Women of ABC Unite!

It's Women's History Month, which means it's time to celebrate the women whose accomplishments and efforts make a positive impact on each of our lives.

Six actresses from the most LGBT-inclusive network -- ABC -- recorded a PSA together as part of our "Be an Ally & a Friend" campaign. In the spot, they urge viewers to accept and love their friends and family members, regardless of their orientation or gender identity.

The stars appearing in the spot are as follows (listed in order of appearance): Rebecca Romijn (Ugly Betty), Rachel Griffiths (Brothers & Sisters), Oscar-winner Marlee Matlin (Dancing with the Stars), Ana Ortiz (Ugly Betty), Kate Walsh (Private Practice) and Sara Ramirez (Grey's Anatomy). Check it out!



If you live in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, or New Haven, CT, this PSA will be airing on your local ABC affiliate! Keep your eyes peeled!

We are very proud of all the straight allies who participated in GLAAD's PSA campaign, taking a stand for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people everywhere.

How do you say "amazing" in Spanish?

The always lovely and talented Sara Ramirez (Grey's Anatomy) has recorded a new PSA in Spanish as part of GLAAD's ongoing "Be an Ally & a Friend" campaign. The spot has already appeared on Terra.com, the largest internet access provider in Spain and Latin America, and will make its debut next week on mun2 television, Telemundo's very popular music and pop culture network.



Don't speak Spanish? Here's a translation:

"Hi, I’m Sara Ramirez. Discrimination and intolerance affect our families. What happens when that discrimination is against a brother, sister, niece, mother, or uncle who is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender … Would you accept it? For a more inclusive world say ‘no’ to stereotypes and discrimination. For more information, please visit the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation: glaad.org."

Inclusive Dance Show Debuts

On Friday night's series premiere of Your Mama Don't Dance, we were introduced to the father/daughter teams. One of these teams featured professional dancer Celia paired with her openly gay father Silvano. Though they didn't get the lowest score, they ended up in the "drop zone," with their future to be decided by viewers at home.

To help keep them in the competition, cast your vote at Lifetime's website. Ten votes are allowed per person, and voting ends at 11:59 pm ET on Wednesday night. Tune in on Friday night to see if Silvano and Celia make the cut, and to meet the mother/son teams (including out contestants Dante and Jonathan!).

For more information about the show, read GLAAD's Eye on the Media piece here, or visit the show's website here. Catch the clip below for Silvano's "behind the scenes" interview!

Only Four Hours of Splashley Remain!

Confession time: I am a straight 30-year-old woman, and the sapphic teen soap South of Nowhere is one of my all-time favorite shows. When The N is running new episodes, I am running to my TV every Friday to check in with Spencer and Ashley and the latest trials and tribulations of their rocky romance.

That's why it saddens me to learn that the series has not been renewed for a fourth season.

South of Nowhere was a breakout hit for The N when it debuted in 2005, consistently boasting ratings nearly equal to the network's juggernaut Degrassi: The Next Generation. The drama's first two seasons were nominated for GLAAD Media Awards for Outstanding Television Drama, which is remarkable, as the "little drama that could" was battling for attention with the likes of ABC's Brothers & Sisters and Showtime's The L Word.

Though our beloved Splashley will sorely be missed, lucky for us, The N will be wrapping up their story in the series' eight final episodes, slated to air April 11, 2008.

Not good enough for you? Let your fingers do the talking and join the folks over at SaveSplashley.com and let your voice be heard!

QFR interviews Yvonne Welbon

QueerFilmReview.com recently held a Q & A with Yvonne Welbon, an African American lesbian filmmaker whose work includes the documentary Living with Pride: Ruth C. Ellis @ 100. Ruth Ellis, the oldest living African American lesbian at the time, was an activist who agreed to be the subject of Welbon’s film because, in her words: "People who don't like gays and lesbians don't know us. I want to show them that we are just like everybody else." The 1999 film is available for order online ($35 plus s/h).

To read the transcript of the interview, which includes Welbon’s list of her favorite queer films, click here: http://www.tatenova.com/queerfilm/?p=55

For more about Yvonne Welbon, visit: http://sistersincinema.com/filmmakers/ywelbon/statement.html

Angelika

A beautiful young transwoman made the impossible possible last night by bringing together two of my faves into one magical TV hour: Oprah and America's Next Top Model.

But how? you ask.

The answer is: Angelika.

Angelika was a featured guest on the GLAAD Media Award-nominated episode of Oprah entitled "Born in the Wrong Body." In the hour, she candidly talks about her difficult childhood and confidently tells Oprah about how her life has changed for the better since her transition.

Last night's episode of Top Model involved a fashion shoot designed to highlight the problems facing homeless youth. The model hopefuls had to pose among young girls who have faced homelessness. And who should I spy, but the gorgeous Angelika, looking like a model herself!

Check her out in the picture above: she's the one on the far right, looking so totally fierce and definitely out-posing the girl we're supposed to look at.

Cycle 11 should be casting soon, Angie. How 'bout giving Top Model a try?

Freeheld Wins Oscar!

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) congratulates director-producer Cynthia Wade and producer Vanessa Roth on their Oscar® win for the short documentary, Freeheld. The award was presented this evening at the 80th Annual Academy Awards®, held at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles.

Freeheld documents the 2006 struggle of New Jersey Detective Lt. Laurel Hester in her effort to transfer her pension to her domestic partner, Stacie Andree, in the months leading up to Hester's death. With less than six months to live as cancer spread to her brain, Hester battled the Ocean County Freeholders, the locally elected officials, to give to Stacie the security for her partner that married couples receive automatically. The film captures both the very public and urgent dispute with the Freeholders, as well as the couple’s intensely private struggle as they come to terms with Hester's terminal illness.

"Freeheld is such a poignant and powerful documentary, and we are proud to count Cynthia as a strong ally to the gay community," says GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano. "We are so thankful the film – and Laurel Hester's memory – have been honored tonight with a prestigious and well-deserved Academy Award®."