Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 6/22/09

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 25 June 22, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com

The Fine Print

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The Gay Agenda: Datebook: June 22-28, 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 SAT: 6/27: New York, NY: Homo Harlem: A Film Retrospective. A cinematic representation Gay life and culture in Black America’s fabled homeland. http://www.mayslesinstitute.org/

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

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

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

WED: 6/24: New York, NY: Surviving Members of the Gay Liberation Front reunite to reminisce on their experiences in the movement and its historical purposes. Members attending include Perry Brass, Steven F. Dansky, James Fourratt, Michela Griffo, Jerry Hoose, Karla Jay, Ellen Shumsky, and Allen Young. 6PM. South Court Auditorium at The New York Public Library’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street). Free.

FRI: 6/26: New York, NY: Gay Pride Edition: Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words. Celebrities read from celebrity autobiographies. Cheyenne Jackson, Michael Urie, Kristen Johnston, Jackie Hoffman, Rachel Dratch to perform. www.SpinCycleNYC.com

SAT: 6/27: San Francisco, CA: San Francisco Dyke March. www.dykemarch.org

SAT: 6/27: Newark, CA: Seth Rudetsky "deconstructs Broadway". www.stage1theatre.org

SAT-SUN: 6/27-6/28: San Francisco, CA: San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade/ Celebration. www.sfpride.org

SUN: 6/28: Nationwide: Stonewall 40th Anniversary.

Newsworthy:

U.S. to Extend Some Job Benefits to Gay Partners. President Obama will sign a presidential memorandum to extend benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees, administration officials said Tuesday evening, but he will stop short of pledging full health insurance coverage. The New York Times reports:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/17/us/politics/17gays.html?ref=your-money

Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) told the Boston Herald that the Department of Justice defense of DOMA brief was a big misstep. His spokesperson, Diego Sanchez, announced that Frank will introduce the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in Congress next week. Towleroad reports:
http://www.towleroad.com/2009/06/barney-frank-calls-doma-brief-and-boycott-of-fundraiser-a-mistake.html

The Buzz (People Making News)

Coming Out: Chastity Bono, child of Sonny and Cher, is transitioning to a male. The New York Daily News reports: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/06/11/2009-06-11_chastity_bono_is_changing_gender_from_female_to_male.html

Jarrett T. Barrios, former Massachusetts legislator and current president of the Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation will replace Neil Giuliano as GLAAD's new president. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/06/jarrett-t-barrios-named-new-president-of-glaad.html

Alan Cumming, the out Scottish-born actor who's now resident in the USA, was appointed an OBE (Order of the British Empire.) in the Queen's Birthday Honours list, announced 6/13/09. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/130225-Tony_Winner_Cumming_Appointed_OBE_Lee_Knighted

Video Sneak Peak: Broadway Bares X-travaganza:
http://www3.timeoutny.com/newyork/upstaged/2009/06/broadway-bares-preview-video/

Features

For Gay Trailblazers of "The Tempermentals", closet doors were shut tight, but some guys oiled the hinges. The new hit play reflects a very personal history of how gay men first began to express themselves in public. The New York Times reports:
http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=31fcdd525031dd0e119dc46cbd89c80f

Profile: Antony Sher at London's National Theatre. An exhibition of his paintings marks the out actor's 60th birthday and reveals some tormented moments in his life, including apartheid, cocaine and the gay scene in the 70s. The Financial Times reports:
http://traxfer.ft.com/cms/s/2/4f05feb0-56de-11de-9a1c-00144feabdc0.html?o=%2Frss%2Farts%2Fperforming

The Resource Center:

Top Gay (ish) Blogs as compiled by The Advocate. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/06/towleroad-makes-advocates-list-of-best-gayish-blogs.html

Team DC is Washington, DC's gay sports connection. http://www.teamdc.org/

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***Blithe Spirit. Out Rupert Everett and Angela Lansbury star in Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. to 7/19/09.
***Hair, Tony-winning revival of the first major rock musical. www.publictheater.org.
***Jackie Beat: Without Me, You're Nothing. The big and bitter drag queen's new Pride show.6/26/09-6/27/09. www.JackieBeatRules.com
***The Power of Two. Cheyenne Jackson and Michael Feinstein together in concert. Duets included. 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 8/02/09. SpinCycleNYC.com

Elsewhere...

***Broadway! An evening of showtunes with Jennifer Holliday and the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles. 6/27/09-6/28/09. www.gmcla.org.
***A Conversation With Edith Head. Susan Claassen's portrayal of the award-winning designer who gave good Hollywood costume. 6/23/09-6/24/09, Solana Beach, CA: www.northcoastrep.org/season_special.html#edith
***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. Terrence McNally adapted the musical from the movie. 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, former society queens turned into recluses with 51 cats.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
***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 gay-themed comedy. 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 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 Display

thru SAT: 9/12: New York, NY: Exhibition: Diaghilev’s Theater of Marvels: The Ballets Russes and Its Aftermath, documents the legendary ballet company founded 100 years ago and its gay impersario. Lincoln Center. www.nypl.org/lpa .

thru MON: 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

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 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.
***Chess In Concert: Live From Royal Albert Hall. Complete live recording of the May 2008 Chess in concert at the Royal Albert Hall with Josh Groban, Idina Menzel, and Adam Pascal.
***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.

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

6/30/09-7/04/09: Chicago, IL: Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf Conference. celebrating 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 200 films from more than two-dozen countries. www.phillyfests.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 and Rainbow Families Great Lakes. www.rfgl.org.

7/13/09-7/26/09: New York, NY: The Fresh Fruit Festival. 7th annual multidiscipline International LGBT Cultural & Arts Festival. www.freshfruitfestival.com.

7/19/09: San Francisco, CA: AIDS Walk San Francisco. www.aidswalk.net

7/20/09: Washington, DC: Night OUT with The Nationals. The Washinton Nationals take on the New York Mets. The Gay Men's Chorus sings the National Anthem. http://www.teamdc.org/noan5.html

7/29/09-8/02/09: San Francisco, CA: Homo A Go Go. A festival celebrating alternative queer culture. www.homoagogo.com

8/01/09-8/09/09: Provincetown, MA: Family Week. Programs for LGBT parents, kids & allies. www.familyequality.org

8/14/09-8/16/09: Seattle, WA: National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance
Activist Convention. www.nqapia.org

8/14/09-8/30/09: New York, NY: FringeNYC, The New York International Fringe Festival. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/130280-Dominate_Yourself%21_Boys_Upstairs_Flutterbies_and_Revised_Dow_Jones_Set_for_FringeNYC

Last 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. Answer: John Scagliotti, creator of the documentaries "Before Stonewall (1985) and "After Stonewall" (1999) which was narrated by Melissa Etheridge. He was one of the creative forces behind "In The Life" which airs on many PBS stations nationwide. Both are available on DVD.

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. Answer: Sir Ian McKellan, who helped organize the group in 1989.

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. Answer: Isaiah Washington, who played "Burke" on "Grey's Anatomy" was featured in the 1995 film "Stonewall", directed by Nigel Finch. Washington's comments about ellow actor TR Knight ended his stint on the medical drama.

5. Question: Name this group that has made fruits absolutely fabulous since 1991. They can't wait to be jammed. Answer: Stonewall Kitchens, the specialty gourmet foods company known for its jams and preserves. www.stonewallkitchen.com.

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: Symbols of Pride and More...

1. Question: Name this Pride symbol of greek origins, which was originally chosen by the Gay Activist Alliance in New York in 1970. The GAA was a group which broke away from the larger Gay Liberation Front at the end of 1969, only six months after it's foundation in response to the Stonewall Riots.

2. Question: Name this Pride symbol which has become one of the most widely used and recognised in the gay pride movement. It was developed in 1978 for the San Francisco Pride Parade.

3. Question: Name this Pride symbol whose origins are traced back to the Holocaust in Germany. When Hitler came to power, homosexuals were placed in concentration camps. This symbol identified them as a criminal class other than Jews, Gypsies, political prisoners and others.

4. Question: Name this symbol that originated in the LGBT communnity and was created by singer/songwriter Paul Jabara and the New York-based Visual AIDS group in 1991. It was first seen worn by Jeremy Irons at the 1991 Tony Awards.

5. Question: Name this symbol that surfaced after the passage of Proposition 8. It was seen at the Oscars and the Tony Awards and will be visible during major Pride organizations. It supports marriage equality.

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/