Renna Communications
Working to Change the World
With nearly two consecutive decades of communications experience and special expertise in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues, Renna Communications’ team brings sophisticated and nuanced communications strategies to organizations and people who are working to change the world for the better.
Whether your goals are to gain media coverage and shape national political dialogue or to expand your visibility and reach more people in need, you have something you need to communicate. You have an important story to tell. As a client of Renna Communications, you can be certain of one thing: We’ll get your story told.
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Cathy Renna on Morning Jolt
Listen to our Managing Partner Cathy Renna on the January 3, 2012 edition of Sirius OutQ’s Morning Jolt with Larry Flick.
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posted: 1 January 12
Parents urged to support, safeguard children as they explore gender
Phil Gast | CNN.com | October 30, 2011
(CNN) — At first, Felisha Archuleta thought her young son’s affinity for wearing dresses, primping his hair and playing with Barbies and Bratz dolls indicated he was going through a stage.
But Bobby Montoya’s interest in “girl stuff” has not been short-lived: He’s grown his hair out and has dressed as a girl when he can for much of his 7 years. Bobby’s been “outspoken” about his gender identity, said Archuleta.
The Denver, Colorado, family’s recent attempt to sign up Bobby with Girl Scouts, however, left him in tears, his mother said.
A leader said he could not join because of his “boy parts,” Archuleta told CNN affiliate 9News.
posted: 30 October 11
Cathy Renna and Teresa Nolan
Listen to our Managing Partner Cathy Renna and Green Chimneys’ Teresa Nolan discuss homeless LGBT youth and the diversity of the LGBT community on the October 25 edition of Sirius OutQ’s Morning Jolt with Larry Flick.
posted: 25 October 11
Ally Sheedy and Carl Siciliano
Actress Ally Sheedy and Carl Siciliano, Executive Director of the Ali Forney Center, discuss homeless youth on the October 24 broadcast of Sirius OutQ’s Morning Jolt with Larry Flick.
posted: 25 October 11
Between a Rock and a Hard Place: The State of LGBT Visibility in the Media
Cathy Renna | Huffington Post | October 14, 2011
I approach every October with a sense of pride and dread. For all of the history and progress we celebrate — and there is a lot to celebrate, especially in the past few years — there is always sadness in my heart, because October always takes me back, whether I like it or not, to the time I spent in Laramie, Wyo. following the beating of Matthew Shepard in 1998. And while Oct. 11 is National Coming Out Day, it was that day in 1998 that I spent in vigil and solidarity with Matt’s friends, fellow students and activists on the campus of the University of Wyoming, only to be woken up in the middle of night on Oct. 12 to be told we lost Matt. And every year I take that experience and reflect on it as a marker for how much progress we have truly made.
posted: 14 October 11
An Exclusive Club You Don't Want an Invitation To
Terrence Meck | The Huffington Post | June 17, 2011
July 4th will mark the third anniversary of the death of my husband, Rand Skolnick, from pancreatic cancer. A perfectly healthy man at 49, he was diagnosed on March 4th of 2008 and died four months later shortly after his 50th birthday.
Since his death I have carried on his legacy through The Palette Fund, a foundation honoring Rand’s life that has granted more than $2 million to programs in the areas of Nutrition & Wellness, Patient Navigation and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender human rights. Nothing I have done prepared me for Pancreatic Cancer Advocacy Day in our nation’s capital.
posted: 17 June 11
Cathy Renna on ‘Two Spirits’ on PBS
Same Sex Sunday | June 13, 2011
We chatted with Cathy Renna about the season finale of PBS’ ‘Independent Lens’ Tuesday which will feature the documentary “Two Spirits,” about the murder of Navajo trans teen Fred Martinez in Cortez Colorado a decade ago.
America Ferrera from ‘Ugly Betty’ will host this special, discussing the life and death of Martinez, as well as the notion of ‘two spirit’ in Native American culture. Cathy Renna, who worked on the investigation of the murder with GLAAD at the time, is working with the documentary team in educating America on this special story and this special subject.
posted: 13 June 11
Gay couples seek green cards despite likely denial
Amy Taxin | Associated Press | June 5, 2011
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. — Faced with losing the life they’ve built together in the dusty California desert town of Cathedral City, Doug Gentry and Alex Benshimol are making a last-ditch effort to stave off the looming threat of deportation.
To a large degree, the couple is stuck. While the American information technology consultant and Venezuelan pet groomer wed at a romantic Connecticut ceremony last year, the federal government won’t recognize the marriage between the two men — and as a result, won’t approve their application for a green card.
posted: 6 June 11
Obama Administration Seeks To Address Homeless Crisis Among Gay Teens
Jason Cherkis | Huffington Post | June 1, 2011
WASHINGTON — Jonathan had spent nearly a decade in Louisiana’s child welfare system. The safest places, the gay teen discovered, were the moldy homes he squatted in after Hurricane Katrina.
Roofs sagged, floors caved in, mold veined walls and there were always rats. “It was very uncomfortable,” said Jonathan. “Old, dark, lots of insects, rodents. … It was times I cried.” Often, he lit fires to keep the rats away.
He was 18 years old, and had just aged out of foster care essentially homeless. But those boarded-up dwellings were peaceful refuges compared to the facilities he experienced as a state ward.
Jonathan had logged time in group homes, foster homes, shelters, a secure detention center and even a military boot-camp-style school. It didn’t matter where he ended up. He said he always felt the sting of homophobia.
posted: 2 June 11
Chaplains: Troops may fear sharing beliefs on gays
Julie Watson | Associated Press | May 24, 2011
SAN DIEGO—Military chaplains are concerned troops could be punished for expressing objections to homosexuality once the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy is lifted.
Leaders of 21 religious groups that provide chaplains to the U.S. military on Monday sent a letter to the chiefs of chaplains of the Navy, Army, and Air Force. They want Congress or the Pentagon to guarantee troops won’t be punished if they openly discuss their objections to homosexuality.
posted: 24 May 11
Same Sex Sunday: Terrence Meck on LGBT grants, Eric Ross’ book for kids, teen activist Caleb Laieski
Joe Mirabella | Same Sex Sunday | May 22, 2011
In this special interview-only episode, Phil Reese, Joe Mirabella, and D. Gregory Smith interviewed some outstanding leaders in the gay community.
Joe Mirabella interviewed Terrence Meck, the Executive Director of Palette Fund, an outstanding organizing that grants hundreds of thousands of dollars to deserving LGBT organizations.
Learn what the Palette Fund looks for in non-profits and what inspired Terrence to found the organization.
posted: 23 May 11
Before ‘it gets better:’ Study links bullying to long term negative mental health
Dana Rudolph | LGBTQ Nation | May 16, 2011
A popular anti-bullying campaign has been telling bullied teens “it gets better” — but the effects of past bullying often linger, according to new research.
The study, released Monday (May 16) in the May 2011 issue of the peer-reviewed Journal of School Health, reports that anti-LGBT bullying at school “is strongly linked” to negative mental health for its victims.
Among those risks are an increased frequency of suicide attempts and increased risk for engaging in behaviors that can lead to infection with STDs and HIV. The increased risks exist not only while the victim is in adolescence, but also in young adulthood.
posted: 16 May 11
ALI FORNEY CENTER DIRECTOR REACTS TO NEW NYS BUDGET
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Cathy Renna, 917-757-6123, cathy@rennacommunications.com
ALI FORNEY CENTER DIRECTOR REACTS TO NEW NYS BUDGET
The following statement, released in response to the budget for New York submitted by Gov. Cuomo today, can be attributed to Carl Siciliano, Executive Director of the Ali Forney Center:
“Governor Cuomo’s budget proposal is bad news for the 1600 homeless LGBT youth stranded on the streets of New York each night without access to a shelter bed. These youth, who suffer horribly and whose lives are in danger, deserve the attention and concern of their governor no less than the other members of our community. With marriage equality expected to bring in over 100 million dollars in additional economic activity and tax revenue for the state, the LGBT community has a moral obligation to demand that our tax dollars protect the most vulnerable and desperate members of our community.”
GREEN CHIMNEYS, SCO FAMILY OF SERVICES LAUNCH NEW APPROACH TO WORK WITH FAMILIES OF LGBTQ YOUTH; EVENT AT LGBT CENTER JANUARY 10
If you would like more information or to RSVP as media, please contact cathy@rennacommunications.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY FOR JAN. 10, 2012
CONTACT: Cathy Renna, 917-757-6123, cathy@rennacommunications.com
GREEN CHIMNEYS, SCO FAMILY OF SERVICES LAUNCH NEW APPROACH TO WORK WITH FAMILIES OF LGBTQ YOUTH; EVENT AT LGBT CENTER JANUARY 10
WHAT: On the evening of Tuesday, January 10, New York’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Community Center will host an event titled Families: The Missing Link in Reducing Risk & Promoting Well-Being of LGBT Youth. This event, convened by Green Chimneys and SCO, will be a community forum on a groundbreaking new approach to working with families of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth to solve the tragic problem of family rejection of these youth that results in homelessness, family disruption and serious related health and mental health problems.
IN THE LIFE WELCOMES THE NEW YEAR WITH FIRST CLASS CITIZENS:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chuy Sánchez
212-255-6012 ×307
csanchez@itlmedia.org
IN THE LIFE WELCOMES THE NEW YEAR WITH FIRST CLASS CITIZENS:
Honoring the groundbreaking work of LGBT & ally pioneers
January 3, 2012 – Tonight, public television stations across the country will begin airing First Class Citizens, an episode of the award-winning documentary series IN THE LIFE honoring the groundbreaking work of pioneers in the pursuit of LGBT civil rights. As the United States remembers Martin Luther King’s vision of equality and the African American civil rights movement, IN THE LIFE looks back at inspiring portraits of LGBT people and allies who stood up, spoke out and made a difference in the fight for full LGBT equality.
ALI FORNEY CENTER LAUNCHES “HOMELESS FOR THE HOLIDAYS” CAMPAIGN FEATURING FACES, STORIES OF LGBT YOUTH ON THE STREETS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Cathy Renna, 917-757-6123, cathy@rennacommunications.com
DONATION OF $100K BY LONGTIME NY ACTIVISTS FRANK SELVAGGI AND BILL SHEA
NEW YORK, NY – December 5, 2011 – The Ali Forney Center, the nation’s largest organization working on behalf of homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth, today announced the launch of an Internet-based campaign, “Homeless for the Holidays,” featuring the faces and stories of diverse New York LGBT youth forced to spend the winter without shelter. Beginning today, a new photo of one of these youth and his or her first-person story will be released every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday through the month of December. Each one of these photos was taken in November and December of this year, at a time when the youth photographed did not have access to a shelter bed due to all youth shelters being at capacity. The series can be viewed at: http://www.aliforneycenter.org/HFTH.html
PROP 8 STANDING DECISION: EXPERTS FROM LEADING UCLA RESEARCH INSTITUTE ON LGBT LAW & POLICY AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA AVAILABILITY FOR NOVEMBER 17, 2011
TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW, CONTACT: Cathy Renna, cathy@rennacommunications.com, 917-757-6123
PROP 8 STANDING DECISION: EXPERTS FROM LEADING UCLA RESEARCH INSTITUTE ON LGBT LAW & POLICY AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 17, 2011 – Today at 10 AM PST (1 PM EST), the California Supreme Court will issue its opinion on the standing of proponents of Proposition 8, the initiative passed in 2008 that bans same-sex couples from marrying. The Court’s ruling, a response to a certified question sent to it by the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, will determine whether the proponents have “particularized interests” in the case, and whether the proponents are allowed under state law to act in place of state officials, who have declined to defend Proposition 8. If the proponents ultimately are found not to have standing to press their appeal of Judge Walker’s decision that Prop 8 is unconstitutional, that ruling would stand as the last word in the case. In light of the significance of the standing issue, the Williams Institute, a leading research institute on sexual orientation and gender identity law and policy, will make one of its leading scholars, Jennifer Pizer, available for interview.
