political activism

It's Jill Bennett and I want to let you know about my new video blog coming to SheWired.com. In my new video blog I'll tackle everything including entertainment, politics and social activism in my new blog The Violet Underground.

National Equality March communications co-director Phil Siegel is pairing up today's up-and-coming LGBT leaders with pioneers in the gay rights movement. The topic of the first video is "Coming Out in the 1950s," including an interview with Phyllis Lyon, who speaks about how she met her wife, Del Martin. Together, the two were politically active and were pioneers for women's rights and lesbian rights.

The critically-acclaimed documentary darling of the LGBT film festival circuit 'The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls' gets its theatrical release at New York City’s Cinema Village on Friday, May 13. The film tells the story of the world’s only comedic, singing, yodeling lesbian twin sisters, Lynda and Jools Topp, whose political activism and unique brand of entertainment has helped change New Zealand’s social landscape.

Thanks to all who voted for SheWired's Out Woman of the Year 2012. We compiled a list of 20 out women whose visibility helped push the needle forward for awareness of LGBTs. The fierce women who comprised our top 20 women of the year have made incredible strides, not just for lesbians but for women, in pop culture, activism, politics and sports. And thanks to your persisent voting we have now determined our Out Woman of the Year. Here are the top five!

Running on the slogan “Unbought and Unbossed,” Shirley Chisholm made history in 1968 when she became the first female and black elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing her native Brooklyn neighborhood, Bedford Stuyvesant, a predominately black enclave that had long been under the control of white male Democrats. It wasn’t until her bid for the 1972 Democratic presidential nomination that catapulted her to national attention. Although it was clear to Chisholm she would not win the bid, Chisholm, nonetheless, wanted to encourage both women and blacks to take politics seriously.

Ellen Page is one of Hollywood’s busiest performers.

Jill Bennett and lesbian icon Lezzie Lily's handler C. Fitz discuss the Provincetown phenomenon Showgirls and why she chose to film this weekly happening.

Yes, it's true.  The L Word is over...or is it? Jill Bennett presents the first three episodes of the final season, sock puppet style.

This week producer and Lezzie Lilly handler C. Fitz joins Jill Bennett for an inside view of the flat lesbian icon. Jill wants to know, what the hell is Lezzie Lilly all about anyway???

This week on the Violet Underground Jill Bennett asks Dalila Ali Rajah of Cherrybomb to join her in a frank discussion of bisexuality. In part 1, the ladies debate what "bisexual" actually means to them.

While all of Los Angeles and many other cities in California and across the country are singularly focused at the moment on the injustice of the passage of Proposition 8 I thought perhaps this would be a good opportunity to take a break from the protests, rest our weary minds and hearts, and take a look at what the gay and lesbian community is like in another part of the world -- Paris, France.

Jill Bennett and lesbian icon Lezzie Lily's handler C. Fitz branch off of their Showgirls discussion to ponder the plight of small town gay culture and why our community shouldn't leave them behind.

Natalie Jones, a Ramona, Calif. sixth-grader was forbidden to give a presentation on Harvey Milk to her class because it violated the school district's strict policy on "family life and sex education."

Back home in Indiana, Jill Bennett gets up close and personal this week. In part three, Jill shares her childhood playground and gives a preview of the next episode (here's a hint: a giant lesbian party in the desert).  

Back home in Indiana, Jill Bennett gets up close and personal this week. In part two of Jill's farm home tour, we learn why she lied about her Hoosier state origins upon arriving in Los Angeles and what changed her point of view.

Jill Bennett's back with The Violet Underground tackling another light subject...the Israeli / Palestinian conflict...with her friend in the film business, Debra Miller.  Who was really there first?  Jill and Debra discuss modern Israel and how ancient history may tie into the current conflict.

Lezzie Lilly finally shows up to flirt with Jill Bennett and ply her with gifts...will there be a new flat doll in Jill's life?