LOS ANGELES BLACK PRIDE DISCUSSES THE ‘COST OF THE CLOSET’ DURING ITS LGBT FILM FESTIVAL

Los Angeles Black Pride (LABP), the country’s first African-American LGBT Pride organization, along with GLO TV, America’s first urban LGBT TV network, have come together to produce Flip The Script Friday: LA Black Pride Film Festival and Conference Series at the Radisson LAX Hotel in Los Angeles on Friday, July 2, 2010. This free program is part of the organization’s numerous events in celebration of its 22^nd annual Pride event.

The film festival will include various independent films made by and about the African-American LGBT community, curated by filmmaker and GLO TV president Maurice Jamal. The highlight of the festival will be the hot topic conference Flipping The Script II: Beyond Homophobia in Black Hollywood, the second in a series of discussions about the often discreet world of homosexuality within the tight-lipped Black film and television community. Co-produced by openly gay writer Demetrius Bady as a follow up to his hugely successful conference Flipping The Script held earlier this year at the Writers Guild of America, Flipping The Script II will continue the discussion about the portrayal of African-American gay and lesbian characters in film and television and what role Black Hollywood plays in the positive and negative shaping of these characters. From Antonio Fargas’ drag diva Lindy in the 70s classic film Car Wash to Nicole Ari Parker’s Evie in The Incredibly True Adventures of 2 Girls in Love to Lafayette Reynolds of HBO’s vampire drama True Blood, Hollywood has produced a host of memorable characters that have been both praised and condemned for its depiction of the African-American LGBT community.

The evening’s discussion will also delve into such topics as the controversial issue of being “out” and Black in Hollywood and the cost of staying “in the closet;” the gains made by prominent African-American LGBT filmmakers, as well as the issue of homophobia within the black community as a whole. LABP hopes the event will encourage audience members to ask questions and to participate in the dialogue during this frank and open conversation.

Confirmed panelists include actor Doug Spearman (Noah's Arc), BET VP Austyn Biggers, GLO TV president and filmmaker Maurice Jamal (Dirty Laundry), screenwriter Jasmine Love (The District), filmmakers Faith Trimel (Family), Kanithea Powell (Finding Juliet) and GLAAD award-winners Quincy LeNear and Deondray Gossett (The DL Chronicles).

Founded in 1988, the non-profit LABP has a longstanding history of combating homophobia, providing L.A.-based events and programs throughout the year to the African-American LGBT community. Flip The Script Friday: LA Black Pride Film Festival and Conference Series is part of LABP’s week-long celebration (July 1-5) of Hollywood Wet & Wild, this year’s theme for the organization’s 22^nd annual Pride event. The conference, Flipping The Script II, is co-sponsored by the Writer's Guild of America.

WHAT: Flip The Script Friday: LA Black Pride Film Festival and Conference Series

WHEN: Friday, July 2 from 2pm-9pm (check website for complete schedule)

WHERE: Radisson Hotel Los Angeles Airport, 6225 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90045

Filmmaker Maurice Jamal Announces Launch New TV Network

Maurice Jamal, Award Winning Filmmaker, announced yesterday at the Flipping The Script: Beyond Homophobia in Black Hollywood panel the launch of GLO Television Network coming Fall 2010. The event moderated by actress Sheryl Lee Ralph at the Writers Guild of America, examined the issues regarding the African-American gay and lesbian community in film and television and how to make a positive change within black entertainment and the community at large.

“This is a new day. We need to take the lead in creating opportunities and making the quality entertainment we deserve. GLO TV is innovative and forward thinking. This network is our network: with quality programming geared towards the urban LGBT audience, family, friends and allies. Our community is more than just one ethnicity, one race, one body type, one region or creed. GLO TV is about showing us in all our vibrant colors,” Jamal states. The urban LGBT community, our family, friends and allies are diverse, valuable, powerful and important: The time has come for us to stand up and be counted. The time has come for our stories to be told. The time has come for us to show just how amazing we can be. The time has come for GLO.

“This is a major shift in my career and I did some soul-searching, but it was so clear that this was right.” says Jamal. “My partners and I understood the risks with this new and exciting venture; we have faith that it’s the right decision for gay and lesbian community, it’s something we deserve, something that’s overdue. There were no national platforms for the urban LGBT community to share our stories, but now we have GLO TV.”


About The GLO Television Network:
The GLO TV Network is the first network dedicated to the Urban LGBT audience, families and allies. GLO TV will feature a full slate of programming: From original series and feature films, to classics we've grown to love; with cutting edge news programs, documentaries and music that breaks boundaries; presenting artists you can't see anywhere else to our favorite celebrities.

The mission of GLO TV is to present you with what you want, how you want it, when you want it. You'll be able to find GLO TV across the country, in every market. 24 hours a day. 7 days a week.

Each of us laughs cries, sometimes we jump for joy, sometimes we struggle in life, and we hope for love. We each do our best, day by day. GLO is about showing all of who we are with programs that are entertaining, informative, affirming and sometimes provocative. GLO understands that within each of us is a unique story to be told. We have a range of perspectives, ideals and beliefs as varied as we are. We will present these stories with creativity, quality and integrity.It's time for us to get our "shine" on. That's you. That's us. That's GLO.

For additional information, events and release dates go to:
www.gloTVnetwork.com.

Flipping The Script: Beyond Homophobia in Black Hollywood

‘COLLECTIVE SOULS’ GO BEYOND HOMOPHOBIA

A unity themed reception benefiting L.A. Black Pride follows homophobia conference

On Tuesday, March 23, from 9:30pm – 11pm, the social events group The Ebony Collective (TEC) will sponsor a post-conference benefit reception, entitled COLLECTIVE SOULS. This event will follow the provocatively themed conference, Flipping The Script: Beyond Homophobia in Black Hollywood, being held earlier that evening at the Writers Guild of America West. The reception will benefit Los Angeles Black Pride (LABP), the country’s oldest and largest African-American GLBT pride organization in the country.

Flipping The Script, organized by openly gay writer Demetrius Bady and moderated by award-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, will tackle key issues regarding the portrayal of African-American gay and lesbian characters in film and television as well as the concern of homophobia in the black community and the black entertainment industry. The panel will include noted filmmakers Paris Barclay (The Good Wife), Quincy LeNear and Deondray Gossett (The DL Chronicles), and actor Brian White (I Can Do Bad All By Myself).

Immediately after the conference, TEC will provide a wine and cheese benefit reception for LABP, aptly titled COLLECTIVE SOULS to convey the social group’s theme of unity. “COLLECTIVE SOULS’ purpose is to end the evening on an inspirational note. We wanted to gather attendees of the conference to recognize the numerous important contributions LABP has made to our community to combat both internal and external homophobia,” says TEC.

Founded in 1988, the non-profit LABP has a longstanding history of combating homophobia, providing L.A.-based events and programs throughout the year to the African-American GLBT community. The event sponsor, TEC, is a small social group, aimed at providing fun and safe social events in an effort to support the gay black male community.

This event is open to the public, with suggested donation for entry (all proceeds go to LABP).

WHAT: COLLECTIVE SOULS, a reception benefiting LA Black Pride (after FLIPPING THE SCRIPT @ WGA)

WHEN: Tuesday, March 23 from 9:30pm-11pm

WHERE: Sheddy’s Wine Bar, 361 S. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles 90036 (323) 651-1442

For more information, go to www.atbla.com or www.theebonycollective.org