Posts Tagged ‘Joan Rivers’

Joan Rivers is taking a stand for gay marriage in New York state. The 77-year-old entertainment star has filmed a short commercial video that urges equal marriage rites for same sex couples that is currently airing on taxi televisions throughout the city, and will be aired on local television in the weeks to come.

The ad can be seen here.

“All New Yorkers believe in fairness, that’s why we should support marriage equality,” said the comedian.

Rivers made the ad in conjunction with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization in the United States (it counts over 750,000 members and supporters nationwide). The HRC describes itself as an organization “dedicated to fighting for an America where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest, and safe at home, at work, and in the community.”

Though for a small period in 2004 New York did perform same sex marriages, the state (considered one of the most liberal states in the country) currently does not allow for same sex unions. New York does, however, recognize same sex marriages that take place outside of the state (giving full benefits to those couples) and allows for domestic partners to have certain fiscal privileges that are given to their heterosexual counterparts. In a recent 2009 vote, a bill that would have allowed same sex marriages to take place in New York state was defeated in the State Senate.

“The governor is committed to getting this done,” said Brian Ellner of the HRC. “I am very confident that we will win the right to marriage equality in New York and that it will happen quickly.”

With 68% of New Yorkers between the ages of 18-34 supporting marriage for same-sex couples, it is clear that the new generation is clamoring for change in the state. Said Pace University Gay Straight Alliance Stonewall Coalition member Allison Gimbert, “Given what happened , the same-sex marriage bill failing, it is clear a new strategy for promoting and successfully attaining, equal rights in New York is necessary. The HRC is reminding people that the United States has yet to achieve equal rights for all. These videos are a great vehicle to move gay rights issues to the forefront of voters’ minds. I think that high profile celebrities endorsing same-sex marriage is an effective way of evoking a positive response from numerous New York voters who may not have thought of the issue otherwise.”

Joining Rivers in ads promoting equality for all New Yorkers are a host of prominent fixtures, including former President George Bush Jr.’s daughter Barbara Bush, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Mayor Bloomberg, Whoopi Goldberg, Fran Drescher, music singer Moby, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, actors Kevin Bacon and wife Kyra Sedgwick, Julianne Moore, designer Kenneth Cole, Broadway star Daphne Rubin-Vega, David Chang, Tom Colicchio, Ethan and Ryan Hawke, and Christopher Meloni.

All of us here at Positively Celebrity are proud that Joan Rivers and friends are taking a stand for equality of all Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation (and we are also proud of her amazing GoDaddy.com commercial that aired during the Superbowl on FOX!). To find out more about the Human Rights Campaign please go to www.hrc.org.

Be sure to check back for more of the latest celebrity news and features from Richard Munassi right here at Positively Celebrity!

Who knew? After three weeks of getting slammed by the women’s team, the guys finally broke the curse. Or rather, Brian McKnight finally broke the curse.

After chillin’ in the background for the past three weeks (hardly audible) McKnight stepped up to the plate and pretty much single-handedly sunk the nearly-unsinkable Athena women. In what could only be termed as disarray, the women’s team was all over the place under Claudia Jordan’s leadership. Too bad. I like Claudia, but she was out of her element here – especially when pitted against the Rivers (Joan and Melissa), two strong personalities. (Note: I still can’t understand why both are on the show, and it seems an unfair advantage to have both on the same team – but that’s my own personal peeve.)

Anyway, McKnight took the helm of the men’s team (finally, a worthy leader). His first wise decision was not to use Dennis Rodman. He was right. It takes far more energy to keep tabs on and try to control Rodman than simply ignore him. Second-best decision made by McKnight: do what it is you do best. And he did – to the Nth degree!

This week’s challenge was to present ACN’s video phone at an ACN convention. The convention’s attendees would decide the winning team. While the women put on a commercial of sorts, introduced by Joan Rivers, something got lost in translation.

Team Athena forgot the first rule of entertainment: it’s simple – entertain. They tried. But the (supposedly impromptu) proposal, before the crowd of hundreds, just fell flat. While attempting to appeal to the crowd’s emotions, Athena neglected to understand that folks stuck at a convention … just…want … to … party! This fact was not lost on McKnight, who put on his own mini-concert. He played his strength – and he didn’t try to appease his teammates in the process. The rest of the boys only needed to give him room. That voice, the energy – the crowd went mad! Nevermind that the product was vaguely used – and then only by women dancing and spinning on stage. McKnight gave them what they wanted and they voted in his favor.

In fact, the men won 85 percent of the vote. Poor Claudia. While she tried to blame Melissa for not giving her support, she was little girl lost, even while in the boardroom when she chose to also face-off with Khloe Kardasian, a move that gave both Khloe (and me) whiplash. (Seriously, where did THAT one come from?). Her fate was sealed. She got the boot…And Rodman’s still there. Go figure.

On March 2, 2009, Donald Trump uttered those infamous words, “You’re fired!” to this season’s first casualty.

This year the women’s team (Athena) is made up of poker champion Annie Duke; golf champion Natalie Gulbis; Deal or No Deal’s Claudia Jordan; reality star Khloe Kardashian; comedienne Joan Rivers and daughter Melissa; Playboy’s Brande Roderick; and T-Boz of the R&B singing group TLC.

Rounding out the men’s team (Kotu) are: country star Clint Black; comedians Andrew Dice Clay and Tom Green; figure skater Scott Hamilton; TV star Jesse James; R&B singer Brian McKnight; NBA player Dennis Rodman; and Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker.

The first show of the season featured the celebrities in a cupcake contest. Giving no support whatever to his team, Dennis Rodman pretty much single-handedly turned the win over to the women – who may not have always seen eye-to-eye but were, at leased, focused on a goal.

Joan Rivers served as team leader and really showed her entrepreneurial savvy – much to my surprise. The men’s team was led by Herschel Walker, who is apparently much better on the field then in the boardroom. Nice guy, just not a motivator, a fact made abundantly clear by Rodman, who paid absolutely no attention to Walker’s direction (or lack of, depending on who you ask) – in fact, it would seem Rodman’s only purpose on the show is to sit behind the scenes while he reaches out to somebody much more important on his cell.

Not surprisingly the men lost. In the boardroom Walker faced off with Rodman and Clay – who was out of his element from “go.” For reasons only The Donald knows, Clay got the boot. Don’t get me wrong: I’m not losing sleep over it; I just don’t know why Rodman’s still there. Maybe he’ll be next. (One can only hope.)