Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 6/29/09

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 26 June 29, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com

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The Gay Agenda: Datebook: June 29-July 5, 2009

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

MON: 6/29: New York, NY: 9th Annual Trevor New York Gala with Lance Bass, Judy Gold, Carson Kressley, Jewel, and Sarah Paulson. www.thetrevorproject.org.

WED-SAT: 7/01-8/01: New York, NY: HOT! Festival of LGBT Performance and Culture the oldest, festival of queer performance in the world! http://www.hotfestival.org/

TUE-SAT: 6/30-7/04: Chicago, IL: Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf Conference. workshops, conferences, keynote speakers and social events to celebrate deaf culture & identity. www.rad.org

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

Newsworthy:

President Obama Wades Into Gay Issues. Obama moved to reset his relations with the LGBT constituency that supported him by wide margins in the last election and whose leaders have been disappointed ever since. The Washington Post reports: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/17/AR2009061702578.html?hpid=moreheadlines

The White House will host an event on 6/29/09, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Stonewall. The guest list includes LGBT activists and leaders from around the country. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid92724.asp

The Justice Department Ends Passport Restrictions for Same-Sex Couples. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/06/doma-win-same-sex-couples-allowed-to-use-spouses-names-on-passports-a-gay-married-couple-al-and-keith--toney-joined-the-g.html

Broadway Bares 19.0 "Click It" raised over $800,000 or Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/130497-Broadway_Bares_Raises_Over_%24800K_for_Broadway_Cares

“Bruno” Reviewed: BBC reports: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8106729.stm

The Buzz (People Making News)

Coming Out: Stuart Appelbaum, labor leader and president of the Retail, Wholesale, Department Store Union (RWDSU) came out in an op-ed piece in the Huffington Post. Applebaum also currently serves as a vice president of the New York State AFL-CIO and the New York City Central Labor Council. www.huffingtonpost.com/stuart-appelbaum/being-gay-its-who-i-am_b_217741.html

Coming Out: Rupert Starr, an 86 year old World War II, recently came out. The patriotic activist was Grand Marshall of Columbus’ Pride Festival. The Columbus Dispatch reports: http://dispatch.com/live/content/life/stories/2009/06/20/1_RUPERT_STARR.ART_ART_06-20-09_D1_BOE789D.html?sid=101

Frédéric Mitterrand has been appointed France's new Minister of Culture by President Nicolas Sarkozy. Mitterand is France's first openly gay cabinet member. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/06/openly-gay-frédéric-mitterrand-named-french-minister-of-culture.html

Sam Adams, out mayor of Portland, Oregon, has been cleared of wrongdoing in the Beau Breedlove affair. Towleroad reports: http://sites.google.com/site/h4socials/

Awards and Honors:

Winners: 21st Lambda Literary Awards for excellence in LGBT Literature from Tips-Q: http://www.tips-q.com/news/msm/966490-21st-lambda-literary-awards-announced

In Memoriam:

T. Scott Cunningham, the actor who starred in "Love! Valour! Compassion!" and "Take Me Out", died on 6/20/09 at age 47. He is survived by his partner, Harry Bouvy. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/130457-T._Scott_Cunningham_Actor_of_Off-Broadway_Stage_Dies_at_47

Photo Shoots and Video

***Broadway Bares 19.0 "Click It"
from Playbill.com: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/130450-PHOTO_CALL_Performers_Go_in_the_Buff_for_Broadway_Bares_19.0_Click_It%21
from Broadway.com: http://www.broadway.com/Broadway-Bares-2009/broadway_photos/5029681

Features

Cher's statement on Chaz Bono's TG journey. Reuters reports: http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE55I04B20090619

The Closet is the only option for many LGBT seniors. Towleroad reports http://www.towleroad.com/2009/06/closet-the-only-option-for-many-gay-seniors.html

Why The Gay Rights Movement Has No National Leader. Jeremy W. Peters writes for The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/21/weekinreview/21peters.html?_r=2&ref=global-home

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***Blithe Spirit. Out Rupert Everett and Angela Lansbury star in gay Noel Coward's comedy. to 7/19/09.
***The Disney Diaries. Phil Geoffrey Bond's solo show following one gay man's experience during "Gay Days" at Walt Disney World. to 6/27/09. (212) 695-6909.
***Judy Gold is Mommy Queerest!. 6/25/09. City Winery. www.citywinery.com.
***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 8/23/09. 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...

***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.
***The New Century, Paul Rudnick's gay-themed one-act comedies. to 7/19/09. Coral Gables, FL. www.gablestage.org
***Pearls Over Shanghai, a revival of the Cockettes 1970 Musical Extravaganza. to 8/16/09. San Francisco, CA. www.brownpapertickets.com.
***Some Men. Terrence McNally's comedy-drama about the history of gay men after Stonewall.. to 7/12/09. New Conservatory Theatre Pride Season. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org
***Tales of The City, a musicalization of Armistead Maupin's book by Jeff Whitty and The Scissors Sisters. 7/04/09-7/11/09. Waterford, CT. www.theoneill.org

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. 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/
***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. Documentary about 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. 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 musicalr.
***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

***July: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
***MON: 6/29: Marissa Jaret Winokur, Broadway's "Tracy Turnblad" in "Hairspray, hosts the new reality series "Dance Your A** Off", a combo of "Dancing With The Stars" and "The Biggest Loser". 10PM. Oxygen.
***SAT: 7/04: Michael Feinstein, Barry Manilow and The Muppets bring some gaiety to "A Capitol Fourth". Also featured: "Jersey Boys". PBS. 8PM. www.pbs.org.

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

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/

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.

7/13/09-8/02/09: New York, NY: Midtown International Theatre Festival. www.midtownfestival.org.

7/18/09: San Francisco, CA: Carol Channing and Friends. Dolly's back in a benefit performance for the Dr. Carol Channing / Harry Kullijian Foundation for the Arts. www.CityBoxOffice.com

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

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

7/25/09-8/02/09: Copenhagen, DK: OutGames, the LGBT sport and culture festival. www.copenhagen2009.org.

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

8/02/09: San Francisco, CA: Help Is On the Way: No Business Like Show Business, to raise funds for AIDS service providers. www.richmondermet.org

Last 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. Answer: Lambda, the lower case Greek letter.

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. Answer: The Rainbow Flag, designed by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker.

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. Answer: The Pink Triangle. An estimated 25,000 gays sent to prisons and later concentration camps. Their sentence also included sterilization, most commonly in the form of castration. In 1942, Hitler extended the punishment for homosexuality to death.

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. Answer: The Red Ribbon, to educate the public about the transmission of AIDS and HIV and the needs of those living with AIDS. .

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. Answer: The White Knot for Equality, dedicated to the premise that everyone should have the right to tie the knot. www.whiteknot.org.

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: July Milestones

1. Question: Name this phenomenon, first mentioned in the New York Times on July 2, 1981. It had a major impact on the LGBT community before becoming a world-wide issue. Hint: a recently deceased president ignored the subject for many years.

2. Question: Name this gay naturalist and author, an advocate of civil disobedience, born on July 12, 1817. He wrote primarily of the life around his isolated cabin in the Boston suburbs.

3. Question: Name this professional athlete and buff boy who came out on July 1, 1989 in the sports magazine, “Iron Man”.

4. Question: Name this college city, which was the first city in America to pass a broad gay civil rights law on July 10, 1972. Hint: It’s not San Francisco.

5. Question: Name this American TV, which made its debut on Showtime on July 13, 1984. It was the first American TV show with an openly gay lead character.

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/