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Welcome to the latest installment of Front and Center. This week we spotlight our recent International Family Equality Day celebration and the awareness it raises about LGBT families. Plus, RuPaul's Drag Race finalists perform for Center youth, sending a message of empowerment. You'll also hear about our recent cultural event showcasing LGBT Latino representations on stage. Finally, renowned actress, Kathleen Turner pays a visit to the Center to screen and discuss her new film, The Perfect Family, which highlights the intersection of religion and LGBT people. Please enjoy reading these stories and thank you for your support.

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Center Celebrates First Annual International Family Equality Day

On Sunday, May 6, Center Families welcomed dozens of LGBT families to celebrate the First Annual International Family Equality Day, in collaboration with The Family Equality Council and R Family Vacations. International Family Equality Day was spearheaded by the Family Equality Council, and LGBT families gathered for similar events across North America and Europe with the goal of bringing together LGBT families of all kinds to celebrate their family pride and ongoing efforts for full family equality. Center Families has worked for over two decades to help LGBT people in the tri-state area, build and sustain loving families through our vast pool of parenting resources. In the U.S. alone, there are an estimated 2 million children being raised by 1 million lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) parents. Globally, that number greatly increases. "We were thrilled to stand with our national and global partners, to commemorate the first annual International Family Equality Day," said George Fesser, Director of Center Families. "This was a time to amplify LGBT family voices across the world, paying tribute to our lives and the love we have for our families. The Center was pleased to welcome the New York contingent of participants to our space for an afternoon of fun, information sharing and collaboration."

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RuPaul's Drag Race Contestants Inspire Center Youth with Special Performance

On Monday April 30, Chad Michaels, Sharon Needles and Phi Phi O’Hara, the three finalists from LOGO-TV’s RuPaul’s Drag Race, visited the Center and each performed a song for participants of the Center’s Youth Program. All three queens wowed the audience members with their unique and fabulous forms of expression and the young people were delighted with the performances. After they finished Chad, Phi Phi and Sharon took a moment to urge the LGBT youth to be proud of themselves and never give up hope. Their message is exactly what our Youth Program teaches the over one thousand young people who pass through our doors every year. The Center is extremely grateful to all three contestants for taking time out of their busy schedules to give back to our youth.

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View Video Here



Center Showcases Representations of LGBT Latinos on Stage

On Thursday, May 3 the Center partnered with playwright Fernanda Coppel and the Atlantic Theater Company to bring the cast and creative team of Coppel’s new play, Chimichangas and Zoloft, to our space. Coppel is a Latina lesbian playwright, and the artists behind the Atlantic Theater premiere of her new play discussed how LGBT Latino characters are created and subsequently presented on the stage and in the media. The event was moderated by playwright Patricia Ione Lloyd. Coppel’s Chimichangas and Zoloft tells the story of Sonia, who experiences a disappointing 40th birthday, then goes on a prescription Zoloft and greasy chimichangas binge. Meanwhile her daughter Jackie and best friend Penelope team up to get Sonia back home. Their fathers continue their ongoing infatuation with each other as the girls struggle to keep the families intact. The irreverent story examines happiness and sexuality through the eyes of two teenagers. The Center is committed to bringing diverse arts and cultural programming like this to our community throughout the year.



Center and GLAAD Partner to Spotlight Kathleen Turner's New Film, The Perfect Family

On Monday, May 1st, GLAAD and the Center held a special screening of the new film, The Perfect Family, followed by a panel discussion with the film’s star, Kathleen Turner, and a cocktail reception. The Center’s Executive Director Glennda Testone kicked off the evening with a special welcome to the audience and the featured guests. The film follows a conservative homemaker (Turner) whose plan to win a Catholic Woman of the Year award is complicated by her daughter (Bones’ Emily Deschanel) simultaneously coming out the closet and announcing her engagement to her partner. Costarring Jason Ritter, Sharon Lawrence, and Richard Chamberlain, screening attendees got a special sneak peak at the film, which opened May 4. Joining actress Kathleen Turner for the panel discussion after the film were the film’s director, Anne Renton, and Auburn Theological Seminary’s Media Director, Macky Alston, who premiered his latest film, Love Free or Die, at the Sundance Film Festival this past January. GLAAD President Herndon Graddick moderated.

Read Variety's Coverage here

Find more information about the film on the official website and Facebook page.