Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 11//02/09

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 44 November 2, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com

The Fine Print

See previous editions

Subscription Information: This newsletter is available via free email subscription only. Our mailing list is confidential.
To subscribe: Email OnQYB@aol.com and write “Subscribe COS News” in subject line.
To unsubscribe: Email OnQYB@aol.com and write “Cancel COS News” in subject line.

The Gay Agenda: Datebook: November 2-8, 2009

MON: 11/02: San Jose, CA: An Evening with David Sedaris. Humorist and author. http://www.barclayagency.com/sedaris_appearances.html

MON: 11/02: New York, NY: America Dances! Celebrating Our Sparkling Heritage--Broadway, TV & Film, a benefit for Career Transition for Dancers. Patrick Swayze will receive the Rolex Dance Award posthumously. The evening will include appearances by Ethan Steifel, Ann Reinking, and Laura Benanti. www.careertransition.org.

TUE: 11/03: New York, NY: The "Glee" cast (from the hit FOX series) sign copies of the show's soundtrack album. 5:30PM. Border's/Columbus Circle.

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

WED: 11/04: Washington, DC: Raymond Luczak shares his tale of growing up gay and deaf in his new book "Assembly Required: Notes from a Deaf Gay Life". Lambda Rising Books. www.lambdarising.com.

WED: 11/04: New York, NY: Celebrity Autobiography. Kristen Johnston, Carol Kane, \Carson Kressley, Andrea Martin, and Michael Urie interpret the actual words and stories written by the famous and the infamous, in both solo and ensemble "chamber" pieces culled from the autobiographies of celebrities. www.celebrityautobiography.com

WED-SUN: 11/04-11/08: Hartford, CT: EROS (Encouraging Respect of Sexualities) Film Festival. www.outfilmct.org

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

Newsworthy:

News-In-The-Making: President Obama will sign the Hate Crimes Bill today, shortly after we go to press. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/10/obama-will-make-remarks-on-enactment-of-hate-crimes-bill-at-white-house-reception-on-wednesday.html

Senate Approves Hate Crimes Legislation. The Senate voted on 10/22/09 to extend new federal protections to people who are victimized because of their gender or sexual orientation, bringing the legislation close to reality after years of fierce debate. The 68 -29 vote sends the measure to President Obama, who has said he supports it. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/us/politics/23hate.html?hp

Bea Arthur left over $300,000 to the Ali Forney Center, which offers food, emergency housing, medical treatment, HIV testing, and educational training for as many as 1,000 young LGBT people annually. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2009/10/27/Bea_Leaves_$300K_to_Homeless_Youths/

Awards and Honors:

Winner: Rome Film Festival. "Brotherhood", the Danish film that profiles a gay romance in a neo-Nazi cult. No news as yet, as to who will distribute it in the USA and Canada. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/10/brotherhood-gay-neonazi-romance-wins-rome-film-festival.html

In Memoriam:

Michael Frazier, the theatrical producer, who presented "Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music" on Broadway, died on 10/23/09, at age 72. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/134146-Michael_Frazier_Producer_Is_Dead_at_72

Features

Profile: Paul Rudnick, the out playwright ("Jeffrey") and humorist has a new short story collection. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/dining/28Rudn.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Profile: Cheyenne Jackson is a Broadway leading man. Being out and proud is part of his charm. He's got a new album out and he's starring in "Finian's Rainbow". Next reports: http://www.nextmagazine.net/features/3.php

Profile: Terri White, survivor, stars in "Finian's Rainbow" on Broadway. A year ago, she was homeless. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/nyregion/27bigcity.html?ref=nyregion

In Print:

I Shudder by Paul Rudnick. Harper Collins. The out playwright and humorist shares a collection of short essays on life including the premise that the kids in us will like: it is possible to thrive on a diet of candy. (A profile of him appears in our features section).

The Collected Plays of Mart Crowley. Alyson Books. "The Boys in the Band" (his legendary gay-themed commercial hit) and its sequel "Men from the Boys" and four other plays, two in print for the first time.

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***The Diary of Anne Frankenstein. HX Drag Queen of the Year Mimi Imfurst stars as Anne, hiding in an attic in Bavaria. to 11/29/09. www.thediaryofannefrankenstein.com
***Fela! The story of African composer/activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti staged by out Bill T. Jones.
***Finian's Rainbow. A musical with Cheyenne Jackson starring for the swoon quotient.
***Hair, Tony-winning revival of the first major rock musical. www.publictheater.org.
***Judy Garland Live! Tommy Femia, award-winning Judy impressionist. Guest star: Eileen Fulton (11/07/09); Christine Pedi as Liza (11/21/09) www.donttellmamanyc.com.
***Love, Linda: The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter. a new musical about her glamourous life with gay husband Cole Porter. to 11/21/09. www.lovelindathemusical.com
***Mario Cantone brings his comedy to Caroline's on Broadway. 11/05/09-11/08/09. www.carolines.com
***Miss Coco Peru is Undaunted. Clinton Leupp's GLAAD Media Award-winning drag sensation. 11/06/09-11/15/09. www.SpinCycleNYC.com
***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...

***Abraham Lincoln's Big Gay Dance Party. A rural third grade teacher outs Abe at the annual Christmas pageant. to 11/08/09. Storrs, CT. www.crt.uconn.edu
***Dixie's Tupperware Party, bringing Tupperware-mania to a theatre near you. Dixie Longate stars. to 11/08/09, Columbus, OH; 11/13/09-11/15/09, Hartford, CT; www.DixiesTupperwareParty.com
***I Am My Own Wife, the freal-life story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a German transvestite who survived both Nazi rule and the East German Communist regime. to 11/08/09. Sacramento, CA. www.bstreettheatre.org
***The Little Dog Laughed. A Hollywood agent goes bonkers when her matinee idol client decides to come out. to 11/08/09. San Francisco, CA. www.nctscf.org
***My Walk Down The Pink Carpet. Leslie Jordan's hilarious solo show. 11/04/09-11/06/09, Key West, FL; http://www.thelesliejordan.com/
***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.
***A Streetcar Named Desire. The Tennessee Williams classic with Cate Blanchett as Blanche. to 11/21/09. Washington, DC. www.sydneytheatre.com.au
***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.
***8: The Mormon Proposition is a new documentary about the involvement of the Church of Latter Day Saints' involvement in the passage of Proposition 8 in California. Narrated by Dustin Lance Black. http://www.towleroad.com/2009/10/documentary-exposes-mormon-financial-contributions-to-prop-8.html
***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
***Oy Vey. My Son is Gay. A coming out film with Carmen Electra, Lainie Kazan, Bruce Vilanch, Jai Rodriguez. One assumes it's a comedy.
***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.
***Out At Work. The documentary that vividly illustrates what happens when LGBT people are not legally protected from employment discrimination. /www.newday.com/films/outatwork.html?code=H2U7UA
***Pageant. The documentary about the Miss Gay America Pageant.

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

***November: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
***November: An Englishman in New York. John Hurt plays Quentin Crisp in a film about the last years of his life. Among the co-stars: Cynthia Nixon, Denis O'Hare, Jonathan Tucker. Logo. Check local listings.
***November: 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. thru 11/10/09. http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/outrage/index.html

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

11/09/09: New York, NY: Tony Kushner honored by the New York City Anti-Violence Project at its 13th annual Courage Awards. www.avp.org

11/09/09: New York, NY: Jane Lynch of "Glee" (Sue, the cheerleader coach) appears in the first installment of "Newsmakers" at the LGBT Center. www.gaycenter.org.

11/11/09: New York, NY: 2nd Annual Travel Summit/Insiders Europe. www.outprofessionals.org.

11/14/09: Hartford, CT: One Big Event. Benefit for the Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective. http://www.hglhc.org/onebigevent/index.html

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

11/30/09: New York, NY: A Very MARY Holiday Benefit for Broadway Speaks OUT & The Ali Forney Center. Featuring Nick Adams and Jeffery Self and Cole Escola of Logo "Jeffery & Cole Casserole". www.broadwayspeaksout.com

12/01/09: Atlanta, GA: HX Gay & Lesbian Travel Expo. http://gaylifetravel.squarespace.com/

12/01/09: Worldwide: World AIDS Day

12/02/09: Los Angeles, CA: The Drama of AIDS, a program in celebration of World AIDS Day featuring the premiere of EZTV’s Dream Man and readings from Michael Kearns’ book in tandem with an exhibit from the AIDS Quilt. www.onearchives.org.

12/03/09: Ft. LAuderdale, FL: HX Gay & Lesbian Travel Expo. http://gaylifetravel.squarespace.com/

12/06/09: Los Angeles, CA: Cracked Xmas 12. An evening of irreverent comedy, musical performances and special awards to benefit The Trevor Project. http://www.thetrevorproject.org/events.aspx

12/10/09-12/14/09: New York, NY: Isaac Mizrahi narrates "Peter & The Wolf", with George Manahan conducting the Juilliard Ensemble. www.worksandprocess.org.

Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: November Milestones

1. Question: Name this successful LGBT news magazine, subject of a front page profile in the Wall Street Journal on November 3, 1975. It continues to be one of the leading LGBT news sources today. Answer: The Advocate.

2. Question: Name this out comic, the first openly-gay cast member of “Saturday Night Live”. He joined the company on November 9, 1985, and did a great “Nancy Reagan”. Answer: Terry Sweeney.

3. Question: Name this bisexual American designer born November 19, 1942. Many people have his name below their belts. When Mark Wahlberg teamed up with him, Times Square had fender benders for days. Answer: Calvin Klein. MarkyMark’s billboard in Times Square (in his Calvins) caused fender benders along Broadway.

4. Question: Name this gay photographer and artist, born November 4, 1946. He was known for his “uptown” floral portraits, but his “downtown” nudes and S&M pictures caused a censorship controversy in the 1980s. Answer: Robert Mapplethorpe.

5. Question: Name this award-winning play (and subsequent film), which opened on Broadway on November 20, 1934. It profiled two schoolteachers accused of being lesbians. Its author, one of the most celebrated female playwrights in 20th century literature, wrote a play which made Talullah Bankhead an American icon. Answer: The Children’s Hour by Lillian Hellman, author of “The Little Foxes”.

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: Gay On The Air

1. Question: Name this libertarian radio talk show host who came out publicly on the air in 1994, after being diagnosed with HIV. Having attracted a largely conservative audience based on his political views, traditional anti-gay conservatives rejected him, though others admired him for his courage. His ratings upticked after his autobiography was released. He died in 2004.

2. Question: Name this out actress and comic, whose late night talk show hits the TV screen next month. Recently, she was the first African-American and the first openly LGBT person to be featured entertainer at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner. She's an Emmy winner.

3. Question: Name this TV pundit who rose to quick fame in radio. She is the first out American to win a Rhodes scholarship. After a quick rise to fame in radio in Northampton, MA, she jumped to Air America before moving to television. She is the first openly gay anchor to be hired to host a prime-time news program in the United States.

4. Question: Name this up-and-coming National Public Radio journalist, who often hosts the network's morning drive news magazine. He covers the justice department and legal affairs beat. In 2008, Out Magazine included him in the Out 100.

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/