Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 9/27/10

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 13 No. 38 September 27, 2010
Newsletter Editor: M. G. Auerbach Email: COSNewsweekly@gmail.com

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The Gay Agenda: Datebook: September 27-October 3, 2010

thru SUN 10/31: Nationwide: LGBT History Month

thru SUN: 10/24: Chicago, IL: The Great Plays of Terrence McNally. A series of readings and performances of the out playwright’s major works. Pride Films and Plays. www.pridefilmsandplays.com.

thru THU: 12/02: Nationwide: David Sedaris does a book tour with his new book: Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Beastiary by David Sedaris. http://www.barclayagency.com/speakers/appearances/sedaris.html

WED: 9/29: New York, NY: Tony Kushner speaks at a special exhibition of selected materials that celebrates the New York Public Library's opening of the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) records. 6:30pm. http://www.theatermania.com/new-york/news/09-2010/tony-kushner-to-speak-at-gmhc-exhibition-at-nypl-s_30616.html

WED: 9/29: New York, NY: Justin Spring does a reading/booksigning of his new book, “Secret Historian: The Life and Times of Samuel Steward, Professor, Tattoo Artist, and Sexual Renegade” in conversation with Honor Moore.. 6PM. New York Public Library South Court Auditorium. http://www.secrethistorian.com/events.htm

FRI: 10/01: Los Angeles, CA: The PFLAG LA Event. PFLAG’s first Los Angeles event at the London West Hollywood. www.pflag.org.

SAT-FRI: 10/02-10/08: Atlanta, GA: Out on Film. www.outonfilm.com

SAT: 10/02: Anaheim, CA: Youth Programs at Gay Days (at Disneyland). Programs for the under 21 set. www.gaydaysanahaeim.com.

SAT: 10/02: Charlotte, NC: Campus Pride College Fair and Prep Day. Southeast Region. http://www.campusclimateindex.org/events/default.aspx

SUN: 10/03: San Francisco, CA: Castro Street Fair. Street fair started by Harvey Milk. www.castrostreetfair.org

SUN: 10/03: Hauppauge, NY: Long Island GLBT Business and Life Expo. http://ligaly.org/content.php?pgID=453

Newsworthy:

DADT Bill Stalls in Senate. With Congress increasingly paralyzed by the partisan fury of the midterm elections, the Senate on 9/21/10 voted against taking up a major military bill that includes a provision allowing the repeal of the DADT policy regarding gay soldiers.
The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/22/us/politics/22cong.html?hp
Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2010/09/dadt-repeal-efforts-stall-as-senate-motion-to-proceed-fails.html

Russian Gay Rights Icon tells of his abduction. Nikolai Alekseyev was kidnapped by people he believes to be members of Russia’s security services. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/world/europe/21russia.html?_r=1&hpw

New York: A new, inclusive adoption law signed by governor David Paterson allows unmarried partners, including same-sex couples, to jointly adopt children. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/09/21/NY_Law_OKs_Unmarried_Partner_Adoption/

The Buzz (People Making News)

Coming Out: Matt R. Salmon is up-and-coming in the Arizona GOP. He’s the youngest son of conservative Republican Matthew James Salmon, Mormon, and gay.The Phoenix New Times reports: http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2010-09-16/news/over-the-rainbow-the-namesake-son-of-conservative-mormon-matt-salmon-wants-to-make-a-name-for-himself-in-republican-politics-only-he-s-gay/1/

Weddings, Civil Unions and Engagements:

Kelly McGillis, the actor, and partner Melanie Leis tied the knot on 9/15/10. The couple first met in 2000. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/15/fashion/weddings/15MCGILLIS.html?_r=1&ref=weddings

Awards and Honors:

2010 Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame Inductees. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/09/20/G_and_L_Hall_of_Fame_Honors_15/

In Memoriam:

Jill Johnston, author of “Lesbian Nation: The Feminist Solution” and a longtime cultural critic for The Village Voice died in 9/18/10 at age 81. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/arts/21johnston.html?hpw

Photo Shoots and Video

Coming Out: Jane Lynch talks about her coming out on “Ellen”. http://www.towleroad.com/2010/09/watch-jane-lynch-tells-ellen-she-helped-her-come-out.html

Features

Coming Out: Profile: Rev. James Stoll, one of the first out ministers in America and gay rights pioneer. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/18/us/18beliefs.html?_r=1

Gay History Month LGBT Icons. Gay Rights Media chooses one a day for October 2010: http://gayrightsmedia.org/2010/on-the-2010-glbt-history-month-icons/

Laramie Revisited: Greg Pierotti takes a deeper look at “The Laramie Project” and “Laramie: 10 Years Later” and why the performances will resonate long after you leave the theater. (Editor’s Note: Tour dates listed in On-Stage listings). The Advocate reports: http://advocate.com/Arts_and_Entertainment/Theater/On_the_Road_With_Laramie_Sept_14_2010/

Don’t Enforce DADT. A New York Times editorial: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/17/opinion/17fri1.html?_r=3&ref=opinion

In Print:

Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation. Edited by Kate Bornstein; S. Bear Bergman
Seal Press The result of its editors’ sense that in the fifteen years since the publication of Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women, and the Rest of Us, a generation of transgendered, genderqueer, and gender nonconforming folks grew into their queer selves with the analytical toolbox that Kate Bornstein and other queer theorists—Judith Halberstam and Judith Butler are often cited as well—provided.

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Beastiary by David Sedaris. Little Brown and Company. A new collection of stories featuring animal characters.

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***A Life in The Theatre. T.R. Knight stars with Patrick Stewart who plays an elderly actor and Knight’s mentor in David Mamet’s play. to 1/02/11.
***Another American: Asking and Telling. Mark Wolf’s tour-de-force one man show about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. Mondays to 10/04/10. Proceeds benefit several LGBT non-profits. http://www.facebook.com/anotheramerican
***Batt on a Hot Tin Roof. Bryan Batt (“Mad Men”) performs at Feinstein’s at the Regency. 10/03/10-10/04/10. www.feinsteinsattheregency.com
***The Divine Sister. Charles Busch’s new play. Busch plays an indomitable Mother Superior driven to build a new school for her Pittsburgh convent. www.DivineSisterOnstage.com.
***Joey Arias in Concert. The drag artist’s first New York concert in nearly a decade. Arias will channel Billy Holiday. 10/01/10-10/09/10. http://www.abronsartscenter.org/
***My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding. A new musical. Claire’s new job gives her the opportunity to discover her sexuality, rediscover her faith, and find the strength to come out to her teenage son, her ex-husband, and her homophobic mother. to 10/17/10. www.nymf.org
***Orlando. young man turned immortal woman still lives, now as a stage character in Sarah Ruhl’s adaptation of Woolf’s 1928 novel. to 10/07/10. www.classicstage.org.

Elsewhere...

***Carrie. Stephen King’s horror novel turned stage play. Erik Ransom will pull a gender-bending turn as the titular high school student with telekinetic powers. 10/02/10-11/07/10. Philadelphia, PA. http://www.bratproductions.org/
***Dear Harvey, a play with music about Harvey Milk, the gay rights activist. to 10/10/10. Hollywood, CA. www.plays411.com/dearharvey
***Gut Bucket Blues: The Legendary Bessie Smith. World premiere musical byDavid Bell about the raucous blueser with interest in the women. to 11/07/10. Atlanta, GA: http://truecolorstheatre.org/
***The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later. The Tectonic Theater Project’s docudrama about the aftermath of the Matthew Shepard murder. to 10/02/10, Boston, MA. 10/06/10-10/07/10, University Park, PA. http://www.tectonictheaterproject.org/Tectonic.html
***Sassy Gay Friend Comedy Show. Brian Gallivan, creator of and star of “Sassy Gay Friend” entertains with SGF stories and his own story of coming out. Los Angeles, CA. thru 10/01/10. http://www.secondcity.com/performances/detail/338/
***Take Me Out. Richard Greenberg’s award-winning drama about a major league baseball player who comes out. to 10/31/10. Los Angeles, CA.
www.celebrationtheatre.com

On Display

to 10/23/10: Los Angeles, CA: Jeff Sheng’s Portraits of service men and women who pose in response to DADT. Kaycee Olsen Gallery. http://www.kayceeolsen.com/
The Los Angeles Times reports: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-et-dont-ask-photos-20100918,0,4371491.story?track=rss

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
***HOWL, the docu-feature about Allen Ginsberg (James Franco) by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman. Also starring David Strathairn, Jon Hamm, Mary-Louise Parker and Jeff Daniels.
***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

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. .
***Glee. The Complete First Season.
***LA Mission. Benjamin Bratt is a barrio tough guy who discovers that his son is involved in a relationship with another boy.
***Mädchen in Uniform, the 1958 lesbian classic.
***Modern Family: The Complete First Season. Follow the story of Mitchell and Cameron.
***My Trip Down The Pink Carpet. Leslie Jordan’s one-man autobiographical show. A recent Off-Broadway hit. www.mytripdownthepinkcarpet.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 frequently. www.glaad.org/tvgayed

***September/October: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
***Weekdays: The Nate Berkus Show. Oprah’s out protege goes hourly in syndication. Check local listings.
***FRI: 10/01: Liza Minnelli talks about her new album, “Confessions” on Good Morning America. ABC.

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

10/04/10: Los Angeles, CA: Some Men, Terrence McNally’s play about the lives of gay men in America over 80 years in an all-star reading with Alan Cumming, John Glover, Luke MacFarlane, Jason Ritter, and Steven Weber. A benefit for 'Testimony,' a project of the Courage Campaign Institute. www.couragecampaign.org.

10/04/10: New York, NY: Broadway Takes The Runway. Carson Kressley and Sara Ramirez (“Grey’s Anatomy”) hostan evening of song to benefit the Al D. Rodriguez Liver Foundation. Artists will be dressed by Broadway designers. www.AlDRodriguezLiverFoundation.com

10/05/10: New Haven, CT: Justin Spring does a reading/booksigning of his new book, “Secret Historian: The Life and Times of Samuel Steward, Professor, Tattoo Artist, and Sexual Renegade”. 4PM. Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscripts Library. http://www.secrethistorian.com/events.htm

10/05/10: New York, NY: Michael Cunningham does a reading and booksigning of his new novel “By Nightfall”. . 7PM. B&N Union Square. http://www.michaelcunninghamwriter.com/tour/

10/06/10: Boston, MA: Justin Spring does a reading/booksigning of his new book, “Secret Historian: The Life and Times of Samuel Steward, Professor, Tattoo Artist, and Sexual Renegade”. 7PM. Museum of Fine Arts. http://www.secrethistorian.com/events.htm

10/06/10: Boston, MA: Michael Cunningham does a reading and booksigning of his new novel “By Nightfall”. Boston Public Library. http://www.michaelcunninghamwriter.com/tour/

10/07/10: Philadelphia, PA: Michael Cunningham does a reading and booksigning of his new novel “By Nightfall”. . Free Library of Philadelphia. http://www.michaelcunninghamwriter.com/tour/

10/07/10-10/10/10: Los Angeles, CA: The World Goes Round, a benefit for the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s Jeffrey Goodman Special Care Clinic. www.lagaycenter.org/worldgoesround.

10/07/10-10/09/10: Sacramento, CA: Sacramento Int’l Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. www.siglff.org

10/08/10-10/17/10: Provincetown, MA: Women’s Week. http://www.womeninnkeepers.com/womens_week.html

10/08/10: Los Angeles, CA: GLSEN Respect Awards, honoring “Modern Family”, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates. www.glsen.org.

10/08/10-10/09/10: Los Angeles, CA: UCLA Queer Studies Conference. lgbts@humnet.ucla.edu

10/08/10-10/10/10: Palm Desert, CA: Families in the Desert. Family Equality Council’s weekend for LGBT families and friends. http://www.familyequality.org/site/PageServer?pagename=events_calendar

10/10/10: Washington, DC: COLAGE 20th Anniversary Event. COLAGE is the national movement of children, youth and adults with one or more LGBT parents. . http://www.colage.org/programs/events/20th.htm

10/11/10: Nationwide: National Coming Out Day. www.hrc.com/ncop

Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Touchdown

1. Question: Name this NFL running back, who is 1975, became one of the first professional athletes to come out. He was an All-American running back at The University of Washington, where he was signed by the San Francisco 49ers. He played pro-football from 1964 to 1972. Answer: David Kopay. Today, he is a board member of the Gay and Lesbian Athletics Foundation. His 1977 biography, The David Kopay Story, was written with Perry Deane Young.

2. Question: Name this NFL offensive lineman with the New York Giants and later with the Washington Redskins during Super Bowl XVIII in 1984. In 1992, he came out on the Phil Donahue Show. Answer: Roy Simmons, whose autobiography, "Out of Bounds" (written with Damon DiMarco) detailed his drug addiction, prostitution, and promiscuity. Around 1997, he learned he was HIV+.

3. Question: Name this NFL defensive lineman, born of Samoan ancestry, and nicknamed "Mr. Aloha". He reached the Super Bowl in 1998 while playing with the Atlanta Falcons. He also played for the Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers during his career. He came out on HBO's "Real Sports" in 2002. Answer: Esera Tavai Tuaolo, who has since worked with the NFL to attempt to combat homophobia in the league and is a board member of the Gay and Lesbian Athletics Foundation. Tuaolo's autobiography, "Alone In The Trenches: My Life As A Gay Man In The NFL", was released in 2006.

4. Question: Name this gay or bi football player who was a tight end for the NFL's Washington Redskins from 1965–1977. Sports Illustrated called him "an outstanding receiver among tight ends, with the ability to break open for a long gain." He was the first former professional football player to die of AIDS. Answer: Jerry Smith. Although he acknowledged that he had AIDS, he never publicly acknowledged his gay activities. Smith's sexuality was confirmed after his death by a former teammate, pro NFL football player David Kopay.

9/27: This Week’s Trivia Quiz: October Milestones

1. Question: Name this American celebrity, whose death from AIDS on October 2, 1985, brought international attention to the epidemic. Hint: One of his best friends stepped up to the arena to become the world’s leading HIV/AIDS fundraiser.

2. Question: Name this LGBT event, which began on October 11, 1988. Coincidentally, it’s also the birthday of a former First Lady, suspected of having a romantic relationship with another woman, a journalist. Their letters were made public on October 21, 1979.

3. Question: Name this international musician and composer who came out bisexual in Rolling Stone on October 7, 1975. He’s since revised his statement and identifies as gay.

4. Question: Name this gay man, the victim of a hate crime on October 6, 1998. (He died several days later). His murder, which inspired some important plays and films, launched a new era in the LGBT Rights Movement. His parents have taken on the cause.

5. Question: Name this actor and muse (born October 19, 1946) of American cinema’s most famous bad boy. The muse did her own stunt work as the world’s filthiest person and died shortly after winning mainstream approval as the mother of a chubby teen.

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/