CHILDREN OF GOD Makes Its Theatrical Premiere in New York City
GLO TV Network & GMAD will host a special screening
on Thursday, May 26th at 7:10pm & 9:35pm
Have you seen one of the most controversial, yet refreshing films from this year? GLO TV and GMAD are proud to present and host special screenings on Thursday, May 26th at 7:10pm and 9:30pm at the Quad Cinema Theater. We are asking the community to enjoy this powerful and beautiful story with us.
InChildren of God, writer and director Kareem Mortimer tackles the subject of gay rights and human behavior in the Bahamas. Amid the sunny background of this Caribbean paradise lies a boiling cauldron of social and religious unrest. Mortimer carefully weaves the stories of four people all headed towards a fate none would expect.
What starts out as a casual trip from the city of Nassau to the tranquil island of Eleuthera, suddenly becomes a life-altering journey. For Johnny, a painfully shy art student who struggles to deal with his own sexuality and lack of inspiration decides to take some time off to find himself artistically and personally. Along the way, he meets Romeo, a handsome, young musician, whose double life as a straight man leads him to escape the suspicions of his family, ultimately finding a kindred spirit in Johnny. In the case of Lena, a wife, mother, and devout Christian campaigning against gay rights in the Bahamas, she also discovers the tiny island, all while learning some disturbing truths about her husband, the fanatical Reverend Ralph. His shocking infidelity does more physical and emotional harm than anyone could ever imagine.
Children of God'sending is nothing short of jaw-dropping and yet, there is something oddly cathartic and reassuring about each character’s fate. Overall,Children of Godis an emotionally charged film with stellar performances and beautiful location shots. Mortimer has skillfully crafted a tale that is both touching and painfully realistic in its portrayal of relationship dynamics and the impact of fanatical religious hatred.Children of Godis a culturally relevant and thought provoking movie that shouldn’t be missed.
“Finds moments of grace in it¹s believable central relationship ...Ferro and Williams keep their attraction and their doubts natural.” - Variety
“A landmark feature film by directed by Kareem Mortimer...a powerful and beautiful story about love, fear and religious intolerance” - Man about town
"Children of God is sumptuous and daring"– Extra
Film is scheduled to play at the Quad Cinemas from May 20th-May 26th. Opening Weekend filled with parties, Q&A and panels. Showtimes are 1:00 pm, 3:00pm, 5:05pm, 7:10pm and 9:35pm.
Quad Cinema, 34 West 13th Street,New York, NY 10011-7911, (212) 255-8800
GLO TV Network is honored to be a media sponsor for the 2011 GLBT Travel Expo. Join us in Philadelphia on TODAY,Thursday, April 28th from 4pm - 8pm and you could walk home with the 2011 Ultimate GLO TV Travel Bag.
GLO TV created the Ultimate GLO TV Travel Bag with a few of our sponsors & event partners. The2011 FIBO WEEKEND(Aug 12th – 14th) Blue HBO Tote Bag is full of some amazing gifts & prizes which includes: (2) FIBO Weekend General Admission Bracelet's, Carol's Daughter Spring/Summer Skin Products ($125 retail value),Universal Motown Records CD Pack including (Melanie Fiona, Nicki Minaj, Drake, KEM, Nelly, Kid Cudi, Lil Wayne, Shontelle, and Erykah Badu.), The2011 ULTIMATE HALLOWEEN CARIBBEAN CRUISE(Oct 29th – Nov 6th) adds a Carnival Cruise Line Beach Robe, Baseball Cap & Books from Author George Kevin Jordan all courtesy ofZENBIZ TRAVEL.
To WIN an Ultimate GLO TV Travel Bag, visit the GLO TV table in Philadelphia and sign up for a FREE raffle ticket. One lucky WINNER will be given The Ultimate GLO TV Travel Bag at the end of the evening.
We look forward to seeing you. Check out the new 2011 Spring/Summer Season of GLO TV in May atWWW.GLOTVNETWORK.COM
Penn Relay & FIBO's Ready, Set, Go Party
FIBO welcomes everyone to the 2011 Philly Black Pride and Penn Relays. During this time of community outreach, workshops and fellowship, FIBO would like to invite you to TABU this Friday, April 29, 2011 for the "Ready, Set, Go!" Party. Along with having a fabulous time at TABU, FIBO will be giving away a FREE package to FIBO, 2011, which includes free hotel stay and two Admission Bracelets. Simply stop by the registration table Friday night and sign up to win.
GLO TV Network is honored to be a media sponsor for the 2011 GLBT Travel Expo.Join us in New York City on Tuesday, April 26th from 4pm - 8pm and in Philadelphia on Thursday, April 28th from 4pm - 8pm and you could walk home with the 2011 Ultimate GLO TV Travel Bag.
GLO TV created the Ultimate GLO TV Travel Bag with a few of our sponsors & event partners. The 2011 FIBO Weekend (Aug 12th – 14th) Blue HBO Tote Bag is full of some amazing gifts & prizes which includes: (2) FIBO Weekend General Admission Bracelet's, Carol's Daughter Spring/Summer Skin Products ($125 retail value),Universal Motown Records CD Pack including (Melanie Fiona, Nicki Minaj, Drake, KEM, Nelly, Kid Cudi, Lil Wayne, Shontelle, and Erykah Badu.), The 2011 Ultimate Halloween Caribbean Cruise (Oct 29th – Nov 6th) adds a Carnival Cruise Line Beach Robe, Baseball Cap & Books from Author George Kevin Jordan all courtesy of Zenbiz Travel.
To WIN an Ultimate GLO TV Travel Bag, visit the GLO TV table in both New York City or Philadelphia and sign up for a FREE raffle ticket.One lucky WINNER will be given The Ultimate GLO TV Travel Bag at the end of the evening in both cities.
We look forward to seeing you.
Check out the new 2011 Spring/Summer Season of GLO TV in May at www.GLOTVNetwork.com
Today is set aside as a holiday of remembrance for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and his tireless work for equality, civil rights and justice. As national and world events occur, one might take a moment and wonder about the current condition of peace, freedom and liberty.
Often when people speak of Dr. King, they discuss "the dream". Not only his landmark speech on civil rights, but the essence and content of his dream. I was reminded today that dreams are limitless. There are no boundaries, hurdles, fears or obstacles that can stand in our way. And dreams are not a child's folly. They are the power of the human spirit reminding us that we can rise above the obvious and move towards the great. Dreams make the impossible, possible.
The work each of us does everyday is part of this dream. It moves us towards a world where equality, acceptance, peace and justice are the norms and not the exceptions. Where regardless of background and sexual orientation, people are not only free to love, live and pursue their liberty, they are encouraged and supported to do so.
This year brought both highs and lows for our community; from the victory of DADT to youth suicides that shook us to our core. And each of you has made a fundamental difference for good in this march towards equity.
A dream is more than an idea, it is permission. It allows someone the ability to craft a world that has everything they could want and desire. It emboldens them to say not only "I can" but "I will" and most importantly "I am".
When we struggle, fight and are working to survive, remember that there are men, women and young people across this country who look at the work you do. They see YOU as evidence that their dream has merit. Your talent, work, dedication and perseverance make a difference. Everyday.
GLO TV may appear to be a digital television network. But it is so much more than that.
It is the dreams of people in small towns, church congregations, school campuses and homes across this nation, who often need a voice to speak for them, an ear to hear them, arms to embrace them, and a heart to welcome them.
It is the reality of what their world can be.
The road ahead is one that we will all walk down together. It is not always easy nor the path always cleared. But it is a road we walk down triumphantly, knowing that every step we take, gives our community permission for them to be bold enough, to dare to dream "I AM".
It’s rare you get to meet greatness, a person that you share a moment in time together or work with in life or even if lucky get to know them before they become famous. When I started my career in the entertainment business, I met a number of people who I knew instantly, this person is going places, Tyra Banks, Boris Kodjoe and Cameron Diaz.Last week, I add comedian Del Harrison to that list.She is a very talented, funny and beautiful person.I am the Vice President of her new fan club, Cute Chicks Unite. To prove my point, Mo’Nique asked Del on to her BET talk show as a special guest this season.
As Ugandan Member of Parliament David Bahati, the sponsor of a Draconian new bill making homosexuality a capital offense in his country, came to the United States this past week, seeking support for the legislation, an “Emergency Town Hall Meeting” was held Saturday, in New York City. Organized by the Black Faith Alliance for Global LGBT Justice, the event at Rehoboth Temple Christ Consciousness Church in Harlem featured a keynote address from Frank Mugishi, of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG). At issue was the proposed Anti-Homosexuality Act, whose provisions include life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of homosexual relations, and execution for anyone having previous convictions for homosexuality, is HIV-positive, or has gay sexual relations with a person under 18. In addition, the bill also makes failure to report a “known homosexual” to the authorities a crime, punishable by 7 years in prison, and creates an extradition process for Ugandans who are caught having gay relationships anywhere in the world. This extraordinarily harsh legislation against gays also highlighted, according to the meeting’s organizers, the involvement of the Christian Right here in the United States in the bill’s development.
Citing the “continued efforts of the religious right in turning blacks and gays against each other”, Bishop Zachary Jones of the Unity Fellowship Church spoke of how the Christian right in the US was heavily engaged in California’s Proposition 8, which overturned gay marriage in that state, and on the use of Uganda as a “lab” in which the effects of anti-gay legislation could be observed. “The religious right,” Jones stated, “Is using Africans as pawns in a global chess game.” Jones was joined at the pulpit by Pastor Joseph Tolton, Rehoboth’s own presiding cleric, who read out the “call to action” on Uganda, imploring the United Nations and the US State Department to make decisive moves to address the plight of Uganda’s gays. Tolton cited a right-wing, Republican-based, American evangelical group, “The Family” with “exporting hatred to Africa, with a direct threat to the LGBT community in Uganda, by funding and sponsoring the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.” Tolton linked the situation in Uganda with American gays, saying, “We know that the freedom of our brothers and sisters in Uganda is clearly connected to our freedom here at home in the United States.” Pastor Tolton was followed by Frank Mugishi, who recounted in chilling detail the suffering of gays and lesbians in his home country.
Frank Mugishi, of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) Photo Credit: Ocean Morisset
Mugishi described forced hiding for gays and lesbians, “corrective rape” programs for lesbians, and the outright publication of the names and hometowns of gays and lesbians in local newspapers, creating a mob atmosphere in which gays feared being hunted down and beaten or killed. Mugishi stated that Uganda was “determined” to use all possible means to remove gays from its society, and the Anti-Homosexuality Act enjoyed broad public support. Mugishi and his organization have been operating underground in Uganda, and with the possible passage of Bahati’s bill, feared a catastrophic wave of anti-gay killings. GBM News asked Mugishi about the extradition clause in the Anti-Homosexuality Act. Mugishi confirmed that this would leave Uganda’s gays “little chance of escape”.
In a televised interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, MP Bahati cited “God’s Law” as justification for the proposed bill, and told viewers that “children were being recruited into homosexuality” by gay men in Uganda. When pressed to provide evidence of his claims, Bahati demurred, repeating only that “homosexuality is not of [Ugandan] culture.” While in Washington, Bahati stayed at a residence on C Street, also shared by numerous Republican members of Congress, and found receptive ears in several right-wing Christian organizations for his rhetoric. In Uganda, Bahati has gained the support of powerful allies such as Pastor Martin Ssempa, who showed scatological pornography as his “example” of gay sexual practices, and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who has said he will not oppose the bill if it passes Parliament. Bahati himself, in the documentary Missionaries of Hate, aired last summer on Current TV, stated that he would not hesitate to have his own daughter put to death under the law he authored, if she were found to be a lesbian.
In final statements at the Town Hall meeting, Pastor Tolton called upon all closeted gays and lesbians to “come out, wherever you are”, because “now is the time”. He urged gays of color to engage in a “sustained response” to homophobia, decrying the “spiritual colonialism” of the “religious right”. The approximately fifty attendees were brought to the pulpit as a show of unity, singing We Shall Overcome, recalling the civil-rights struggles of the 1960s. An appeal was made for donations to help Mugishi spread his message about the Ugandan situation, and to support Uganda’s imperiled gay population. Whatever lies ahead for Uganda’s gays in the coming months, it was clear that this critical, complex issue involving the efforts of a modern state government to exterminate a minority within its population, will continue to call to the hearts and minds of the LGBT community the world over.
The Global Justice Institute, GLAAD, GLO TV Network, GayByGod.net, The Fellowship, MCC New York & Rehoboth Temple join efforts to mobilize the community.
CALL TO ACTION
The Christian Right is Killing BLACK Gay People in Uganda
The Human Rights THREAT in Uganda effects ALL OF US
Rachel Maddow- -Kill the gays- bills U.S. supporters
