Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 6/08/09

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 23 June 8, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com

The Fine Print

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The Gay Agenda: Datebook: June 8-14, 2009

Resources: Pride Calendars.

There are too many PRIDE events to list here during PRIDE season (which generally runs May-August). Please check the following resources for events in your area:

***Damron Guides Event Calendars: http://www.damron.com/calendar/index.html
***Pride Events worldwide: www.interpride.org.
***PRIDE Calendars: http://www.gayfriendlybiz.com/calendar.html
***Gay.com’s Pride Calendar: www.gay.com/pride/calendar/

thru SUN: 6/28: Minneapolis, MN: Everything Kushner at The Guthrie. a celebration honoring the work of out playwright Tony Kushner www.guthrietheater.org/kushner

thru TUE: 6/30: New York, NY: 1969: The Year of Gay Liberation An exhibition from the LGBT collection at the NYC Public Library. Free. http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=30857

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

thru SUN: 6/14: New York, NY: NewFest: New York LGBT Film Festival. www.newfest.org

WED: 6/10: Springfield, VT: Screening of “Dangerous Living: Coming Out in the Developing World” at the Unitarian Universalist Church. www.afterstonewall.com.

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

THU-SAT: 6/11-6/13: Ft. Lauerdale, FL: Pride Planners Bi-Annual Conference. for financial proessionals who serve LGBT individuals and families. www.prideplanners.com.

THU: 6/11: New York, NY: Honoring With Pride. Alan Cumming hosts the 10th annual amFAR benefit, which honors those who have played a key role in the LGBT community's response to the AIDS crisis. www.amfar.org.

SAT-SUN: 6/13-6/21: Anchorage, AK: Anchorage PrideFest 2009. www.anchoragepride.com

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

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

Newsworthy:

New Hampshire is the sixth state to approve of same-sex marriage. The Boston Globe reports: http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/06/nh_legislature.html

President Obama proclaimed June as LGBT Pride Month. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/06/barack-obama-issues-lgbt-pride-month-proclamation.html

New York: Celebrities from Maya Angelou to Cynthia Nixon are championing marriage equality before elected officials as a vote looms in the s senate. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/nyregion/29celebrity.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion

Harvard University announced that it will establish an endowed chair in LGBT studies, in what is believed to be the first professorship of its kind in the country. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/education/04harvard.html?_r=1&ref=us

The New York Times has announced over 300 same-sex weddings, engagements, civil unions, and/or commitment ceremonies, since it began coverage of such in 2002. Now, it's bringing those couples together for a big celebration to commemorate Stonewall 40. The Advocate reports: http://advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid87793.asp

Weddings, Civil Unions and Engagements:

David Hyde Pierce revealed that he married Brian Hargrove, his partner of 25+ years on "The View". Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/05/david-hyde-pierce-reveals-he-is-married-speaks-out-on-prop-8.html

In Memoriam:

Danny LaRue, the Irish-born drag entertainer, died on 5/31/09 at age 81. A dame, LaRue brought drag entertainment to the British masses as he starred in theatre, concerts, and clubs. The Times Online reports: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/theatre/article6406522.ece

Features

Lordy Lordy, Look Who's 40. New York City celebrates Stonewall. The To-Do List: http://nycgo.com/index.cfm?event=view.nav§ion=gay
The Advocate's List of Events in NYC: http://www.advocate.com/issue_story_ektid80809.asp

Neil Patrick Harris talks Tonys with Theatermania.com: http://www.theatermania.com/new-york/news/05-2009/neil-patrick-harris-the-host-with-the-most_19356.html

Jerry Torre: Watching Himself Onstage. The real Jerry talks about the "Grey Gardens" Jerry. the Philadelphia Inquirer reports: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/magazine/20090602_Watching_himself_on_stage.html

Mrs. Betty Bowers, America's Best Christian, explains Bible-Based Marriage. http://www.towleroad.com/2009/06/americas-best-christian-betty-bowers-on-biblebased-marriage.html

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***Billy Eichner: Gay, White and Terrified!, a comic solo from the creator of "Creation Nation". 6/08/09, 6/12/09. www.joespub.com
***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.
***Chicago. Grey's Anatomy star Chandra Wilson returns to Broadway as Matron Mama Morton. to 7/05/09. www.chicagothemusical.com.
***Hair, The first major American rock musical, which has "sodomy" and other words in its lyrics. www.publictheater.org.
***High Spirits. The musical version of Noel Coward's "Blithe Spirit". Carol Kane and Howard McGillin star. 6/12/09-6/14/09. www.yorktheatre.org
lly Parton has adapted her film for Broadway. . www.9to5themusical.com
***The Power of Two. Cheyenne Jackson and Michael Feinstein together in concert. Duets included. to 6/12/09. Feinstein's at the Loews Regency
]***The Tempermentals. Jon Maran's drama about pre-Stonewall gay rights history and the Mattachine Society. Michael Urie ("Ugly Betty") stars. to 7/05/09.
***Thank You For Being a Friend: the Musical. All things (unauthorized) Golden Girls. Lance Bass moves in next door to the 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.
***The Full Monty. Elaine Stritch stars (fully-clothed) in the musical about a group of unemployed steelworkers who turn to stripping to make ends meet.. to 7/12/09. Millburn, NJ. www.papermill.org.
***Grey Gardens, the award-winning musical about mother and daughter Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale. to 6/14/09, Stages, Houston, TX. www.stagestheatre.com Also: to 6/28/09, Philadelphia, PA. www.PhiladelphiaTheatreCompany.org.
***Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The cult-rock musical about a transgender singer. to 6/27/09. Sacramento, CA. www.newhelvetia.org
***The Little Foxes. Newly out Kelly McGillis plays the scheming Regina in Lillian Helman's southern decadence drama. to 6/28/09. Pasadena, CA. www.pasadeniaplayhouse.org.
***Little Lamb, premiere of Michael Whistler's drama about gay adoption.. to 6/28/09. Philadelphia, PA. www.InterActTheatre.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
***Two Boys in a Bed on a Cold Winter's Night. James Edwin Parker's comedy/drama tracing the obstacles to communication, intimacy and love in 1980s Manhattan. to 6/24/09. Provincetown, MA. www.ptownarthouse.com.
***Valley of The Dolls. the Running With Scissors "interpertation" of the Jacqueline Susann classic and film with Bob Edes Jr. as Helen Lawson. to 7/05/09. New Orleans, LA. www.norunningwithscissors.com.

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...

***The Big Gay Musical. A film about a the making of "Adam and Steve", a gay musical. http://www.thebiggaymusical.com/
***The Boys. A Disney documentary about composers and brothers Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman. They wrote "Mary Poppins" and "It's A Small World After All". A must for showtune people.
***Every Little Step. A documentary about the making of the 2006 Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line".
***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.
***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.
***Kiki & Herb Live at The Knitting Factory. The Tony-nominated gender-bending downtown club act.
***M. Butterfly. Jeremy Irons plays the diplomat who succumbs to a Chinese opera star in drag. Based on the David Henry Hwang prize-winning play based on a true story.

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. http://www.glaad.org/Page.aspx?pid=331

***June: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
***June: Broadway Profiles. The Women of Broadway. A special featuring Sutton Foster, Christine Ebersole, Estelle Parsons, Julie Taymor and Charlotte D'Amboise; hosted by Kate Shindle. A PBS Pledge Drive special. Check local listings.
***SAT: 6/13: 2009 NewNowNext Awards. Honoring the LGBT community and its icons with RuPaul, Cheyenne Jackson, Lady GaGa and Vanessa Williams. 9PM. LOGO.(also streamed on LOGOonline.com). www.NewNowNextAwards.com.

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

6/17/09-6/21/09. Provincetown, MA: Provincetown International Film Festival. www.ptownfilmfest.org

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

6/20/09-8/03/09: Los Angeles, CA: Gay, a Photographic Essay 1969–1972 by Los Angeles–based photographer Anthony Friedkin. Vintage photos chronicle the early gay rights movement in LA. drkrm.gallery. 2121 San Fernando Rd., Suite 3, Los Angeles

6/21/09: New York, NY: Broadway Bares 19.0 "Click It", the annual burlesque to benefit Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS. Roseland. www.broadwaycares.org.

6/26/09: New York, NY: Gay Pride Edition: Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words. Cheyenne Jackson, Michael Urie, Jackie Hoffman perform. www.SpinCycleNYC.com

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

Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: The Tony Awards

1. Question: Name this Tony loser. All of the following actors played the famous stage mother Rose in “Gypsy”. (Incidentally, historians have written that Mamma Rose and her daughter Gypsy Rose Lee both had lesbian relationships). Which performance did not win the Tony? Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Patti LuPone. Answer: Ethel Merman, who created the role. Incidentally, Varla Jean Merman says she’s the love child of Ethel Merman and Ernest Borgnine. Varla as a relative beats a Tony.

2. Question: Although several performers have won Tonys for roles that have involved cross dressing, only two have won for performing in roles in which the character is actually a member of the opposite sex. Harvey Fierstein won a Tony playing Edna Turblad in the musical "Hairspray". Name the other. Hint: This actor, known for a tropical shampoo and rinse role, had a child who became one of TV's most beloved villians. Offstage, the actor was known for a "close relationship" with another actor of the same sex. Answer: Mary Martin, Tony Winner in the title role of "Peter Pan", the actor who made "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair" a "South Pacific" hit, the mother of "Dallas" star Larry Hagman (J.R.Ewing) and often-linked with Janet Gaynor.

3. Question: Name this gay composer, who has won more Tony Awards than any other composer. He's won Tonys (7 total) for musicals with petite sunset waltzes, fairy tale characters, non-commital bachelors, and a vengeful barber with a Betty Crocker girlfriend. Do you know the shows ? Answer: Stephen Sondheim, composer of "A Little Night Music", "Into The Woods", "Company", and "Sweeney Todd".

4. Question: Name one or more of these out current nominees. a) an award-winning composer who has musicalised African wildlife and British miners; b) an actor who won a Tony playing twins at a gay summer cottage; c) a musical actor who got married to a fellow knight in a previous show and now spends the evening on his knees and/or 4) an out fan of gays who returned to Broadway in a salute to a famous godmother who was into pink. Answer: a) Elton John ("The Lion King") nominated for "Billy Elliot"; b) John Glover of "Love! Valour! Compassion! nominated for "Waiting For Godot"; c) Christopher Sieber, who played Lancelot in "Spamalot" and current nominee for "Shrek" (he plays Lord Farqhuaar on his knees); and d) Liza Minnelli who included a tribute to Kay Thompson ("Think Pink").

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: Before Stonewall

1. Question: Name this gay rights group, the first recognized gay rights organization in America, established in 1924. A few months after being chartered, the police shut it down and arrested its membership. It also produced the first American publication for homosexuals.

2. Question: Name this gay rights group, the earliest lasting gay rights organization in the United States, founded in 1950. Based in Los Angeles, it had chapters in San Francisco, New York, Washington and other locales. The national group disbanded in 1961, but chapters continued to operate nationally. the group took its name from a term to describe Medieval French secret societies of masked men. The story of its founding is currently the basis for a play currently running Off-Broadway.

3. Question: Name this gay rights group, which morphed out of the group mentioned in Question #2. In 1952, it spread its wings, and admitted lesbians to its ranks. In 1953, the group began publishing the first U.S. pro-gay publication, and sold it openly on the streets of Los Angeles. In 1954 the U.S. Postal Service declared the magazine 'obscene'., but the group won in 1958 as part of the landmark First Amendment case, Roth v. United States. The magazine continued until 1967.

4. Question: Name this gay rights group, the first lesbian activist organization in the USA. Formed in San Francisco in 1955, the group was conceived as a social alternative to lesbian bars, which were considered illegal. It lasted for fourteen years and became a tool of education for lesbians, gay men, researchers, and mental health professionals. Its founders were married by Gavin Newsom twice, once when he permitted gay marriage in San Francisco, and again when gay marriage became briefly legal in California.

5. Question: The Stonewall Riots happened in 1969. Which of the following occured prior to Stonewall ? A) Homosexual behavior legalised in Canada; B) Poland decriminalised gay prostitution; C) The Oscar Wilde Bookshop, the world's first gay-oriented bookstore opens and/or D) an Australian chapter of Daughters of Bilitis opens in Melbourne.

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/