Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 3/16/09

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 11 March 16, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com

The Fine Print

About this Newsletter: See previous editions

The Gay Agenda: Datebook: March 16-22, 2009

MON: 3/16: North Hollywood, CA: Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards. www.ladramacriticscircle.com

MON: 3/16: Washington, DC: Nathaniel Frank, author of "Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America" does a reading and booksigning. Lambda Rising. Also: WED: 3/18: Miami, FL: 7PM. Books and Books. THU: 3/19: Atlanta, GA: 8PM. Outwrite Books. http://www.unfriendlyfire.org/events.php

WED-SUN: 3/18-3/22: Mammoth Lakes, CA: Elevation 2009, the 7th annual Mammoth Gay Ski Week. www.mammothgayski.com

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

SAT-SUN: 3/21-3/22: Los Angeles, CA: The Brothers Gershwin--George & Ira. The 25th anniversary S.T.A.G.E. benefit for AIDS Project Los Angeles. Cast performing Gershwins hits include: John Lloyd Young, Shoshana Bean, Lucas Grabeel, Loretta Devine, Sam Harris, Jai Rodriguez and more. S.T.A.G.E. founder and actor Michael Kearns to be honored. www.stagela.com

Newsworthy:

Outrage, Kirby Dick's documentary that exposes closeted gay and lesbian politicians who actively campaign against gay rights, will have its world premiere at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. Dick most recently directed "This Film Is Not Yet Rated", about the Motion Picture Association of America’s rating system. His 2005 documentary "Twist of Faith", about Catholic Church complicity in hiding sexual abuse by priests, was nominated for an Academy Award.

London: As the stage musical of "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" opens on the West End, it's the end of the road for old-school drag queens. The misogynistic, wig-wearing female impersonator is being replaced by a sassier, more sophisticated act. The Independent reports:
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/end-of-the-road-for-oldschool-drag-queens-1639775.html

The Buzz (People Making News)

Coming Out: Dustin Lance Black, Oscar-winning screenwriter of "Milk", tells his coming out story. The Providence Journal reports: http://www.projo.com/movies/content/lb_oscarwinningwriterofmilk_03-06-09_C9DGUP6_v14.2058f67.html

Awards and Honors:

Chad Allen will receive the Davidson/Valentini Award at GLAAD's Media Awards in San Francisco on 5/09/09. www.glaad.org.

Winners: The American Women in Radio and Television 2009 Gracie Allen Awards: Suze Orman (Individual Achievement Award for Outstanding Host-Information or Entertainment) and Rachel Maddow: (Individual Achievement Award for Outstanding Host-News Program).

Winners: Bistro Awards, celebrating excellence in the cabaret field: Liza Minnelli, Liz McCartney and Euan Morton. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126815.html

Photo Shoots and Video

Legends Promo Video: Lypsinka and Charles Busch play the roles originated by Mary Martin and Carol Channing. Whoopi Goldberg co-stars in the first-ever New York presentation of James Kirkwood's play on 3/23/09 as a benefit for Friends In Deed: The Crisis Center for Life-Threatening Illness. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJPLgA2aZhY.

Features

Heard on "The View". Did Whoopi Goldberg Come Out ? And, Rachel Maddow describes being outed. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/03/rachel-maddow-was-outed-to-her-parents-by-anonymous-letter.html

Opportunities

The Publishing Triangle works to further the publication of books and other materials written by lesbian and gay authors or with lesbian and gay themes. Founded in 1988, The Publishing Triangle works to create support and a sense of community for lesbian and gay people in the publishing industry. www.publishingtriangle.org

In Print:

Upcoming Titles Of Note for LGBT Readers. The Washington Blade reports: http://www.washblade.com/2009/3-6/arts/books/14182.cfm

Mainly on Directing: Gypsy, West Side Story, and Other Musicals by Arthur Laurents. Knopf. A book about theater, the art, the artist, the insider, the outsider, enriched by the author's two loves, love for the theater and love for his partner of fifty-two years, Tom Hatcher, who shared and inspired every aspect of his life and his work.

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett makes his Broadway debut in gay Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole co-star.
***Gates of Gold. Frank McGuinness' comedy-drama based on Hilton Edwards and Micheal MacLiammoir, partners in business and also in life, who together founded Dublin's Gate Theater in Dublin in 1928. to 3/29/09. www.59e59.org.
***The Gay Agenda's Great Big Broadway Show, presented by Shortened Attention Span who are committed to complete and utter world domination through showtunes. opens 3/25/09 and runs the last Wed. of each month. www.ShortenedAttentionSpan.com or http://thatgayagendaband..wordpress.com
***Judy Gold is Mommy Queerest. The lesbian comic takes on her role as Jewish mom. 3/20/09. Joe's Pub. www.joespub.com.
***33 Variations. Moises ("The Laramie Project") Kaufman's new play with music brings Jane Fonda back to Broadway. Colin (“Mad Men”) Hanks co-stars.. to 5/25/09.
***West Side Story. The acclaimed musicalization of "Romeo & Juliet" in a new production directed by Arthur Laurents. www.broadwaywestsidestory.com.

Elsewhere...

***After the Garden: Edith Beale Live at Reno Sweeney Miss Pixie's Backroom Palace, a recreation of Edith (Little Edie) Bouvier Beale's famous nightclub act, which lasted less than a week after "Grey Gardens". to 3/29/09. Washington, DC. www.ganymedearts.org.
***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.
***Grey Gardens, the award-winning musical about mother and daughter Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale, former society queens turned into recluses with 51 cats. to 5/17/09. Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. www.ordway.org.
***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
***Master Class. Barbara Walsh stars as diva Maria Callas in Terrence McNally's award winning play. to 4/05/09. Millburn, NJ. www.papermill.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. Thursdays to 4/02/09. Los Angeles, CA. www.thehayworth.com.
***Xanadu, the Broadway musical hit based on the Olivia Newton John movie. "Children's theatre for 40 year old gay men". to 3/29/08. Chicago, IL. www.BroadwayInChicago.com

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.
***Hair: Let the Sunshine In. Pola Rapaport's documentary that traces the roots and legacy of the landmark musical, which features interviews with authors James Rado and Gerome Ragni, composer Galt MacDermot and late director Tom O'Horgan as well as Oscar winner Milos Forman, who directed the 1979 film adaptation of Hair.
***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.
***The Universe of Keith Haring, a documentary on the late gay pop artist. Now making the rounds of film festivals and independent cinemas.

Out On Video & DVD

***Fashion Victims, a 2008 German film, tells the story of a straight fashion designer’s teen son who falls for his father’s biggest rival in the design world.
***FirstOUT International, a collection of four gay-themed shorts.
***Laughing Matters: Next Gen, a gay standup comedy documentary that follows Andrea Meyerson putting together the fourth installment of her series of comics for the gay standup circuit.
***Milk, Gus Van Sant's film about gay activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn). Also starring: Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, James Franco. Milk comes to DVD with extras. The San Francisco Bay Times reports: http://www.sfbaytimes.com/?sec=article&article_id=10247
***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.
***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

***March: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
This Just In: THU: 3/12: Broadway's "West Side Story" dances for Dave Letterman. 11:35PM.CBS.
***TUE: 3/17: Carol Burnett plays a former dancer involved with the murder of a couple on "Law & Order: SVU". 10PM. NBC.

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

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. Fran Lebowitz narrates. 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

3/28/09-3/29/09: Pittsburgh, PA: Pennsylvania Volleyball Steel City Classic, a NAGVA-sanctioned vball tourney. www.SteelCityVolleyball.org

3/30/09-4/05/09: Palm Springs, CA: Kraft Nabisco Golf Championship. best known as the Dinah Shore Golf Championship. women and golf. www.nabiscochampionship.com or www.dinahshoreweekend.com

3/31/09: Muncie, IN: David Sedaris begins a national tour reading from "When You Are Ingulfed in Flames". http://www.barclayagency.com/sedaris_appearances.html

4/01/09-4/04/09: Kingston, RI: University of Rhode Island GLBTIQQ Symposium. 15th Annual URI Symposium on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Questioning Issues. www.uri.edu/glbt/symposium.html

4/09/09-4/11/09: Calgary, AB: Canada Badminton, Bowling, Curling, Running, Swimming, Volleyball Western Cup XXVII, 27th anniversary of North America's longrun annual LGBT multi-sport tournament and trophy event. www.westerncup.com

4/09/09-4/12/09: Washington, DC: International Gay Square Dance Clubs Convention. www.iagsdc.org

4/17/09-4/19/09: Minneapolis, MN: 2009 Bisexual Empowerment Conference (BECAUSE) at the University of Minnesota. www.becauseconference.org.

4/17/09-4/19/09: Jersey City, NJ: New Jersey Bowling Gotham Open, an IGBO sponsored gay bowling tournament. www.gothambowling.com

4/17/09: Nationwide: National Day of Silence. bringing attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. www.dayofsilence.org

4/18/09-4/19/09: San Diego, CA: Camp Courage. An intensive training institute organized by the Courage Campaign to provide grassroots activists with practical, hands-on skills to organize in their communities on marriage equality for same-sex couples. www.couragecampaign.org/campcouragearmy.

Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Fashion Icons

1. Question: Name this gay designer (1932-1990) who was the first international fashion superstar. He designed Jackie Kennedy’s famous Inauguration pillbox hat, and is best known for his social life at Studio 54, where he hung out with Bianca Jagger, Elizabeth Taylor, and Liza Minnelli. Answer: Halston, born Roy Halston Frowick.

2. Question: Name this possibly bisexual design icon, whose ad campaigns, using photos by Bruce Weber and Herb Ritts, were full of homo-eroticism. Brooke Shields was featured in one of his most famous ads, and MarkyMark’s billboard in Times Square caused numerous fender-benders. Answer: Calvin Klein. Brooke said “Nothing Comes Between me and my Calvins” and MarkyMark in boxer-briefs made Times Square sizzle in 1992.

3. Question: Name this acclaimed gay fashion designer, one of Italy’s first public figures to come out. His fashion was legend, and he frequently collaborated with Elton John onstage and in AIDS charity work. He was murdered in Miami, but his sister keeps the business going. Answer: Gianni Versace.

4. Question: Name this gay American designer (1940-1986), one of the first to develop casual sportswear for women and men. He was also one of the first public figures to die from complications of AIDS. Answer: Perry Ellis.

5. Question: Name this gay Broadway designer who won Tony Awards for making Nathan Lane look like both a producer and a gambler, Harvey Fierstein look like a Baltimore matron, and Tommy Tune’s women of Venice look chic. Answer: William Ivey Long, Tony winner for “The Producers”, “Guys and Dolls”, “Hairspray” and “Nine”.

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: The Corner Bookstore and More

When we learned that A Different Light Books in West hollywood was closing, it brought to mind the LGBT community's rich heritage of bookstores that served as community centers; organizations that fostered LGBT literature and publishing...

1. Question: Name America's earliest self-styled gay and lesbian bookstore, founded in 1967. Its founder, who was one the organizer's of the first pride march, displayed a sign proclaiming it "a bookshop for the homophile movement". There was also a "gay is good" sticker in the window.

2. Question: When the entity in Question #1 closes, where will the oldest operating bookstore in North America be located ?

3. Question: Name this national non-profit devoted to the promotion, preservation and publication of LGBT literature. Its mission is the promotion of LGBT literacy in the widest possible sense. An annual award program (scheduled for May, 2009) puts the organization on the national map.

4. Question: Name this worker-owned feminist bookstore, the oldest continuously-operating independent feminist bookstore in the USA. Its name is the same as a mega-seller who has put many independent booksellers out of business.

5. Question: Name this LGBT American literary magazine, which began publishing in 1976. It was known both for its serious discussion of issues within the gay community and its satire of anti-gay criticism, It also featured original fiction from then up-and-coming authors like Andrew Holleran. After over 230 issues, it closed in 1995.

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/