Robin Raven: Author "Santa's First Vegan Christmas"

What do Trump's executive orders do, and how do we fight them? On his first day in office as the 47th president of the United States, President Trump signed a slew of executive orders (EOs) that impact the LGBTQ+ community, as well as many others. It is important to note that executive actions do NOT have the authority to override the United States Constitution, federal statutes, or established legal precedent. Many of these directives do just that or are regarding matters over which the president does not have control. Given that, many of these orders will be difficult, if not impossible, to implement, and efforts to do so will be challenged through litigation. Currently, much is unknown about whether or how the administration or other actors will comply with these directives, and in most instances, rules will need to be promulgated, or significant administrative guidance will need to be issued in order for implementation to occur. These are processes that take time and require detailed additional plans to be developed. Today we talk to our friends Brandon Wolf, National Press Secretary of the Human Rights Campaign and journalist Christopher Kane.  We will discuss the specific anti-LGBTQ orders, what they mean, and how we collectively and individually can fight them.   With co-host Brody Levesque

23 Jan 1h

The highly anticipated film Exteriors will premiere on Gay Binge TV on March 3, 2025. Written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mark Schwab, the film masterfully weaves together three interconnected stories of modern relationships, exploring themes of love, obsession, and reconnection. Through the lens of coincidence and connection, Exteriors delivers a poignant and captivating exploration of human emotions.   Today we talk to Mark and to one of the film stars, Fernando.  Exteriors follows three gay men grappling with life-changing emotional journeys.  An award-winning Bay Area-based filmmaker, Mark’s most recent achievements include writing and directing the feature film Shadows in Mind and the upcoming LGBTQ comedy, Cutaways.   Fernando got his cinematic start in the Summit Entertainment film, Divergent. Later transitioning to TV as the host for Disney Channel's, Disney365, Disney GameOn, and Disney on the Set. Wanting a creative challenge, he co-produced/wrote/starred in the critically acclaimed, New Hardy Boys - an irreverent parody of the classic children's books. Fernando is focused on using their talents to advance visibility and understanding of the Latinx and gender-fluid (aka non-binary) communities in Hollywood, with the aim of giving them a voice globally.

16 Jan 1h

Today we talk to Spencer Macnaughton, founder and editor-in-chief, of the new Uncloseted Media online publication which features objective journalism at its finest.  The new publication is committed to providing the public with objective, nonpartisan, rigorous, LGBTQ-focused journalism that examines America’s anti-LGBTQ ecosystem and elevates the voices of everyday American heroes. While doing deep-dive journalism that uncovers the people, the money, and the power behind America’s anti-LGBTQ ecosystem and – at the same time – highlighting the voices of the people fighting back against these systems of ignorance and injustice, this is a publication for the LGBTQ community breaking out of the queer echo chamber to bring critically important stories to Americans in every county in all 50 states.  Uncloseted Media approaches its sources with a healthy combination of compassion and skepticism. They define balance not along partisan lines, but rather through a survey of methodologically sound, evidence-based research. Rather than providing opinions on important LGBTQ issues, they present facts through receipts, timelines, screenshots, and proof. They are on a mission to hold the people, the power, and the money behind America’s anti-LGBTQ world accountable simply by digging in and presenting the public with the truth. Spencer has written and produced for 60 Minutes, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Vice, Vox, Time, NBC News, The Guardian and Rolling Stone. he has won the Grace Award, and has been nominated for an Emmy. He teaches LGBTQ Journalism at New York University.

9 Jan 1h

It has been reported that Donald Trump plans a trans military ban via executive order as soon as he takes office. It would reinstate and expand upon his first administration’s ban on transgender military service members. Details of this action are not known but the potential of this executive action is stoking devastating uncertainty for transgender people across the country. Today we talk again to Colonel Bree Fram -- she spoke to us three years ago after the first ban had been lifted. Today we will talk to her about the current threat as well as about her new book With Valor and Visibility: The Next Chapter of Transgender Military Service. Bree is currently stationed at the Pentagon where she develops the requirements for future Space Force capabilities. Prior to recommissioning into the Space Force in 2021, she served 18 years in a wide variety of Air Force positions including a Research and Development command position and an oversight role for all Air Force security cooperation activity with Iraq. She is an author, podcaster, and keynote speaker. Bree also co-leads the Department of the Air Force LGBTQ+ Initiatives Team, dedicated to eliminating barriers to LGBTQ+ military service in the Air and Space Force.   With Co-host Brody Levesque

2 Jan 1h

The movie Screams from the Tower premieres this weekend at the Dances With Films NYC festival. It is described as "a delightful Hughes homage broadly based on Grant’s teenage years, growing up in the 1990s in the Chicago suburbs in the style of the late great John Hughes who was so very instrumental in highlighting the growing pains of the nerds, weirdos, and outliers.  Focusing on the absurd, painful, and often laughable journey of self-discovery and identity exploration every teen goes through before graduating and leaving the lives they know." Today we talk with Cory Wexler Grant about the film and the impact he hopes it will have.  Cory started a production company in 2001, and began writing, directing, and producing original theatrical works: 3 plays and 2 musicals. Cory wrote and directed his first feature film, PAINTER, in 2018, which was an Official Selection at Los Angeles Indie Film Festival 2020, and was awarded Grand Prize, Best Feature Film at Rhode Island International Film Festival 2020. The film we are discussing today, his second feature film, SCREAMS FROM THE TOWER, is currently on the film festival circuit garnering "Best Feature Film" at the LGBTQ+ Toronto Film Festival, the Audience Award at REELING: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival, and Best Screenplay at the Midwest Film Festival. Cory lives in Greenwich Village with his husband and their two children. He has several other screenplays in development, with his third feature film due to start production in Fall 2025. With Co-Host Brody Levesque

5 Des 20241h

Popular country music star Brian Falduto has the new Christmas song you did not know you needed, especially if you are single. Christmas movies abound with themes of finding that "magic lover." Mariah Carey has dubbed herself as queen of Christmas by advocating for "all I want for Christmas is you." Brian, who has a career of up-ending the status quo is giving another take. It is Merry Christmas for the contentedly single people, aptly called "Christmas Solo" and we will be premiering it on the show today!  In 2023, Brian released his first country music song, "Same Old Country Love Song.” It was greeted with a flood of positive encouragement and excitement and would become an LGBTQ+ country music anthem.  Subsequent releases followed including “Hottest Guy Here” and “Big Boys Club, and Brian Falduto’s first full-length album, Gay Country (Deluxe Edition) Brian first gained fame playing the role of Fancy Pants in the Jack Black cult classic film School of Rock.  That instant fame was both a blessing and a curse for him as a child actor. While the public adored the boldly flamboyant style of the character he played so well, the kids in his real life bullied him mercilessly as he struggled to find his gay identity.

22 Nov 20241h

Donald Trump is back. In January, he will asend to office again after running a very anti-"woke" campaign often scapegoating transgender Americans.  Hundreds of horrible homophobic and transphobic bills passed in state houses may work their way to the federal level. And then there is Project 2025. Today we talk to two of our friends who have their fingers on the pulse of LGBTQ activism to find out the path forward for very concerned queer citizens: Brandon Wolf and Christopher Kane. Brandon is the National Press Secretary and Senior Director of Political Communications for the Human Rights Campaign. He is a nationally-recognized gun safety and LGBTQ civil rights advocate, author and dynamic public speaker. He has served as the Press Secretary for Equality Florida, the state’s LGBTQ civil rights organization. Brandon also  co-founded the Dru Project, a nonprofit organization that works to empower youth and provide future leaders in the LGBTQ community funding for higher education.  Christopher is the White House correspondent for The Washington Blade.  Also having reported for the LA Blade, Chris is a longtime Washington DC-based reporter covering the White House, having previously covered the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission's investigations of major mergers and acquisitions - along with antitrust policy development by federal agencies and US Congress, high stakes "bet-the-company" litigation, and certain activities by the FDA and US Patent and Trademark Office.

7 Nov 202458min

1660 Vine, is a new muciacl about a group of influencers who  live in a famed Hollywood apartment building to pursue their dreams of social media stardom. The residents of 1660 Vine confront questions of fame, influence, identity, and mental health. All the while, the residents update their followers through vlogs, gaming streams, makeup tutorials, TikTok dances, songs and pranks, as they navigate their search for identity, discovering the difference between who they present themselves to be, and who they really are. Our guest today is prolific writer/showrunner Jonathan Prince, whose recent accomplishments include Four Weddings and a Funeral for MGM/Hulu, and American Soul, which ran for two seasons on BET. Many of Prince’s productions are inspired directly or indirectly by strong musical themes, hailing back to his first creation, the Emmy Award-winning NBC series, American Dreams.

31 Okt 20241h