Editorial: The Gays Cause A Storm

by Lauren W

If you didn’t hear, last week a councillor for the UK’s UKIP political party blamed the UK’s recent stormy weather on the gays. So that’s it, you guys, we are now in control of the elements.

UKIP councilman, David Silvester, claimed that the country had gay marriage to thank for the atrocious floods plaguing the British coastline this winter, confirming that we really are Gods amongst men.  That’s right, I’m choosing to take a positive stance on this claim. Maybe we are the ones who form rainbows in the sky. It’s not the science of the climate, it’s the homosexuals.

Read the ENTIRE ARTICLE by clicking HERE and heading over to Pink Lobster Dating. Trust me, it's worth it.

Lesbian Band "Antigone Rising" Interview.

ANTIGONE RISING 

- THE ALL-FEMALE-BOOT-STOMPIN'-COUNTRY-ROCK BAND - 

LAUNCHES PLEDGE MUSIC CAMPAIGN TO FUND TWO BRAND NEW EPs: 

"WHISKEY & WINE - VOLUME 1" & "WHISKEY & WINE - VOLUME 2"

5% OF PROCEEDS TO GO TO GLAAD

BENEFACTORS TO RECEIVE ADVANCED DIGITAL 

DOWNLOAD OF 'WHISKEY & WINE - VOLUME 1' 

Cyberspace - Antigone Rising, the all-female-boot-stompin'-alt-country-rock band from New York, has launched a Pledge Music campaign to raise funds, guerrilla style, for the recording, promotion, marketing and touring for their upcoming TWO new EPs, 'Whiskey & Wine - Volume 1" and "Whiskey & Wine - Volume 2"

The fundraising campaign kicks off today at http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/antigonerising with 5% of the proceeds to be donated to GLAAD upon hitting the targeted goal. The campaign is also granting backers the opportunity to get an exclusive advanced digital download of "Whiskey & Wine - Volume 1" before it's available anywhere.

Asking their fans to be an integral part of the new project, Antigone Rising is offering exclusive incentives for ultimate access into the band's 2014 exciting musical journey. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all their fans!

Antigone Rising, the band that exploded into the spotlight in 2005 becoming the first band on Starbuck’s Hear Music (Lava Records) selling over 150,000 copies of their debut LP, is set to release not one, but TWO  5-song EPs this year. 

The first EP, "Whiskey & Wine - Volume 1,"  featuring the singles Everything Changes, Whiskey & Wine, Call Me Crazy, Magnolia on the Breeze, Get To You, is already completed and will drop March 25, 2014.  The second one, "Whiskey & Wine - Volume 2," still in its production phase, is set to come out October 28, 2014.

Starting on March 25, 2014, the band will begin a never ending cycle, one song at a time, releasing a music video, followed by an acoustic or alternate mix version. The goal is to provide audiences a variety of online content from video interviews to blog posts all year long. Treating each song as a single, the band will dedicate 6 to 8 weeks on the individual promotion of each of the five songs featured on 'Whiskey & Wine Volume 1', and will keep the cycle going all through Fall when 'Whiskey & Wine Volume 2,' gets its October 28 release.   

In the meantime, Antigone Rising is hitting the road again with tour dates lined-up across the US including an upcoming performance early February on the leadership and equality cruise sponsored by Olivia, along with The Indigo Girls. 

The fab four comprised of Nini Camps (lead singer), Dena Tauriello (drums) and founding sisters Kristen Henderson (bass/vocals) and Cathy Henderson (guitar/vocals), are  showing no sign of slowing down!

Since then they’ve been shaking things up ever since, touring with acts such as The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, The Allman Brothers Band and Rob Thomas. After the 2011 release, 23 Red, Antigone Rising traveled to the Middle East, spending time in Israel and the West Bank as cultural ambassadors for the United States Embassy. More recently, founding member Kristen Ellis-Henderson was featured on the front cover of Time Magazine‘s groundbreaking Marriage Equality issue (April 8, 2013).

As the band puts the finishing touches on a new EP, they’re thrilled to introduce the first video. “That Was The Whiskey” was co-written with Nashville song writer Lori McKenna (Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Hunter Hayes) and is getting praise from critics as a foot stompin’ country/rock mash up, perfectly marrying the band’s ability to rock with their gift for writing undeniably catchy songs.

1) So why don’t you introduce yourself?

I’m Cathy Henderson, co-founder and lead guitarist of Antigone Rising. Currently the band consists of four (4) members including myself. They are Kristen Ellis-Henderson (co-founder and bass guitar), Nini Camps (lead vocals and rhythm guitar) and Dena Tauriello (Drums).

2) How did you put this band together?

AR has been a constantly evolving band, with myself and my sister, Kristen Ellis-Henderson at the core. We’ve played in bands since we were in Jr. High School, and frankly have never been without a band since! Antigone Rising itself was born in Greenwich Village with two other girls we used to play with in college. We started gigging in the local village bars almost every night, and the band evolved into what it is today. Although the original members have changed, Dena Tauriello has been the drummer for nearly all of AR’s lifespan, and Nini Camps joined us as our lead singer in 2008. Both we met while playing the NYC circuit.

3) What’s the story behind the band’s name?

The story of Antigone is rooted in standing up for your beliefs, regardless of the situation or the outcome. In Greek legend, Antigone insisted on giving her brother a proper burial after he was killed in battle, deemed a traitor by the king and left to be eaten by vultures (so the story goes…). She stood up against authority for what she felt was right regardless of consequence at a time when women were outwardly treated as inferior. In a sense, it’s what we are committed to doing as well. We believe in ourselves and our music, and will stop at nothing to continue doing what we love.

4) What are your musical influences?

My personal guitar influences are many including Lindsay Buckingham, David Gilmour, Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison, Neil Geraldo (Pat Benatar) and all the Allman guitarists! Big musical band influences are The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac and the Allman Brothers. The band as a whole brings in influences from different genres including folk, pop, rock, country and Latin music. I mean.. really the influences are endless as we continue to be inspired by each other as well as the many artists we tour with and meet along the journey.

5) “That Was The Whiskey.” How was the filming experience and what’s the concept behind the video?

The whole idea behind the “Whiskey” video was to create a hometown bar feel that exists in “anytown, USA”. And what better way to capture that than to shoot it in our hometown bar out on Long Island? Very good friends of ours own a local bar called “Still Partners,” and allowed us to film it all there. We invited all our close friends to join the fun, including previous members of Antigone Rising (Jen Zielenbach, Peppy Kokines and Suzanne Obolsky), who without them, we wouldn’t be where we are now. Our roots! The video story line was two fold with the first being AR coming home for a hometown show and the second following a girls night out / bachelorette party that goes awry after a few too many whiskey shots! We think it’s pretty relatable!!! (Most) Everybody’s had a night out on the town and regretted a little something the next morning! Just blame it on the whiskey!

6) How was it to work with Lori McKenna?

Lori McKenna is such an exceptionally talented songwriter and performer. We had met Lori a few years back when we were down in Nashville writing songs, and bumped back into her last year at the 30A Songwriters Festival down in Florida. It was AR’s show at this festival that actually inspired “That Was The Whiskey”. We had the last slot on Saturday night – everyone was just on fire and it was Nini’s birthday. And…. the birthday shots started circulating, so the story goes. Luckily, Lori, along with Kristen and Nini, were able to capture it all in a song!

7) So there’s a new EP on the way, what can you tell us about it? Any official release date, title in mind?

We have been working hard in the studio when we are not touring. We are really excited about the new material and have been lucky enough to be able to record at Nini’s home studio. This has allowed us the time to really dive deeper into the tracks and to experiment a bit more with sounds and arrangements. We actually have been adding tracks to the project which is now possibly turning the EP into a full length CD. This would push the release date to early 2014. No title yet. We will be posting updates on this to our website and Facebook page.

8) What’s next in AR’s world?

Our future will always include writing, recording and touring our  music. That’s just in us, and we will never stop that. In the near future, we will be touring the US over the next year (with a primary focus on the east coast). We’ve got a few ideas brewing for the longer term (can’t spill them yet!), including the possibility of touring internationally. In the meantime, we have digitally released “That Was The Whiskey” as a single from the upcoming CD – which can be found on iTunes, as well as on all the major music platforms (Pandora, Spotify, Sound Cloud, etc.). The video to “Whiskey” can be viewed from our site and Facebook pages (see below for URLs), as well as on CMT.com among other places.

9)Where can we find more about your music?

People can always reach us on our Facebook page (facebook.com/antigonerising). We love when people stop by and comment on whatever’s going on at the moment. We can also be contacted through our website antigonerising.com. All our music is available on iTunes, Spotify, Pandora and Sound Cloud.

Grammy Winner Eve To Perform at Dinah Shore!

Grammy Award-Winning

Rapper EVE “Locks” Headlining Performance At The Dinah!

Palm Springs, CA - Female rap titan Eve will be heading to Palm Springs, CA, this April to headline Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend’s Saturday signature party at the Palm Springs Convention Center on Saturday, April 5, 2014.

The Grammy-Award winning rapper who recently released her first new album in 11 years titled “Lip Lock” will take center stage at the biggest lesbian event in the world on the same evening featuring an earlier headlining performance by pop sensation Tegan and Sara.

No stranger to the LGBT community, the hip-hop rap diva made a stop at the San Francisco Pride this past June as part of her promotional tour in support of her new album.  Her highly anticipated Dinah Shore appearance will mark the first time the singer/actress/fashion designer will perform to an all-lesbian crowd.

Taking the hip-hop world by storm in the late 1990s, Eve’s meteoric rise has single-handedly placed her atop the female rapper throne. With an impressive entertainment career spanning over three decades, no one can deny the contribution the Philly native has had on the industry and how many others she has paved the way for. 

Her first three albums have sold over 8 million copies worldwide delivering a slew of music anthems including "Satisfaction," “Who’s That Girl”, "Gangsta Lovin’”, and "Let Me Blow Your Mind". Eve was number 48 on VH1’s “50 Greatest Women of The Video Era” list, and made music history by being the inaugural winner of the Grammy Award for “Best Rap/Sung Collaboration” in 2002 for the smash hit “Let Me Blow Your Mind” with Gwen Stefani.

The multi-talented artist and business entrepreneur has done it all! From starting her own record label to invading the big screen with her box office hits “XX” and “The Barbershop”, there’s nothing Eve can’t do.

After an 11-year recording hiatus, the iconic rapper made a feisty comeback with her fourth album “Lip Lock”.  Released under her own label From The Rib Music, “Lip Lock” features guest appearances by Snoop Dogg, Missy Elliott, Juicy J, Chrisette Michele and Nacho to name a few.

Eve’s headlining return to the music world comes with new sounds and new collaborations, while still maintaining the edge that catapulted her at the top of the Billboard charts.  The “Let Me Blow Your Mind” rapper is not only ready to conquer the music world once again, but she’s also definitely about to blow everyone’s mind with her upcoming Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend performance.

For more information and/or to purchase tickets go to: www.TheDinah.com    

Editorial: “Everyone Loves A Lesbian”

by Bo Sellers

While attending the BCS National Championship game with my uncle and his fraternity brothers, I hoped we’d discuss the impending win of our shared alma mater, Florida State, while simultaneously engaging in drunken debauchery.  However, the boys club was a little more interested in trying to “understand” my sexuality.  I spent the entire pre-game answering a lot of pretty stereotypical questions about being a lesbian.

“What constitutes ‘sex’?”  “Who’s the ‘man’ of the relationship?” “Don’t you miss c*ck?” etc.  However, my fave question was a little deeper.  “Why did you “choose” to be gay?  No one else in the family is.”  I immediately launched into a programmed comedic-monologue of sorts I’ve performed many times over the last eight months.  “As far as YOU know.  No one else in the family tells dick-jokes for a living either.  It’s pretty safe to say I’m the black-sheep of the fam.  I won’t miss c*ck because my ex taught me you don’t NEED one, and if more women find this out men are going to be in big trouble.  I didn't “choose” to be gay, I was born this way because I’m an attention whore and everyone loves a lesbian, especially baby Jesus.”

While explaining to these Southern gentlemen multiple benefits of being a lesbian, it occurred to me they were less interested in logistics and more interested in developing material for their spank banks.  Amidst our discussion, I was able to develop a few pretty sound arguments for God’s condonation of all things lesbi and his blessing for as much sex as possible.

5.  Synced Periods - If God wanted to hinder lesbian relationships, he probably wouldn’t have designed women to have concurring periods with the lady friends they spend the most time with.  Allowing for just as much sex, if not more, than straight relationships, obvi God appreciates the love between lesbis.  Deductively, it could also be argued that God loves gay boys even a little more because they’re relationships are entirely period-free.

4.  Sharing is Caring -  Chicks can share a restroom stall without raising suspicion to sexual foreplay, which is totes a benefit for lesbi relationships.  Once again, allowing for optimal sexy time since you can literally eff whenever and wherever there’s a bathroom.  Even if you aren't down for bathroom sex, when you go home with a lady you can borrow some clothes in the AM to make your journey home without looking like a sloppy-shacking-whore on your walk of shame.  

Which segues nicely to my next argument…

3.  We can eff from any angle - Whether you like being bent over couches, effed against walls, or playing with each other’s poonahnahs parked in front of a 7-11, where there’s a will, there are a gazillion ways to get your lady friend off from any position without having to worry if your partner’s “dick” is gonna slip out from an awkward position.  

2.  The tongue is one of the strongest muscles in the human body - I’ve drank way too much coffee today to focus on researching the validity of this statement, but my tongue absolutely has more stamina than any other muscle I’ve ever used.  If vaginas were a canvas, the tongue would be the sturdy brush that paints the most brilliant lines, while putting a “p” in a “v” more closely resembles hammering a giant bolt into a birthday cake when it fits better with a steel bridge.  Which would totes shred the cake and require more clean-up.  That’s why rainbows are so effing fab.  Obvi it’s God’s artistry from licking the earth’s vagina.

1.  Two Moms - Anyone who’s ever had a, even half decent, mother wouldn’t object to having two.  Moms are the best.  Not to knock dad’s, but I was raised by a single mom and it sure would’ve been nice to have a spare nearby after she died.  Women are naturally more compassionate.  Lesbian relationships not only provide super loving families, but can take turns stretching out their bodies to shoot babies from their poonahnahs.

***

If baby Jesus didn’t love lesbians, he sure wouldn’t make being one so effing convenient.  He’d probably make lesbianism more like trying to find parking in Los Angeles, impossible and resulting in a ticket that can only be cleared by delivering your first born in a gold-plated onesie.  Next time people express interest in my sexuality, I’ll just direct them to this article with a flip of my hair and a snarky “kthanksBYYYYYYYE, I’ve got p*ssy to lick.”

New and Sexy Queer Web Series, "Love Bytes"

PRESS RELEASE: Award-winning writer/director, Tonnette Stanford and her sister, Victoria Stanford, are the lesbian filmmakers behind an exciting new LGBT web series on YouTube now.

Love Bytes – the web series is an six-part sitcom centred around three housemates and their adventurous love lives. They are the Neapolitan ice cream of sexuality. Young, sexy and single, they search for love and happiness in Sydney’s modern hetero-flexible dating scene, but instead they often find humiliation and hilarious misadventure. But no matter what happens, they always have each other.

With assistance from Metro Screen’s Breaks program Tonnette and Victoria were able to shoot the two pilots for Love Bytes, with another four episodes coming soon. Keep an eye out for the crowd funding campaign that will be launched in the next couple of months to help fund the rest of the series.

"Herpes of the Lips," the first pilot, tackles what's become a digital and universal dilemma: fake profile pictures. Michael thinks he's meeting a sexy Bollywood model for a drink, but is unpleasantly surprised. Lucky for him, his cold sore-cursed roommate comes to save the day….and leaves a lasting (and contagious) impression.

The second pilot, "Justin Beaver" explores what happens when a precious family heirloom gets lost in the most unusual (and intimate) of places. Yes, it's exactly what you think, and the consequences are uproarious.

Tonnette and Victoria have a very distinct style in the queer filmmaking space and their previous films have screened at over 180 festivals around the world and received international acclaim. To make Love Bytes a reality they have gathered together a talented team of AFTRS graduates and NIDA trained actors, including gay actors, Adriano Cappelletta, Billie Rose Prichard, Bec Irwin and Dave Halalilo. 

"I have wanted to make a queer web series for a long time and there are so many fantastic queer dating stories out there that I felt compelled to write a show that features dating from a lesbian and gay perspective," Tonnette explains.  

"The show is fun, sexy and hilarious," Victoria adds. "There’s a lot of situations in there that will be very familiar to audiences and we hope that they can have a good laugh at the absurdity of the queer dating world that we’ve all been through!"

Check out Love Bytes on YouTube and, if you want to see what the remaining four episodes have in store, make sure to subscribe, follow, like, share.

WHAT: Love Bytes – the web series

WEBSITE: www.lovebytes-theseries.com

More Dinah Shore Music Artists Announced!

Evelyn Champagne King & Thea Austin

Bring Old-School Jams to The Dinah!

Palm Springs, CA – Legendary dance and R&B divas, Evelyn "Champagne" King and Thea Austin – two of the most acclaimed female soulful vocalists of the old school era – are the latest performers confirmed to join the star-studded Dinah entertainment line-up. 

Friday will kick things off with the Annual TGIDF (Thank God It’s Dinah Friday) Pool Party at the Hilton hotel with an exclusive live performance by Evelyn “Champagne” King.  Keeping the party going and Palm Springs rocking until the very last day of the festival, Thea Austin - the former lead singer of the 90s hit making machine/Euro dance project Snap! - will take the stage at Zeldaz Nightclub for The Dinah’s official Closing Party.

Grammy Award-Winning R&B diva, Evelyn "Champagne" King first came to fame with the million-selling '70s disco smashes "Shame" and "I Don't Know if It's Right."

She was discovered by producer Theodore T. Life while singing at age 15 in the bathroom at Philly International Records, where her parents worked on the maintenance crew. When he overheard her singing he assured the girl he would make her a star.  And, he did. 

For the next decade, Evelyn, who changed her childhood nickname “Bubbles” to “Champagne”, turned out a wide-ranging slew of hits including "I'm in Love," "Love Come Down," and "Betcha She Don't Love You.  In 2004, her disco anthem "Shame" became one of the first records to be inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame. 

King’s songs have not only all become classics but also must-have tunes on everyone’s old-school jams playlist!

The same goes for Thea Austin, -ex-front singer of the band Snap! – who took the world by storm with her sensational hits and dance floor favorites, “Rhythm is a Dancer”, “Colour of Love”, and “The Power”.  A force to be reckoned with, Snap! was at the forefront of revolutionizing dance/house music in the late 80's/early 90's.

Thought The Dinah’s entertainment line up couldn’t get any bigger? Think again! 

After all, what’s a party without some first class R&B?

Get your glad rags on and be ready to boogie down to some classic “good-time” tunes … old-school style!

For more information and/or to purchase tickets go to: www.thedinah.com

Follow us on Twitter: @dinahshore 

Girls That Roam Launches Its Travel Business Directory

Girls That Roam Launches Its Travel

Business Directory

(San Francisco, Calif. - January 13, 2014) Women are traveling and need to know where to stay, where to go, what to do and more. To help women travelers find businesses ready to serve them, Girls That Roam developed our travel business directory.

"This directory will help our customers find the right businesses that want to serve them," says Heather Cassell, publisher and editor of Girls That Roam. "It will also help businesses reach loyal women customers who want to feel confident in their journeys around the world. Businesses that join our directory will signal that they care about women travelers and want to serve them."

The searchable free online directory allows women to search hospitality, travel and travel-related businesses by destination, interest and more. If Girl Roamers, what Girls That Roam calls our followers, are searching for businesses that cater only to women or are women-owned they can do that. If they are searching for pet-friendly places to stay or vacations they can do that too. If they are looking to be only around adults or kid-friendly activities, they can do that too and much more. Whatever women want the directory will deliver with the help of our business partners.

Girls That Roam is extending an invitation to hospitality, travel and travel-related businesses to join the directory free for a limited time.

It's easy for businesses to add your listing(s) to the directory. Simply register on the right hand side of Girls That Roam, confirm the registration, login to submit a listing and upload your information including images.

Your business listing will be reviewed, confirmed or denied, and will be ready for Girl Roamers to access on Girls That Roam's directory within 48-hours.

Have an idea or trouble with the directory, please submit your comments and questions todirectory@girlsthatroam.com.

Sign up to receive periodical travel business related news and marketing opportunities with Girls That Roam's Travel B2B or text GIRLSTHATROAM at 22828.

To learn more about Girls That Roam, visit GirlsThatRoam.com or follow us on Facebook.

Win PLATINUM PASSES To the DINAH SHORE WEEKEND!

Girls That Roam is a Preferred Media Sponsor for The Dinah 2014

(San Francisco, Calif. - January 6, 2014) Girls That Roam is proud to announce that it's an official Preferred Media Sponsor of The Dinah 2014.

Two lucky winners will also win Platinum Passes to the Dinah. 

"We are super excited and honored to be a Preferred Media Sponsor of The Dinah in 2014," says Heather Cassell, publisher and editor of Girls That Roam. "We had an amazing time last year working with The Dinah team and their friends in Palm Springs. We look forward to another fantastic year."

Now in its 23rd year, The Dinah is the preeminent all-girl spring break featuring a week of break out and emerging female musicians, nationally renowned comedians, dance and pool parties and so much more attracting upward of 15,000 women to  Palm Springs, Calif. annually.

This is the second year that Girls That Roam is an official media sponsor of The Dinah. In 2013, Girls That Roam was an official blogger of the Dinah Nation Blog.

The Dinah will take over Palm Springs April 2 - 6.

"There's no better way to kick-off spring than at The Dinah," says Cassell. "That's why we are giving away two platinum passes to this year's Dinah to a lucky winner."

To get your hands on these hot, hot tickets, send us the following information:

·  Full Name

·  Phone Number

·  Email

To TheDinah@girlsthatroam.com by February 28 at 12 p.m.

The winner will be announced March 1 at 9 a.m. 

Tegan & Sara to Headline Dinah Shore 2014!

CLUB SKIRTS DINAH SHORE WEEKEND 2014

LINE UP REVEALED:

POP SENSATION

TEGAN AND SARA

TOP THE BILL

Palm Springs, CA –  Reminiscent of its 2009 phenomenal line-up of performances by international mega-superstars Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend hits a home run again this year with a huge concert- program featuring one of today’s biggest music stars: pop sensation Tegan and Sara.

The iconic world-renown lesbian event – the original Dinah Shore Weekend – is celebrating its 24^th Anniversary by upping up the volume more than a notch, and scoring a sizzling coup for its high-profiled party on Saturday night.

Keeping the festivities at the Palm Springs Convention Center – the desert’s largest concert venue – twin sisters Tegan and Sara will headline the famed soiree on Saturday, April 5, 2014.

Continuing their mission to become the biggest pop sensation out of Canada since Justin Bieber, Tegan and Sara have been on an unstoppable meteoric rise since the release of their 7^th studio album dubbed “Heartthrob”, which debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200. The band’s lead single “Closer” has broken into the Top 20 on the Pop Charts, is currently on rotation on over 150 Top 40 radio nationwide, and week after week keeps a solid spot on the VH1’s Top 20 Countdown.

Canadian-born Tegan and Sara Quin have been lesbian cult favorites ever since they first grabbed attention as 15-year-olds. They are sisters, they are twins, they are both lesbian, and they make outstanding music. It’s no surprise they recently have been invited to perform “Closer” with Taylor Swift at one of her August Staples Center shows, were featured on NBC’s The Today Show on September 30th, and were handpicked by Dinah alumnus, Katy Perry, to perform at the “We Can Survive” benefit concert on October 23 at the Hollywood Bowl.

The band has just released a brand new track entitled “Shudder to Think” as part of the soundtrack for the Oscar-buzzing film “Dallas Buyer’s Club”, which premiered with RollingStone.com.

As ardent feminists and LGBTQ rights advocates, it’s only fitting the duo will bring their “Heartthrob” world tour to the largest lesbian event in the world: Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend.

Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend delivers another roof-raising celebration with a steamin' hot lineup that will most definitely blow the lid off the sunny oasis!

The Dinah 2014 is already on its way to be the biggest it’s ever been!