It was announced on Wednesday, June 8th, that Clay Aiken would be participating in Outfest’s 29th Annual Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in L.A.
Clay will be participating with Margaret Cho, Lance Bass, Josh Berman, and Jamie Babbit on a panel about Lifetime’s show, “Drop Dead Diva.” The panel discussion will follow a preview of an upcoming episode of the show. The episode was inspired by the true story of Constance McMillan, a Mississippi teen who was denied access to her high school prom because she wanted to attend with her girlfriend.
Clay filmed a guest appearance on Drop Dead Diva in May. It will be aired at a later date.
Outfest’s 29th Annual Gay & Lesbian Film Festival kicks off in L.A. on July 7th and runs until the 17th with 163 films (67 features and 96 shorts) from 25 countries, along with over a dozen panels and special events.
Kim Yutani is the Director of Programing for Outfest. She said:
This year’s line-up is one of the strongest in Outfest history and we’re excited to be showcasing work that is both exploring and expanding the possibilities of LGBT themes and challenging our audiences through their storytelling.”
The showing of the DDD episode and the panel discussion will take place on Sunday, July 17, 1:00pm PDT. There will be a post-screening reception after the event in collaboration with GLAAD and GLSEN, Los Angeles. William Morris Endeavor Entertainment sponsors the reception.
According to its website:
Outfest is the leading organization showcasing, nurturing and preserving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender film images and artistry. For 29 years Outfest has led the charge, spotlighting emerging talent, creating community between filmmakers and audiences and offering a world-class forum for stories that reflect and often transform LGBT lives.
Outfest was founded in 1982 and has showcased over 4,200 films over half a million people. The organization brings together film lovers, innovative artists, celebrities, and entertainment industry professionals.
Their website says:
Outfest is also the only nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that the extensive but threatened LGBT film heritage is preserved. Since the beginning of the struggle for LGBT equality, visionary filmmakers have recorded their lives, challenges and triumphs on film. Outfest is committed to saving, preserving and providing access to that precious, affirming heritage for generations to come.
The following sites have more information on the Film Festival and Outfest. And congratulations to Clay Aiken for being chosen to be a part of this interesting panel discussion. The organization and the attendees are lucky to hear what you have to say.