From the White House to Hollywood, check-out the latest news, trends and upcoming events. No images? Click here My Isolation Diary By Emily Vogel (Source: Giphy) As a woman, I just hope that one day I have as many rights as a gun does. On December 8, 2015 Gloria Steinem posted a passage on Facebook calling on the government to treat every man who wants to buy a gun like every woman who wants to get an abortion. Although the female rights activist says she did not pen the article herself, seven years later its messaging rings more relevant than ever. While the original author still remains anonymous, I hope you find the text below as moving and poignant as I did. "I want any young men who buy a gun to be treated like young women who seek an abortion. Think about it: a mandatory 48-hour waiting period, parental permission, a note from a doctor proving that he understands what he is about to do, a video he has to watch about the effects of gun violence, an ultrasound wand up the ass (just because). Let's close down all but one gun shop in every state and make him travel hundreds of miles, take time off work, and stay overnight in a strange town to get a gun. Make him walk through a gauntlet of people holding photos of loved ones who were shot to death, people who call him a murderer and beg him not to buy a gun. It makes more sense to do this with young men and guns than with women and health care, right? I mean, no woman getting an abortion has killed a room full of people in seconds, right?" Female Filmmakers in Cannes Speak of Freedom and Its Price (Source: Twitter) "No, the abortion question has not come up in Cannes, at least not so far," wrote Sharon Waxman in her recent WaxWord Blog. "But if the festival has brought more female directors than ever before to ground zero for international film, it is no surprise how many of them speak in their work of the quest for freedom — a woman’s right to exist and to choose a personal destiny." Days after a topless protester stormed the Cannes red carpet donned in body paint to disrupt the “Three Thousand Years of Longing” premiere, a new protest erupted. This time, a group of feminist protestors staged a dramatic scene on the red carpet prior to the screening of “Holy Spider,” a thriller by Iranian-born director Ali Abassi about a faith-driven serial killer of women. The women from the group called “Les Colleuses” (French for “sticky ones,” as in glue) held a banner displaying the names of 129 women who have died as a result of domestic violence. "The group was in Cannes because their work is featured in another film, Marie Perennes and Simon Depardon’s 'Feminist Ripost,' which deals with European women who have organized to fight sexist violence," explained Waxman. Melanie Lynskey Opens Up About Her Eating Disorder Recovery and the Importance of Self-CareIn honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, WrapWomen has released a special bonus episode of the “UnWrapped” podcast featuring “Yellowjackets” star Melanie Lynskey. 2022 has been a busy year for the New Zealand native; in addition to starring in the Showtime series, Lynskey also played Leonardo DiCaprio’s wife in the Oscar-nominated Netflix film “Don’t Look Up.” Most recently, the actress can be seen in Hulu’s new true-crime thriller “Candy” with Jessica Biel. All the while, she’s also raising a three-year-old daughter with her husband. During this episode Melanie Lynskey...
Tune into the full episode on TheWrap.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Laverne Cox Makes History by Inspiring the First Trans Barbie Doll©2022 Mattel, Photographer Elizabeth Braunstein Emmy winning actress and LGBTQ rights activist Laverne Cox has become the first transgender person to have a Barbie doll designed after her, at a time when advocates warn that transgender rights are coming under legislative attack in the United States and abroad. Cox noted the challenges faced by the LGBTQ community — particularly for young transgender people — while promoting the doll on NBC’s “Today” show this week. “I hope all the kids who are feeling stigmatized when their health care is being jeopardized, whose ability to play sports [is curtailed], I hope they can see this Barbie and feel a sense of hope and possibility,” she said. GOP lawmakers have filed nearly 200 state bills this year that seek to erode protections for transgender and gay youths or restrict discussion of LGBTQ topics in public schools, The Washington Post reported in March. Toni Collette, Molly Shannon and Vanessa Bayer Discuss the Challenges of Playing Characters Based on Real People On this episode of WrapWomen’s “UnWrapped” podcast actresses Toni Collette (“The Staircase”), Molly Shannon (“I Love That for You”) and Vanessa Bayer (“I Love That for You”) discuss how they’ve prepared for their latest roles based on real people – from studying home video tapes to touring QVC headquarters. First up, we are joined by Oscar and Emmy Award-winning actress Toni Collette, who currently stars in HBO Max’s “The Staircase.” The eight-episode series tells the story of North Carolina-based crime novelist Michael Peterson (Colin Firth), who was convicted of murdering his wife Kathleen, played by Collette. During the episode, we also hear from“I Love That for You” co-stars Molly Shannon and Vanessa Bayer, who also co-created and co-wrote the show. The Showtime series follows Joanna Gold (Bayer), a survivor of childhood cancer who lands her dream job working at a home shopping channel alongside her hero, longtime host Jackie (Molly Shannon). Though the women aren’t portraying any specific QVC hosts, the series is loosely based on Bayer’s own experience with childhood cancer and her actual obsession with home shopping TV (and the hosts that sold to her). Episode Highlights:
Tune into the full episode on TheWrap.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Top Taliban Leader Makes More Promises on Women's Rights but Quips 'Naughty Women' Should Stay Home (Source: CNN) Sirajuddin Haqqani, Afghanistan's acting interior minister and the Taliban's co-deputy leader since 2016, made the comments in an exclusive, first on-camera interview showing his face with CNN's Christiane Amanpour in Kabul. When asked about Afghan women who say they are afraid to leave their homes under Taliban rule, and those who have reported a chilling effect of the militant group's leadership, Haqqani added with a laugh: "We keep naughty women at home." After being pressed to clarify his comment by Amanpour, he said: "By saying naughty women, it was a joke referring to those naughty women who are controlled by some other sides to bring the current government into question." Haqqani also set out some parameters for the future of women and work, which will be limited by the Taliban's interpretation of Islamic law and "national, cultural and traditional principles." "They are allowed to work within their own framework," he told Amanpour. Did We Just Become Best Friends? WrapWomen is a power base of influential women of entertainment, media, technology and brands committed to changing the face of their industries. Stay up-to-date on all things WrapWomen at www.wrapwomen.com. Join the conversation on social media! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter for surprise guest takeovers and Insta live performances. Tune into our podcast "UnWrapped" on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. |