Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 5/18/09

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 20 May 18, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com

The Fine Print

See previous issues.

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The Gay Agenda: Datebook: May 18-24, 2009

thru SUN: 6/28: Minneapolis, MN: Everything Kushner at The Guthrie. a celebration honoring the work of out playwright Tony Kushner (best known for "Angels in America"). www.guthrietheater.org/kushner

thru SUN: 5/24: Toronto, ON: Inside Out: Toronto LGBT Film & Video Festival. www.insideout.on.ca

This Just In !!! SUN: 5/17: Washington, DC: Screening: "Ask Not", Johnny Symons' film with panel sponsored by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. http://www.sldn.org/events/archives/dc-ask-not-screening-panel/

This Just In !!! SUN: 5/17: New York, NY: Love, Peace and Marriage Equality, Broadway rallies to support same-sex marriage legislation in New York. Featuring the cast of "Hair", Cynthia Nixon, Gavin Creel, Cheyenne Jackson, Audra McDonald, Daniel O'Donnell, and more. Towleroad updates: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/05/broadway-stars-to-rally-for-marriage-equality-in-nyc-on-sunday.html or www.broadwayimpact.com.

WED-MON: 5/20-5/25: Oklahoma City, OK: Annual Gay Bowling Tournament. www.igbo.org

WED-MON: 5/20-5/25: Washington, DC: DC Black Pride. www.dcblackpride.org

THU-MON: 5/21-5/25: Atlanta, GA: Mondo Homo Dirty South. queer-centric festival featuring music, dance, crafts, performance & more. www.mondohomo.com

THU: 5/21: New York, NY: Wig Out Costume Extravaganza. Dragster Sweetie stars in the benefit for the Vineyard Theatre." www.vineyardtheatre.org.

FRI-SAT: 5/22-5/30: Hartford, CT: Out Film Connecticut, 22nd LGBT Film Festival. www.outfilmct.org.

SAT-SUN: 5/23-5/24: Houston, TX: Lone Star Classic Softball Tournament, www.montrosesoftballleague.com/lonestarclassic.htm

Newsworthy:

New York: The Assembly approved legislation on 5/12/09 that would make New York the sixth state to allow same-sex marriage; a vote that shifts the debate to the Senate. The New York Times reports: www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/nyregion/13marriage.html?hpw

NPR Criticized for not naming names in its review of "Outrage" the documentary about closeted politicians. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/05/homophobic-npr-helps-closeted-political-hypocrites-stay-closeted.html

You've Got to Be Careful (and Creative). Gays in the military have to closet themselves in emails, since they're monitored by the military. The Washington Blade reports: http://www.washblade.com/2009/5-8/news/national/14496.cfm

Megabucks! The 23rd Annual Easter Bonnet Competition raised $3,402,147 to benefit Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS.

The Buzz (People Making News)

Coming Out: Rembert Weakland, former Milwaukee Archbishop, has come out in a new memoir, "A Pilgrim in a Pilgrim: Memoirs of a Catholic Archbishop". Weakland resigned in 2002 after revelations of a past homosexual relationship and a confidential payout, which was seen as another episode in the unfolding clergy abuse scandal. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/05/former-milwaukee-archbishop-rembert-weakland-in-memoir-im-gay.html

Weddings, Civil Unions and Engagements

Jolie Justus, Democratic senator from Missouri, wed her partner Shonda Garrison in Iowa. The Washington Blade reports: http://www.washblade.com/2009/5-8/news/national/14503.cfm

Awards and Honors:

Nominees: MAC Awards for outstanding cabaret: Mario Cantone, Jackie Hoffman. www.macnyc.com.

Winners: Outer Critics Circle Awards (for New York theatre): http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=1723944

Drama League 2009 Special Recognitions to: Elton John, Arthur Laurents, and Angela Lansbury. www.DramaLeague.org

Photo Shoots and Video

***The Point Foundation, the nation's largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBT students of merit, held its annual New York benefit 4/27/09. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/multimedia/gallery/460

***Eric McCormack of "Will & Grace" stars in "The Fantasticks" in Los Angeles. http://www.playbill.com/multimedia/gallery/479

Features

When Gay Marriage and Showtunes Collide. Michael Feingold of the Village Voice turns showtunes into gay marriage anthems. First, Maine: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/05/maine_by_michae.php
Feingold salutes gay marriage in Iowa: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/04/michael_feingol.php
Feingold salutes gay marriage in Vermont: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/04/michael_feingol_1.php

In Print:

Coming Out, Coming In: Nurturing the Well-Being and Inclusion of Gay Youth in Mainstream Society by Linda Goldman. Routledge Press. A therapist shares her coming out story as the parent of a gay child, a process that friends and family go through when a family member comes out. For the Washington Blade recap: http://www.washblade.com/2009/5-8/arts/books/14493.cfm .

Stripping Gypsy: The Life of Gypsy Rose Lee by Noralee Frankel. Oxford University Press. The autobiography of the legendary stripper which examines the struggles Lee faced in making a lucrative and unconventional career for herself while maintaining a sense of dignity and social value.

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***Billy Elliot, the Elton John/Lee Hall musical based on the movie about a boy who wants to become a ballet dancer. www.billyelliotbroadway.com.
***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett and Angela Lansbury star in Noel Coward's comedy.
***Hair, The first major American rock musical, which has "sodomy" and other words in its lyrics. www.publictheater.org.
***The Tempermentals. Joe Marans' story of activist Harry Hay and gay rights before Stonewall. . Cast includes Michael Urie ("Ugly Betty") as designer Rudi Gernreich to 5/18/09. The New York Times review: http://theater2.nytimes.com/2009/05/09/theater/reviews/09temp.html?ref=theater
***Thank You For Being a Friend: the Musical. All things (unauthorized) Golden Girls. Lance Bass moves in next door to the elderly quartet who can't sleep because of his all-night gay parties. to 7/12/09. SpinCycleNYC.com

Elsewhere...

***Design for Living. Gay Noel Coward's play about a festive menage-a-trois. to 6/28/09. Washington, DC. www.shakespearetheatre.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 6/14/09, Stages, Houston, TX. www.stagestheatre.com Also to 6/06/09. Boston, MA. https://lyricstage.com/main_stage/grey_gardens/
***Jerry Springer, The Opera. High art meets low culture. to 5/30/09. Boston, MA. www.speakeasystage.com
***Lay of The Land. Out performance artist Tim Miller debuts his autobiographical solo performance piece. to 5/23/09. Los Angeles, CA. www.timmillerperformer.com.
***The Little Foxes. Newly out Kelly McGillis plays the scheming Regina Giddens. to 6/28/09. Pasadena, CA. www.pasadeniaplayhouse.org.
***Stale Magnolias. the story of the Last Chance Salon, a nightspot turned day-spa in the overheated town of Rectal, TX. to 6/14/09. San Francisco, CA. www.foulplaysf.com
***Three on a Party one-acts by queer authors Gertrude Stein, Tennessee Williams and Armistead Maupin. to 6/07/09. San Francisco, CA. www.TheRhino.org

On Screen (and Video & DVD)

Resource: GLAAD's Guide to What's LGBT in Film: Note new web address: http://glaadblog.org/whats-lgbt-in-film/

Out on Screen...

***Ciao. Two men meet after the death of a mutual friend. www.ciaomovie.com.
***Every Little Step. A documentary about the making of the 2006 Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line".
***Hair: Let the Sunshine In. Pola Rapaport's documentary that traces the roots and legacy of the landmark musical.
***Little Ashes, Paul Morrison's drama about the young lives and loves of Salvador Dali, Luis Bunuel and Frederico Garcia Lorca. www.littleashes-themovie.com.
***Outrage. Kirby Dick's ("This Film is Not Yet Rated") documentary, a searing indictment of the hypocrisy of closeted politicians who actively campaign against the LGBT community they covertly belong to.

Out On Video & DVD

***A Jihad for Love, the daring documentary filmed in 12 countries in which Muslim gay filmmaker Parvez Sharma explores the intersections of Islam and homosexuality.
***Barbra Streisand: The Concerts. 3 DVD set including her concert with Il Divo, the HBO special, and the Broadway Album special.
***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.
***Jerome Robbins: Something to Dance About, a documentary about the American dancer/choreographer/director whose genius was tempered by obsessive behavior, perfectionism, and guilt over his bisexualism.
***Kiki & Herb Live at The Knitting Factory. The Tony-nominated gender-bending downtown club act.

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. Note new web address: GLAAD TV Gayed: http://www.glaad.org/Page.aspx?pid=331

***May: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

5/29/09: Holyoke, MA: Youth Pride Prom, 3rd annual prom for LGBTQ students <20. sponsored by the Holyoke GLBTQ Task Force. alex.b.morse@gmail.com

6/01/09-6/30/09: San Francisco, CA: National Queer Arts Festival. performances & exhibitions highlighting artists from around the country. www.QueerCulturalCenter.org

6/06/09-6/07/09: Chicago, IL: Ride for AIDS Chicago. www.rideforaids.org

6/11/09-6/13/09: Philadelphia, PA: Philly Trans Health Conference. www.trans-health.org

6/11/09-6/13/09: Ft. Lauerdale, FL: Pride Planners Bi-Annual Conference. Marketing opportunities for financial planners serving LGBT individuals and families. www.prideplanners.com.

6/14/09-6/21/09: Washington, DC: IGLFA World Championship. International Gay & Lesbian Football Association's annual soccer tournament. www.iglfa.org

6/14/09: Los Angeles, CA: 2009 Los Angeles Front Runners Pride Run. www.lafrontrunners.com/priderun2009.html

6/18/09-6/28/09: San Francisco, CA: Frameline: San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival. www.frameline.org

6/30/09-7/04/09: Chicago, IL: Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf Conference. to celebrate LGBT deaf culture & identity. www.rad.org

7/03/09-7/05/09: Washington, DC: International Association of Country Western Dance Clubs Annual Convention. www.outcountrydance.com

7/10/09-7/21/09: Los Angeles, CA: Outfest, LA's LGBT film and video festival.
Los Angeles' lesbian/ gay film & video festival in mid-July. www.outfest.org

7/10/09-7/17/09: Saugatuck, MI: Family Week Michigan. Sponsored by COLAGE (Children of Gays and Lesbians Everywhere) and Rainbow Families Great Lakes. www.rfgl.org.

7/11/09-7/18/09: Seattle, WA-Alaska Inside Passage-Seattle, WA: R Family Vacations Summer Cruise. Gregg Kaminsky's and Kelli O'Donnell's cruise vacation for LGBT families. www.rfamilyvacations.com.

Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: LGBT Rights Milestones

1. Question: Name this populous American state, which decriminalized same-sex acts between consenting adults on May 12, 1975. One of its major cities is known as the LGBT capital of the USA; another major city is a center of mass culture which employs thousands of LGBT artists. Answer: California, home to San Francisco and LA (Hollywood).

2. Question: Name this symbol of LGBT rights, created by an oppressive political regime defeated over 60 years ago, who incarcerated men convicted under three paragraphs of its penal code and ID’d them with the symbol. In the 1970s, the gay rights movement adapted the symbol for its cause. Answer: The Rosa-Winkel or Pink Triangle, devised by the Nazis during WW2. For the history of the pink triangle: http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/pink_triangle.html

3. Question: Name this American city, site of one of the first public gay rights demonstration on July 4, 1965. The late activist Jack Nichols also staged a public demonstration in Washington, DC that year. This month, the city honors the gay rights movement at its Pride celebration. Answer: Philadelphia, PA. The group marched at Independence Hall.

4. Question: Name this equality milestone, which celebrates its fifth anniversary on May 17, 2005. Answer: Same-sex marriage legal in Massachusetts.

5. Question: Name this recent Broadway musical character, who was the first to be featured in a same-sex wedding onstage. Hint: “He likes to dance-a-lot and visit France-a-lot”. His character showed up in a previous Broadway musical where he was heterosexual. Answer: Sir Lancelot. In “Monty Python’s Spamalot”, Lance and Herbert are knights who tie the knot. In "Camelot", Lancelot (Robert Goulet) swooned over Guinevere.

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: LGBT Movers and Shakers

1. Question: Name this American computer software entrepeneur who became a major gay rights activist and philanthropist. He started a company with a $2,000 loan from his parents and became a millionaire many times over. Colorado's Amendment 2 prompted him to get involved.

2. Question: Name this controversial politician, the first openly gay mayor of a Top 30 American city. He's currently under scrutiny for a relationship with an underage intern in a representative's office. Hint: He's not related to a drink with the same name.

3. Question: Name this American author, teacher, and adventurer, the first out woman to reach the North Pole. She shares a name with an actress who seduced a college graduate.

4. Question: Name this activist, the oldest known open lesbian, who was the subject of a documentary which profiled her on her 100th birthday.

5. Question: Name this activist and philanthropist from a spam family. He was the first out man named as a US Ambassador.

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/