Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 11/09/09

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 45 November 9, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com

The Fine Print

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The Gay Agenda: Datebook: November 9-15, 2009

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

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

MON: 11/09: 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.

MON: 11/09: New York, NY: Broadway Barks Because Broadway Cares. Bernadette Peters performs a benefit concert for Broadway Barks and Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS. www.BroadwayCares.org.

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

FRI: 11/13: Northampton, MA: Out For Reel, the LGBT film series, presents Sharon Gless in “Hannah Free”. www.outforreel.org.

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

Newsworthy:

Election 2009: Maine: Voters repeal gay marriage. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/us/politics/05maine.html

Election 2009: Wrap-Up from Towleroad: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/11/election-09-results-some-maine-bullet-points.html

Hate Crimes Bill is Law. President Obama signed a hate crimes bill into law on 10/28/09, telling an audience at the White House that the provision would “strengthen the protections against crimes based on the color of your skin, the faith in your heart, or the place of your birth.” The law expands the definition of violent federal hate crimes to those committed because of a victim’s sexual orientation. Obama said, “No one in America should ever be afraid to walk down the street holding the hands of the person they love.” The New York Times reports: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/obama-signs-hate-crimes-bill/

US HIV Travel Ban Lifted. President Obama said 10/30/09 that his administration is lifting a 22-year-old ban that prevented persons with HIV/AIDS from entering the country. The United States was the first country to institute such a ban, "a decision rooted in fear rather than fact," Obama said. Now only a dozen nations continue the practice. Obama made the announcement as he signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009, which provides help to more than half a million Americans. USAToday reports: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2009/10/620000743/1

Gay Couple Sues SkyWest Airlines for anti- gay discrimination. One, an employee, is not allowed to make use of spousal benefits despite his legal marriage. The San Francisco Chronicle reports: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/31/BAPV1ACLGV.DTL

The Buzz (People Making News)

Gavin Newsom, the San Francisco Mayor who is a strong ally for LGBT rights, dropped out of the California Governor's Race because of low numbers, limited campaign finances, and the birth of a new daughter. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/31/us/31newsom.html

Features

And Then There's Maude...on your arm. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/11/and-then-theres-maude-on-your-arm.html

Opportunities

Fresh Fruit, New York City's only multidiscipline festival of LGBT Culture and Arts, celebrates the work of LGBT artists past , present and future, in all mediums and genres. It aims, as well, to reveal the LGBT community's ethnic, racial and religious diversity. They're looking for submissions for the 2010 festival. Application deadline for this year's submissions is February 7, 2010. For application and information please email artisticdirector@freshfruitfestival.com.

In Print:

Lesbian and Gay Parents and Their Children: Research on the Family Life Cycle by Dr. Abbie Goldberg. The American Psychological Association. A comprehensive summary and analysis of the research on gay and lesbian parents and their families to date, and the first full-length analysis of the research on gay parenting, summarizing research data on the subject from the 1970’s to the present day. The research is consistent in suggesting that the outcomes and well-being of children raised by gay and lesbian parents are no different than those of children raised by heterosexual parents. Abbie E. Goldberg, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Clark University in Worcester, MA.

On CD:

Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols for a Cure, the 11th annual holiday CD to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. More than 20 holiday songs recorded by the casts of Off-Broadway and Broadway productions. www.broadwaycares.org

The Power of Two. the new duets CD featuring Broadway favorite Cheyenne Jackson and cabaret veteran Michael Feinstein.

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***The Gayest Christmas Pageant Ever. Joe Marshall's comedy about a struggling gay theatre company in West Hollywood. to 1/03/10. www.alternativethratreco.org.
***Judy Garland Live! Tommy Femia, award-winning Judy impressionist, celebrates his 20th season at Don't Tell Mama. Guest star: Eileen Fulton (11/07/09); Christine Pedi as Liza (11/21/09); TBA (12/05/09); Michael Musto (12/19/09). 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
***Miss Coco Peru is Undaunted. Clinton Leupp's GLAAD Media Award-winning drag sensation. to 11/15/09. www.SpinCycleNYC.com
***Not The Boy Next Door. Darren Williams celebrates the Peter Allen songbook. 11/10/09. 11/14/09. Metropolitan Room. www.metropolitanroom.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...

***The Addams Family. Nathan Lane, Bebe Neuwirth and Jackie Hoffman co-star in the musical based on the TV sitcom, cartoon series and films. Opens 11/13/09. Chicago, IL. www.theaddamsfamilymusical.com
***Dixie's Tupperware Party, bringing Tupperware-mania to a theatre near you. Dixie Longate stars. 11/13/09-11/15/09, Hartford, CT. www.DixiesTupperwareParty.com
***Judy Garland in Concert, a new multi-media concert that blends footage of the performer with the sounds of a live symphony orchestra. 11/14/09, Louisville, KY; www.judygarlandinconcert.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.
***Shakespeare's R & J, an edgy take on the Bard's "Romeo and Juliet" as performed by four young men in a boarding prep school. to 12/20/09. Hartford, CT. www.theaterworks.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.
***Dare, a trio of high school students who become unlikely friends at the end of their senior year. starring Alan Cumming, Ana Gasteyer, Sandra Bernhard and Emmy Rossum.
***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.
***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.

Out On Video & DVD

***Every Little Step: The Journey of "A Chorus Line".
***The Fall of '55. The documentary about the gay sex sting in Boise, Idaho in 1955.
***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.
***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.

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 ("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. thru 11/10/09. http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/outrage/index.html

***THU: 11/05: Sir Ian McKellan, actor and gay rights activist, visits "The View". ABC. Check local listings. He later shows up on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. NBC. Check local listings.
***FRI: 11/06: Rosie O'Donnell chats with Jimmy Fallon. NBC Late Night. Check local listings.
***THU: 11/12: Cheyenne Jackson guest stars on 30 Rock. NBC. For preview photos: http://www.afterelton.com/TV/2009/10/30rockcheyennepictures
***THU: 11/12: Joel Grey's Anatomy. The star of "Cabaret" guests stars at Seattle Grace. 9PM. ABC.

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

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

11/23/09: Los Angeles, CA: Kathy Griffin, queen of the D List, signing copies of "Official Book Club Selection". 7PM. Barnes & Noble, Grove Drive.

11/23/09: New York, NY: Lily Tomlin performs a benefit for Dixon Place. Comedienne Reno hosts. www.dixonplace.org.

11/30/09: New York, NY: A Very MARY Holiday Benefit for Broadway Speaks OUT & The Ali Forney Center. www.broadwayspeaksout.com

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

12/01/09: Worldwide: World AIDS Day

Last 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. Answer: David Brudnoy, of Boston flagship station WBZ. His autobiography, "Life Is Not a Rehearsal" is a good read.

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. Answer: Wanda Sykes. Her new Saturday night talk show premieres on Fox on 11/07/09.

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. Answer: Rachel Maddow.

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. Answer: Ari Shapiro of NPR.

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: LGBT Veterans

Veteran’s Day is upcoming next week. Despite the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy which discriminates against LGBT service personnel, many have served with honor. Thank them.

1. Question: Name this Middle Eastern nation that has permitted gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military since 1993.

2. Question: Name this American author who profiled the discrimination of gays and lesbians in the US military (from the Vietnam War to the Persian Gulf). Hint: He also wrote a best-seller about the AIDS Movement in America.

3. Question: Which was the first nation to ban discrimination against gays in the military.

4. Question: Name this doctor, humanitarian, and writer, who was dishonorably discharged from the military for being gay. As a navy doctor, he supervised a medical assistance program for more than 600,000 refugees fleeing North Vietnam. After his discharge, he established a network of clinics in South East Asia. He died at age 34.

5. Question: Name this Vietnam veteran, recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, who was one of the best-known openly gay men in America in the 1970's. His fight to remain in the military put him on the cover of TIME Magazine in 1975.

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/