Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 10/19/09

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 42 October 19, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com

The Fine Print

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The Gay Agenda: Datebook: October 19-25, 2009

October: LGBT History Month: http://www.glbthistorymonth.com/glbthistorymonth/2009/

thru SAT: 10/24: Washington, DC: Reel Affirmations, the LGBT film festival. www.reelaffirmations.org. The Washington Blade's preview: http://www.washblade.com/2009/10-9/arts/film/15320.cfm

thru SUN: 10/25: Seattle, WA: Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. www.threedollarbillcinema.org

MON: 10/19: Stevens Point, WI: An Evening with David Sedaris. Humorist and author. Also: TUE: 10/20: Norfolk, VA. WED: 10/21: Kansas City, MO. THU: 10/22: Billings, MT. FRI: 10/23: Missoula, MT: SAT: 10/24: Salt Lake City, UT: SUN: 10/25: Sun Valley, ID:http://www.barclayagency.com/sedaris_appearances.html

MON: 10/19: New York, NY: Martin Moran performs excerpts from "The Tricky Part", his award-winning one-man show about being gay and surviving abuse. www.writer.org.

WED: 10/21: Minneapolis, MN: Judy Shepard signs copies of her new book "The Meaning of Matthew", her story of Matthew Shepard's murder and her becoming a gay rights activist. 7PM. Barnes & Noble Also: THU: 10/22: Danville, CA: Time TBD. Rakestraw Books..FRI: 10/23: Santa Cruz, CA :Time TBD. Half Moon Theatre. http://www.matthewshepard.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Press_Media_Judy_BookTour09

SAT: 10/24: Los Angeles, CA: Rise Up and Shout ! Voices of the next gay generation. A benefit for gay youth. LGBT elders leading the community and youth coming out showcase their voices and visiions. www.riseupandshout.com

SUN: 10/25: Hartford, CT: Jason & Demarco perform a benefit for the Center Church, An Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ. www.centerchurchhartford.org

Newsworthy:

Hate Crimes Definition Expanded: The US House voted by a wide margin (281-to-146) on 10/08/09, to expand the definition of violent federal hate crimes to cover those committed because of a victim’s gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.
The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/09/us/politics/09hate.html?hp

Revisited: Matthew Shepard's Murder. Ten years later, "The Laramie Project" creators return to Wyoming to complete the story. The epilogue was performed by over 150 theatre groups worldwide. The Los Angeles Times reports: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-laramie11-2009oct11,0,2733126.story

Harvey Milk Day will be recognized in California. Slain gay rights activist Harvey Milk will get a special day of recognition in California, making him only the second person in state history to gain such a designation.Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's signing of the bill establishing "Harvey Milk Day" each May 22, Milk's birthday, was announced 10/12/09. The Associated Press reports: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hI1JvvWLcApKQ5ncgj8RUGlsWnYwD9B9NSJ80

Gay Ambasaador: President Barack Obama has nominated David Huebner, a gay attorney specializing in international law, to be U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and the Independent State of Samoa. Huebner, who is currently based in Shanghai and heads the China and International Disputes division for the law firm Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, would become the nation's third openly gay ambassador. The Washington Blade reports: http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=27545

Equality March Updates

***The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/us/politics/12protest.html
***The Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/10/11/ST2009101101924.html
***The Springfield (MA) Republican: Barney Frank says the March is a waste of time: http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/10/us_rep_barney_frank_says_gay_m.html

The Buzz (People Making News)

Tab Hunter, the 50s movie heart-throb who came out in his 2005 autobiography "Tab Hunter Confidential", will be the subject of an autobiographical documentary that tells what it's like to live a lie. Variety reports: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118009820.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

In Memoriam:

Stephen Gately, the British performer who found fame as a member of the pop group Boyzone and later performed in London’s West End, was found dead in Spain at the age of 33. Gately made news at the height of Boyzone’s success by coming out of the closet. He married husband Andrew Cowles in a civil union in 2006. Broadway.com reports: http://www.broadway.com/buzz/brit-boy-band-and-stage-star-stephen-gately-dead-33/

Features

Profile: Lady GaGa: For LGBT activists, this lady is a champ. The Washington Post profile: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/11/AR2009101101892.html?sid=ST2009101101924

Profile: Sean Strub, founder of POZ, turns his life into one of activism and giving. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/fashion/11genb.html?_r=1

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***A Boy and His Soul. Colman Domingo's one-man musical about coming of age and coming out. to 11/01/09. http://www.vineyardtheatre.org/show-a-boy-and-his-soul.html
***Alan Cumming: I Bought a Blue Car Today. Cumming's show based on his new CD. 10/25/09. www.iboughtabluecartoday.com.
***Broadway Close Up salutes out composer John Kander with David Hyde Pierce, Karen Ziemba, Debra Monk, Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley. 10/26/09. www.kaufman-center.org.
***The Diary of Anne Frankenstein. HX Drag Queen of the Year Nominee Mimi Imfurst stars as Anne, who hides in a lab attic in Bavaria. to 11/08/09. www.thediaryofannefrankenstein.com
***Fela! The musical story of groundbreaking African composer, performer and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti staged by out Bill T. Jones. The show sizzled off-Broadway last year.
***Finian's Rainbow. An old show with good tunes and Cheyenne Jackson starring as Woody for the swoon quotient.
***Wishful Drinking. Carrie Fisher's solo autobiographical show. She wakes up with a dead gay Republican in her bed and more. to 1/03/10. www.roundabouttheatre.org

Elsewhere...

***Dixie's Tupperware Party, bringing Tupperware-mania to a theatre near you. Dixie Longate stars. 10/20/09-11/08/09, Columbus, OH; www.DixiesTupperwareParty.com
***F__king Men. Joe DiPietro’s adaptation of Schnitzler's 19th century "La Ronde" which observes the sex lives of modern gay America. to 10/25/09. Hollywood, CA.
www.celebrationtheatre.com
***I Am My Own Wife, the fascinating real-life story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a German transvestite who managed to survive both Nazi rule and the repressive East German Communist regime. to 11/08/09. Sacramento, CA. www.bstreettheatre.org
***Insatiable Hunger. Lea Delaria stars in a new musical about a washed-up rock star who comes face-to-face with her past. to 10/23/09. Wellfleet, MA. www.what.org.
***Parade. TR Knight ("Greys Anatomy") stars as Leo Frank in the musical about a 1913 murder in Atlanta. to 11/15/09. Los Angeles, CA.www.centertheatregroup.org.
***Tiny Kushner. Five short plays by out playwright Tony ("Angels in America") Kushner. to 11/29/09. Berkeley, CA. www.berkeleyrep.org

On Screen (and Video & DVD)

Out on Screen...

***Coco Before Chanel, Audrey Tautou stars as the legendary fashion designer, as the film follows her early years, exploring her rumored lesbian affairs.
***Fame. A remake of the 1980 musical with Kelsey Grammer, Debbie Allen and Megan Mullally with a cast of unknowns playing the wannabe stars at a New York City performing arts high school.
***Hannah Free. Sharon Gless stars in the film adaptation of Claudia Allen's play about a woman who fights to see her lesbian partner one last time in a nursing home. Premiere screening:www.hannahfree.com
***Passing Strange. Spike Lee's documentary about Stew's Broadway rock musical.
***Taking Woodstock. Ang Lee's new film about the rock festival based on Elliot Tiber's memoir. Demetri Martin stars as the gay Tiber. Liev Schriber plays a transvestite; Jeffrey Dean Morgan plays a closeted married guy who has an affair with Tiber.

Out On Video & DVD

***Every Little Step: The Journey of "A Chorus Line".
***Hope Along The Wind: The Life of Harry Hay. the 2002 documentary about the gay rights pioneer.
***The Judy Garland Show Holiday Special. The 1963 one-hour special with Garland, Liza Minnelli and Lorna and Joe Luft, Jack Jones, Mel Torme.
***The L Word. The Complete Series in a box set.
***Out At Work. The documentary that vividly illustrates what happens when LGBT people are not legally protected from employment discrimination. The new DVD has updates to reflect the 2009 status of LGBT workplace rights. /www.newday.com/films/outatwork.html?code=H2U7UA
***Pageant. The documentary about the Miss Gay America Pageant. .
***The Wizard of Oz. 70th Anniversary Two-Disc Special Edition showcasing Dorothy and friends.

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. www.glaad.org/tvgayed

***October: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
***October: 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. Includes analysis by Barney Frank, Jim McGreevey, Larry Kramer, Michelangelo Signorile, and Mike Rogers. thru 11/10/09. http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/outrage/index.html

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

10/26/09: San Francisco, CA: Defying Inequality: The San Francisco Concert, a benefit for Marriage Equality USA and Garden State Equality. Featuring the San Francisco cast of "Wicked", Patty Duke, Bruce Vilanch, Judy Gold and others. www.defyinginequality.com.

10/28/09: Richmond, IN: Peterson Toscano performs his solo theatre piece "Doin' Time in the Homo No Mo Halfway House'." about surviving time in the ex-gay movement. www.petersontoscano.com

11/03/09: Boston, MA: HX Gay & Lesbian Travel Expo. http://gaylifetravel.squarespace.com/

11/05/09-11/14/09: Chicago, IL: Reeling 2000: Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Fest. www.reelingfilmfestival.org

11/20/09-11/22/09: West Palm Beach, FL: 2009 Anti-Heterosexism Conference. In-depth workshops open to everyone who seeks to challenge the harmful affects of heterosexism, reparative therapy, ex-gay ministries and other efforts to change people’s sexual orientation. http://www.soulforce.org/anti-heterosexism-conference

11/22/09: New York, NY: 16th Annual Race to Deliver. Road race in Central Park to benefit God's Love We Deliver to help provide life-sustaining meals for those living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-altering illnesses. www.racetodeliver.org

Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Opera: Queens and Divas

1. Question: Name this 2000 opera, written by an out composer and playwright, who were inspired by Susan Sarandon and the story of a Louisiana sister. Hint: It has become one of the most popular contemporary operas, alongside Andre Previn’s “A Streetcar Named Desire”. Answer: Dead Man Walking, Jake Heggie’s and Terrence McNally’s treatment of the film, which chronicled Sister Helen Prejean (played by Sarandon in the movie).

2. Question: Name this 20th century diva, whose offstage life was as dramatic as her roles (Fanny Ardont played her in a Zefferelli biographical film. Faye Dunaway, Dixie Carter and Patti LuPone played her onstage.). She inspired gay playwright Terrence McNally twice; Nathan Lane became a star because of McNally’s first play. Answer: Maria Callas. Lane starred in McNally’s play “The Lisbon Traviata”; McNally later wrote “Masterclass” about the diva which brought raves for Faye, Dixie and Patti. “Callas Forever” with Fanny Ardont and Jeremy Irons is out on video.

3. Question: Name this gay opera composer who wrote many leading roles for his off-stage partner of many years. His final work (1973), based on a German novella, was the story of an older man obsessed with a beautiful Venetian twink. Answer: Benjamin Britten, who composed “Death in Venice”. His partner Peter Pears sang the lead.

4. Question: Name this historical character, whose life and tragic death became the subject of a 1995 American opera. The character rose to fame in post-Stonewall America as an out politican and gay rights activist. Answer: Harvey Milk, the subject of Stewart Wallace’s and Michael Korie’s opera “Harvey Milk”, which has played major international opera houses since its debut. Korie wrote the Broadway musical "Grey Gardens".

5. Question: Name this opera which inspired a Broadway musical which has starred an American idol, a TV-show cop, a very young doctor, a green witch, and a queer guy. Hint: It’s not “Madama Butterfly (which became “Miss Saigon”) or “Carmen” (which became “Carmen Jones”). Answer: “La Boheme”, which became “Rent”. Frenchie Davis, Jesse L. Martin, Neil Patrick (“Doogie Howser”) Harris, Idina Menzel and Jai Rodriguez have starred in the Broadway version.

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: Marches for Equality

1. Question: When did the first major National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights take place ? It drew over 75,000 people to the Nation's Capitol to demand equal civil rights and urge the passage of protective civil rights legislation. It drew major LGBT figures of the times, amongst them Allen Ginsberg, Troy Perry, and Leonard Matlovich.

2. Question: Name this activist, very much involved in last week's Equality March. A contemporary of Harvey Milk (he was played by Emile Hirsch in the recent film), he was a co-founder of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. His memorial initiative to people with AIDS was unveiled for the first time in public at the secondMarch on Washington.

3. Question: Name the initiative, which evolved from the second major March on Washington in 1987, which drew over 500,000 people to demand government action, especially by the Reagan administration, in the fight against AIDS. Today, this initiative and its personal action supports an act of individual bravery in the LGBT community.

4. Question: Name this national center, which opened days before the 1993 LGBT March on Washington. It's part memorial, part history museum about the marginalization and extermination of minorities, gays included. One major gay rights symbol traces it roots to this dark historical period.

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/