Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 2/01/10

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 13 No. 5 February 1, 2010
Newsletter Editor: M. G. Auerbach Email: COSNewsweekly@gmail.com

The Fine Print

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The Gay Agenda: Datebook: February 1-7, 2010

TUE: 2/02: Worldwide: GroundHog Day. The rodent comes out (and you know the rest).

TUE: 2/02: Hollywood, CA: Oscar Nominations announced. www.oscars.org.

WED: 2/03: New York, NY: Mart Crowley, author of the landmark play “The Boys in The Band”, discusses his play, about to be revived in New York. www.gaycenter.org

THU: 2/04: New York, NY: Patti Lupone will discuss her career as a performer and her roles both onstage and off at 92Y. www.92y.org

FRI: 2/05: New York, NY: RuPaul signs copies of "Workin' It!". 7PM. Borders. Columbus Circle.

FRI: 2/05: Washington, DC: Shabbaton, hosted by Nehirim. An intergenerational LGBT Jewish community experience that combines lectures and workshops for the mind-body-heart-soul of the Jewish LGBT person. www.nehirim.org/retreats/qsdc .

SAT: 2/06: Philadelphia, PA: Book Lovers Mixer, a literary speed-dating event to benefit Giovanni’s Room, the LGBT bookstore. www.queerbooks.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp?s=storeevents&eventId=433294

Newsworthy:

Republicans Coming Out for Marriage Equality. GayPolitics.com reports: http://www.gaypolitics.com/2010/01/21/republicans-coming-out-for-marriage-equality/

Hawaii: The state Senate passed a civil-unions bill, sending a strong message to the state House and Gov. Linda Lingle with a veto-proof majority vote. The Honolulu Advertiser reports: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100122/BREAKING01/100122039/Hawaii+Senate+passes+civil-unions+bill++18-7

America’s Gayest City turns out to be Atlanta., followed by Burlington, Vt.; Iowa City, Iowa; and Bloomington, Ind.The Advocate has compiled a list. (Editor’s Note: The Advocate in print is no longer a standalone publication. It mails with OUT. )NPR reports: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122867548&sc=fb&cc=fp

The Buzz (People Making News)

Cindy McCain and daughter Meghan McCain have come out in support of marriage equality, even though John McCain remains opposed to same-sex marriage. The Washington Post reports: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/20/AR2010012004764.html
For information on the NOH8 Campaign: http://www.noh8campaign.com/

Steve Gunderson, a former GOP Congressman from Wisconsin who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 16 years, has been appointed as a member of the President’s Commission on White House Fellows. GayPolitics.com reports: http://www.gaypolitics.com/2010/01/19/obama-appoints-gay-former-congressman/

Weddings, Civil Unions and Engagements:

Jane Lynch of “Glee” will marry her partner, Dr. Lara Embry in May. PopEater reports: http://www.popeater.com/2010/01/26/jane-lynch-lara-embry-wedding-news/?icid=main|main|dl2|link5|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.popeater.com%2F2010%2F01%2F26%2Fjane-lynch-lara-embry-wedding-news%2F

Awards and Honors:

Nominees: Helen Hayes Awards for excellence in Washington, DC theatre. The Washington Post reports: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/25/AR2010012503682.html?sid=ST2010012503689

Nominees: The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, honoring excellence in theater in Orange County. The 41st annual Drama Critics Circle Awards ceremony will be held on March 22 at the Colony Theatre. www.ladramacriticscircle.com.

In Memoriam:

James Mitchell, the stage and screen actor best known for playing tycoon Palmer Cortland for 30 years on the daytime soap opera “All My Children”, died 1/22/10 at age 89. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/01/23/All_My_Children_Star_James_Mitchell_Dead_at_89/

Earl Wild, the American pianist and composer who was renowned for his performances of the virtuoso showpieces of the grand Romantic tradition but whose enormous repertory included everything from Baroque works and Mozart concertos to contemporary scores, died Saturday at his home in Palm Springs, Calif. He was 94. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/arts/music/24wild.html

Features

The Gavin Newsom Interview. The New York Times’ Maureen Dowd chats with the San Francisco Mayor and one of the first aggressive supporters of marriage equality. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/opinion/20dowd.html?ref=opinion

Opportunities

Discount Opportunity!: The critically acclaimed hit show “The Temperamentals” by Jon Marans (Michael Urie stars in the story of the rise of the Mattachine Society) has a special $19.52 price ticket for previews in New York City beginning Thursday, February 18th through Saturday, February 27th. Use the code: TEPREV12 by calling (212) 947-8844; or at the New World Stages Box Office; on the website: Broadwayoffers.com and at the direct link: http://www.broadwayoffers.com/go.aspx?MD=2001&MC=TEPREV12. This offer is subject to availability. Black out dates may apply.

Scholarships Opportunity: 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. Application deadline is: 2/12/10. www.pointfoundation.org

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***Clothes for a Summer Hotel, Tennessee Williams' rarely-performed ghost playabout F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. to 2/21/10. www.WhiteHorseTheater.com
***Daddy. World premiere of Dan Via's play which explores the hot-button issue of gay marriage, as long-time best friends examine their relationship for the first time in over 20 years. to 2/13/10. www.DaddyThePlay.com.
***The Divine Sister. Charles Busch stars as a Mother Superior in his new play, an outrageous comic homage to nearly every Hollywood film involving nuns. to 3/07/10.
Facebook: The Divine Sister Onstage
***Hair, Tony-winning revival of the first major rock musical. www.publictheater.org.
***The Picture of Dorian Gray. Oscar Wilde's tale of a man who sells his soul for eternal youth. to 2/6/10.. www.DorianGrayPlay.com.
***Present Laughter. Gay Noel Coward's gay comedy. Victor Garber stars as an aging star. to 3/21/10. www.roundabouttheatre.org

Elsewhere...

***F*cking Men. A new play, conceived as a riff on Arthur Schnitzler's La Ronde, observes the sex lives of modern urban gay America. to 2/14/10, Los Angeles, CA. www.celebrationtheatre.com
***Give It Up. A world premiere camp musical version of "Lysistrata" set in an American college gym by "Xanadu" author Douglas Carter Beane. to 2/14/10. Dallas, TX. www.dallastheatercenter.org.
***Golden Age. Terrence McNally's drama about Donizetti set backstage at the premiere of his last opera "I Puritani". Marc Kudisch and Jeffrey Carlson star. to 2/21/10. Philadelphia, PA. PhiladelphiaTheatreCompany.org.
***I Am My Own Wife, the fascinating real-life story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf (Andrew Long), a German transvestite who managed to survive both Nazi rule and the East German Communists.to 3/07/10. Arlington, VA/Washington, DC. www.signature-theatre.org
***Justin Bond Rites: Songs of the Neo-Pagan Revolution. Bond, the “Kiki” in “Kiki & Herb” performs original songs. 2/07/10. Los Angeles, CA. www.uprightcabaret.com.
***Orpheous Descending. Gale ("Queer As Folk") Harold, heads the cast of Tennessee Williams' drama. to 2/21/10. Theatre/Theater. Los Angeles, CA.
***The Pee-Wee Herman Show, starring Paul Reubens. to 2/07/10. Los Angeles, CA. www.peewee.com.

On Screen (and Video & DVD)

Out on Screen...

***A Single Man. Tom Ford's debut film, an adaptation of a Christopher Isherwood novel, about a day in the life of a gay man, starring Colin Firth and Julianne Moore.
***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.
***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
***Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire. A stunning drama from out director Lee Daniels about an overweight, illiterate Harlem teen, pregnant with her second child, who is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction.

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.
***Glee: Volume 1: Road to Sectionals. the first DVD of the hot new TV series.
***Liza's at the Palace, filmed version of her Broadway concert.
***Show Business: The Road to Broadway. An incredible documentary about Broadway's 2003-04 season and four musicals: "Wicked", "Avenue Q"(gay puppets), "Caroline or Change" (Tony Kushner) and "Taboo" (Rosie O'Donnell).
***Taking Woodstock. Ang Lee's new film about the rock festival based on Elliot Tiber's memoir. Demetri Martin stars as the gay Tiber.

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

***Ongoing: The Wanda Sykes Show. The out comic's late night talk show. 11PM Saturdays. FOX.
***February: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

2/08/10: San Francisco, CA: All You Need Is Love 2, the Help is On The Way benefit concert for STOP AIDS PROJECTand Aguilas. Produced by The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation. www.helpisontheway.org

2/10/10: New York, NY: amfAR Annual Gala. Meryl Streep, Vanessa Redgrave, and Dr. Mathilde Krim will pay tribute to the late Natasha Richardson. Special performances by Lady Gaga and Rufus Wainwright.www.amfar.org.

2/12/10-2/14/10: Washington, DC: Lavender Languages XVII. The longest-running LGBTQ Studies Conference in North America. American University. www.american.edu/lavenderlanguages

2/12/10-2/15/10: Hudson Valley, NY: Winter Explosion. LGBT African-American winter event. www.winterexplosion.com

2/12/10-3/13/10: Los Angeles, CA: Fusion. Los Angeles’ LGBT people of color film festival. www.outfest.org/fusion.html

2/13/10: Boston, MA: The Red Party. A benefit for Mass Equality with the Kinsey Sicks. www.massequality.org/redparty

2/14/10: New York, NY: Broadway Bears XIII. www.broadwaycares.org.

2/19/10-2/21/10: San Luis Obispo, CA: Western Regional LGBTQIA College Conference. www.comeoutwest.org

2/20/10-2/27/10: Telluride, CO: Telluride Gay Ski Week. www.telluridegayskiweek.com

2/22/10: New York, NY: Broadway Backwards. Gary Beach, Len Cariou, Tony Goldwyn, Aaron Lazar, Michele Lee, and Julia Murney will be among the performers singing tunes usually associated with the opposite gender. A benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The LGBT Community Center. www.broadwaycares.org.

2/24/10-3/07/10: New York, NY: 2010 New York Frigid Festival. Open and uncensored theatre including: "Late Nights with the Boys: Confessions of a Leather Bar Chanteuse. www.FRIGIDnewyork.info

2/25/10-2/28/10: San Francisco, CA: Expanding The Circle LGBT Conference. addressing factors that contribute to excluding LGBTQ issues from academic study and student life;. www.expandingthecircle.com.

3/01/10-3/08/10: Whistler, BC: WinterPRIDE: Whistler Gay Ski Week. www.gaywhistler.com

3/12/10-3/13/10: Storrs, CT: True Colors XVI. Conference sponsored by the non-profit that provides Sexual Minority Youth and Family Services in Connecticut. http://www.ourtruecolors.org/

Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: February Milestones

1. Question: Name this elected official who started a national craze on February 12, 2004 just weeks after taking the oath office. Saying he was influenced by a President’s State of the Union address that appeared to make gays second class citizens, his actions caused national controversy, yet made him a hero within the LGBT community. Answer: Gavin Newsom, Mayor of San Francisco, who authorized the city to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

2. Question: Name this rodent, who comes out annually on February 2nd. His coming out, applauded by people everywhere, is used to predict weather events. Answer: Puxatawny Phil, the star of Ground Hog Day. His shadow determines whether there is six weeks left to winter.

3. Question: Name this hit television show, which was the first to feature a lesbian liplock on February 7, 1991. Hint: It’s based down the coast from the Newsom residence in Question #1. Answer: L.A. Law.

4. Question: Name this award-winning gay athlete, born February 10, 1893. He captured worldwide acclaim for his skills, only to fall into obscurity when his interest in young men came to light. Answer: Bill Tilden, the tennis great.

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: Black History Month

1. Question: Name this African-American athlete, the first major league baseball player to come out to his team mates and team owners during his professional career.

2. Question: Name this African-American dancer/choreographer credited with popularizing modern dance. His masterpiece, “Revelations” is believed to be the best-known and most often seen modern dance performance.

3. Question: Name this out African-American pop music singer who emerged in the 1950’s and has been an interperter of romantic jazz and pop standards ever since. Chances are you know his music.

4. Question: Name this gay African-American civil right activist who organized the 1963 March on Washington. He counseled Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the techniques of nonviolent resistance.

5. Question: Name this gay African American playwright, and political author, whose best known work was inspired by her family’s legal battle against racially-segregated housing laws in Chicago. This play starred Sidney Poitier and Sean Coombs in various productions.

The first person to submit the correct answers gets their name in print right here. Email your answers to: COSNewsweekly@gmail.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/