NEW YORK, — Uprising of Love, the It Gets Better Project and other leading LGBT organizations have launched a week-long series of Google+ Hangouts called “Uprising of Love Hangouts on Air” to explore a variety of LGBT and human rights issues that have surfaced in connection with the upcoming Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. The series aims to draw additional awareness to the situation in Russia and will cover topics ranging from acceptance in sports to transgender issues, as LGBT people in Russia are facing increased harassment, arrest and violence. Athletes, actors, artists and leaders of LGBT organizations will lead the discussion in six different Google+ Hangouts. The series will culminate with an appearance by Uprising of Love co-founders Dustin Lance Black, Bruce Cohen andMelissa Etheridge, who will also perform her new song, “Uprising of Love,” an anthem written in support of LGBT people in Russia.
Google+ Hangout participants will have the opportunity to send a message of support directly to Russia’sLGBT youth. The messages will be translated into Russian and sent out via social media and email as part of the It Gets Better Project’s “You Are Beautiful” campaign.
The Google+ Hangout schedule for the balance of the week includes:
Thursday, January 23 rd, 11 am PST- The Role Media Plays in the LGBT Movement
Andrew Rannells: Actor (HBO’s Girls, The New Normal)
Noah Michelson: Executive Editor of Gay Voices at The Huffington Post
Wilson Cruz: GLAAD’s National Spokesperson
Eric Sasson: Columnist at Wall Street Journal
Janina Gavankar: Actor (Arrow, True Blood, The L Word)
Michelle Garcia: Managing Editor, The Advocate
Friday, January 24 th, 11 am PST – Spreading Positive Messages to LGBT Youth Across the Globe
Alaine Jolicoeur: Advisory Board Member, Campus Pride
Ted Farley: Executive Director, It Gets Better Project
Anthony Nicodemo: Openly gay high school basketball coach
Shane Windmeyer: Executive Director, Campus Pride
Romeo Jackson: Campus Pride Student Leader
Ashley Mardell: Trevor Project Advisory Council
Monday, January 27 th, 11 am PST – The Trans Experience in the Media, Sports and Schools
Kye Allums: Founder, I Am Enough Project; first openly trans NCAA Division 1 athlete
Eli Erlick: Executive Director, Trans Student Equality Resources
Fallon Fox: First openly trans athlete in MMA
Tiq Milan: Senior Media Strategist, GLAAD
Steven Alexander: Trans High School Coach
Kylar Broadus: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; first openly trans person to testify in front of US Senate
Tuesday, January 28 th, 1 pm PST – Joining Together in an Uprising of Love
Melissa Etheridge: co-founder Uprising of Love, award-winning singer-songwriter
Dustin Lance Black: co-founder Uprising of Love, Academy-Award winning writer
Bruce Cohen – co-founder Uprising of Love, Academy-Award winning producer
