Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 7/26/10

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 13 No. 29 July 26, 2010
Newsletter Editor: M. G. Auerbach Email: COSNewsweekly@gmail.com

The Fine Print

see previous editions

Subscription Information: This newsletter is available via free email subscription only. Our mailing list is confidential.
To subscribe: Email COSNewsweekly@gmail.com and write “Subscribe COS News” in subject line.
To unsubscribe: Email COSNewsweekly@gmail.com and write “Cancel COS News” in subject line.

The Gay Agenda: Datebook: July 26-August 1, 2010

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

thru SAT: 8/07: New York, NY: 19th annual HOT! Festival of queer culture and performance. www.hotfestival.org

thru SUN: 8/08: New York, NY: International CringeFest. Theme nights include: Sex Encounters of a Disturbed Mind; Psycho Bitch Party; Is That a Corncob in Your Pocket?; Sex, Thugs & Rockin' Roles; Dow Jones Meets Deep Throat; and No Holes Barred. www.nyartists.org.

thru SUN: 8/01: New Haven, CT: International Cabaret Conference at Yale University. www.thecabaretconferenceatyale.com

MON: 7/26: Bloomington, MN: Alison Arngrim, star of "Little House of the Prairie" signing copies of her new book “Confessions of a Prairie Bitch”. 6PM. Barnes & Noble, Mall of America.

THU: 7/29: Pittsfield, MA: OUT@Barrington Stage. LGBT night at the theatre. Show: Yasmina Reza’s “Art”. Ticket discount by phone only: 413-236-8888

THU: 7/29: New York, NY: Broadway in Bryant Park. Free lunchtime (12:30PM) concerts featuring casts of “The Addams Family” and “Wicked”. www.1067litefm.com

FRI: 7/30: Fire Island Pines, NY: Uncut. Alan Cumming, who plays Eli Gold on the CBS drama "The Good Wife," performs in concert. www.fipap.org.

SAT-TUE: 7/31-8/10: Provincetown, MA: 15th Annual Family Week, for LGBT families and friends. http://www.familyequality.org/site/Calendar/1740357659?view=Detail&id=100061

SAT: 7/31: Washington Depot, CT: Tea for 200, the annual garden party benefit for the Interfaith AIDS Ministry of Greater Danbury. www.teafor200.info/.

SAT-SAT: 7/31-8/07: Cologne, Germany: Gay Games, 8th edition of the quadrennial event. www.games-cologne.com

Newsworthy:

Argentina legalises gay marriage. It’s the first South American nation to do so. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/16/world/americas/16argentina.html?ref=global-home

Poland: Europride meets jeers from some. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/18/world/europe/18poland.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

Gay Group Gets United Nations Nod. After a three year application process, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission was granted consultative status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/07/19/Gay_Group_Gets_United_Nations_Nod/

Washington, DC: Marriage equality foes were dealt a blow 7/15/10 when the DC Court of Appeals ruled against allowing an initiative on the ballot to invalidate same-sex marriages entered into in the District. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/07/15/Victory_for_Gay_Marriage_in_DC/

Maine: A jury has awarded Edward Russell $1.047 million in compensation for discrimination based on his sexual orientation, the largest sum for such a case in state history.The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/07/15/$1_Mil_Awarded_in_Gay_Discrimination_Suit/

Mississippi: Victory for Constance McMillen. The Mississippi school that chose to cancel prom rather than let Constance McMillen attend with her girlfriend will change its discrimination policy and pay the teen $35,000 in damages. NPR reports: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128654153&sc=fb&cc=fp

Oklahoma: Brittany Novotny, a Democrat and the state’s first known TG candidate, is running agains Republican incumbent Sally Kern, an outspoken homophobe. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/20/us/politics/20oklahoma.html?_r=1&ref=us

Wisconsin: A censorship lawsuit that resulted from the premature closing of “Naked Boys Singing!” has been settled. The Milwaukee Gay Arts Center received a $20,000 check from the City of Milwaukee as part of the settlement. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/141209-Naked-Boys-Singing-Censorship-Lawsuit-Settled-in-Milwaukee

Awards and Honors:

Winners: OUTFEST 2010 Awards from the 28th annual LGBT Film Festival. BroadwayWorld.com reports: http://losangeles.broadwayworld.com/article/Outfest_Announces_2010_Award_Winners_20100718

Nominees: News and Documentary Emmys: http://www.emmyonline.tv/mediacenter/news_31st_nominations.html

Features

Coming Out: Meredith Baxter discusses her coming out at an Outfest panel. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2010/07/meredith-baxter-discusses-her-public-coming-out-at-outfest.html

Coming Out: John Browne, in a Guardian op-ed piece, says that his “being outed is a blessing”. In 2007, he resigned as chief executive of BP. He tells his story. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jul/15/being-outed-is-a-blessing

Coming Out: Roy Ashburn, California's newly-out Republican state senator talks about how his anti-LGBT votes masked his fear about being outed as gay, and how they mask what Republicans should stand for. GayPolitics reports: http://www.gaypolitics.com/2010/07/19/my-journey-my-party-and-lgbt-rights/

When the Bride Takes A Bride. Businesses respond as wedding etiquette is revisited. The New York Times reports. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/16/us/16marriage.html?_r=1

America’s Gayest Cities: BayWindows reports: http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=blog&sc2=news&sc3&id=108210

The Resource Center:

Gay Politics Report: a twice-weekly email news briefing of important news for the LGBT community: http://www.smartbrief.com/lgbt/

AmericaBlog, one of my favorite blogs, has a gay civil rights version, GayAmericaBlog with news for the LGBTQ community: http://gay.americablog.com/

In Print:

Thirteen Great Books for Gay Teens, compiled by Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/19/13-great-books-for-gay-te_n_649606.html

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***Abraham Lincoln's Big, Gay Dance Party, the comedy about a fourth-grade Christmas pageant in Lincoln's rural Illinois hometown which sets off a firestorm of controversy when it calls into question Honest Abe's sexuality. www.abrahamlincolnsbiggaydanceparty.com
***Another American: Asking and Telling. Mark Wolf’s tour-de-force one man show about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. Mondays to 8/30/10. Proceeds benefit several LGBT non-profits. http://www.facebook.com/anotheramerican
***Carol Channing in Concert starring Richard Skipper. Skipper’s one of the best Carolers around. 7/27/10. www.telecharge.com.
***La Cage Aux Folles, a revival of the 1983 Jerry Herman/Harvey Fierstein musical, based on a French film, which inspired the film "Birdcage". www.LaCage.com
***Never Norman Rockwell. A comedy about a soon-to-be-married straight couple whose wedding plans are in jeopardy when someone close to them comes out. to 7/31/10. www.collob.com.
***Promises, Promises. Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth star in the Burt Bacharach & Hal David & Neil Simon musical. www.promisespromisesbroadway.com.
***Secrets of The Trade. Out actors John Glover and Bill Brochtrup star in Jonathan Tolins’ new play.to 9/04/10. www.primarystages.org.

Elsewhere...

***From Whence I Came. Leslie Jordan new show. 7/29/10-7/31/10. Provincetown, MA.. http://www.onlyatthecrown.com/entertainment/lesliejordan2010.php
***Hairspray. Christopher Sieber, who recently played out columnist Dan Savage plays Edna Turnblad. to 8/07/10. Dennis, MA. www.capeplayhouse.com
***Justin Bond, “Kiki” of “Kiki and Herb” in concert. 7/30/10-7/31/10. Annandale-on-Hudson, NY. www.fishercenter.bard.edu/summerscape.
***Lea DeLaria Live. The out comic in concert. 7/30/10-7/31/10. Wilton Manors, FL. www.risingactiontheatre.com.
***Queertopia: The Anti Violence Project, a youth-driven oral-history project that explores violence within and against the LGBTQ communities in America. to 7/31/10. Chicago, IL. www.aboutfacetheatre.com
***Slap and Tickle. David Parr’s new play, set in a bathhouse, about how drugs, politics,
HIV, and the internet have changed the social landscape for gay men in America. to 8/14/10. Provincetown, MA. www.slapandtickleonline.com
***[title of show], the Hunter Bell/Jeff Bowen affectionately campy and satirical meta-musical about the creation of a musical. to 9/05/10. Los Angeles, CA. www.celebrationtheatre.com.

On Screen (and Video & DVD)

Resource: GLAAD's Guide to What's LGBT in Film: http://glaadblog.org/whats-lgbt-in-film/

Out on Screen...

***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.
***The Kids Are All Right. Julianne Moore and Annette Bening star in a two-mom family dramedy. Their kids seek out their sperm donor father (Mark Ruffalo). http://www.filminfocus.com/focusfeatures/film/the_kids_are_all_right
***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 provocative New Zealand comedic duo, twin sisters and singers. http://topptwins.com.
***Violet Tendencies. Mindi Cohn (“The Facts of Life”) plays a fag hag in this new romantic comedy. www.violettendenciesmovie.com. Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJi_HtHFLFY

Out On Video & DVD

***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. .
***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
***8: The Mormon Proposition, initially a documentary about gay teen homelessness and suicide in Utah. Director Reed Cowan added the Mormon involvement in Proposition 8 into the mix.
***I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. Kevin James and Adam Sandler play straight firefighters who pretend to be gay to reap their company's domestic partner benefits.
***Out in the Silence. A small town confronts a firestorm of controversy ignited by a same-sex wedding announcement in the local newspaper. Available online. http://www.hulu.com/watch/157306/out-in-the-silence

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 frequently. www.glaad.org/tvgayed

***July/August: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
***July/August: The 70s: The Way We Were. Marvin Hamlisch hosts a concert of 70s pop stars including Gloria Gaynor for PBS. Check local listings. www.pbs.org.
***July/August. Clay Aiken: Tried and True, a concert based on Aiken’s new CD, will air with guest appearances by Ruben Studdard and Linda Eder. PBS. Check local listings. www.pbs.org or www.clayaiken.com.

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

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

8/02/10: Milwaukee, WI: Witches Night Off. The cast of “Wicked” performs in an evening of adult cabaret performances to benefit the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin. www.arcw.org/witches.

8/07/10: Bennington, VT: Bennington Pride Community Celebration. http://gayberkshires.blogspot.com/2010/07/bennington-vt-pride-picnic-saturday.html

8/08/10: Los Angeles, CA: The Trevor Project’s LA Pool & Garden Party. http://www.thetrevorproject.org/events.aspx

8/08/10-8/15/10: Los Angeles, CA: Writer’s Retreat for Emerging LGBT Voices. http://www.lambdaliterary.org/writers-retreat/

8/12/10-8/15/10: San Francisco, CA: Homo A Go Go. Queer arts festival. www.homoagogo.com.

8/13/10-8/29/10: New York, NY: New York International Fringe Festival. emerging theatre serious and otherwise from 197 theatre troupes at 20 venues in lower Manhattan. www.fringenyc.org.

8/14/10: San Francisco, CA: .The Big Gay 10K. www.thebiggay10k.com

8/15/10: San Francisco, CA: Help is On The Way XVI. a benefit for four Bay Area AIDS Service Agencies. www.helpisontheway.org

8/22/10-8/29/10: Porter, ME: Camp Camp. Summer camp for LGBT adults.
www.campcamp.com

8/23/10: Philadelphia, PA: .8th Annual Gay Community Night at the Phillies. www.phillygaydays.com

Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Coming Out on the Page, On-Stage, On-Screen

1. Question: Name this American author, who wrote the ultimate guide to coming out (for LGBT people and their families). It had its third printing in 2005. It provides answers to several hundred FAQ about homosexuality. He also wrote a book on coming out questions for a young adult audience in 2007. Hint: he wrote a couple of LGBT history books and biographies. Answer: Eric Marcus, author of “Is It A Choice?”. For a list of his books: www.ericmarcus.com.

2. Question: Name this American mom, whose daughter came out to her on a Gulf Coast beach over 20 years ago. As her daughter became active and visible in the LGBT community, she wrote a best-selling book about love and acceptance. She’s now an authority and an activist in coming out programs. Answer: Betty Degeneres, mother of Ellen, who wrote “Love Ellen, A Mother/Daughter Journey”. She’s a columnist and a leader in the National coming Out Project.

3. Question: Name this Pulitzer Prize winning Broadway hit, in which an audition turns into a an inner “reveal” for its participants, including a Latino who recalls the painful process of coming out to his parents. Hint: the actor playing the Latino won a Tony Award for his performance. Answer: A Chorus Line. Sammy Williams played “Paul”, a dancer who did drag shows.

4. Question: Name this American author, who wrote his coming out autobiography in the early 1970s. When he came out publicly, and wrote the sequel some 20 years later, it turned out that this privileged Ivy Leaguer was a highly visible best-selling author and political activist in real time. Answer: Andrew Tobias, the business writer and Democratic party officer. As John Reid, he wrote “The Best Little Boy in the World”. He wrote the sequel in his own name.

5. Question: Name this British stage play, turned 1998 film, that like “Beautiful Thing” combined a coming out and coming of age story in poignant terms. The play, much more intense than the film, was recently revived in San Francisco. Answer: Get Real, the film version of Patrick Wilde’s “What’s Wrong with Angry?”.

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: August Milestones

1. Question: Name this American author, born August 2, 1924, the preeminent African-American intellectual of his time, who was one of the first writers to deal openly with homosexuality in a 1956 novel. He was a popular speaker on race relations and civil rights, but was not asked to play a visible role in the 1963 March on Washington, because organizers considered his homosexuality a liability.

2. Question: Name this international competition, held for the first time in San Francisco on August 28, 1982. Over 50,000 people participated. Today, it is a major world event.

3. Question: Name this Broadway blockbuster, which opened on August 21, 1983, one of the first to feature openly gay characters. It was written by an award-winning out composer who wrote showstoppers for middle-aged women and an award-winning playwright who had chronicled his own experiences as drag diva and gay dad.

4. Question: Name this out fashion designer, born on August 1, 1936. He took the French fashion world by storm in the 1970s, and built a fashion empire for women and men, which he sold to Gucci for millions.

5. Question: Name this man who came out on national television on August 13, 2004 with the statement “I am a gay American”. He was the highest-ranked American elected official to do so. He resigned from office shortly thereafter.

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/