Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 7/20/09

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 29 July 20, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com

The Fine Print

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The Gay Agenda: Datebook: July 20-26, 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 THU: 8/06: New York, NY: HOT! Festival of LGBT Performance and Culture www.dixonplace.org or www.hotfestival.org/

thru TUE: 7/21: Philadelphia, PA:13th Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival 200 films from more than two-dozen countries. www.phillyfests.com

thru TUE: 7/21: Los Angeles, CA: Outfest, LGBT film festival.www.outfest.org

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

thru SUN: 8/02: New York, NY: Midtown International Theatre Festival. www.midtownfestival.org.

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

MON: 7/20: San Francisco, CA: Sparkle, Patty, Sparkle! A salute to Patty Duke, a screening of "Valley of The Dolls". Castro Theatre. http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=1588494

WED: 7/22: New York, NY: Justin Bond, best known as Kiki (of Kiki and Herb), celebrates his new CD "Pink Slip" with a release party at the Highline Ballroom. www.highlineballroom.com.

THU: 7/23: New York, NY: Broadway in Bryant Park. Free performances by the casts of "Rock of Ages"and "Next to Normal". 12:30PM. www.1067newyork.com.

SAT: 7/25: Chicago, IL: Celebrate Bailiwick with Alexandra Billings and Friends. A benefit for Bailiwick Repertory Theatre starring the TG actress and cabaret singer who recently appeared on "Grey's Anatomy". www.bailiwick.org

SUN: 7/26: Hartford, CT: LGBTQ Wedding Expo. highlighting over 40 gay-friendly businesses, including wedding businesses, travel services, gifts and more. www.SameLoveSameRights.com

Newsworthy:

The National Equality March has begun organizing the Equality Across America gathering and march in Washington, DC scheduled or October 10-11 (the latter being National Coming Out Day). Among the goals: 1. Repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) so that every marriage in every state has the same federal rights. 2. Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell so that LGBT persons may serve in the military openly and with the same rights as their straight counterparts. 3.An end to workplace discrimination for everyone with an Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that protects everyone. 4. The right to adopt children and raise families like any other parents. 5. Hate Crimes legislation that includes LGBT people and protects us like any other targeted group. 6. Immigration reform that recognizes same-sex couples and ends the needless separation of families. www.NationalEqualityMarch.com

Massachusetts, the first state to legalize gay marriage, sued the U.S. government over a federal law that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The federal Defense of Marriage Act interferes with the right of Massachusetts to define and regulate marriage as it sees fit, MA Attorney General Martha Coakley said. The Washington Blade reports: http://www.washblade.com/2009/7-10/news/national/14864.cfm

Vermont: The newest inpatient mental health and addiction program at Brattleboro Retreat is the first in New England designed exclusively for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals. The Washington Blade reports: http://www.washblade.com/2009/7-10/news/national/14846.cfm

Episcopalians declared gays and lesbians eligible for "any ordained ministry" on 7/14/09, a vote expected to upset world Anglican leaders who had sought a clear moratorium on consecrating another gay bishop. Associated Press reports: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jhOJ4iRJ_TnGrWTv4l8RPZrtnmuwD99EIGTO0

The Buzz (People Making News)

Coming Out: Stan Rosenberg, the Massachusetts state senator, has come out. (Editor's Note: Mr. Rosenberg has always been one of the state's most pro-LGBT rights legislators and a great guy). MassLive reports: http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/mass_state_sen_stanley_rosenbe.html?category=Amherst+category=Politics

Jeanne Córdova has given $30,000 to the ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives in Los Angeles, in what is believed to be the largest donation ever given by a lesbian donor to an LGBT archive. The donation will be used specifically for the lesbian feminist collection. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid98138.asp

Neil Patrick Harris, who hosted the Tony Awards to much acclaim, will host the upcoming Emmy Awards. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/131045-Neil_Patrick_Harris_Will_Host_Emmy_Awards

Weddings, Civil Unions and Engagements:

Bill Russell, the Tony-nominated author of the book and lyrics for “Side Show” and "Pageant" and Bruce Bossard were married 7/11/09. Bossard formerly covered New York theater for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Backstage and Our Town.

In Memoriam:

Lawrence S. King, Emmy-winning set designer, died 7/03/09, at age 65. King designed "As the World Turns" for 13 years. He leaves his partner of 40 years, set designer Michael Yeargan. The Hartford Courant reports: http://blogs.courant.com/curtain/2009/07/set-designer-lawrence-king-die.html

The Resource Center:

The National Center for Lesbian Rights has published "Planning with Purpose: Legal Basics for LGBT Elders" provides basic information about areas of the law important to LGBT elders 55+. http://www.elderlawanswers.com/resources/article.asp?id=7778&Section=4&state=


In Print:

Smash the Church, Smash the State!: the Early Years of Gay Liberation, edited by Tommi Avicolli Mecca. City Light Books. A collection of essays by those who have first-hand memories to share of those years of gay rights before Stonewall. The Washington Blade reports: http://www.washblade.com/2009/7-10/arts/books/14850.cfm

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***International CringeFest 09: Go Genital Into That Good Night. Performances of "Dragness of God", a parody with men as nuns, and "Grampa Hitler and the Lil Red Ridin' Hood". ; 7/25/09, 8/01/09, 8/08/09. The Producer's Club. www.theatermania.com
***Old Queen. Performance artist Penny Arcade's work in progress at HOT! Festival of LGBT Performance and Culture. to 7/25/09. www.dixonplace.org
***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 8/23/09. SpinCycleNYC.com
***V Love, Not Your Mother's Vagina Play. a multi-media cabaret play inspired by true stories from the cast, with Scout Durwood (A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila). to 7/26/09. Fresh Fruit Festival. www.mighty-little.com

Elsewhere...

***The Cousins Grimm. a new musical that reworks the timeless fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm into contemporary urban fables filled with LGBT characters. to 8/23/09. Chicago, IL. www.bailiwick.org.
***Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde. Moises "the Laramie Project" Kaufman's biographical play. to 8/22/09. www.newprovincetownplayers.org
***Rent Boy Ave: A Fairy's Tale, The New Sexy Hot Urban Rock Musical.rent boys in a modern take on "Hansel and Gretel". to 8/09/09. San Francisco. www.boxcartheatre.org
***Songs to Make You Gay. After finding a website warning parents against the bands and songs that will turn children gay, Connie Champagne begins a quest to find the music with the transformative power to change one’s sexual orientation. to 8/01/09. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org.
***Take Me Out. Richard Greenberg's award-winning play about a baseball star who comes out. to 8/20/09. Provincetown, MA. http://www.newprovincetownplayers.org/

On Screen (and Video & DVD)

Out on Screen...

***Bruno. Sacha Baron Cohen plays a gay fashionista from Austria who fancies himself as "the voice of Austrian youth TV."
***The Country Teacher, a Czech film about a gay school teacher who lusts for a student he tutors.
***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.
***Grey Gardens, a new movie about eccentric Jackie O cousins Edie Beale (Drew Barrymore) and her mother (Jessica Lange).
***Hair: Let the Sunshine In. Pola Rapaport's documentary that traces the roots and legacy of the landmark musical.
***Kiki & Herb Live. The Tony-nominated gender-bending downtown club act.
***Mad Men, Season 2. Look for Bryan Batt as a closeted ad exec in this TV drama about a 1960s ad agency.

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

***Ongoing: Drop Dead Diva. With Margaret Cho in the cast, this is not drama. Sundays at 9PM. Lifetime. http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/shows/drop-dead-diva
***July: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

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

8/01/09-8/09/09: Provincetown, MA: Family Week. for LGBT families. 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

8/04/09: Philadelphia, PA: 7th Annual Gay Community Night @ Phillies. www.phillygaydays.com.

8/13/09-8/16/09: Durham, NC: North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. www.carolinatheatre.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. Off-beat, often LGBT-themed music, dance and theatre. www.fringenyc.org.

8/23/09-8/30/09: Porter, ME: Camp Camp. summer camp for LGBT adults. www.campcamp.com

8/29/09-9/07/09: Milwaukee, WI:National Gay Softball World Series. www.nagaaasoftball.org

Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Friends of Dorothy

1. Question: Name this character. Amongst the original Friends of Dorothy, one friend's real life son married Dorothy's real-life daughter. Answer: The Tin Man, played by Jack Haley. Jack Haley, Jr married Judy Garland's daughter, Liza Minnelli. Their 1970s marriage was brief.

2. Question: Name this TV series set in the Emerald City, in which two Friends of Dorothy had a brutal romance. One emerged as a compassionate cop; the other emerged on a suburban lane, where he romanced a housewife's son. Answer: Oz, which starred Christopher Meloni ("Law & Order SVU") and Lee Tergesen ("Desperate Housewives") as prison buddies. The prison unit was called "Emerald City".

3. Question: Name this 1978 film, based on an earlier musical, which urbanized the friends of Dorothy, who was played by a diva. Her recently-deceased scarecrow was said to resemble her appearance. Answer: "The Wiz". Diana Ross played Dorothy and Michael Jackson was her scarecrow. The Broadway version was revived this summer with Ashanti as Dorothy.

4. Question: Name this prequel to Dorothy's story, based upon a best-selling book written by an out author. It tells Dorothy's story from the viewpoint of two witches, one who wants to be popular and one who is green. Answer: "Wicked", the blockbuster musical based on Gregory Maguire's book "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch".

5. Question: Which of the following has not played a Witch ? A) DeeDee Bridgewater, B) Kristin Chenoweth, C) Lena Horne, D) Bebe Neuwirth E) Billie Burke. Answer: Bebe Neuwirth. DeeDee Bridgewater was "Glinda" in Broadway's "The Wiz" and Lena Horne played the role in the film. Chenoweth was "Galinda" in "Wicked" and Billie Burke was the original "Glinda".

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: Summer Fun: Where Are We ?

1. Question: Name this LGBT summer resort, often called “The Nation’s Summer Capital”, a short hope from John Waters Land, the City of Brotherly Love, and other mid-Atlantic capitals. You’ll find the boys at “Poodle Beach”, near the Boardwalk at Queen Street. And, humorist Fay Jacobs captured the essence of this community in her bestselling memoir.

2. Question: Name this state, which features a beachfront LGBT resort favored by Windy City folk, and an international music festival founded in 1976 Hint: No men make music here.

3 Question: Name this LGBT resort which dates back to 1822. Its name is an English corruption of its original Spanish name, “Bone Key”. It started life as a home to sailors, smugglers and whores, then became a literary capital, artist colony and one of the first American LGBT resorts.

4. Question: Name this LGBT summer resort, where the tea-dance originated. In the early 1960’s, a local hotelier served a complete English tea served by begowned drag queens. Later, music was added along with stronger libations, although the island nearby is known for a strong tea drink. Incidentally, pre-Stonewall, local ordinances prohibited speedos (unless covered by towels) or same-sex couples on the dance floor.

5. Question: Name this LGBT-friendly resort nation favored by Europeans. Its LGBT beach is just 20 minutes from some Gaudi masterpieces. One of its tonsorial masters inspired an opera and precipitation falls mainly on flatlands.

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/