Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 6/14/10

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 13 No. 23 June 14, 2010
Newsletter Editor: M. G. Auerbach Email: COSNewsweekly@gmail.com

The Fine Print

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The Gay Agenda: Datebook: June 14-20, 2010

Ongoing: Global: 2010 Pride Season. Parades, fairs, festivals celebrating LGBT Pride around the world. www.interpride.org

thru SUN: 6/20: Chicago, IL: Five Decades of Great Gay Plays. An exploration of scripts written for the stage (some adapted for the screen. www.pridefilmsandplays.com

thru WED: 6/30: San Francisco, CA: National Queer Arts Festival. LGBT performances & exhibitions in the San Francisco Bay Area highlighting artists from around the country. www.QueerCulturalCenter.org

SUN: 6/13: Nationwide: The Tony Awards, honoring the best of Broadway. Tony redcarpet webcast at 6PM on www.tonyawards.com. Creative Arts Awards webcast at 7PM on www.tonyawards.com. Sean Hayes hosts the major awards at 8PM on CBS.

MON: 6/14: New York, NY: Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays.
A benefit for the Human Rights Campaign, Marriage Equality New York, and New York Theatre Workshop. www.nytw.org/standing_benefit.asp

MON-SUN: 6/14=6/20: Berkeley, CA: David Sedaris workshops new stories from an upcoming book in front of a live audience at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. www.berkeleyrep.org

TUE: 6/15/10: New York, NY: Alison Arngrim, star of "Little House on the Prairie", signs copies of “Confessions of a Prairie Bitch”. 7PM. Border’s at Columbus Circle.

WED: 6/16: Atlanta, GA: Pam Grier, cult favorite and star of "The L Word", signs copies of “Foxy: My Life In Three Acts”. 5PM at Outwrite Books; 7:30PM at Border’s, Peachtree Road NE

WED-SUN: 6/16-6/20: Provincetown, MA: Provincetown International Film Festival. www.ptownfilmfest.org

THU-SUN: 6/17-6/27: San Francisco, CA: Frameline: San Francisco Int’l LGBT Film Festival www.frameline.org

FRI: 6/18: New York, NY: Street Theatre. Doric Wilson’s historic Stonewall satire performed as a benefit for the LGBT Community Center. http://www.gaycenter.org/node/5342

SUN: 6/20: New York, NY: Broadway Bares XX: Stripopoly. Broadway boys and girls take it all off for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The 20th anniversary edition. http://broadwaybares.com/home-flash.php

Newsworthy:

Oklahoma: state representative Sally Kern, who has called gay people more dangerous to the country than terrorists, will face a transgender opponent, attorney Brittany Novotny, in the general election for the Oklahoma City seat this fall. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/06/09/Sally_Kern_to_Face_Transgender_Challenger/

Campaign 2010: Openly LGBT candidates made gains in primary elections across the country Tuesday, with wins in states including California, Montana and Maine. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/06/09/Out_Candidates_Win_Big_in_Primaries/

The IRS will recognize gay couples in California for tax purposes. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2010/06/irs-will-recognize-gay-couples-for-tax-purposes-in-california.html

HUD Grantees Can’t Discriminate Against Gays. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Monday that it will now require grant applicants seeking HUD funding to comply with state and local anti-discrimination laws that protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. The Advocate reports: http://advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/06/07/HUD_Grantees_Must_Comply_With_Laws_Protecting_LGBT_People/

New Study: Children of Lesbians may do better than their peers. Time Magazine reports: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1994480,00.html

Another Study: Gay Men Slimmer, Lesbians Heavier Than Straight Counterparts. According to Kerith Conron and Boston researchers. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2010/06/study-gay-men-slimmer-lesbians-heavier-than-straight-counterparts.html

New Theatre Award Named for Gay Couple: A new award has been named in honor of Tony Award-winning playwright and director Arthur Laurents and his late partner of 52 years, Tom Hatcher. The Laurents/Hatcher Foundation Award is the first major award for playwrighting to be named in honor of a gay couple. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/140016-New-Award-Named-for-Arthur-Laurents-and-His-Partner-the-Late-Tom-Hatcher

The Buzz (People Making News)

Coming Out: Angelo Garcia of the music group Menudo (bandmate of Ricky Martin) has come out. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/06/07/Ricky_Martins_Former_Menudo_Bandmate_Angelo_Garcia_is_Gay/

Fran Drescher “comes out”: her ex-husband is gay. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/06/02/Fran_Drescher_My_ExHusband_Is_Gay/

Weddings, Civil Unions and Engagements:

Just Married: Jane Lynch (“Glee”) and partner Lara Embry. (Editor’s Note: They married at one of the nicest restaurants in my neighborhood).
Theatermania reports: http://www.theatermania.com/los-angeles/news/06-2010/glees-jane-lynch-and-lara-embry-marry_27818.html
The New York Times wedding announcement: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/fashion/weddings/06JLYNCH.html?ref=style

Awards and Honors:

Bill T. Jones, out dancer/choreographer, will receive the Jacob's Pillow Festival annual dance award at the organization's gala. www.jacobspillow.org.

Sharon Gless will receive the "Bridge to Unity" Award from The Lesbian and Gay Police Association-Gay Officers Action League of Chicago. www.hannahtree.com

In Memoriam:

Rue McClanahan, one of the Golden Girls, died on 6/03/10, at age 76. The Advocate reports: http://advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/06/03/Rue_McClanahan_Dies_at_76/

Donald Windham, the novelist and memoirist, died 5/31/10 at age 89. He was an intimate of Tennessee Williams, Lincoln Kirstein and Truman Capote. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/04/arts/04windham.html?ref=arts

Claudia Asbury, the Broadway dancer, died on 5/30/20 at age 58. She went from musicals to gay rights activism, a star on both stages. The Orlando Sentinel reports: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-05-31/news/os-obituary-claudia-asbury-20100531_1_dance-choreographed-broadway

Photo Shoots and Video

Video: Remembering Rue McClanahan: Golden Girls’ “Lesbian Lovers of Miami”. http://www.advocate.com/Arts_and_Entertainment/Comedy/Blanches_Best_Gay_Moments/

Photos: The amFAR Gala. from BroadwayWorld.com: http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_amFAR_Party_backstage_20000101

Photos: The Isaac Mizrahi production of “A Little Night Music” in St. Louis: http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Flash_Irving_Phillips_Raines_Begin_A_LITTLE_NIGHT_MUSIC_in_St_Louis_20100607

Features

Profile: Aubrey Sarvis, the activist behind Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Politico reports: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37950.html

Gay ? Whatever Dude. Charles M. Blow reports for the The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/05/opinion/05blow.html?src=me&ref=general

A Gay Catholic speaks out against marriage equality. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/05/us/05beliefs.html

The Resource Center:

The MetLife Mature Market Institute has released a legal planning guide designed to assist LGBT Baby Boomers in making decisions about legacy planning, employee benefits, health care, financial planning, and retirement planning. Bay Windows reports: http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3&id=106639

LGBT Radio in Vermont: Gay hosts. Gay guests. Gay topics. Gay music. Rinse and repeat. Tune in to "This Show is So Gay;" the hit Vermont rainbow radio experience and see what all the talk is about. FMI: www.ThisShowIsSoGay.com

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***La Cage Aux Folles, a revival of the 1983 Jerry Herman/Harvey Fierstein musical, based on a French film, which inspired the film "Birdcage". Kelsey Grammer stars. www.LaCage.com
***My Big Gay Italian Wedding. Anthony J. Wilkinson's comedy. Reichen Lehmkuhl stars; www.BigGayItalianWedding.com.
***My Trip Down The Pink Carpet. Leslie Jordan’s one-man show. to 7/03/10. www.mytripdownthepinkcarpet.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
***Promises, Promises. Newly-out Sean ("Will & Grace") Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth star in the Burt Bacharach & Hal David & Neil Simon musical. www.promisespromisesbroadway.com.
***Thank You For Being A Friend. The unauthorized musical parody inspired by the
beloved TV sitcom “The Golden Girls,”. to 8/01/10. Kraine Theatre
www.SpinCycleNYC.com

Elsewhere...

***Celebrity Autobiography, the comedy where celebrities read excerpts from other celebrity’s autobiography. (Casts alternate). with Billy Porter and Bruce Vilanch to 7/12/10, Pittsburgh, PA; with Florence Henderson, Brooke Shields and Michael Urie, 6/21/10, Los Angeles, CA. www.celebrityautobiography.com.
***The Drowsy Chaperone. Carson Kressley (“Queer Eye”) plays the showtune loving man in the chair. to 6/26/10. Ogunquit, ME. www.ogunquitplayhouse.org
***F&*king Men. Joe DiPietro’s gay adaptation of “La Ronde”. to 7/25/10. Chicago, IL. www.fmenchicago.com.
***Glitter and Be Gay. Seattle Men’s Chorus and Women’s Chorus salute Bernstein and Sondheim. 6/20/10, Tacoma, WA. www.seattlemenschorus.org.
***It’s A Bird...It’s a Plane...It’s Superman! Hunk Matt Cavenaugh plays the man of steel in a revisal of the musical. to 7/25/10. Dallas, TX. www.dallastheatercenter.org.
***L'Amour. The Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles salutes the films of Baz Luhrmann. 6/19/10-6/20/10. Hollywood, CA. www.gmcla.org.
***The Lady Behind The Moustache, Varla Jean Merman’s new show. 6/18/10. Hartford, CT. www.varlaonline.com.

On Screen (and Video & DVD)

Out on Screen...

***Arias With a Twist. The incredible performance collaboration between performance artist Joey Arias and puppeteer Basil Twist is now a documentary. To see the trailer: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=759971528901
***Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride. Bob Christie’s documentary shows that Pride is more than a parade, it’s a giant step on the road to global human rights.
***Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work. A new documentary which follows from gig to gig, onstage and at home, and historically through the ups and downs of her career.
***Sex and The City 2, the sequel. Sarah Jessica Parker and friends.
***Stonewall Uprising, a new documentary by Kate Davis and David Heilbroner covering the 3-day Stonewall riots in 1969. http://firstrunfeatures.com/stonewalluprising_playdates.html
***The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls. A documentary about the New Zealand comedic duo, lesbian twin sisters and singers. http://topptwins.com.

Out On Video & DVD

***Cinema Pride Collection. 10 time-tested queer films spanning 40 years of Hollywood from 1961 onward. http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=arts&sc=movies&sc2=news&sc3&id=106677
***David Hockney: A Bigger Picture. A documentary on the put artist, who returns to England after 25 years in Hollywood.
***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. www.hannahfree.com
***Prodigal Sons. Trans filmmaker Kimberly Reed’s autobiographical film about coming home after coming out and transitioning.
***Trinidad. The documentary about the Colorado town that has become “the sex change capital of the world. http://trinidadthemovie.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

***June: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
***June: Elaine Paige: Celebrating a Life on Stage, a concert documentary about the British musical theatre actress. PBS. Check local listings.
***FRI: 6/11: Sean Hayes visits David Letterman. 11:35PM. CBS.
***TUE: 6/15: Liza Minnelli appears on Kathy Griffin's popuiar TV show “My Life on the D List”. 9PM. Bravo.
***SUN: 6/20: The Real "L Word:" The new reality series about real characters used to create characters on “The L Word”. Series debut: Showtime. Check local listings. http://www.sho.com/site/reallword/home.do

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

Ongoing: Global: 2010 Pride Season. Parades, fairs, festivals celebrating LGBT Pride around the world. www.interpride.org

6/21/10: New York, NY: Spirit of Pride 2010 Celebration at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine (1047 Amsterdam Avenue at 112th Street) 7:30 pm. Free. www.stjohndivine.org

6/26/10: New York, NY: The Gay Pride Edition: Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words. Rachel Dratch, Cheyenne Jackson, Kristen Johnston, John Cameron Mitchell, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel, Bruce Vilanch, and B.D. Wong star. www.celebrityautobiography.com.

7/01/10-7/04/10: Chicago, IL: International Gay Square Dance Clubs Convention. www.iagsdc.org

7/03/10-7/04/10: Seattle, WA: Emerald City Classic LGBT softball tournament. www.emeraldcitysoftball.org/ecc/

7/08/10-7/19/10: Philadelphia, PA: QFest.16th edition of the largest LGBT film festival on the east coast. http://www.QFest.com/

Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: The Tony Awards

1. Question. Name this actor/dancer/choreographer/director. He’s one of two out theatre people to have received Tony Awards in four different categories. He won playing a gay dancer/choreographer, one playing a tap-dancing aviator, one choreographing a musical about a Ziegfeld cowboy, and one staging a musical about the hospitality industry. Hint: Harvey Fierstein was the other guy to win in four categories. Answer: Tommy Tune of “Seesaw”, “My One and Only”, “The Will Rogers Follies” and “Grand Hotel”.

2. Question: Although several performers have won Tonys for roles that have involved cross dressing, only two have won for performing in roles in which the character is actually a member of the opposite sex. Harvey Fierstein won a Tony playing Edna Turblad in the musical "Hairspray". Name the other. Hint: This actor, known for a tropical shampoo and rinse role, had a child who became one of TV's most beloved villians. Offstage, the actor was known for a "close relationship" with another actor of the same sex. Answer: Mary Martin, Tony Winner in the title role of "Peter Pan", the actor who made "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair" a "South Pacific" hit, the mother of "Dallas" star Larry Hagman (J.R.Ewing) and often-linked with Janet Gaynor.

3. Question: Name this Tony loser. All of the following actors played the famous stage mother Rose in “Gypsy”. (Incidentally, historians have written that Mamma Rose and her daughter Gypsy Rose Lee both had lesbian relationships). Which performance did not win the Tony? Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Patti LuPone. Answer: Ethel Merman, who created the role.

4. Question: Name this gay composer, who has won more Tony Awards than any other composer. He's won Tonys (8 total) for musicals with petite sunset waltzes, fairy tale characters, non-commital bachelors, and a vengeful barber with a Betty Crocker girlfriend. Do you know the shows ? Answer: Stephen Sondheim, composer of "A Little Night Music", "Into The Woods", "Company", and "Sweeney Todd".

5. Question: Name this one-person play, about an East German transvestite. It’s the only one-person play to win a “Best Play” Tony; its star, who won a Best Actor Tony, played multiple real-life characters. The show also won the Pulitzer. Answer: I Am My Own Wife by Douglas Wright. Jefferson Mays played Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, who survived the Nazis and the Communists.

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: All Things Stonewall

1. Question: Name this gay rights group, the earliest lasting gay rights organization in the United States, founded in 1950. Based in Los Angeles, it had chapters in San Francisco, New York, Washington and other locales. The national group disbanded in 1961, but chapters continued to operate nationally. the group took its name from a term to describe Medieval French secret societies of masked men. The story of its founding was the basis for a play which was a recent Off-Broadway hit.

2. Question: Name this gay rights group, which morphed out of the group mentioned in Question #1. In 1952, it spread its wings, and admitted lesbians to its ranks. In 1953, the group began publishing the first U.S. pro-gay publication, and sold it openly on the streets of Los Angeles. In 1954 the U.S. Postal Service declared the magazine 'obscene'., but the group won in 1958 as part of the landmark First Amendment case, Roth v. United States. The magazine continued until 1967.

3. Question: Name this award-winning actor who is one of the founders of Stonewall, Europe's largest LGBT rights lobbying group. Equally at home playing contemporary and Shakespearean roles, he's one of filmdom's first out actors.

4. Question: Name this actor featured as a cop in a film about Stonewall. He was later kicked off a TV series for homophobic remarks against a fellow out colleague.

5. Question: Name this group that has made fruits absolutely fabulous since 1991. They can't wait to be jammed.

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/