Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 12/13/10

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 13 No. 49 December 13, 2010
Newsletter Editor: M. G. Auerbach Email: COSNewsweekly@gmail.com

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The Gay Agenda: Datebook: December 13-19, 2010

MON: 12/13: San Francisco, CA: A Shrektacular Holiday Musical Extravaganza with the cast of “Shrek” and Deborah Gibson. A benefit for The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. www.HelpIsOnTheWay.org

WED: 12/15: Palm Springs, CA: Sparkle: A Holiday Concert with Broadway’s Brightest to benefit The Christmas Foundation, which works to help underprivileged children and children with HIV. Carol Channing, Lorna Luft , Max vonEssen, and Bobby Steggert star. http://sparklepalmsprings.eventbrite.com.

THU: 12/16: San Francisco, CA: Big Gay Christmas Party to benefit GLAAD, NCLR, and more. http://dot429.com/events/temple

SAT: 12/18: New York, NY: Fay Jacobs reads from her new book “For Frying Out Loud”. 2PM. NYC Gay and Lesbian Community Center. www.aandmbook.com

SAT: 12/18: Westport, CT: LGBT Night Out at The Playhouse, Westport Country Playhouse and Norwalk's Triangle Community Center present a cocktail party, erformance by “The Broadway Boys”. www.westportplayhouse.org

SAT: 12/18: Garden City: NY: Holidays With The Family. The Long Island Gay Men’s Chorus holiday concert. http://ligmc.org/events.htm

SUN: 12/19: Bayshore, NY: Holidays With The Family. The Long Island Gay Men’s Chorus holiday concert. http://ligmc.org/events.htm

Newsworthy:

Gay teens in the United States are far more likely to be harshly punished by schools and courts than their straight peers, according to a new study in the medical journal “Pediatrics”. The New York Times reports: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/06/gay-teens-face-harsher-punishments/?hp

Illinois: The Senate has passed a civil unions law. The governor is expected to sign it. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2010/12/illinois-senate-passes-civil-union-bill-governor-has-promised-to-sign.html

Changing The Game is a new GLSEN-initiated project to battle homophobia in sports at the K-12 level. Outsports reports: http://outsports.com/jocktalkblog/2010/12/06/glsen-sports-project-kicking-off/

GLAD Records Move to Yale. Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) is donating many of its legal records to Yale University. Most of the resources, which range from photographs to financial records, will be open to researchers in early 2011..The Yale Daily News reports: http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2010/nov/30/library-acquires-lgbt-records/

Yale University has launched an undergraduate LGBTQ Magazine. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2010/12/yale-launches-first-undergraduate-lgbtq-magazine.html

Becoming Chaz, a documentary about Chaz Bono, will have its world premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. The film, directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, is described by saying, "born biologically female, Chastity Bono. The Advocate previews: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/12/03/Chaz_Documentary_To_Premiere_at_Sundance/

The Buzz (People Making News)

Coming Out: Amber Heard, the actress starring with Johnny Depp in “The Rum Diary” has come out. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/Arts_and_Entertainment/Entertainment_News/Actress_Amber_Heard_Im_Gay/

Transitions:

Hiroshi Iwasaki, the theatre designer, died 11/23/10 at age 59. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/obituaries/20101205_He_was_the_artist_behind_the_scenes.html

Awards and Honors:

Nominees: 53rd Grammy Awards for excellence in music. www.grammy.com.

Forbes Magazine Power Women. @#7: Lady Gaga. @#10: Ellen DeGeneres. @#50: Rachel Maddow. @#61: Suze Orman. @#80: Johanna Sigurdardottir. Forbes reports: http://www.forbes.com/wealth/power-women?boxes=listschannelinsidelists#p_1_s_arank

Photo Shoots and Video

Coming Out: Overhearing Family Drama. The public reacts when a gay kid comes out to a parent in public, part of an ABC “What Would You Do?” Special. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2010/12/watch-public-reacts-to-anti-gay-parents-on-what-would-you-do.html

Features

DADT: How Gay Soldiers serve openly around the world. Terry Gross from NPR’s “Fresh Air” reports: http://www.npr.org/2010/12/07/131857684/how-gay-soldiers-serve-openly-around-the-world?&sc=fb&cc=freshair

Profile: Basil Twist, the incomparable puppeteer. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/nyregion/05routine.html?_r=1

Opportunities

Point Foundation Scholarships are now available for 2011-12. The Point Foundation is the nation's largest scholarship granting organization for 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.  Online applications available on 12/10/10. Application deadline is 2/11/11. www.pointfoundation.org.

In Print:

The Best LGBT Books of 2010: 80 authors select their favorites. Band of Thebes reports: http://bandofthebes.typepad.com/bandofthebes/2010/11/the-best-lgbt-books-of-2010.html#more

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes. Tony Kushner’s award-winning epic. Michael Urie stars beginning 2/02/11 thru 3/27/11. www.signaturetheatre.org.
***Christmas Spells. Justin Bond’s gender-bending holiday show. to 12/18/10. http://www.abronsartscenter.org/
***The Importance of Being Earnest. Gay Oscar Wilde’s classic. Brian Bedford turns in a gender-bender as Lady Bracknell. to 3/06/11. www.roundabouttheatre.org
***Jackie Beat’s All You Can Eat Christmas. starring the drag Grinch. 12/16/10-12/19/10. www.jackiebeatrules.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
***The Last Castrato. the story of Alessandro Moreschi, the last of that unique, almost forgotten group --the castrati. www.lastcastrato.com.
***The Pee-wee Herman Show. Paul Reubens’ stage version of his TV hit. to 1/02/11.
***Sing Your Brass Off! The NYC Gay Men's Chorus' holiday concert with guest Liz Callaway. 12/19/10. www.nycgmc.org.
***Times Square Angel. Charles Busch stars in his gender-bending holiday classic. 12/13/10. http://www.theaterforthenewcity.net/

Elsewhere...

***A John Waters Christmas. The bad boy of cinema (“Hairspray”, “Pink Flamingos”) offers an evening of holiday ribaldry. 12/14/10. Chicago, IL. www.harristheaterchicago.org
***A Queer Carol. The holiday tale retold with gay sensibility. to 12/18/10. Theatre Out, Santa Ana, CA. www.theatreout.com
***Oy Vay in a Manger. The Kinsey Sicks dragapella holiday show. 12/18/10-1/02/11. Washington, DC. www.washingtondcjcc.org.
***Santa Claus Is Coming Out, a theatrical mock-u-mentary by Jeffrey Solomon, reveals the secret romantic life of the beloved childhood icon and the scandal that rocks the world when the truth leaks out. to 12/21/10. San Diego, CA. www.diversionary.org
***Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays. Playlets about marriage equality. to 2/07/11. Los Angeles, CA. www.StandingOnCeremony.net
***Take Me Out. A baseball player comes out. to 12/19/10. Hollywood, CA. www.celebrationtheatre.com
***There’s Something About Merry. Connecticut Gay Men’s Chorus holiday show. 12/18/10. New Haven, CT. www.ctgmc.org.

On Screen (and Video & DVD)

Out on Screen...

***A Marine Story. Alexandra, a married Marine, is a casualty of DADT. After discharge, she rebuilds her life. The trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixk192SX9es
***Black Swan. Natalie Portman plays a ballerina competing for a lead in “Swan Lake”.
***Burlesque. Cher returns to the screen for her first movie in seven years in a musical drama that tells the tale of a young singer (Christina Aguilera) who is hired as a cocktail waitress at a club that does musical revues by the star (Cher).
***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.
***Rabbit Hole, John Cameron Mitchell (“Hedwig” and “Short Bus”) directs the movie version of the Broadway drama which stars Nicole Kidman. www.rabbitholefilm.com.
***Undertow. A Peruvian film about a man with a pregnant wife who takes a male lover. Limited screenings to qualify for Best Foreign Film Oscar.

Out On Video & DVD

***The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story, the film documentary about songwriting brothers Robert Sherman and Richard Sherman, (Mary Poppins,' 'The Jungle Book,' 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' and more). They were tempestuous in life and great work collaborators.
***Eyes Wide Open, two ultra-orthodox Chasidic Jews who 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.
***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). .
***Mädchen in Uniform, the 1958 lesbian classic.
***Out: The Glenn Burke Story. A new documentary on the life of the late professional baseball player Glenn Burke raises haunting questions about the impact of homophobia in major league sports.
***Sondheim: The Birthday Concert. Davd Hyde Pierce hosts.

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

***December: 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.
***Weekdays The Talk. Out “Roseanne” alum Sara Gilmore produces a new version of “The View” with Marissa Jaret Winokur, Julie Chen, and Sharon Osbourne. CBS Weekdays. Check local listings.
***thru 12/28: Wishful Drinking, Carrie Fisher’s intoxicating autobiographical solo show. 9PM. NBO. Check times.
***Ongoing: Public Speaking. Martin Scorses’s documentary about occasional author Fran Lebowitz. HBO. Check listings.

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

12/26/10: New York, NY: 23rd LGBT Kwanzaa Celebration. http://www.circleofvoicesinc.org/events.html

1/05/11-1/09/11: Salt Lake City, UT: Utah Gay & Lesbian Ski Week. www.gayskiing.org

1/09/11: San Francisco, CA: dot429 LGBT Professionals Networking Brunch. http://dot429.com/events/brunch-san-francisco-0

1/15/11-6/04/11: Nationwide: David Sedaris continues his book tour with his new bestseller “Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk”. http://www.barclayagency.com/speakers/appearances/sedaris.html

1/16/11-1/23/11: Aspen, CO: Aspen Gay Ski Week. www.gayskiweek.com

1/19/11-1/23/11: Stowe, VT: Winter Rendezvous gay skiing, winter sports & entertainment. www.winterrendezvous.com

1/20/11-1/30/11: Park City, UT: Sundance Film Festival. www.sundance.org Sundance schedule: http://www.sundance.org/press-center/release/2011-sundance-film-festival-announces-films-in-premieres/

Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: December Milestones

1. Question: Name this gay international fashion designer, born December 2, 1946. His murder, at the hands of a hustler, made recent headlines. A relative, often spoofed on “Saturday Night Live” has taken over his work. Answer: Gianni Versace. His sister, Donatella, was often spoofed by Maya Rudolph. .

2. Question: Name this progressive state, which passed legislation on December 6, 1993, to protect LGBT youth from discrimination in the public school system--a first. Hint: the state has a liberal reputation. Answer: Massachusetts.

3. Question: Name this gay-themed movie, which opened in New York on December 14, 1988. Its author and star (the movie originated on Broadway) has played one of Broadway’s most glamourous mothers and one of its favorite fathers of five. Answer: Torch Song Trilogy by Harvey Fierstein, who played Edna Turnblad in “Hairspray” and Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof”.

4. Question: Name this internationally famous concert hall. On December 8, 1981, the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus performed there...they were the first openly gay musical group to do so. Answer: Carnegie Hall.

5. Question: Name this former California congressman and almost Senator who came out publicly in December, 1998. He was the spouse of the internationally known commentator and blogger. He had supported LGBT causes, including supporting Andrew Tobias’ “Out of The Past“ documentary. Answer: Michael Huffington, former husband of Arianna. (The Huffington Post).

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: 2010 in Review Part 1

2010: The year of battles around “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and Proposition 8. The year when thousands rallied to tell teens “It Gets Better”.

1. Question: Name this country which became the first South American to legalise same-sex marriage. Hint: Near carnival in Rio, it once had a tearful first lady.

2. Question: Name this actor who once cruised Tom, whose same-sex marriage was featured in the New York Times.

3. Question: Name this high school senior who fought her school’s decision to cancel the prom rather than allow her to attend with her girlfriend. She won her fight, was grand marshall of New York City Pride, and has become one of the movement’s most respected activists.

4. Question: Name this prominent gay rights activist, the child of entertainment legends, who very publicly transitioned from female to male.

5. Question: Name this actor, who came out just prior to making a Broadway debut. He was a hit, but a national magazine questioned his ability to play it straight in a love story. He ended up being nominated or a slew of awards, and hosting an awards ceremony. The journalist, also gay, was vilified after the article was released..

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