POWER UP

For other uses, see Power up (disambiguation).
POWER UP
Founded2000
FounderK. Pearson Brown
Stacy Codikow
Amy Shomer [1]
Type501(c)(3) non-profit organization
FocusMotion pictures
Location
MethodFunding, producing
Key people
Stacy Codikow, Executive director
Lisa Thrasher, President of Film Production & Distribution
Websitewww.powerupfilms.org

POWER UP (the "Professional Organization of Women in Entertainment Reaching Up") is an American non-profit organization and film production company with the stated mission "to promote the visibility and integration of gay women in entertainment, the arts, and all forms of media". It was founded in 2000 by K. Pearson Brown, Stacy Codikow and Amy Shomer.[2] Its members include women and men, gay and straight.

POWER UP provides funding and assistance to filmmakers, as well as producing its own films. After several short films, its first feature film was the comedy Itty Bitty Titty Committee directed by Jamie Babbit.[3] In 2004, POWER UP was awarded the Leadership Award by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.[3]

In 2001 K. Pearson Brown, one of the founding members, brought a sexual harassment suit against another founding member, Stacey Codikow. Codikow counter-sued alleging that Brown had made sexual overtures towards her and accusing Brown of defamation. Codikow also demanded Brown's resignation on the grounds that she was bisexual, and Brown later resigned. Both suits were dropped in late 2002.[4][5][6]

  1. ^ "Power up!". The Advocate. 27 Mar 2001.
  2. ^ "Challenging Perception through Film, POWER UP". POWER UP. Archived from the original on 2007-04-27. Retrieved 2007-05-15.
  3. ^ a b Lo, Malinda (2007-02-27). "The Top 13 Power Lesbians in Entertainment in 2007". AfterEllen.com. Archived from the original on 2007-03-20. Retrieved 2007-05-15.
  4. ^ Welkos, Robert W. (November 2, 2002). "Sexual harassment suit roils lesbian industry group". Los Angeles Times.
  5. ^ Maynard, Kevin (24 Dec 2002). "Case dismissed". The Advocate.
  6. ^ Maynard, Kevin (10 Dec 2002). "She said, she said". The Advocate.