June 3, 2009 (LOS ANGELES) – Actor and leading LGBT activist, Chad Allen, will host two events in Albany on June 11th and June 12th to support the launch of the new premium cable television network, here!, now available on Time Warner Cable of Albany. Time Warner Cable customers can order here! for a $15.99 monthly fee by calling 1-866-321-2225. here! can be seen on Channel 865.

here! will partner with the Capitol District Gay and Lesbian Community Council (CDGLCC)to promote the launch to Albany’s LGBT community in June. Based in Albany, the Community Council has served the LGBT Capitol District community for over 30 years.

Maria Dwyer, here! Senior Vice President of Distribution Sales and Marketing, says, "We are very grateful and excited to be partnering with the CDGLCC to celebrate our network's launch in Albany. The CDGLCC has provided important and vital services to the Albany LGBT community and we salute its work. We're extremely happy and proud to have Chad Allen himself, aka Albany's own Donald Strachey, attend events to help support the CDGLCC's ongoing work."

On June 11th, the Community Council will host a screening of the here! original film On The Other Hand, Death: A Donald Strachey Mystery.The film’s star Chad Allen in the role of Albany’s most famous gay fictional character, private investigator Donald Strachey. On the Other Hand, Death is one of four original here! films based on The Donald Strachey Mysteries, the well-known book series by Richard Stevenson. All the stories are set in Albany, NY. Allen will attend the screening and then host a Q & A and meet-and-greet with the audience.

On June 12th, Allen will host a here! launch party at Rock’s Bar in Albany from 8pm to 12am. He will be on hand meeting fans and signing autographs.

Allen started his acting career at the age of five, starring as the autistic Tommy Westfall in the television series, St. Elsewhere. He followed that with a role in the long-running hit series Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman as Mathew Cooper. Allen transitioned into producing and formed the independent film company Mythgarden with partners Christopher Racster and Robert Gant. The goal of the new company was to bring new and progressive insights into LGBT film. In addition to starring in all four of The Donald Strachey Mysteries, Allen produced and starred in Save Me in 2008, a film that explores the world of so-called “ex-gay” ministries. The film was nominated for Outstanding Film – Limited Release at the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards.

After coming out publicly in a 2001 interview with The Advocate, Allen has continually been committed to championing fair, accurate and inclusive images of the gay and lesbian community in film and television. Additionally, he has been one of the foremost advocates for marriage equality, appearing in interviews with media outlets including CNN’s Larry King Live. He has recently accepted a seat on the Honorary Board of the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

“For the first time in TV history, the LGBT community has taken control of how we are represented in the media. Playing Donald Strachey has been so rewarding because the character is portrayed in a very authentic way in both his work and home life. here! continually leads the charge in creating programming that allows us to see our lives shown the way we really live them,” said Allen.

About here!

Founded in 2002, here! airs on all major U.S. cable systems as a 24-hour subscription service. here! appears in 96 of the top 100 U.S. markets, including every top 10 market. here! was also the first gay network originating in the U.S. to launch internationally. here! offers a wide variety of groundbreaking and acclaimed original movies and series plus the world’s largest collection of gay and lesbian films appealing to the broad-based, diverse LGBT audience. here! Video, the Internet portal of here! Networks found at www.heretv.com/videoplayer, provides a broad sampling of here! programming. For more information on how to subscribe to here!, call us toll-free at 1-888-HERE-NOW.

About Here Media

Formed in 2008 by Regent Entertainment co-founders Paul Colichman and Stephen P. Jarchow, Here Media is the world’s most dynamic LGBT-targeted, multi-platform media company. The company includes here! Networks, America’s premium gay and lesbian television network airing in 96 of the top 100 U.S. markets, including every top 10 market. Here Media also publishes America’s best-known magazines and books for the gay and lesbian market, with brands including The Advocate, Out, and HIV Plus, as well as the Alyson Books publishing division. Here Media is one of the leading digital media companies in the LGBT space. Its Web properties include Advocate.com, Out.com, HIVPlusmag.com, Gaywired.com and the new SheWired.com. The company boasts a dynamic and diverse staff in Los Angeles and New York as well as a portfolio of media properties that are rich in cultural significance, history, entertainment, fashion, and stunning imagery.

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For all press inquiries, please contact:
Josh Rosenzweig
Vice President, Corporate Communications and Marketing
here! Networks
212.209.5302
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