Letters For My Sisters
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22818494-letters-for-my-sisters
Adoption resource center pairs needy kids, LGBT parents
June 27, 2014
Actor and comedian Alec Mapa, who starred in “Ugly Betty” and makes regular appearances on ABC’s “Switched at Birth,” is among thousands of gay parents in Los Angeles. He adopted his son Zion, 9, four years ago with husband Jamison Hebert.
“We’re just your average same-sex couple, tri-racial family down the street,” joked Mapa, whose performance film “Alec Mapa: Baby Daddy” will show at the upcoming Outfest Film Festival on July 11 at 5:00 p.m.
Jamison Hebert, left, Alec Mapa and their son, Zion, center. (Steven C. De La Cruz Photography)
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NewFest Reveals Its 2014 Lineup
By Linda Ge And Travis Reilly
June 27, 2014
NewFest, New York’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Film Festival, has revealed the feature film lineup for its 26th edition, which runs from July 24-29.
July 26, 11:30 p.m.
“Alec Mapa: Baby Daddy”
Andrea James, USA, 2013, N.Y. Premiere
Frameline 38 LGBT Film Festival—“Alec Mapa: Baby Daddy,” “Cupcakes,” “Appropriate Behavior,” And “Crazy Bitches”
by on June 25, 2014
Andrea James may have structured her documentary “Alec Mapa: Baby Daddy” as a faux day-in-the-life of America’s “gaysian sweetheart” and his family. There is a waffle disaster that costs a few cool gay dad points as well as a later bedtime reading from The Hobbit. But ultimately the heart of the film is Mapa’s award-winning comedy show.
Mapa lampoons with various degrees of venom the clichés of gay life, such as the fascination with the Tony Awards. Also funny are his reflections on the downside of being a gay porn video judge, which involves being unable to look in quite the same way at bananas or a garage mechanic visit.
The heart of Mapa’s show (delivered with extra profanity to compensate for self-censorship at Salt Lake City Pride) concerns the challenges of raising his adopted son Zion with his partner. The comedian displays a welcome gift for converting embarrassing incidents into humorous empathy with Joan Crawford in “Mommie Dearest.” These incidents include disastrously allowing Zion to pig out on Thanksgiving dessert and getting the triangle stare from those who can’t comprehend that Mapa, his white partner, and the black Zion are a family.
For all these headaches, Mapa doesn’t regret adopting a child considered “undesirable” by many other adoptive parents. Seeing the performance’s climactic slide-show of the official court adoption will bring a tear. Photos of Mapa and his partner show their eagerness to create a better future for their new child.
http://www.beyondchron.org/frameline-38-lgbt-film-festival-alec-mapa-baby-daddy-cupcakes-appropriate-behavior-and-crazy-bitches/
The Top 175 Essential Films of All Time for LGBT Viewers
JUNE 23 2014
37. Transamerica (2005): This award-winning film, starring Felicity Huffman in an Oscar-nominated performance as transgender woman Bree, admittedly doesn’t get everything right when it comes to portraying a fully developed trans character on the big screen. For starters, Huffman is a cisgender (nontrans) woman, whose character discovers that she fathered a son who is now a teenage runaway living in New York. Cue the trans-as-surprise-twist critique. But the film, which had trans woman and vocal coach Andrea James as a consulting producer, was a substantial step forward in mainstream visibility for transgender characters, and remains an accessible way to introduce folks wholly unfamiliar with the concept of gender identity to a sympathetic depiction of some of the struggles that come from seeking an authentic life. —S.B.
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CNet: Star Apps: Frameline 38
June 23, 2014, 3:57 PM
Gay adoption, helicopter moms, and a pioneering gay athlete are just three of the stories at this year’s Frameline 38: San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, taking place June 19-29. Actor Alec Mapa (“Switched at Birth,” “Desperate Housewives,” and “Ugly Betty”) talked to me about what he wants gays and allies to take away from his new documentary, “Baby Daddy.”
Alec puts gay adoption on the map with Baby Daddy.
What are the most common misconceptions about gay adoptions that this film clears up?
I think the misconceptions are largely about the kids. Children in foster care experience the highest amount of discrimination. After the age of three, the chances of a child finding a permanent placement decrease, and the chances become slimmer for children of color. A caucasian baby girl is seven times more likely to be placed than an African-American boy over the age of three. These are just regular kids who’ve lost their homes through no fault of their own.
Zion came to live with us when he was five, terrified, and sad. As soon as he knew he was safe and loved, he had a chance to be just like any other kid, and we had the chance to become a family. By showing our family onscreen, hopefully the idea of adoption through foster care becomes less intimidating. We’re just your regular same-sex parent, tri-racial family.
Frameline review: ALEC MAPA: BABY DADDY
DIRECTOR: Andrea James
Expected to attend: Director Andrea James, Subject/Performer Alec Mapa
America’s “Gaysian Sweetheart,” comedian Alec Mapa (Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives), sparkles onstage with incisive and flirtatiously filthy stand-up. In this bigger-than-life performance film featuring his sold-out, high-paced, award-winning show, Mapa takes on every topic in his amazingly queer life: hosting gay porn award shows, his sex life, meeting other gay celebrities, working gay cruises, his lack of knowledge (and deep love) of most musical theater, reality television, body-image issues in Los Angeles, and a diverse array of bodily functions.
But the film goes well beyond his rowdy stand-up act. Touching scenes with husband, Jamison Hebert, and their child, Zion (whom they adopted at age five through the LA foster care system), give a glimpse into their family dynamics. The film charts the creation of this unconventional trio and shows how love and humor (and valiant attempts at waffle-making) define a family.
Baby Daddy was performed live in LA and New York City, won the prestigious Bistro award, and was nominated for GLAAD and United Solo awards for best off-Broadway solo show. Independently produced by Mapa, Hebert, and director Andrea James, the film does an end-run around network and studio approvals. Its unbridled energy and unrestrained tone make for nonstop, gut-busting laughs, and an occasional tear, for the whole audience. And you don’t even have to like children to join the party.
— Kevin Schaub
Bay Area Reporter: Documentarily yours
by David Lamble
Published 06/19/2014
Alec Mapa: Baby Daddy
In Andrea James’ intimate voyage into the life of queer Filipino-American standup comedian Alec Mapa, we witness a small domestic meltdown as Papa Mapa reads the paper and his husband supervises their spirited 9-year-old adopted African-American son in the making of waffles. “I think the waffle iron just broke.”
James’ doc skirts Robert’s Rules of Order for LGBT standup comedy films with frequent peeks at the happy chaos within this three-person, three-race household. The successful TV star (Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives) employs a vivid if profane vocabulary to convey the stresses and strains of a Hollywood career when you’re also a same-sex couple trying to navigate the LA County child-adoption program. Mapa movingly and hilariously depicts the joys and anxieties he and doc-maker hubby Jamison Hebert endure bringing the child Zion into their lives. At a time when parenting is Topic A in many LGBT households, this mixed-genre doc is both funny and food for thought. (Victoria, 6/22)
Modern Luxury Hawai'i: Bright Lights
Director Andrea James, Zion Hebert-Mapa, Jamison Hebert and Alec Mapa
The Honolulu Museum of Art rolled out the red carpet to fete the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival’s fabulous 25th anniversary. Headlining the soiree was popular stand-up comedian and former Ugly Betty star Alec Mapa, who was joined by his partner Jamison Hebert and son Zion Hebert-Mapa. The proud family teamed up with director Andrea James for the Hawai‘i debut of Mapa’s flick Baby Daddy later that evening. After an enthusiastic welcome by Gov. Neil Abercrombie, Honolulu scenesters celebrated in full force, noshing on bites from The Baker & Butcher, Chef Chai and The Pig and the Lady. And when DJ Globes got to the turntables, the party really got into the groove. –Photos by Tracy Chan
SFGate: A sample of offerings at Frameline38 film festival
June 15, 2014
Alec Mapa: Baby Daddy
San Francisco native Alec Mapa takes on many topics in this engaging, funny performance film, but as the title suggests, the highlight of the show is the comedian’s hilarious (and sometimes heartbreaking) tales of becoming a father to a foster-care kid. With plenty of gags along the way, Mapa recounts how he and his husband, Jamison Hebert, adopted 5-year-old Zion, and the challenges they have faced as a family. In comedy, as Mapa clearly knows, pain is never far off the horizon, so when he experiences the emotional roller coaster of the adoption process, and the universal agonies and ecstasies of parenthood, expect to shed a tear or two.
6:30 p.m., June 22, Victoria; United States, 78 minutes
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