Oct 11, 2018
Join Kelli and Anne for their 38th NEW LIVE episode!
They begin this episode by talking about National Coming Out Day. As part of that day they wanted to shine a light on Tyler Clementi's story. If you haven’t heard Tyler Clementi’s story you should hear it. This was a young gay man that was a brilliant musician, smart, talented and creative. He was one of 2 Freshman at Rutgers University accepted into the Graduate School Orchestra. He had his whole life in front of him. Then he was cyberbullied by his roommate. It changed everything. Tyler jumped off the George Washington Bridge and took his own life. Another young life taken too soon. We must do more to stop bullying. His parents co-founded a Foundation to help stop this terrible trend that is happening to our kids. Please check out their website www.TylerClementi.org Do more to support our community and those who need us.
Next they talk about Kelli being honored by the Family Travel Association with the Family Travel Innovation Award. Then they discuss a fundraiser that they attended for Gina Ortiz Jones, and incredible OUT candidate running for Congress in the 23rd District in TX. For more info on Gina and how to support her campaign go to www.ginaortizjones.com
They play a small sample of a song written by Ann Hampton Callaway and Pamela Stewart for Tyler's Suite, a nine piece choral movement dedicated to the memory of Tyler, under the leadership of Stephen Schwartz. This song is called "I Love You More" and was dedicated to his mother Jane Clementi.
They welcome special guest Jason Cianciotto, the Executive Director of The Tyler Clementi Foundation. Jason tells his own coming out story and the struggles that led him to dedicate his life's work to working in the LGBT sector. He also talks about his husband and their out gay son that they adopted from the foster care system and how that has changed his life.
As always, they end with a cocktail from Equality Vodka. This week, in honor of Jason, they are serving The Activist!