Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 6/15/09

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 24 June 15, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com

The Fine Print

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The Gay Agenda: Datebook: June 15-21, 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 New York City 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: 6/21: Anchorage, AK: Anchorage PrideFest 2009. www.anchoragepride.com

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

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

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

THU-SUN: 6/18-6/21: Columbia, SC: Black Pride. www.southcarolinablackpride.com

THU: 6/18: Chicago, IL: Nathaniel Frank, author of "Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America" does a reading and booksigning. McCormick Freedom Library. http://www.unfriendlyfire.org/events.php

FRI-SUN: 6/19-6/21: Baton Rouge, LA: Baton Rouge Pride Fest. www.brpridefest.com.

SAT-MON: 6/20-8/03: 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

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

Newsworthy:

Don't Ask Don't Tell: The Supreme Court turned down a challenge to the Pentagon policy forbidding gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military, granting an Obama administration request to maintain the Clinton-era DADT directive. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/06/us-supreme-court-rejects-case-challenging-dont-ask-dont-tell.html

March on Washington in works for National Coming Out Day. Cleve Jones, founder of the AIDS Memorial quilt, and other activists are organizing a March on Washington to demand full equality for LGBT citizens. The March is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, October 11, which is National Coming Out Day.
The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid88809.asp
The Washington Blade reports: http://www.washblade.com/2009/5-29/news/national/14605.cfm

LGBT Groups Surviving Recession. A major donor to LGBT groups urges activists to take pay cuts and more to insure their future. The Washington Blade reports: http://www.washblade.com/2009/6-5/news/national/14663.cfm

Gay Marriage Could Boost New England's Economy. Reuter's reports: http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN0146772120090604

Gay Penguins Adopt in Germany. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/06/gay-penguins-hatch-adopt-chick-in-germany.html

The Buzz (People Making News)

Coming Out: Adam Lambert, American Idol finalist, says "I'm gay" in an upcoming Rolling Stone cover story. People Magazine reports: http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20284065,00.html

Kevin Jennings, GLSEN Founder, was named assistant deputy secretary of the Office of Safe & Drug Free Schools in the US Department of Education. He's been smeared by right-wing groups because of his role in making schools safe for LGBT students. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid88830.asp

It's A Boy! Thomas Beatie, the pregnant man, has delivered child #2, a son. JustJared.com reports:http://justjared.buzznet.com/2009/06/09/pregnant-man-son/

Awards and Honors:

Tony Awards. The New York Times recap of the winners with links to the show reviews: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/05/theater/theaterspecial/05tonyslist.html?ref=theater

Point Foundation Scholars of 2009: http://www.pointfoundation.org/scholars.html

Features

Jerry Herman, out composer of "Hello Dolly" and "Mame" won a special Tony Award for his lifetime achievements on Broadway. He talks with Playbill about his life, his partner, and his musicals. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/129947-Jerry_Herman_2009_Special_Tony_Recipient_Takes_a_Moment_to_Reflect_on_a_Lifetime

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***Hair, The first major American rock musical, which has "sodomy" and other words in its lyrics. www.publictheater.org.
***The Power of Two. Cheyenne Jackson and Michael Feinstein together in concert. to 6/27/09. Feinstein's at the Loews Regency. The New York Times review: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/arts/music/04fein.html?_r=1&ref=theater
***The Tempermentals. Jon Maran's drama about Harry Hay and friends as they form The Mattachine Society before Stonewall. Michael Urie ("Ugly Betty") stars. to 7/05/09. www.thetemperamentals.com
***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...

***A Conversation With Edith Head. Susan Claassen's portrayal of the award-winning designer who gave good Hollywood costume. 6/19/09-6/20/09: Coronado, CA: www.coronado.ca.us/library
***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 Beale to 6/28/09, Philadelphia, PA. www.PhiladelphiaTheatreCompany.org.
***Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The musical about a TG singer. to 6/27/09. Sacramento, CA. www.newhelvetia.org
***The Importance of Being Earnest. Gay Oscar Wilde's masterpiece stars drag diva Charles Busch as Lady Bracknell. to 6/21/09. Los Angeles, CA. www.latw.org
***The Little Foxes. Newly out Kelly McGillis plays the scheming Regina in Lillian Helman's 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
***The New Century, Paul Rudnick's comedy about a Jewish PFLAG mother ; a flamboyant Palm Beach resident and a Midwest woman visiting NYC for the first time. to 7/19/09. Coral Gables, FL. www.gablestage.org
***Some Men. Terrence McNally's take on gay couples and same-sex marriage. to 7/12/09. New Conservatory Theatre Pride Season. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org
***Valley of The Dolls. the "interpertation" of the Jacqueline Susann classic and film. 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: 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/
***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.
***Hair: Let the Sunshine In. Pola Rapaport's documentary that traces the roots and legacy of the landmark musical.
***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. GLAAD TV Gayed: 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/
***FRI: 6/12: Adam Lambert talks about "American Idol", and possibly his coming out story in Rolling Stone. ABC 20/20. 10PM ET.
***SUN: 6/14: Paul Donahoe and Kenny Jordan, wrestlers canned from school for making a x-rated movie are interviewed on "Behind The Lines". 9PM. ESPN. http://www.towleroad.com/2009/06/espn-to-cover-paul-donahoe-and-gay-porn-college-wrestling-scandal.html
***WED: 6/17: "Chess" In Concert. The Benny Anderson-Tim Rice-Björn Ulvaeus musical ("One Night in Bangkok") with Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal and Josh Brogan. Great Performances. PBS. Check local listings. www.pbs.org/gperf

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

6/26/09: New York, NY: Gay Pride Edition: Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words. Readings from celebrity autobiographies with Cheyenne Jackson, Michael Urie, Jackie Hoffman, Rachel Dratch. 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

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

7/09/09-7/21/09: Philadelphia, PA:13th Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. www.phillyfests.com

Last 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. Answer: The Society for Human Rights established by Henry Gerber and a group of friends in Chicago. It published "Friendship and Freedom". Gerber had lived in Germany, where he became familiar with the early German homosexual emancipation movement led by such people as Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld.

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. Answer: The Mattachine Society, brainchild of Harry Hay. "The Tempermentals" with Michael ("Ugly Betty") Urie, tells the story of Hay, his lover, Rudi Gernreich, the designer, and others involved in the group's development.

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. Answer: ONE, Inc. ONE Magazine’s first editors included founders of Mattachine Society and also The Knights of the Clock, a support group for interracial gay couples that had begun in Los Angeles in 1950. ONE also published ONE Institute Quarterly (now the Journal of Homosexuality). It began to run symposia, and contributed greatly to scholarship on the subject of same-sex love (then called 'homophile studies').

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. Answer: Daughter of Bilitis, started by Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon.

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. Answer: C) The Oscar Wilde Bookshop, the world's first LGBT-oriented bookstore, opened in New York City in 1967. All the other events happened in 1969.

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: More Stonewall

1. Question: Name this award-winning filmmaker who made two documentaries bookending Stonewall. The latter was narrated by a major out celebrity.

2. Question: Name this award-winning actor who is one of the founders of Stonewall, Europe's largest LGBT rights lobbying group. Equally at home playing contemporary and Shakespearean roles, he's one of filmdom's first out actors.

3. Question: Name this American grassroots national network for change on behalf of LGBT equality. With over 90 chapters in the country, it works to put LGBT issues before members of the political party.

4. Question: Name this actor featured as a cop in a film about Stonewall. He was later kicked off a TV series for homophobic remarks against a fellow out colleague.

5. Question: Name this group that has made fruits absolutely fabulous since 1991. They can't wait to be jammed.

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/