Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 2/23/09

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 8 February 23, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB

The Fine Print

See previous editions:

The Gay Agenda: Datebook: February 23-March 1, 2009

to SAT:2/28: Telluride, CO: Telluride Gay Ski Week. www.telluridegayskiweek.com

MON: 2/23: New York, NY: Defying Inequality: The Broadway Concert: A Celebrity Benefit for Equal Rights, benefiting: Family Equality Council, Empire State Pride Agenda, Equality California, Garden State Equality and The VT Freedom to Marry Task Force. Evening includes Marc Shaiman's "Prop 8 - The Musical". Cast includes: Douglas Carter Beane, Kerry Butler, Lynda Carter, Gavin Creel, Harvey Fierstein, John Gallagher, Jr., Jonathan Groff, Cheyenne Jackson, Carson Kressley, Cameron Mathison, Rue McClanahan, Seth Rudesky, Michael Urie, www.defyinginequality.com.

TUE-SUN: 2/24-3/01: New York, NY: CineKink NYC. mixed gay/ straight film festival exploring a wide variety of sexualities through documentary, comedy, porn, drama & more. www.cinekink.com

THU: 2/26: New York, NY: Bill Konigsberg does a reading from "Out of The Pocket", his new novel about a high school athlete's coming out. GLYDSA Authors Series: Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center. http://www.orthogays.org/calendar.html

FRI-SAT: 2/27-2/28: New York, NY: FOLLY: The Grand Street Follies 2009, a benefit for God's Love We Deliver and TWEED TheatreWorks. Cast includes: Jackie Hoffman, The Lady Bunny, Julie Halston, Flotilla DeBarge, and more. www.abronartscenter.org

FRI: 2/27: Nationwide: TransAction Day. Sponsored by GLSEN to encourage dialogue about gender, gender roles and the full range of gender identities, and to advocate for inclusive, safe schools for all students. http://www.dayofsilence.org/transaction.html

SUN-SAT: 3/01-3/07: Lake Tahoe, NV: Lake Tahoe WinterFest Gay & Lesbian Ski Week. includes Outlaugh comedy festival. www.LakeTahoeWinterfest.com

Newsworthy:

Coming Out: Batwoman. DC Comics is resurrecting the classic comic book character as a lesbian, unveiling the new Batwoman in July as part of an ongoing weekly series that began this year. EDGE Boston reports: http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=&sc3=&id=87244

California: An Orange County high school principal has banned a school production of "Rent" because the musical has gay characters. The Orange County Register reports: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/school-gay-asrani-2308187-script-high

AbFab returns to TV. The American version of "Absolutely Fabulous" will go before the cameras with Kathryn Hahn and Kristen Johnston starring for FOX. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126180.html

The Buzz (People Making News)

Coming Out: Ezra Temko, Newark, DE City Councilman comes out, as he introduces anti-discrimination legislation. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/02/delaware-city-c.html

Wanda Sykes will be the first out performer to entertain at the White House Corresponent's Dinner, an annual Presiential "roast". Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/02/wanda-sykes-to.html

Jeremy Bernard, the out fundraiser, was appointed as White House liaison to the National Endowment for the Humanities. Bernard worked with his partner, Rufus Gifford, to raise millions of dollars through their company for Obama’s campaign in California. Gifford was tapped to become the new finance director for the Democratic National Committee. The Washington Blade reports: http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=24085

Awards and Honors:

Winner: Teddy Award (the LGBT award in conjunction with the Berlin Film Festival). the Mexican drama "Rabioso Sol, Rabioso Cielo (Raging Sun, Raging Sky)" took the award for best feature. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/02/gay-mexican-dra.html

In Memoriam:

John McGlinn, the conductor and musical archivist who devoted himself to finding and recording the restored scores of early works of the American musical theatre, died on 2/14/09 at age 55. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126362.html

Photo Shoots and Video

Photos: 2009 amFAR Honors, benefitting the American Foundation for AIDS Research. Honorees: Donna Karan, Liza Liza Minnelli and Howard and Cindy Rachofsky. from BroadwayWorld.com: http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_The_2009_amfAR_Honors_20090213

Photos: Broadway Backwards benefit for the New York LGBT Community Center from Broadway World.com:
http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_BROADWAY_BACKWARDS_4_Performance_Part_One_20090211
http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_BROADWAY_BACKWARDS_4_Performance_Part_Two_20090211
http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_BROADWAY_BACKWARDS_4_Performance_Part_Three_20090211
http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_BROADWAY_BACKWARDS_4_Backstage_20090211

Features

Coming Out: Profile: Billie Jean King talks about the impact of bring outed and coming out on her tennis career. Tennis.com reports: http://www.tennis.com/features/general/features.aspx?id=164732

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***Avow. Bill C. Davis’s drama explores the Catholic church's reactions to same-sex marriage. to 3/08/09. www.CardinalGroupNYC.com
***Blanche Survives Katrina in a FEMA Trailer Named Desire. Mark Sam Rosenthal is Blanche, who leaves New Orleans for the Superdome, is evacuated to Shreveport, and becomes a fragile, alcoholic, sex-addicted belle. to 3/15/09. www.sohoplayhouse.com
***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett makes his Broadway debut in Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole co-star.
***Christine Jorgensen Reveals. Bradford Louryk stars as America's first famous transsexual, in his solo theatre piece which won numerous awards. “Ex-GI Becomes Blonde Beauty: Operation Transforms Bronx Youth” (NY Daily News headline: 12/01/52). to 3/15/09. www.ticketcentral.com
***The Story of My Life, a musical about two guys and a lifelong friendship. Malcolm Gets stars. www.thestoryofmylife.com

Elsewhere...

***A Beautiful View. Daniel MacIvor's take on two women in love. MacIvor is one of Canada's greatest living playwrights. to 3/22/09. San Francisco, CA. www.therhino.org.
***Hangin' Out: That Naked Musical. A musical revue. to 3/15/09. Macha Theatre. West Hollywood, CA. www.plays411.com/hangin’out
***La Cage Aux Folles. The Jerry Herman/Harvey Fierstein musical based on the film that became "Birdcage".to 3/29/09. Santa Rosa, CA. www.6thstreetplayhouse.com
***The Little Dog Laughed. The Tony-nominated comedy. A barracuda Hollywood agent in high heels has a problem. Her matinee idol client plans to come out. to 3/08/09. Washington, DC. www.signature-theatre.org.
***Sin, A Cardinal Deposed. A docudrama about the lawyer who pursues Boston Archibishop Cardinal Bernard Law for his failure to protect the victims of sexual abuse at the hands of priests in his archdiocese. Bruce Davison, Gary Cole, Dan Lauria, Wendie Mallick, Hamish Linklater, and James Handy will star. Thursdays 2/26/09-4/02/09. Los Angeles, CA. www.thehayworth.com.
***Tennessee in the Summer. Joe Besecker's take on the psyche of gay playwright Tennessee Williams. to 3/01/09. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org.

On Screen (and Video & DVD)

Resource: Cine-Queer: GLAAD's Guide to What's LGBT in Film: http://www.glaad.org/eye/cinequeer.php

Out on Screen...

***Ciao. Two men meet after the death of a mutual friend. www.ciaomovie.com.
***Doubt, the film adaptation of John Patrick Shanley's award-winning drama. A nun (Meryl Streep) suspects a popular priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of abusing a boy.
***Every Little Step. A documentary about the making of the 2006 Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line".
***I Love You Phillip Morris. Based on Steve McVicker's book about real-life events. Jim Carrey plays Steven Russell, who falls for his cellmate, Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor), after being put in prison and makes regular attempts to escape when the object of his affections is released.
***Milk, Gus Van Sant's film about gay activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn). Also starring: Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, James Franco.
***Shifting the Canvas. Cheyenne Jackson, Scott Thompson and John Paul Pitoc star in this comedy drama about a Brooklyn cafe owner, who acts as "patriarch" to a wayward group of younger gay and lesbian artists. www.shiftingthecanvas.com.
***Were The World Mine, Tim Gustafson's film about a struggling gay teen in a homophobic town, who fantasizes about a potion that turns the town gay. http://www.weretheworldminefilm.com/

Out On Video & DVD

***Brideshead Revisited. In the 1930s, Charles and Sebastian (Matthew Goode and Ben Wishaw) tryst on a country estate. www.bridesheadrevisited-themovie.com.
***Chris and Don: A Love Story. Tina Mascara's documentary about British writer Christopher Isherwood and his lover, the much younger American artist Don Bachardy.
***Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Neil Patrick Harris stars in Joss Whedon's internet musical.
***Religulous. Bill Maher travels the globe to investigate the current state of world religion, questioning many religious leaders on LGBT rights. www.lionsgate.com/religulous.
***"Rent" Filmed Live on Broadway. Film made of the final performances of the landmark musical New to DVD and Blu-Ray.
***The Yellow Brick Road And Beyond. A feature documentary takes a look at the phenomenon that is The Wizard of Oz, highlighting some of the earliest stage and screen adaptations, and the musical Wicked.

On TV Of Note: All times listed are ET. Check local listings for times in your area.

Resource:TV Gayed, GLAAD's Weekly Guide to What's LGBT on TV: Updated every Friday. www.glaad.org/eye/tv_listings.php

***February: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
This Just In: HU: 2/19: Faye Dunaway guest stars as a surgeon who botches a surgery on "Grey's Anatomy". 9PM. ABC.
This Just In ! FRI: 2/20: Rosie O'Donnell visits "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson". CBS. Check local listings.

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

3/02/09: Washington, DC: Nathaniel Frank, author of "Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America" begins a reading/booksigning tour. does a reading and booksigning. 12Noon. Center for American Progress. For information on all tour dates. http://www.unfriendlyfire.org/events.php

3/4/09-3/6/09: Philadelphia, PA: Rethinking Sex: Gender and Sexuality Studies State of the Field Conference. www.sas.upenn.edu/wstudies/rethinkingsex/

3/06/09-3/08/09: Los Angeles, CA: Fusion, LGBT people of color film festival.
www.outfest.org/fusion.html

3/07/09: Chicago, IL: Chicago Takes Off. burlesque show to fight HIV/AIDS in the Chicagoland area. www.rideforaids.org

3/09/09: New York, NY: ABC & Soap.Net Salute Broadway Cares. Actors from such ABC daytime shows as "All My Children," "One Life to Live" and "General Hospital" offer musical numbers and skits. www.broadwaycares.org.

3/12/09-3/14/09: Storrs, CT: True Colors XVI Conference focusing on the needs of LGBTQ youth and their allies through a comprehensive annual conference. Programs on mental and behavioral health. www.ourtruecolors.org.

3/18/09-3/20/09: Ithaca, NY: Ithaca College Sport, Sexuality, and Culture Conference. Former NBA player, author, and entrepreneur, John Amaechi, will deliver the keynote address. http://www.ithaca.edu/hshp/grad/sportmgmt/sportsexualitycultureintr/ConferenceSchedule/

3/23/09: New York, NY: Legends, a reading of the infamous James Kirkwood comedy with Charles Busch, Lypsinka, Whoopi Goldberg and Bryan ("Mad Men") Batt. A benefit for Friends in Deed: The Crisis Center for Life-Threatening Illness. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/125984.html

3/25/09-3/29/09: Keystone, CO: OutBoard, annual LGBT snowboarding festival. www.outboard.org

Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Hooray for Hollywood

1. Question: Name this 1969 film, which featured gay themes and was the first X-rated film to win the “Best Picture” Oscar. Its openly gay director made several mainstream movies with gay characters. Answer: Midnight Cowboy, which featured Jon Voight as a Times Square hustler. John Schlesinger, the director, also filmed “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and about a bisexual menage.

2. Question: Name this 1972 Oscar-winning film, based on a Tony-winning musical based on a gay author’s journals about his life in Europe. It won 8 Oscars. Its in-your-face decadence featured threesomes, transvestites and other club types. Answer: Cabaret, based on the musical of the same name, adapted from Christopher Isherwood’s “Berlin Stories”.

3. Question: Name this actor, who received an Oscar for a breakthrough performance as a real-life transgender victim. Answer: Hilary Swank, Oscar winner for “Boys Don’t Cry”, the story of Brandon Teena.

4. Question: Name this actor, who received an Oscar for playing an HIV-infected man who was the subject of discrimination in the first major Hollywood film to deal with HIV. Answer: Tom Hanks, who starred in “Philadelphia” in 1993.

5. Question: Name this out singer and songwriter who got an Oscar gold with a song about going green. For over a decade, this artist's music has been top of the charts; the artist is a GLAAD Media Award winner, a cancer survivor, and a spokesperson for coming out issues. Answer: Melissa Etheridge. Her song "I Need to Wake Up" won the Oscar for "Best Song". It was featured in Al Gore's award-winning movie about global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth".

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: March Milestones

1. Question: Name this nation, the first in the Middle East, to decriminalise same-sex acts between consenting adults on March 23, 1988.
2. Question: Name this organization, the most powerful political advocate for AIDS action, which was founded on March 14, 1987. Ten days later, it staged a major protest in New York City.
3. Question: Name this American author, born March 10, 1934, who turned his days as a hustler and a drifter into a highly-praised 1963 American novel. Today, he teaches literature. Some of his subsequent works also deal with hustling.
4. Question: Name this gay pop-idol dancer, born in Siberia in March, 1938, who lept to fame when he defected to the West. His stagework was legendary; he also played a gay film icon in a Ken Russell movie.
5. Question: Name this gay music legend, singer, piano-man, and songwriter, who was born on March 25, 1947. He has conquered the Billboard charts, Broadway and Hollywood, and is perhaps best known worldwide for his elegy to a dead princess.

The first person to submit the correct answers gets their name in print right here. Email your answers to: OnQYB@aol.com. If you do not want your email address to appear in the blog format of this newsletter, please indicate that. http://cosnewsweekly.blogspot.com/