OKAY OKAY OKAY 

so.  the news sucks.  no other way of putting it.
sucks sucks sucks.
i'm not going to try to be some cheerleader right now.  i personally think it is okay to be pissed or bummed or fired up or whatever you are feeling.
personally, i'm just disappointed.

BroadwayImpact has always been a grass roots thing.  we haven't claimed to have all the answers.  we aren't funded by some big corporation or grant.  we were just the three of us, caring and trying to learn how this stuff works and then sharing the info we find with anyone out there who wants to care and learn with us.
we have grown INCREDIBLY in the past year.

YEAR ONE has given us a rally in times square that was covered nationally, months of volunteers coming together to phone bank with the HRC, teaming up with the True Colors Fund to bridge outward even more and raise some money to help us do more work, organizing 25 buses to march on dc with thousands of people, demanding justice....the list goes on and on.
and that is all because of YOU.

so now....what do we do?

why don't you tell US.  send us notes, ideas, thoughts.  keep in mind our theatre community and brainstorm interesting "outside the box" ways we can spread the message and involve more and more of us in our fight for equality.
because now...with the ny state senate's action, it IS a fight.  the gloves are off.  and we have work to do.
i want to wish everyone a happy happy holiday season.  we will be meeting soon with our 'board' to discuss our own ideas.
2010 is a new year, and we will soon be unveiling what that year will bring.

until then, relax, be with loved ones, and keep that fire in your hearts.

much love
peace
g

i am still buzzing from our march to washington dc.  i am in awe of the love and heroism and open hearts and dedication from the younger generation who was labeled as apathetic and lazy.  this is JUST the beginning.  equality WILL be our future.  but...

there is much work to be done.  a march is all well and good, but taking ACTION is what will get us from dreaming to reality.  and right NOW it is more important than ever for you to get over your fear of contacting your representatives and talk to them.  

it is super easy.  MAINE and WASHINGTON state are each facing vicious attacks and possible overturning of their historic same-sex marriage recognition bills.  you can join BroadwayImpact to phone bank if you want.  the NEW YORK  senate is finally about to vote for the issue here at home.  you must call your senator if you haven’t already.  there is so much to be done.  please get involved.  if you want to know what more you can do, please go to our home page and start by finding out who your reps are so you can get in touch...NOW! :)

the video above blew me away this week.  just when i do the ignorant thing of assuming a certain political party or an entire generation can ALL think  a certain way on this issue (i should know better....shame on me)  something like this reminds me that it isn’t about any of that.  

open mindedness and acceptance and love can come from any direction.  this man is clearly a hero.  he has served our country again and again.  he has a big family.  he loved his wife. he is proud to be an american.  and...with the same conviction, he loves and accepts his gay son as much as his other children, and wants the same rights for all of them.  

watch this.  listen to his story.  please.  

none of us are asking for more than anyone else.  we just want to be heard, seen, and accepted as equal.  we do not want tolerance.  i refuse tolerance.  what i am and what i do in this world is not something that should be looked upon as merely ‘tolerated.’  

i am here, contributing to the world, in a positive way, and full acceptance is the future.  

love is the future. 

equality is the future.  

and it is coming soon...

peace 

g

i am getting so excited for the national equality march on october 11th.  i can't believe we are just under four weeks away!

i cannot emphasize how important it is for everyone EVERYWHERE to a) make your travel and housing arrangements now and b) talk to all of your friends and family about the march and badger them into coming :)

this is truly going to be an event you will not want to miss.  the sense of community that i have already felt at the smaller events we've been organizing to help spread the word....i don't know how to explain it guys...it is a fantastic, natural, and beautiful high that is only going to intensify with each moment we draw closer.  don't be one of the people who let's a silly rental car or motel stay keep you from joining the theatre community and all it's fans in being a part of HISTORY!

we have made it really easy to get there too...and cheap.....can you scratch up 20 bucks??  broadway superstar and four time tony nominee, SUTTON FOSTER, has led the charge and is sponsoring a bus to start a CHORUS CARAVAN of buses that will leave from nyc on the morning of the 11th.  all the info for getting a ticket for the bus is on our home page (BroadwayImpact.com)

a fleet of buses, heading to DC to get you there in time to march, with a bunch of crazy fun theatre loving people who all want to be a part of the rally?  could it be more fun?  more insane?  NO!   and even, if you so chose, you can stay for a bit after to eat/chill/party/take it all in.

we need LOADS of bodies in these seats, so if you live near new york, or can get to new york....come on!  and...if you are able to help sponsor a bus of your own or know someone who can....get in touch with us asap to make a TAX DEDUCTIBLE donation! (deadline sept 25)

more updates to come!

peace

g

so the best part about helping to organize the movement for change, is meeting all the incredible people along the way who are trying to do the same thing.  hearing people say, “i really wanna thank you for what you are doing for the equality movement” makes me feel really good; not because they are paying me a compliment, which i appreciate, don’t get me wrong...but because THEY are involved and THEY care, and THEY are ready to do their part for the movement.  it just rocks.  

the HARD thing about trying to be a part of change is, i still have to carry on with my own life and job and problems and joys and bumps a long the way....and i don’t always have time to keep up on the blogs and vlogs and sprogs and cogs and dogs (seriously....he’s running me ragged)  

but here i am...and i want to say to all of you out there who tune into BroadwayImpact, THANK YOU, and keep tuning in.  

we ARE working on a new adventure that is going to be really exciting.  it will be announced officially at the shows i am doing at joe’s pub a week from today.  so...if you’re at the pub, you’ll hear it first hand.  and if you are not, check the website and the news on tuesday the 28^th. 

i wanted to attach a little video from the press conference that the tribe of HAIR was a part of.   

it’s purpose was to be the official announcement for the national equality rally (NationalEqualityMarch.com) that will be rockin the capital on oct 11, 2009.  the producers of HAIR have cancelled our show that day so that the entire tribe can go to dc to be a part of history.  

please please please come.  tell EVERYONE.  this is going to be HUGE and you will be able to say, “i was there when we marched on washington for equal rights.”  

this video shows just a little part of me speaking (after the incredible cleve jones and dustin lance black) and the cast belting out the sunshine tune :)

start telling people.  and see you monday.  

peace  

g

Thanks so much to everyone who has been phone banking! It has been inspiring to see so many members of the theatre community here in New York show up to make calls, perform at rallies and show the rest of New York that Broadway will not be silent in this fight for Equality.  We are lucky to have such a strong and vocal community working towards Equality in the Empire State. Here are some pictures from our amazing month at the phone bank where we have made over 15,000 calls!