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MISC

Why Every Vote Counts

Why Every Vote Counts
What do a dairy farmer, the New York State Senate and LGBT equality have in common?

The answer: 18 votes.

Two years ago, Cecilia Tkaczyk was running for office in the 46th Senate District in the Capital Region of New York. At the time, she was relatively unknown as a political leader in a district that had been rezoned specifically to secure a Republican seat. The odds were against CeCe.

Groups like the Pride Agenda and others that were advocating for equality in New York — whether for LGBT rights, women’s rights, the environment, education or any number of other issues — wanted to see CeCe win and put our power behind her to try to turn the polls in her favor.

2014-10-24-OuttheVote.jpg

After a lot of sweat and tears, knocking on doors and making phone calls, it all came down to Election Day. Despite the forecasts and all that the opponent had done to seize the votes, in the end CeCe was victorious, though the margin was incredibly close — so close, in fact, that the winner wasn’t declared until Jan. 18! She won by just 18 votes!

It’s that time of year when you’ll see memes and signs and commercials that try to beat it into you that your vote matters, that every vote counts. It’s easy to feel disenfranchised from that banter and from your role in government more generally. It often feels like what you, as one individual, say or do doesn’t actually have an impact on the big picture.

The truth is, though, that you do have the power to influence change in government, and, in fact, we need each and every individual citizen to realize that and to speak up on behalf of those issues that are meaningful to you. You might be one of the 18 people who decide not to vote, and that decision could make the difference between electing a pro-LGBT senator or one who doesn’t support our issues. Every vote counts on the floor of the Senate, and losing that one vote could mean the difference between passing laws that further equal rights and being left high and dry as second-class citizens.

At the Pride Agenda, we’ve been busy vetting all the candidates running for office in New York and supporting those who commit to furthering LGBT equality and justice. To support our get-out-the-vote efforts (and have some fun) we launched an “#OUTtheVote” campaign to encourage LGBT New Yorkers and allies to show us why they will vote on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Remember, we elect the officials who represent us. We have the power to keep them in office or show our voting power and elect someone who will stand up for us, and we have a responsibility to exercise our democratic right to vote.

Tell us why you’ll #OUTtheVote on Election Day, and join me at the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 4!

www.huffingtonpost.com/nathan-m-schaefer/why-every-vote-counts_b_6044448.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

MISC

Eternity Beckons For Actor Barrett Crake With His New ’80s-Themed Comedy

Eternity Beckons For Actor Barrett Crake With His New ’80s-Themed Comedy

eternity

Myko Olivier, Barrett Crakes

If you go see the clever new musical-comedy Eternity: The Movie, you’ll relive the regrettable fashion choices, synthesized riffs and the power ballads that dominated the music scene in 1985. Actor Barrett Crake costars in the film, which is also produced, as Todd Lucas, a naive songwriter from the Midwest who befriends BJ, a brash saxophonist from The Valley, and together they form Eternity, R&B’s most mediocre duo. Queerty recently caught up with Crake and asked a few questions about the film, which is now playing in select theaters.

Queerty: How would you describe your film and why do our readers need to see it?

Barrett Crake: Our movie is completely different from anything in the movies right now. It isn’t trying to take itself too seriously. We’ve made an ’80s music-comedy, sort of like Napoleon Dynamite meets This is Spinal Tap where we are transported to a time when things were simpler. Its a fun and happy time.

TLSS 957What can you reveal about your character Todd?

Todd has just moved from Omaha, Nebraska to make it big in music. Todd seems to have it all, but the only one who doesn’t realize this is himself. Therefore he tries way too hard to impress the women he desires and therefore his heart is stomped on!  When heartbroken, the music begins to flow out of him. Fortunately, he was jammin’ in the ’80s where his literal lyrics and simple tunes were widely accepted. Todd is very much like me but turned up times 1,000: He’s naive and “blonde,” but just wants to make people smile.

IMG_2490What makes the story relevant to a contemporary audience?

I think theres something to be said for the ‘bromance’ found in Eternity: The Movie. Todd Lucas is a mess without his buddy BJ Fairchild to back him up… and BJ is the same. The two are so “made for each other” that it almost seems intentionally gay. While its amazing that this is being recognized as comedic brilliance, the flip side is that we are saying that it’s ok for two straight men to be outwardly loving towards one another. In some cultures, men hold hands, kiss each other hello and goodbye and its completely normal. In other words, our movie is helping fight homophobia and I think that is hugely relevant right now. Our straight screen-writer Joey Abi-Loutfi would agree as this story is partially based on his personal relationships. Though you’ll have to ask him if he takes baths with his buddies or not.

What did you learn about the period that surprised you?

I had to do a ton of background research for this role. For ’80s movies, the John Hughes classics Pretty in Pink and Breakfast Club were great because of their over-dramatic nature and long pauses and holds on the characters. We were also parodying ’80s music so I watched a ton of music videos from Hall & Oates to Wham! to Billy Idol for reference. I was honestly shocked at the low-budget quality of the videos of the time…and its not just because they simply look dated. This is exactly what we were going for with our movie. Low-quality, colorfully simplistic visuals with synth/sax-laden music to go along with it. I think we nailed it.

Watch the video for the film’s theme song “Make Love Not Just Sex” below.

Jeremy Kinser

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/WCEqtGrHHyE/eternity-beckons-for-actor-barrett-crake-with-his-new-80s-themed-comedy-20141024

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