Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 2/22/10 and 3/01/10

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 13 No. 8 February 22, 2010
Newsletter Editor: M. G. Auerbach Email: COSNewsweekly@gmail.com

Editor’s Note: Due to my work travel schedule, the next issue of this newsletter will be published on Monday, March 8, 2010. We regret any inconvenience this may cause.

The Fine Print

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The Gay Agenda: Datebook: February 22-March 7, 2010

MON: 2/22: 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.

MON: 2/22: New York, NY: True Colors Cabaret, to benefit True Colors Fund and Broadway Impact.. Sutton Foster and Joey McIntyre co-star. www.feinsteinsattheregency.com.

WED-SUN: 2/24-3/07: 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

THU-SUN: 2/25-2/28: 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.

THU: 2/25: New York, NY: Shim Mamsir, the New York City-based drag theatre company, launches its inaugural production, a new reading series titled She'll Be Dying. Featuring: Sweetie, Mimi Imfurst, Bianca Del Rio, Bianca Leigh, Lavinia Co-op and Dallas Dubois. www.bowerypoetry.com.

FRI: 2/26: Northampton, MA: Screening: The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls. New England premiere of the documentary that tells the story about Lynda and Jools Topp, New Zealand’s popular musical and comic performers who are out twin sisters. Produced by Out! For Reel. www.outforreel.org

FRI-TUE: 2/26-3/02: Santa Cruz, CA: Stepping Into Our Power. Hiking and nonviolent communications at a LGBT mountain retreat. www.nvcsantacruz.org/lgbt.html

SAT: 2/27: New Haven, CT: The 7th Annual Dorothy Awards, to benefit the New Haven Pride Center. Honorees: Leif Mitchell, co-chair of GLSEN Connecticut,
Dena Castricone, founder of CABO; Michael Morand, Associate Vice President of Yale University for New Haven and State Affairs and The Imperial Sovereign Court of All Connecticut. www.newhavenpridecenter.org

MON: 3/01: New York, NY: Talk Out Mondays. “The Tempermentals”, Off-Broadway’s play about the founders of The Mattachine Society, hosts experts in theatre and LGBT history. This week: playwrights Paul Rudnick and Larry Kramer. www.thetempermentals.com.

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

WED-SUN: 3/03-3/07: Steamboat Springs, CO: OutAboundz. LGBT skiing and snoboarding. www.outaboundz.org.

THU: 3/04: Chicago, IL: OUT at CHM: “Queer Latinos: Art and Change”. Chicago History Museum’s LGBT program. http://chicagohistory.org/planavisit/upcomingevents/out-at-chm

FRI: 3/05: New Britain, CT: “Zanna, Don’t”, a musical fairy tale about a gay high school where the straight kids don’t fit in. Presented by The Governor’s Prevention PartnershipTo raise awareness and help prevent student bullying.  www.preventionworksct.org

SAT: 3/06: Chicago, IL: Chicago Takes Off. burlesque show to fight HIV/AIDS in the Chicagoland area
www.chicagotakesoff.org

SAT: 3/06: Hollywood, CA: 30th Annual Razzie Awards for the worst achievements in film. www.razzies.com

SUN: 3/07: Hollywood, CA: Academy Awards. www.oscars.org.

SUN: 3/07: Hartford, CT: Oscar Night Hartford 2010. A benefit for CARC Connecticut AIDS Resource Coalition. Dish Bar & Grill hosts an evening of celebrities, food, and Oscars viewing. www.ctaidscoalition.org

SUN-SUN: 3/07-3/14: Lake Tahoe, CA: Lake Tahoe Winterfest Gay and Lesbian Ski Week. 15th annual edition. www.laketahoewinterfest.com.


Newsworthy:

Action Alert:Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Contact the Human Rights Campaign. A coalition of gay and straight bloggers are asking their readers to contact the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest and best-funded LGBT advocacy organization, and have the HRC put pressure on President Obama to take action on the repeal of DADT this year. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2010/02/join-our-blog-swarm-call-hrc-today.html

Olypmics Pride House. For the LGBT athletes in Vancouver. OutQNews reports: http://outqnews.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/the-first-glimpse-of-whistlers-olympic-pride-house/

Rhode Island: Gordon Fox has become the state’s first openly gay house speaker. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2010/02/rhode-island-elects-first-openly-gay-house-speaker.html

David Cicilline, the out mayor of Providence, RI, plans to run for the congressional seat being vacated by Patrick Kennedy. The Providence Journal reports: http://newsblog.projo.com/2010/02/cicilline-moment-has-arrived-t.html

The Buzz (People Making News)

Coming Out: Andrew McIntosh, Oneonta State University lacrosse captain, has come out. OutSports reports: http://outsports.com/jocktalkblog/2010/02/15/college-lacrosse-captain-andrew-mcintosh-comes-out/

Awards and Honors:

Wilson Cruz will receive the 2010 Fusion Achievement Award on March 13 in recognition of his activism in the LGBT community.. The award is given by Fusion: the Los Angeles LGBT People of Color Film Festival. www.outfest.org.

In Memoriam:

Alexander McQueen, the acclaimed fashion designer, died on 2/11/10 at age 40. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/12/fashion/12mcqueen.html

Michael Phelps, former publisher and long-time employee at The Advocate, died 2/10/10 at age 45. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/02/12/Former_Publisher_of_The_Advocate_Dies/

Photo Shoots and Video

Coming Out: Video: The High School Quarterback Who Became a Lesbian. From Oprah: the story of Kimberly Reed. http://www.oprah.com/showinfo/The-High-School-Quarterback-Who-Became-a-Lesbian

Features

Coming Out: John Amaechi: The sports world must help gay athletes to come out. The Telegraph reports: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/basketball/7244830/John-Amaechi-sporting-world-must-help-gay-athletes-to-come-out.html

Gawker’s Guide to Gay Men: Twinks and Bears and A-List oh my. http://gawker.com/5472263/a-handy-guide-to-all-gay-men?skyline=true&s=i

Michael Urie: In A Tempermental Mood. The star of “Ugly Betty” now stars in the new Off-Broadway play about the formation of the Mattachine Society. Theatermania reports: http://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/news/02-2010/in-a-temperamental-mood_24889.html

Gays in the Military: The Musical! “Yank” opens Off-Broadway. Time Out New York reports: http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/gay/82658/yank-david-and-joe-zellnik-interview

The Boys in the Band are back. Playbill reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/136843-Crowleys-Boys-in-the-Band-Gets-a-New-Place-to-Party-Starting-Feb-12-in-NYC

Online: For The Bible Tells Me So. The 2007 documentary explores the intersection between religion and homosexuality. The opening scene with Anita Bryant getting a pie in the face, is awesome. http://www.viddler.com/explore/PinkHasu/videos/1/

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***All About Me, the new show from award-winning pianist and singer Michael Feinstein and Dame Edna.
***The Boys in the Band. A revival of Mart Crowley's landmark pre-Stonewall comedy/drama. to 3/14/10. www.transportgroup.org.
***Late Night With The Boys: Confessions of a leather bar chanteuse. to 3/07/10. www.LateNightsWithTheBoys.com
***Looped. Valerie Harper stars as Tallulah Bankhead in Matthew Lombardo's play about the outspoken actress. www.loopedtheplay.com.
***Next Fall. Geoffrey Nauffts' provocative play about a gay couple; one partner is a devout Christian and the other is an atheist. www.nextfallbroadway.com
***Norma Doesmen. Tommy Femia (award-winning Judy Garland impersonator) stars in the parody of a popular 1950s film noir about a faded star of the silent screen. 3/04/10-3/28/10. www.smarttix.com
***The Pride. Hugh Dancy and Ben Whislaw are lovers in Alexi Kaye Campbell’s new drama about sexual identity. to 3/20/10. www.mcctheater.org
***The Tempermentals. Jon Maran's acclaimed drama about Harry Hay (Thomas Jay Ryan), designer Rudi Gernreich (Michael Urie of "Ugly Betty") and friends as they form The Mattachine Society before Stonewall. www.thetemperamentals.com
***When Joey Married Bobby. A new comedy by William Wyatt, starring Lady Bunny, Tina McKissick and introducing former Detroit Tiger Pitcher Matthew Pender as Joey. www.whenjoeymarriedbobby.com.
***Yank! An old fashioned musical gay love story chronicles the relationship between two WW2 servicemen long before "Don't-ask-don't-tell" was part of the national discussion. Bobby Steggert stars. to 3/21/10. www.yorktheatre.org

Elsewhere...

***The Beebo Brinker Chronicles, the stage adaptation of Ann Bannon's groundbreaking, award-winning lesbian pulp fiction novel. to 3/13/10. San Francisco, CA. www.brava.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
***The Phantom of the Oprah. The Gold Dust Orphans and Varla Jean Merman team up for outrageous gay comedy. to 3/28/10, Boston, MA. www.golddustorphans.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.
***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.
***Eyes Wide Open, two ultra-orthodox Chasidic Jews fall in love in Israel. Aaron is a married, respected butcher; Ezri is a yeshiva student, who becomes Aaron’s apprentice who becomes something more. For The Huffington Post feature: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-z-chesnoff/with-eyes-wide-open-confr_b_450416.html
***I Love You Phillip Morris. Based on Steve McVicker's book about real-life events. Jim Carrey plays Steven Russell, who falls for his cellmate, Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor), after being put in prison and makes regular attempts to escape when the object of his affections is released.
***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.
***Prodigal Sons, a film by TG film maker Kimberly Reed about her journey back to her home town and her reunion with an adopted brother. http://prodigalsonsfilm.com/

Out On Video & DVD

***An Englishman in New York. John Hurt as Quentin Crisp ("The Naked Civil Servant") as he becomes a celebrity. Also stars Cynthia Nixon, Denis O'Hare and Jonathan Tucker.
***Breakfast With Scot. The lives of a closeted ex-hockey player and his partner are thrown into turmoil when they take in Scot, a flamboyant 11-year old who is not the sports-loving boy they were expecting.
***Liza's at the Palace, filmed version of her Broadway concert.
***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.
***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).
***Word is Out. The 30th anniversary commemorative DVD of the famous documentary about LGBT identity. There’s a great trailer at the website. http://www.wordisoutmovie.com/

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/March: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
***FRI: 3/05: Independent Spirit Awards, with Eddie Izzard hosting. Independent Film Channel. Check local listings.
***SUN: 3/07: 62nd Academy Awards with hosts Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. Live. 8PM. ABC.

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

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/

3/13/10: New York, NY: 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards, recognizing and honoring media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the LGBT community and the issues that affect their lives. www.glaad.org/events

3/14/10-3/18/10: St. Louis, MO: QFest queer arts and culture. www.stlqfest.org

3/15/10: New York, NY: Valley of The Dolls. A stage version of the movie as a benefit for The Actors Fund. Charles Busch as Helen Lawson, Heidi Blickenstaff as Neely O'Hara, Tovah Feldshuh as Miriam Polar, Cheyenne Jackson as Tony Polar, Martha Plimpton as Anne Welles and Christopher Sieber as Ted Casablanca. Additional casting to be announced. www.actorsfund.org.

3/20/10: Washington, DC: SLDN 18th Annual National Dinner. The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network benefit with Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-PA). http://www.sldn.org/events/archives/18th-annual-national-dinner/

3/21/10: New York, NY: ABC & SOAPnet Salute Broadway Cares, ABC-TV's annual fundraiser for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. www.broadwaycares.org.

3/21/10: New York, NY: The Other Side of Broadway. a Broadway Speaks OUT benefit. Broadway Speaks OUT! was formed in the wake of the Fall 2008 vote on Proposition 8 in California. This concert benefits Broadway Impact and The Ali Forney Center for Homeless LGBT Youth. www.broadwayspeaksOUT.com

3/22/10: Washington, DC: Terrence McNally: In Conversation. A panel about and featuring the out playwright and Zoe Caldwell, Audra McDonald, and Richard Thomas. www.kennedy-center.org.

3/29/10-4/04/10: Palm Springs, CA: Kraft Nabisco Golf Championship. previously known as the Dinah Shore Golf Championship, one of the most popular women's sports festivals. www.nabiscochampionship.com

3/30/10-4/04/10: Breckenridge, CO: OutBoard. the annual LGBT snowboarding festival. www.outboard.org

Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Fun Couples

1. Question: Name this fun couple, together for 55 years. They founded one of first social and political organizations for lesbians in the USA. They were the first out couple to join NOW, the National Organization for Women. Gavin Newsom married them twice. Answer: Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, founders of the Daughters of Bilitis. Del died in 2008.

2. Question: Name this fun couple, together for 44 years. They maintained a successful personal and business partnership in film, producing over 45 films, some with LGBT themes and subtexts. Answer: Ismail Merchant and James Ivory. Their films included: “The Bostonians” (1984), “A Room with a View” (1986), “Maurice” (1987), and “Howards End” (1992). Their relationship lasted until Ismail’s death in 2005.

3. Question: Name this fun couple, together for 39 years. One was a literary giant known for repetitive verse. The other was an accomplished chef whose brownies had extra zing. Answer: Gertrude Stein, the poet and author and Alice B. Toklas.

4. Question: Name this fun couple, together for 32 years. One was a prolific author whose experiences in pre-war Berlin inspired a Liza Minnelli musical. The other, many years his junior, is a painter. Their life together was the subject of a documentary. Answer: Christopher Ishwerwood and Don Bachardy. Isherwood’s “Berlin Stories” became the musical “Cabaret”.

5. Question: Name this fun couple, together for over 20 years. One was an author and critic; the other, a photographer whose stunning photography has graced many a magazine cover. Answer: Susan Sontag and Annie Liebovitz (“Vanity Fair”).

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: March Milestones

1. Question: Name this film, an adaptation of a hit Off-Broadway play, which opened on March 17, 1970. It profiled a group of gay men at a birthday party, and was the first mainstream Hollywood film about gay life.

2. Question: Name this middle-eastern nation, which decriminalized same-sex acts between consenting adults on March 23, 1988.

3. Question: Name this activist group formed on March 14, 1987, as a response to the government’s indifference to the AIDS epidemic in the United States. One of its founders was an outspoken author, playwright, and HIV+ person.

4. Question: Name this Oscar-winning film, which picked up the statue for Best Documentary at the Academy Awards on March 25, 1985. It was the first documentary on a gay subject to do so. Recently, a film on the same subject matter won Oscars.

5. Question: Name this legendary out composer, born March 22, 1930. His works have included lyrics for a pushy stage mother and a dancing gang. His music accompanied throat slashers, presidential killers, shoguns, and showgirls.

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/