that one of the police officers, a gay man named Jesus “Jesse” Retana (pictured left), was shot in the tragic shooting incident following a peaceful Black Lives Matter rally in Dallas. Sadly, Retana is facing a lengthy recovery and a thirty percent cut in pay!

According to Retana’s husband, Andrew Moss (pictured right), he faces “a long road to recovery,” including surgery and physical therapy. Unlike the Dallas Police Department, DART doesn’t offset the pay reduction officers receive when they apply for workers’ compensation. Moss has launched a GoFundMe page to help with all the expenses but it only brought in $185 in five days! If you'd like to donate to their fund, click HERE.

Last month, I reported on the music video featuring a who's who from television, film and theatre as they lent their voices for the charity single, "What The World Needs Now Is Love". This single was released to help ease the suffering of the survivors of the Pulse Nightclub Massacre.

Tonight, I was so pleased to see the group perform the song live at the 2016 Democratic National Convention! It brought tears to my eyes. Enjoy the video below and be sure to look for two special singing guests, Tyne Daly and Sharon Gless, from the iconic TV's series, "Cagney and Lacey"!

You can purchase the song for only $1.99 at Broadway Records. 100% of the proceeds goes to the GBLT Community Center of Central Florida. For more information or to make a direct donation click HERE

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Recently, film producer Sherry Kelly was a guest on Tamara Leigh's TREND ON podcast. Kelly, pictured above, discusses the documentary Home Isn't Always Where the Heart Is and the struggles of getting mainstream media coverage on LGBTQ youth homelessness.

Kelly's current passion project is raising money for the independent feature film she is producing, A Place Called Home which is a "...deeply moving coming-of-age drama about Ally, an All-American girl, who struggles to accept her sexuality and ends up fighting for her life."

LGBT independent feature films need a helping hand...

Lend yours by making a donation at the GoGetFunding site for A Place Called Home: click HERE.

You can follow A Place Called Home on Facebook
You can follow A Place Called Home on Twitter

RELATED
Home Isn't Always Where the Heart Is, A Mini Documentary About Homeless LGBTQ Youth:WATCH

LISTEN: Filmmaker Sherry Kelly Shares Her Passion for Making a Difference in The Lives of Homeless LGBTQ Youth

The independent documentary short, Home Isn't Always Where The Heart Is, sheds light on LGBTQ youth who are homeless. Watch the video below.

This documentary, which was a labor of love, is a prelude to a feature film project, A Place Called Home. The upcoming film will be a fictionalized story about a young teen girl dealing with her sexuality after coming out of the closet and subsequently finding herself homeless.

YOU can help the filmmakers of the independent feature A Place Called Home by contributing to their GoGetFunding page HERE.

You can follow A Place Called Home on Facebook
You can follow A Place Called Home on Twitter

RELATED 
Filmmaker Sherry Kelly Shares Her Passion for Making a Difference in The Lives of Homeless LGBTQ Youth: LISTEN

WATCH: Home Isn't Always Where The Heart Is

Yesterday, I told you about how photographer Tayte E. Hanson created the #KISSME campaign, with proceeds going to support The Ali Forney Center. Today, I'm pleased to share how you can enter the #KISSME contest.

Direct from the #kissme contest, here's how to enter, plus prize information:

• Porn Up magazine signed by Tayte Hanson & Levi Karter (includes Boys to Adore Galore DVD)
• PornUp magazine signed by Tayte Hanson, Levi Karter & Ricky Roman (includes Sixty Nine: A Celebration of Gay Sex DVD)
• Set of nine RJ Sebastian photos (includes Boomer Banks, Allen King, Liam Riley, Levi Karter, Carter Dane, Ricky Roman, Tayte Hanson & Will Wikle)
• Set of four signed Tayte Hanson self portraits
• CockyBoys' CockyCon 2016 Package (includes tote, buttons, pack of Answered Prayers trading cards, ​Let Them Eat Cake DVD signed by Carter Dane)

• Subscribe to taytehanson.com by clicking here.
• Donate to Tayte's #kissme campaign by buying a 2017 calendar here.
• Already done one or both? Skip to Step 2!

• I subscribed to @TAYTEEHANSON's website. Enter me 1x in the #kissmecontest
• I donated to @TAYTEEHANSON's #kissme campaign. Enter me 3x in the #kissmecontest
• I subscribed to @TAYTEEHANSON'S website and donated to his #kissme campaign. Enter me 5x in the #kissmecontest

• Five winners drawn via Random.org
• Winners will choose a prize in order their name was drawn.

Photographer Tayte E. Hanson has created the #KISSME campaign, with proceeds going to support The Ali Forney Center.

Tayte E. Hanson says:

"I recently had the privilege of photographing faces within the LGBT community. These photographs show the expressions of human connection and love and remind the world that we are all the same, that we are all deserving of love and equality.

Orlando shouldn't have happened. However, in light of the fact that it did, we have the opportunity to join together as the amazing community that we are, a community that is an incredible, loving, beautiful force to be seen.

We also have the opportunity to bring about change. That is why I created the #KISSME campaign and joined forces with The Ali Forney Center and The Uprising. Together, we produced a 2017 calendar. Money raised from the sale of this calendar will go to support The Ali Forney Center. ​ 

It is my hope that after this project is complete, the Kiss Me for Our Future website and #KISSME hashtag will serve as a curated stream of images and writings of strength for the LGBT community and allies alike. I am inviting everyone to submit photos showing love and compassion between members of our community and allies. Please email them to tayte@taytehanson.com and share them on Instagram and Twitter using #KISSME and tagging @TAYTEEHANSON.

The #KISSME campaign logo designed by Paul Tuller (@paperescapade) is also available as a temporary tattoo. I look forward to seeing people unite and use it in their photograph submissions. We must stand together." ​​​ 

​​To make a donation by purchasing calendars and/or temporary tattoos, go HERE. http://www.taytehanson.com/#!store/nkwbz ​​​ 

With love and light, ​​​ 

Tayte E. Hanson ​​​ 

@mattiolipro (Mattioli Productions) - Production Company ​​​

You can follow Tayte E Hanson on Twitter

UPDATE (July 24, 2016)
Be sure to enter the #KISSME Campaign contest

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Currently, it is legal for gays and lesbians to marry in the state of California. Prop 8 would re-write California's Constitution to legally say that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

The Vote No on Prop 8, Equality for All campaign urges everyone to vigorously oppose this initiative by voting against it.

Equal protection under the law is a founding principle of the United States of America. Prop 8 undermines that principle, and if passed into law would blatantly discriminate against gays and lesbians. Like the freedom of religion and the freedom of speech, the freedom to marry is fundamental to our society.

If you'd like to make a donation in the fight against Prop 8 please click here.

GayRepublicanCards.com: These professional grade, poker size playing cards take a peek into the dark corners of the Grand Ole Party. Featuring a plethora of politicians who got caught playing pitcher for the wrong team, allegedly. Also, via Signorile's The Gist: You can buy a deck at GayRepublicanCards.com for $8.95. A portion of the proceeds goes to Equality Texas, the statewide LGBT group.