6.13.13 Pittsburgh Pride Promo, more news

#ImABigFanOf @adamlambert! I'm a member of a huge Glamily! #FOREVER pic.twitter.com/CmuFjvVx85






Kickin’ off the day with just a bit of joyous fun!

Chokehold ♥ ‏@lambertourhero
ADAM AND JOAN <3 4.bp.blogspot.com/-94Sjh8_11Do/UbalzOsfetI/AAAAAAAAnhY/4K_hMM3mBZI/s1600/GIF+JOAN+CRACKS+A+UP+BETTER+CROP+lilybop.gif …



Q3 confession -- I put this on my phone so I can sneak a look at it when I get stuck in way too boring meetings!!    



Singer Adam Lambert seems well-suited to one of the main goals of the Pittsburgh Pride festival

“Adam Lambert is going to bring lots of youth, and we believe, families,” says Christine Bryan of the flamboyant tenor. “We've had lots of phone calls from people who are bringing their kids. We think that will open up a new opportunity for a diversity discussion to happen around Western Pennsylvania's dinner tables.”

Bryan is the marketing and development director of the Delta Foundation, which sponsors the yearly event to create and increase understanding of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender lifestyles.

Although Lambert and the evening of music June 15 on Liberty Avenue, Downtown, are highlights of the event, Pittsburgh Pride starts June 13 with a swim party at a home in Mt. Washington and continues through a gay pride parade June 16.

Bryan says the choice of Lambert as the headline performer is part of the continued effort to “bring a bunch of different folks together.”

For instance, she says, the performance of Patti LaBelle in 2011 was attractive to the African-American audience, while Melissa Etheridge in 2012 presented a female rock star. Lambert, she believes, will reach out to a younger audience.

Lambert was the runner-up in the eighth season of “American Idol.” He generated controversy during the competition when questions circulated about his sexuality. He confirmed he was gay in an interview in Rolling Stone two days after the competition ended. Since then, he's release several albums and singles to critical success.

But the other sides of Pittsburgh Pride appeal to other audiences as well. Along with Lambert, the June 15 concert will offer Pittsburgh native Sharon Needles, English star Joe McElderry, piano virtuoso Dave Yaden and soul diva Candace Devine, along with music-video creators Ryan Amador and Jo Lampert.

The pool party at the home of Steve Herforth and Peter Karlovich will provide a social get-together, Bryan says, while the PrideMarch on June 16 offers a chance for participants to band together and show their solidarity.

The march will feature The Cadets, the oldest continually operating band in the annual Drum Corps International showcase.

Bryan thinks the growth of Pittsburgh Pride shows an increasing level of understanding in the area. The festival has been averaging increases of about 20,000 a year in the past three years, hitting a total attendance of 86,000 in 2012.

“We're hoping to hit 100,000 this year, if Mother Nature cooperates,” she says.

Bob Karlovits is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7852 or bkarlovits@tribweb.com.

Link: triblive.com/aande/moreaande/4144785-74/june-pride-lambert?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#axzz2W4EWTkmh



Flamboyant star Adam Lambert lends his voice to Pride in the Street
June 13, 2013 12:18 am By Scott Mervis / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

db66abc2c256b763aaef-ce5d943d4869ae027976e5ad085dd9b0.r76.cf2.rackcdn.com/2013/163/220/adam-lambert_420.jpg
Adam Lambert -- "I feel like with celebrity and visibility and fame, there's a responsibility to try to give back ... ."

Thousands will be on the street for Pride this weekend, and leading the charge Saturday night, with one of the most powerful voices anywhere, will be Adam Lambert.

The flamboyant 2009 "American Idol" runner-up has become of one of the icons of the gay community since coming out in a Rolling Stone magazine cover story that year.

Mr. Lambert has the distinction of being the first openly gay artist to top the album charts, with his second album, "Trespassing," in 2012.

"I felt a bit surprised when I was told that actually, because I didn't think that was the case," he says. "I think it's a sign that things are changing, which is exciting. I think people can agree we're in a really pivotal time for gay rights, equality, just a lot of things shifting with the gay and lesbian community."

Asked it he were the first and last openly gay artist to top the chart, he says, "I don't know. I think Frank Ocean did well, but I don't know if he declared that he was openly gay -- which I totally respect that. I think everyone has their own prerogative to be however gay they want to be. We're in a real interesting position. We're kind of in between two different mindsets on the topic. There's one group and kind of one generation that feels like you need to wave the banner and be super proud and loud and in-your-face, and I respect that 100 percent. I feel like that's kind of a punk rock way of being gay, and then there's the next generation that kind of wants to treat it like a nonissue. It's a post-gay mentality, where it's like 'Oh yeah, so what?' I have respect for anybody, no matter how they want to play it."

Although he may have been reluctant at first, Mr. Lambert has become an activist and ambassador for the gay community. Along with the Pride events, he has done work with GLAAD and is the spokesman for the AT&T Live Proud campaign, encouraging people to share the time where they felt their pride moment. He also has done charity work to raise money to build fresh water wells in underdeveloped countries and with the program DonorsChoose to help raise money for public school arts programs.

"I feel like with celebrity and visibility and fame, there's a responsibility to try to give back and try to use the visibility for the greater good," he says. "It's not all about me. It's about trying to raise awareness and getting people to take action. I'm fortunate to have a really cool fan base and they want to be involved."

On the musical front, his rangy voice has given him the opportunity to step in for another gay icon, Freddie Mercury, in performing shows with Queen.

"It was crazy. I was so honored first of all that they wanted to work with me. Brian May and Roger Taylor are the coolest guys in the world."

And the Queen fans, of course, they had to be won over by a guy who won a TV competition.

"I think there was probably some doubt before the shows happened," he says. "I think there were some eyebrows raised from the Queen fans, but from what I could tell, I think they were into it. I wanted to make sure that people understood that I felt like I was trying to pay tribute to Freddie. There's no way to replace that guy. He's a legend, he's an icon. It was just exciting to get up there and do something that he would be proud of. Getting the stamp of approval from the band members was the first step for me in making sure I was doing it right."

In terms of his solo work, Mr. Lambert showed his glam-rock roots on his debut, which spawned the hit single, "What Do You Want From Me." He went in more of a dance-pop vein for the follow-up, which topped the charts without producing a big radio hit.

As for what direction the next one goes in, he says, "I do have an idea, but I'm not gonna tell ya." He doesn't have a timeline on it yet either.

Maybe the PrideFest show will offer a hint. He comes here having just done Miami Pride, where he says, "We had so much fun and the energy down there was awesome -- a lot of eye candy down there as well."

Having done a Pride event, he has a better sense of how it compares to one of his regular shows.

"My concerts are sort of like Pride events," he says. "I know that a lot of my fans are probably going to come out, so I don't think it's going to be that different. I'll be able perform for some people who wouldn't normally buy tickets to my regular shows, and it's great to be able to expand the audience. But it's going to be the same kind of thing. I am who I am no matter where I am, So we're going to do it right."

Scott Mervis: smervis@post-gazette.com or 412-263-2576.
First Published June 13, 2013 12:00 am

Pittsburgh Pridefest

FRIDAY

Buses will transport pub crawlers between bars in Lawrenceville, the Strip District, Downtown, Squirrel Hill, Shadyside and South Side starting at 8 p.m. and dropping off and picking up every 20 minutes until 2 a.m. Tickets are $27 in advance at PittsburghPride.org/tickets or $30 on the day of. Must be 21 and up. Information: PittsburghPride.org.

A dance party will be held at 8 p.m. on the Andy Warhol Bridge.

SATURDAY

Adam Lambert will perform at Pride in the Street, between Ninth and 10th streets on Liberty Avenue, Downtown. Children under 18 are permitted with an adult over the age of 25. Doors open 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance at PittsburghPride.org/tickets or $45 at the gate.

SUNDAY

The Pride March begins at Grant Street and the Boulevard of the Allies, Downtown, at noon and continues down Grant Street, left onto Fifth Avenue and right onto Liberty Avenue, ending at about 1 p.m. The grandstand will be at Liberty Avenue and Sixth Street, Downtown.

PrideFest, a daylong event featuring entertainment, food vendors and bingo will take place on Liberty Avenue between Sixth and 10th streets from 1 to 6 p.m.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/stories/ae/music/flamboyant-star-adam-lambert-lends-his-voice-to-pride-in-the-street-691454/#ixzz2W4HM09Px


Q3 note about the above article – Yes, Adam is currently the only openly gay artist to have a #1 Album on the US Billboard 200 Album chart. Frank Ocean’s debut album peaked at #2 but was up against a big release from Zac Brown Band, had distribution almost entirely in digital channels, and had a large number of units sold for $2.99 by Amazon.com which are now disqualified by Nielsen Soundscan. www.webcitation.org/6AfD8p2Vw




There will be a live stream of Pittsburgh Pride

L the Phenom ‏@girlphenom

Oh, time to put the word out - I'll be streaming Adam at Pittsburgh Pride! Here's my channel: bit.ly/14oA3fI Pls let people know



Shred Of Hope Benefit

Win a T-Shirt designed by Adam, Auction begins on June 20th, 2013.

100% of all funds raised by Shred of Hope will go directly to the Ali Forney Center. To bid on shirts, visit www.shredofhope.com



Published on Jun 11, 2013

Shred of Hope is an auction of one-of-a-kind "Shredder" t-shirts designed by artists, musicians, activists and other allies of LGBTQ youth, and a fundraiser for the Ali Forney Center, the largest shelter for homeless LGBTQ youth in the United States.

100% of all funds raised by Shred of Hope will go directly to the Ali Forney Center. To bid on shirts, visit www.shredofhope.com

Shred of Hope is presented by Nasty Pig, a trailblazing menswear label specializing in forward-thinking and rebellious street styles. Based in New York City, Nasty Pig is known for inspired design, dedication to quality, and a refusal to compromise. Nasty Pig is available at its flagship retail store in Manhattan, online at NastyPig.com, and in progressive menswear boutiques worldwide.



Ali Forney Center Announces Shred Of Hope Celebrity Online T-Shirt Auction
Main | Tuesday, June 11, 2013



A galaxy of stars have come together to support the Ali Forney Center's Shred Of Hope, an online auction in which you can bid on original t-shirts created by gay celebrities and straight allies. Each of the participants worked with designers at the Manhattan-based fetish wear company Nasty Pig to create one-of-a-kind "shredders," which are sort of not-tank-tops.

Among the participants are activist and author Dan Savage and his husband Terry Miller, Tony winner Alan Cumming, Tony winner Jeff Whitty, Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black, talk show host Andy Cohen, rock star Bob Mould, MSNBC commentator Keith Boykin, Animal Planet host Scott Lope, rocker JD Samson, actress Ally Sheedy, pop superstars Michael Stipe, Adam Lambert and Jake Shears, and many more.

Via press release:


Link: joemygod.blogspot.com/2013/06/ali-forney-center-announces-shred-of.html




Student told to wash off makeup becomes cause
BY Anastasia Dawson Tribune staff Published: June 12, 2013


LUKE JOHNSON/STAFF
Chris Martin, 14, right, with his mother Katelynn Martin on their patio in St.Petersburg, FL on Wednesday, June 12th, 2013.


The Pinellas County School District is under fire after a middle school boy was sent home from school for wearing makeup. Katelynn Martin posted a petition on online campaign site MoveOn.org demanding the school district to require tolerance training for administrators and faculty after her 14-year-old son Chris Martin (pictured) was sent home on the last day of school for violating dress code requirements. He wore an anarchy shirt, which Martin and her partner say know was wrong, but also wore lipstick, black eyeliner and eyeshadow. Photo provided by Katelynn Martin

ST. PETERSBURG - Christopher Martin is a quiet boy. He loves Adam Lambert, dreams of becoming a chemist and shuffles his long black hair in front of his face when he's done talking.

The 14-year-old never expected to miss his last day at Meadowlawn Middle School for a dress code violation or that the incident would start a national media frenzy. As soon as Martin walked into school on June 5, two assistant principals confronted him about the T-shirt and makeup he was wearing. He never even made it to his first period.

"They said I could change my shirt and wash it off and stay at school, but I didn't want to, even though I wanted to say goodbye to my friends," Martin said Wednesday, a day he spent fielding interview requests from local and national media.

"I would do it all over again, though. I feel like the teachers need more tolerance and need to take this seriously."

After the school administrators told Martin his T-shirt and makeup - lipstick, black eyeliner and eyeshadow - violated school dress code policy, his mother, Katelynn Martin, and her partner, Jamie Himes, went to Principal Claud Effiom, then the school district and then the Internet to express their frustrations. A petition the family posted on MoveOn.org asking the school district to add more gay-straight alliance clubs in middle schools and require tolerance training for school administrators and faculty had garnered nearly 9,000 signatures as of Wednesday night. The story has been published in newspapers across the country, and MoveOn.org, GLAAD, the ACLU and other civil rights organizations are sharing the story.

"The night before he asked me if he could wear makeup to school, and I didn't think it would be a problem. I just thought it would be a great opportunity for him to express himself," Katelynn Martin said. "I did his makeup for him, it wasn't over the top. He had gone to school that morning feeling very confident in himself. He even had me take a picture before he left, and then when he called me from the front office I could tell in his voice that he was upset and feeling very self-conscious."

The American Civil Liberties Union sent Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Michael Grego a letter Wednesday saying the request for Martin to wash off his makeup violated his civil rights.

Grego, though, said the whole incident has been grossly misrepresented.

"There's a whole lot more to the story then what was reported," he said.

The school does not have any rules or policies that would prevent Martin from wearing makeup to class, but the student code of conduct gives principals great latitude in preventing disruptions at school. "A principal may impose reasonable time, place and manner restrictions on your exercise of First Amendment freedom of expression when there is evidence of imminent disruption of the school."

That policy is common in all learning intuitions, from elementary schools to colleges, Grego said.

"It wasn't about just makeup, it wasn't about that at all," Grego said. "The student was very compliant, understood, and was totally fine. We were there at the school, the principal was there, and he did a good job. There were other issues - dress code violations and other things - and the student understood it. The adults sometimes don't get it, but the students are pretty good."

If there is more to the story, Martin's mother said she "can't imagine what it would be."

The school also took issue with her son's favorite "Sons of Anarchy" T-shirt: a black T-shirt from the popular TV show, featuring the Grim Reaper holding a scythe and an anarchy symbol. She told her son to turn his shirt inside out to comply with the principal's wishes, even though she said he has worn it multiple times to school. She couldn't, though, overlook the fact that his makeup wasn't any different from what his female classmates wore every day.

Neither could the ACLU.

"Applying a different rule to Chris because he is male constitutes sex discrimination in violation of the United States Constitution, the Florida Constitution and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972," said Daniel Tilley, a staff attorney with the ACLU, in the letter sent to Grego Wednesday. "Principal Effiom apparently has certain beliefs regarding how boys and girls should present themselves, but school officials may not discriminate based on gender stereotypes.

Area superintendents have reached out to the family, and Martin's mother said she would like to work more with the school to resolve the problem.

Other students have taunted him, calling him "gay," Martin said. His mother said she's gone to the school at least six times to report bullying. He's been punched in the face, had possessions destroyed by classmates and is still being treated for depression.

Martin said he has always been "different" but doesn't want to "put himself in a box" by identifying with a certain gender or sexual orientation.

"I'm just Christopher," he said. "I don't have to be anything else, that should be enough. Going through this experience makes me stronger and makes me feel like I'm better then the bad people, makes me feel like I'm one step ahead of them."

Martin said he's not nervous the story about what happened at Meadowlawn will follow him to St. Petersburg High School next year and that he hopes the petition will help other kids going through similar experiences.

GLAAD's director of religion, faith and values, Ross Murray, said he hasn't encountered other instances where a student was reprimanded for wearing makeup to school.

"I don't know how someone wearing makeup is disruptive, and I think that's the thing that gets to be really subjective," Murray said. "If there's bias within the administration, or even within the student body, where is the disruption: the student that's wearing makeup or the teachers and administrators making a big deal about it?"

Murray said he could see why school officials might have asked Martin to wash off his makeup if they were concerned about him being bullied. But asking him to change his behavior shouldn't have been the answer, he said.

"[That is] no way to prevent bullying by telling a student not to be who they are or not to express themselves in a certain way," he said.

Policies are constantly changing as they become outdated, but Martin's case doesn't warrant any re-examination of school district operations, Grego said.

"We very much value the rights of students, but we also value, as all of our parents do, the ability to keep order and a create a sound learning environment in our schools, and that's a balancing act," Grego said. "We're very sensitive to students of all walks of life."

adawson@tampatrib.com
(727) 215-9851
Twitter: @adawsontbo

Link: tbo.com/pinellas-county/st-pete-student-ordered-to-wash-off-makeup-becomes-online-cause-20130612/#tabs-2





The Scoop on L.A.'s Chicest Dance Party
Women's Wear Daily June 12, 2013
by Marcy Medina

DANCING QUEEN: Who says nobody dances at parties anymore? The chicest dance party in Los Angeles starts well after midnight in a private club behind the kitchen at the Standard Hollywood. There are no lists; those in the know receive a secret password the day before, to be given to a doorman discreetly positioned in hallway off the lobby (yes, you do need to walk through the kitchen to get there). Former events producer and Nineties club promoter Bryan Rabin (fashion types of a certain age remember him from the club Cherry or from assorted events for Dior, Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, etc.) has teamed up with She Wants Revenge frontman Adam Bravin, also known as DJ Adam XII, disc jockey to President Obama, Stevie Wonder and Prince and re-mixer for Jay-Z and Beyonce.

Spinning only vintage disco tunes with a modern edge, Bravin and co. have kept the tiny dance floor packed until past 4 am for the past six Saturdays. So far, the mix has included Olivier Theyskens, Haider Ackerman, Prabal Gurung, China Chow, Dita Von Teese, Rose McGowan, Alexandra Von Furstenberg, Crystal Lourd, Adam Lambert and drag queen Constance (who throws his own party Thursdays at Bar Marmont).

“There can only be five of the best from every crowd,” says Rabin. “The space only hold 125 people so it will always stay perfect.” Anyone who has tapped a foot along to the recent chart-topping singles by Daft Punk, Robin Thicke and Bruno Mars that harken back to Michael Jackson in his heyday gets that disco is back. “Today very much mirrors the recession-wracked times in the Seventies when disco couldn’t have been better for the economy,” reasoned Rabin.

And even though it is in Hollywood, celebrities behaving badly are not tolerated. “If a celeb shows up and demands this or that, I throw them out. It feels like the olden days when people couldn’t care less about celebrities. Everybody is obsessed with one thing and it’s the music.”

Spinning only vintage disco tunes with a modern edge, Bravin and co. have kept the tiny dance floor packed until past 4 am for the past six Saturdays. So far, the mix has included Olivier Theyskens, Haider
Ackerman, Prabal Gurung, China Chow, Dita Von Teese, Rose McGowan, Alexandra Von Furstenberg, Crystal Lourd, Adam Lambert and drag queen Constance (who throws his own party Thursdays at Bar Marmont).

“There can only be five of the best from every crowd,” says Rabin. “The space only hold 125 people so it will always stay perfect.” Anyone who has tapped a foot along to the recent chart-topping singles by Daft Punk, Robin Thicke and Bruno Mars that harken back to Michael Jackson in his heyday gets that disco is back. “Today very much mirrors the recession-wracked times in the Seventies when disco couldn’t have been
better for the economy,” reasoned Rabin.

And even though it is in Hollywood, celebrities behaving badly are not tolerated. “If a celeb shows up and demands this or that, I throw them out. It feels like the olden days when people couldn’t care less about celebrities. Everybody is obsessed with one thing and it’s the music.”

Link: www.wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/the-scoop-on-las-chicest-dance-party-6986434?module=Fashion-Fashion%20Scoops-main




Throwback Thursday!!

Kathy Katz ‏@katzolicious Throwback from 2010 Adam Lambert with johnnygweir instagram.com/p/afBo-dhhfG/

Upcoming Events
Check the Adamtopia calendar for more events and links to more info.

June 15, 2013 Pittsburgh Pride In The Street Festival, Pittsburgh, PA. Adam is the headliner. More info: www.pittsburghpride.org/tickets
On the outdoor stage at Liberty Ave between 9th
&amp; 10th. Doors at 5:00pm ET. Events from 6:00pm. Adam’s set time 9:00PM.
 There will be opening acts.

June 20, 2013 Shred Of Hope Celebrity Online T-Shirt Auction begins. 100% of all funds raised by Shred of Hope will go directly to the Ali Forney Center. To bid on shirts, visit www.shredofhope.com

June 29, 2013 Adam in concert in Orlando, Florida at Universal Studios Florida.
More info: www.orlandoinformer.com/universal/summer-concert-series-2013/

July 2, 2012 Adam performs in San Diego, CA, San Diego County State Fair
More info: www.sdfair.com/index.php?fuseaction=info.calendar&amp;amp;op=detail&amp;amp;pkid=1379&amp;amp;month=7&amp;amp;year=2013&amp;amp;calCatID=


Radio Links

Every Saturday from New Zealand -- Adam Lambert Hour -- Live 5:00PM EDT US.

Link: theflea.co.nz/
Check out the ALH page for podcast of previous shows.
This is the only weekly Adam Lambert show in the world.

Energy Radio (UK) www.energymusicradio.co.uk/



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Personal news and requests for advice should be posted in the Member News thread: atop.proboards.com/board/21/member-news-advice


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