Rainbow Rumpus launches new online magazine for teens with LGBT parents

Rainbow Riot expands on popular fiction magazine for youth

Rainbow Riot, a new online magazine for teens with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) parents, has launched at www.rainbowriot.org to serve the 9 million young people with LGBT parents in the United States. Rainbow Riot features interviews with youth who have LGBT parents, artwork and video created by youth, and fiction written by professional authors.

Rainbow Riot is published by Rainbow Rumpus, a Minnesota-based nonprofit that has been publishing an award winning online magazine for children and grown-ups for over five years. The Riot site is linked to the Rumpus site so young readers can explore the content of both magazines.

“We launched Rainbow Riot in response to feedback from the hundreds of youth that read the online magazine,” said Laura Matanah, Rainbow Rumpus’s executive director. “Teens wanted their own site so we created a whole magazine just for older youth.”
 
Response to the site has been tremendous. “Ur issues r the best thing i do online,” wrote a 14-year-old reader. Another shared, “I like being able to see my artwork on the site.”

April’s issue of Rainbow Riot features an interview with Avery Klein Cloud, who was raised by two moms and discusses the process of making a documentary about her life during a period when she was searching for her birth mother and going through a “racial identity crisis.” It also includes an interview with a young adult with a gay father who created a video project to explore what it means to “come out” as the child of one or more LGBT parents.

“We’re excited for the Rainbow Riot site to bring our teen fiction to a wider audience,” said Matanah. “The site as a whole will help us achieve our vision of a world where kids and teens with LGBT parents are safe, welcomed, and powerful.”

Teens and young adults are encouraged to submit photos, artwork, writing, and video to Rainbow Riot. Contributions can be emailed to yourwork@rainbowrumpus.org.

NAT'L TRANSGENDER SURVEY FEATURED ON PBS' "IN THE LIFE"

In The Life Media is releasing a web video, produced with generous support from The Calamus Foundation, featuring the personal stories of two transgender women, Ja’briel and Michelle, highlighting the findings of the first comprehensive transgender discrimination study completed by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force.

Ex-Editors Team Up To Launch "B" Magazine in May

The original XY Magazine and Abercrombie’s A&F Quarterly defined the style of a generation.

Now their ex-editors, Peter Ian Cummings (XY) and Savas Abadsidis (A&F), are teaming up.
They will launch B MAGAZINE-GAY MAGAZINE OF THE FUTURE in May-June 2011.

B MAGAZINE promises to become an essential style & political item.

The longtime editors of the two iconic magazines, Peter and
Savas, are joined by almost all the significant players of the Original XY editorial team, to launch their new magazine for young gay men, B MAGAZINE; and a companion all-photo magazine, ALL AMERICAN GUYS (AAG).

Both B MAGAZINE and AAG go on sale nationally in May-June. They will be in most bookstores including Barnes and Noble and Borders, and subscriptions to both titles are now available at BMAG.US.

B MAGAZINE also recently launched a 300-page website at WWW.BMAG.US, which contains hundreds of pages of photos, articles, strange sounds, space-age stories from 2069, and even the
ability to visit staffers Peter, Savas, Nathan Smorynski, and Eriq Chang in their virtual “rooms” in the “B Penthouse,” and to read the entire “New York Times of the future.”

Dubbed “Magazine of the Future,” B MAGAZINE is the only gay magazine aimed at the 18-35 demographic. It is what Abadsidis calls “a somewhat luxurious, highly cool product.”

Cummings said “each printed issue will be beautifully produced and become a collectible.”

But the main point of B, says Cummings, is just that “we’re going to show real life, not be scared to
tell the truth or be a little sexy. We all wanted to write how gay really is, and to photograph the
real life—leaving out all the usual boring mumbo-jumbo. B is a thinking cool person’s magazine.”
In addition to Cummings and Abadsidis, the B MAG Team also includes veteran XY editors
Eriq Chang (media and style), Nathan Smorynski (politics) and Brandon Alexander
(entertainment), all of whom are gay youth icons; and well-known photographers and producers
B B Magazines Hollywood

www.bmag.us

Gay & Lesbian Marketing Conference, New York (NYC) Just One Week Away

Are you registered yet?  Community Marketing and Pink Banana Media’s 4th Annual Gay & Lesbian Marketing Conference will be held on April 29, 2011 at the Kimpton Eventi Hotel, New York City.  Offering a "Productive Day of Education and Networking", topics covered will include Research, Insights, Strategies & Case Studies.
(Registration)

The agenda for the day includes:
John Lake, Director of Corporate Development, Human Rights Campaign

• The special significance of business/community relationships in LGBT connections and communications.
• Leveraging your HRC Corporate Equality Index ranking

David Paisley, Senior Research Director, Community Marketing, Inc.
Thomas Roth, President, Community Marketing, Inc.

• There is no “LGBT Market:” Segmentation findings and interpretations from the latest research can lead your company to diverse new business opportunities

The Business of LGBT Business
Darren Spedale, Founder, StartOut and Richard Oceguera, President, NGLCC-NY
Thomas Roth, President, Community Marketing, Inc.

• Leveraging Diversity to Your Advantage
• NGLCC Certification and Supplier Diversity
• The Newest Niche: Breakthrough research is uncovering a significant new LGBT B2B market segment. We call it the “Multiplier Marketing” effect, and corporations can leverage it to maximize LGBT ROI

Matt Skallerud, President, Pink Banana Media

• Case Studies and Best Practices: How small and large businesses alike are leveraging social media to earn LGBT brand loyalty and market share

Keynote Luncheon, Sponsored by Advocate.com
Thomas Mathes, General Manager, Eventi, A Kimpton Hotel

• The Kimpton Case Study: How Kimpton incorporated LGBT into a culture of Diversity, Fun and Care to create a brand that goes well beyond just “gay-friendly.

Leveraging Pride, Community Events and Promotions
Jerime Black, LGBTQ Sales & Marketing Manager, Barefoot Wine

• The Lovemarks of this century will be the brands and businesses that create genuine emotional connections with the communities and networks they live in.

Tom Legan, President, Legan Promotions, Inc.

• How to Promote Your Business to the LGBT Community Through Consumer Event Marketing

Lesbian Marketing Panel
Merryn Johns, Editor in Chief, Curve Magazine
Jessica Rothschild, Senior Entertainment Editor, Autostraddle

• Lesbian consumers are often depicted as marginal, reluctant or elusive, when in fact the opposite is true. You just need to know how to find them. How to effectively reach the lesbian community via print media, the Internet, events and sponsorships

Mobile Communications
Scott Gatz, Founder and CEO, GayCities

• Getting found & standing out: Mobile Phones, Location Based Services, where do you fit in? This session will get you up to speed on the trends in Mobile and Location Based Services and what all this means for your planning process.
• LGBT Search Engine Optimization

Public Relations and Media
Stephen Lucin, Intercontinental Style
Cathy Renna, Renna Communications

• This presentation will explore creative approaches to reach LGBT consumers, by earning media attention.

Making the Most of your Budget, Large or Small, and Tracking Results
Serge Gojkovich, President, Gay Consultants, Inc.
David Paisley, Community Marketing, Inc.

• Synthesizing the Day’s Information Overload: Strategies to get the most out of a media or sponsorship purchase, no matter what the budget. Plus: How to measure that elusive Return on Investment.

Capping off this full day will be a Networking Reception with Out Professionals, held at the Bar Basque, Hotel Eventi

THANK YOU TO HOME DEPOT FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

On Sunday, the anti-gay American Family Association (AFA) noted that The Home Depot now has a link to Out & Equal Workplace Advocates on their website. The link appears on the company’s Career pages and Out & Equal is listed along with a wide range of diversity groups, such as the NAACP, the Urban League, the National Hispanic and Pan Asian Chambers of Commerce, and many more.

Out & Equal applauds the Home Depot for continuing to stand proudly on the side of diversity. Sadly, work for the full inclusion of all people, and the elimination of prejudice in the workplace, still draws fire from extremist groups like the AFA. The AFA’s criticism of the company reminds us that it takes courage and commitment for businesses to do what is right.

But as The Home Depot knows—and demonstrates on their web page—diverse companies are strong companies. Out & Equal is proud to be included on their listing of diversity organizations and to stand by The Home Depot and the many other companies who affirm the presence of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the workplace.

Over the weekend, the AFA used the inclusion of Out & Equal to renew their calls for a boycott of the home improvement stores. They had previously targeted The Home Depot because of their support for LGBT pride celebrations and LGBT groups, such as the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN).

Kick-off Event: LBCBN's "Stop the Bullying" Project

LBCBN (Long Beach Community Business Network) is proud to launch the Stop the Bullying Project and we're inviting local business owners and residents to get involved in this imperative project. Our organization strongly believes that our children have a right to safer schools and a supportive community.

LBCBN is kick starting the Stop the Bullying Project with an event open to the community where attendees will hear distinguished speakers Alyce LaViolette, M.S., MFCC, Daphne Ching-Jackson and Robert Garcia who are involved in projects already working to counter bullying. In addition to the speakers, there will be an open forum for participants to share their ideas. Attendance is limited to 100 people; therefore advanced registration is required for this event. This event will also be a great networking opportunity.
 
LBCBN is dedicated to making a difference and helping to stop bullying.  We need your support to make this a stellar event.  Please Invite your friends and clients to join us for this important event forward to a friend.

Join Us - We Need Your Support!
When:   Wednesday, April 20th (LBCBN April Meeting)
Time:     6:30 PM
Where:   Hyatt Regency Long Beach
Cost:      Only $10 per person    
(Advanced Registration is $10 per person thru Tuesday, April 19th.  After the 19th, the cost will be $25 per person ) REGISTER TODAY

Rosie Appear On "The Fabulous Beekman Boys" Tonight!

Rosie O'Donnell made the trek up to Sharon Springs, NY to visit Brent and Josh of Planet Green's "The Fabulous Beekman Boys." It's the wrong day to run out of their infamous goat cheese.

The Boys who most recently graced the cover of Echelon Magazine are now in their second season. Watch the clip below and see the full episode tonight.

The Boys reaction:

"It's not every day that big celebrities like Rosie visit Sharon Springs. It's not even every other day. Our last one was FDR, I think."- Josh

"We had no idea that Rosie was a fan of 'The Fabulous Beekman Boys.' It makes sense, of course. It takes Fabulous to know Fabulous."- Brent

"We went for walk around the village with Rosie. In Sharon Springs that takes a minute and a half."- Brent

"Because our store was so busy Brent wouldn't let me go have a drink with Rosie. Which was probably a good thing. We probably would've wound up singing show tunes in the village square."- Josh

Steven Reigns creates The Gay Rub, a participatory project to highlight

Steven Reigns is asking for people from around the world to make rubbings of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender markers, plaques, monuments, tombstones, and cenotaphs.

Poet & Activist Steven Reigns has created The Gay Rub, an ambitious project asking people to submit rubbings of GLBT historical markers. By gathering GLBTQ rubbings from across the globe, these public historic commemorations can be viewed at once.  GLBT history and landmarks are underrepresented and under appreciated.  The Gay Rub’s aim is to help draw more attention to the markers and the GLBT significance that prompted them. Reigns states, “I’m interested in what part of our queer history gets recognized and documented. Sadly, there are numerous markers signifying where hate crimes took place and also markers themselves that have been vandalized—such as the Natalie Clifford Barney plaque recently defaced in Ohio.”   The culmination of the project will be an installation of all of the rubbings, placed in chronological order that will travel to galleries and GLBT Centers.

A website for the project, www.thegayrub.com gives more background on the project, how to’s for creating a rubbing, and a long list of location suggestions.  Reigns stresses this is not an exhaustive list. “The list on the website under Locations is there to help people locate landmarks they might not realize are nearby.  I also hope it will generate new ideas.   There is no database of GLBT markers.  I’d like to have a complete one at the close of this project,” States Reigns. The website also suggests where to find out more information on the internet.

Reigns, whose recent collection of poetry Inheritance, was published by Sibling Rivalry Press, sees the project as an artistic extension, “This is activism and educational but it’s also artistic. When doing rubbings I’m awed at the topography, the lettering, and that artisans created these plaques to be appreciated for years to come. The rubbings themselves become pieces of art.”

Gay Married Couples “Refuse to Lie” as Tax Day Approaches

Campaign Launches as 80,000+ Couples Face Impossible IRS Demand

(TAMPA) A new campaign called “Refuse to Lie” has been launched to assist legally married gay couples who plan to ignore the government’s requirement that they lie on their taxes by filing as “single.”

The Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) not only denies legally married gay couples the 1138 legal protections and benefits of marriage, but the IRS also uses DOMA as a justification for telling couples to disavow their spouses.

“Refuse to Lie is a grassroots campaign that aims to make visible the impossible choice gay married couples have in choosing between the truth and the law,” said Nadine Smith, one of the organizers and the executive director of Equality Florida.

Visit RefuseToLie.org to sign the petition and learn more.

RNC Homophobic Website Disappears

Fundraising Website Attacked LGBT Families and Patriots

WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee website that targeted lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender American families and patriots, “Hope Isn’t Hiring,” has disappeared. The link for the old website, www.hopeisnthiring.com now redirects to www.gop.com.  Additionally, a link to the hate site from the RNC homepage goes nowhere. Last week, Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese wrote a letter to RNC Chair Reince Priebus condemning the site.

“Hopefully the Republican Party leadership has come to their senses and realized that attacking LGBT families offends the great majority of Americans,” said Solmonese.  “Polling overwhelmingly shows that Americans support LGBT equality and the Republican Party would be foolish to campaign on a platform based on discrimination and ignorance.”

The website attacked President Obama’s support of basic principles of fairness and equality for all Americans: “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal, hospital visitation, housing non-discrimination and relationship recognition. In growing numbers, Americans from all walks of life support treating their LGBT family members, friends, co-workers and neighbors equally.

HUD's FAIR HOUSING CAMPAIGN TO FOCUS ON ENSURING EQUAL ACCESS FOR LGBT PERSONS

WASHINGTON - The Department of Housing and Urban Development has launched a new media campaign, "Live Free," that will, among other things, strive to ensure that people have equal access to housing regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or families with children. While sexual orientation and gender identity are not prohibited bases of discrimination under the federal Fair Housing Act, housing discrimination against someone who is LGBT may, in certain circumstances, violate the Act's existing provisions, including its prohibition against gender discrimination.

"While 20 states and over 200 local governments have led the way to make LGBT-related housing discrimination illegal, HUD is firmly committed to supporting the right of LGBT individuals and families to lead productive and dignified lives, free from housing discrimination and fear of retaliation, said John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. "HUD is finalizing a federal rule to ensure that HUD housing and programs are open to all, irrespective of marital status, gender identify, and sexual orientation."

The "Live Free" print advertisements are focused to particular targeted audiences. For example, one print ad reads "Should Gender Stereotypes Influence Where Your live? Learn More." "Live Free" campaign will run throughout the year and include Facebook ads, targeted print ads, digital videos, and podcasts.

In 2010, HUD provided Guidance to its staff on how to more effectively address inquiries from LGBT individuals regarding housing discrimination issues and also launched a webpage for the public on LGBT housing discrimination. Since then, HUD's housing discrimination complaint level from LGBT individuals has increased significantly. From July 1, 2010 to February 28, 2011, LGBT individuals filed 47 complaints of housing discrimination alleging gender discrimination with HUD. During the same period straddling 2009 and 2010 prior to issuance of the guidance, HUD only received 3 such complaints.

For more information about the Fair Housing Act and to file a complaint of housing discrimination, call 1-800-669-9777 or go to www.hud.gov/fairhousing.

ROSIE O'DONNELL “FEMALE FORCE” BIOGRAPHY COMIC BOOK SELL OUT IN ONE DAY

The latest biography comic offering from Bluewater Productions, “Female Force; Rosie O'Donnell” has sold out in one day after its release from the distributor. This extends its record to 10-biography comic book titles sold out in the past six months. Stores that ordered the comic book might have it in stock.

Bluewater will not be authorizing a second, single-issue printing. Instead, the Vancouver, WA-based comic book publisher will be putting the issue into a graphic novel with a couple of other comedian biographies they have done.  The graphic novel will be out towards the end of the year. 

“There was a lot of buzz regarding this particular title outside the traditional comic book buying demographic,” said Darren G. Davis, president of Bluewater. “We really hope people try to pre-order the titles in advance to make sure they get a copy.  I just sent my only copy to “The View”!”

Released on April 6th, the comic book written by Dan Rafter and drawn by Kristoffer A. Smith, “Female Force: Rosie O'Donnell” charts the controversies, feuds and successes of O'Donnell's life. Fans can read about O'Donnell's spats with fellow The View celebrity Elisabeth Hasselbeck and entrepreneur Donald Trump, her time as editor of Rosie Magazine, her successful daytime TV talk show and all the activism work she does.

The suggested retail price (SRP) for the upcoming 32 page comic books is $3.99. To make sure you get your copy, contact your local comic book store to order it. To find a comic book store near you go to www.comicshoplocator.com. They will also be available on several online venues including Amazon.com and the Barnes and Noble and Borders online stores.

Echelon Profile: DJ Dan De Leon

Argentinean DJ Dan De Leon’s signature performances weave latin-inspired rhythms and progressive House with powerful baselines, thunderous tribal beats, unforgettable melodies and popular “Top 40” vocals to create experiences that are both magically appealing and unquestionably his own.

Forging a maverick career as DJ, music producer and filmmaker. One of the youngest feature film producers in history, he had his debut at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival, described as “A monumental achievement [and] an inspiration to young filmmakers everywhere” by the prestigious film festival. De Leon is a creative force who is bending genre, breaking the rules and bringing it all together with an eye towards what’s next.

Featured in the cover story of February’s AMBIENTE magazine, De Leon says, “Many young persons in the LGBTQ community find it very hard to be themselves – to express themselves creatively &  openly. You have to let go and truly open yourself to vulnerability.There is no way you can learn and grow if you remain tied to old forms or conventions, then again you can’t succeed unless you intricately understand these forms & conventions. It’s a process of exposure and exploration, of studying and risk taking. You have to be driven to do this, you have to yearn to find your own path, your own VOICE.”



Read on in our latest issue...

EnGaygedWeddings.com Welcomes Couples In Illinois Civil Union Wedding Celebration.

Civil Unions Will Be Legal In Illinois on June 1, 2011. EnGAYged Weddings Announces Opening Day Civil Union Wedding Celebration

EnGAYgedWeddings.com in association with, Connextions Magazine, Pink Banana Media, The Event Gallery & Stan Mansion, just announced plans for the Opening Day Civil Union Celebration and Reception at the Stan Mansion in Chicago, IL.

Just announced!  EnGAYgedWeddings.com is now offering our couples to sign up for our “True Love Story” Contest.  The winner will win a 7 Day trip Kauai, Hawaii.
http://www.rfreedom.com/kauai-acccommodations-studio.htm

Also Each Couple Who signs up Before May 1, 2011 will receive a Four Pack of Tickets to the Brookfield Zoo.  http://www.czs.org/czs/Brookfield/Zoo-Home

Your celebration begins when you arrive at one of Chicago’s most sought after wedding venues “The Stan Mansion” http://stanmansion.com/#/
(Voted “Best Wedding Reception Venue in Chicago” 2010).
You and your guests will be welcomed with a champagne greeting and escorted to our intimate and fully decorated ceremony site, you will be surrounded by lavish floral designs and stunning up-lighting effects, where you will have the option to have a quaint private ceremony with just family & friends or join the flock and take part in the mass wedding event. 

LezBeProud: Production Begins

Production has begun on a new reality series to showcase real lesbian relationships deep in the heart of Texas.

AUSTIN/DALLAS, TX (March 30, 2011) – LezBeProud partners want to take this opportunity to announce the launch of their website (www.lezbeproud.com) and upcoming reality series, LezBeProud. The website went live on Sunday, March 26, 2011 and already has many followers on Facebook and Twitter. The website and upcoming series will showcase the day to day lives of two Texas couples as they experience real life and overcome the obstacles that they encounter along the way. One couple, Debbie and Dawn, will share the story of finding love and their challenging path to the altar; and the second couple, Kristi and Lauren, will share the trials and tribulations of finding the ―perfect one‖ and maintaining a positive relationship. Follow these couples, otherwise known as ―the Ladies,‖ as they share their experiences within the Texas Bible Belt.
The