Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 11/23/09

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 47 November 23, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com

The Fine Print

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The Gay Agenda: Datebook: November 23-29, 2009

This Just In !!! thru SUN: 11/22: Los Angeles, CA: Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde. Moises ("The Laramie Project") Kaufman's drama. Peter ("Queer as Folk") Paige stars. Will air on L.A. Theatre Works' radio theater series, The Play's The Thing, which broadcasts weekly on public radio stations nationwide and can be streamed on demand. www.latw.org.

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

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

THU: 11/26: Nationwide: Thanksgiving

Newsworthy:

California: Gay marriage advocates on 11/16/09 launched a campaign to try to overturn California's same-sex marriage ban, hoping to become the first U.S. state to convince voters to approve gay people's right to wed. Reuters reports: http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE5AF52G20091116

Florida: When Ken Keechl gets his turn as Broward mayor, he’ll become the first openly gay person in that spot and join an elite group as one of a relatively small number of openly gay or lesbian mayors in the U.S. The Sun Sentinel reports: http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/2009/11/as_keechl_gets_his_turn_as_bro.html

Window Media, the former publisher of Genre magazine, which also publishes the Washington Blade, Southern Voice, Houston Voice, South Florida Blade, David Atlanta and The 411 Magazine, reportedly closed up shop over the weekend. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/business/media/17window.html

Young Ally: Ten Year Old Refuses to say "The Pledge of Allegiance" until gays have full equality. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/11/interview-10yearold-who-refuses-to-say-pledge-of-allegiance-until-gays-have-full-equality.html

Features

Hanging Out with Cheyenne Jackson and Michael Feinstein and "The Power of Two". The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/fashion/15night.html?_r=1&ref=fashion

Scholarship Opportunities

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the nation's largest LGBT civil rights organization, released a comprehensive database of more than 160 scholarships available to LGBT and allied students. For information: www.hrc.org/scholarships.

Point Foundation Scholarships. The Point Foundation is the nation’s largest, publicity-supported organization granting scholarships to LGBT students of merit. Point provides support through multi-year scholarships, leadership training, mentoring and hope to LGBT students who are marginalized because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Scholarships for the 2010-2011 school year become available on 12/11/09. Application deadline is: 2/12/10. www.pointfoundation.org

The Resource Center:

GayLifeNYC.org, a non-profit AIDS Health Resources website, an informational, health, and entertainment outlet dedicated to newly diagnosed and people living with HIV/AIDS. www.gaylifenyc.org.

In Print:

I Am What I Am by John Barrowman. Michael O'Mara Books. The out star of "Torchwood" has a sequel to his first autobiographical tome "Anything Goes", which told about his coming out. Release ate: 11/15/09.

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***A Little Night Music. Sondheim's all-waltz musical stars Catherina Zeta-Jones (singing "Send in the Clowns") and Angela Lansbury.
***Finian's Rainbow. An old show with good tunes and Cheyenne Jackson starring as Woody for the swoon quotient.
***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.
***Wishful Drinking. Carrie Fisher's solo autobiographical show. She wakes up with a dead gay Republican in her bed and more. to 1/17/10. www.roundabouttheatre.org
***Zero Hour. Jim Brochu’s award-winning play about the life of theatre legend Zero Mostel. Brochu, who plays Mostel, and his onstage/offstage partner Steve Schalchlin, penned "The Big Voice: God or Merman?". to 1/31/10. www.ZeroHourShow.com

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. Pre-Broadway tryout. Chicago, IL. www.theaddamsfamilymusical.com
***Arias With A Twist. The song stylings of drag artist Joey Arias surrounded by an eye-popping theatrical extravaganza directed by Basil Twist. to 12/13/09. Los Angeles, CA. www.redcat.org.
***Bonnie and Clyde. Stark Sands and Laura Osnes play the fun-loving bank-robbing couple in a new musical. to 12/20/09. LaJolla, CA. www.lajollaplayhouse.org.
***Pop! A new musical about the shooting of gay pop artist Andy Warhol (played by “Queer As Folk” star Randy Harrison). Leslie Kritzer is Valerie Solanas, Brian Charles Rooney plays TG Candy Darling. to 12/19/09. New Haven, CT. www.yalerep.org.
***Santaland Diaries. David Sedaris' tale of being an unemployed writer who takes a holiday job as a department store elf. Nicholas ("Buffy, The Vampire Slayer") Brendon stars. to 12/20/09. Los Angeles, CA. www.theblank.com.
***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...

***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. Written and directed by Reed Cowan and narrated by Dustin Lance Black.
***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

***An Evening with John Barrowman. Concert DVD with the out star of Torchwood. ilmed before a live audience. www.amazon.co.uk.
***Bruno. Sacha Baron Cohen’s comedic take on an outrageously gay Austrian fashionista.
***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.
***Hump Day. Two straight dudes contemplate going gay to enter and win Humpfest, Seattle's amateur porn contest.
***Margaret Cho: Beautiful.
***Out At Work. The documentary that vividly illustrates what happens when LGBT people are not legally protected from employment discrimination.
***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.
***THU: 11/26: Macy's Thanksgiving Parade features Alan Cumming, Jane ("30 Rock") the casts of "Bye Bye Birdie" and "Billy Elliot". 9AM. NBC.


Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

11/30/09: New York, NY: Coleman Domingo's Big Ass 40th Birthday Party. The star of "A Boy And His Soul" offers an evening of song with guests Anika Noni Rose and Ari Gold. Domingo regularly appears on "The Big Gay Sketch Show" for Logo. www.joespub.com.

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". AFC promotes awareness of the plight of homeless LGBT youth. Broadway Speaks OUT! is an online talk show that provides viewers with an inside look at Broadway, current events, and the LGBT community. www.broadwayspeaksout.com

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

12/01/09: Worldwide: World AIDS Day

12/01/09-12/10/09: Online: LIFEBeat Celebrity Memorabilia Auction Honoring World AIDS Day. Participants in this project include Christine Baranski, Lance Bass, Craig Bierko, Gerard Butler, Stockard Channing, Gavin Creel, Andre De Shields, Angie Dickinson, Colman Domingo, Nanette Fabray, Louise Fletcher, Brendan Fraser, Lee Grant, Marcia Gay Harden, Julie Harris, June Havoc, Maurice Hines, Jackie Hoffman, Brian D'Arcy James, Allison Janney, Kristen Johnston, Jude Law, Marsha Mason, Sylvia Miles, John O'Hurley, Estelle Parsons, Faith Prince, Phylicia Rashad, Alice Ripley, Bob Saget, Christopher Seiber, Mary Testa, Michael Urie, Dick Van Patten, Betty White, and B.D. Wong. www.Bid2BeatAIDS.com.

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/

12/03/09: New York, NY: Cheyenne Jackson and Michael Feinstein perform excerpts from "The Power of Two" and sign CDs. 5PM. Barnes & Noble, Lincoln Center.

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

12/07/09: New York, NY: Gavin Creel, star of Broadway's "Hair" an one of the organizers of the Equality March on Washington, performs original songs at Symphony Space. 7PM and 9:30PM. www.symphonyspace.org.

12/07/09-12/08/09: New York, NY: 21st Annual Gypsy of the Year competition, where New York's most talented Broadway and Off-Broadway shows compete in a variety show to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Palace Theatre. www.broadwaycares.org.

12/09/09: New York, NY: The Talented Miss Highsmith: The Secret Life and Serious Art of Patricia Highsmith. Playwright JoanSchenkar and actor Kathleen Chalfant discuss the writer whose characters living closeted sexual lives in fiction mirrored her real life. Barnes & Noble. Broadway at 82nd St.

12/10/09: Houston, TX: Rainbow Night at The Ensemble Theatre. Performance of "Christmas with Great Aunt" with a reception. A benefit for Gay & Lesbian Rainbow Pages foundation that provides scholarships, and The Ensemble Theatre. www.ensemblehouston.com

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

Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: November Sweeps

1. Question: Name this news anchor/reporter, still part of a network news magazine team. On March 7, 1967, he hosted "CBS Reports: The Homosexual", the first major network news special about homosexuality. Answer: Mike Wallace of "60 Minutes".

2. Question: Name this actor, comic and awards show host. On September 13, 1977, he made his sitcom debut as a gay man with a closeted pro football player boyfriend. Before the show's debut, ABC received over 30,000 letters demanding the show be cancelled. Answer: Billy Crystal, who played the character on "Soap".

3. Question: Name this award-winning TV talk show host who came out to Diane Sawyer in 2002 on a program about gay parenting. She once joked with Ellen deGeneres about being “lebanese”. Answer: Rosie O’Donnell.

4. Question: Who was the first out competitor on "Dancing With The Stars", the consistent ABC ratings winner. Answer: Lance Bass, featured in the 2008 competition.

5. Question: Name this sitcom which made history on March 1, 1994, when an actress, granddaughter of a literary giant, played a character who kissed the show's leading lady in an episode called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". The episode was the highest rated TV show of the week. Answer: Roseanne. Mariel Hemingway (granddaughter of Ernest), liplocked Roseanne.

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: Let’s Talk Turkey

1. Question: Name this gay composer and lyricist whose 1934 hit about changing times mentioned “since the puritans got a shock, when they landed on Plymouth Rock”.

2. Question: What LGBT civil rights milestone took place about 50 miles from the locale in Question #1 on 11/18/03 ?

3. Question: Name this entertainer and gay icon whose Vicki Edie “Around the World” lounge act took Miss Edie on a Turkey trot?

4. Question: Name this 2000 Thanksgiving-themed film, in which four Los Angeles families celebrate the holiday. Lainie Kazan plays a shocked Jewish mother, when her daughter brings home a lesbian girlfriend. Hint: The cast was six degrees from Kevin Bacon.

5. Question: Name the bi choreographer who rose to the top when he created a showstopping Broadway dance number with a fowl theme. Hint: He lined up the chorus for Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

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/