Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 12/27/10

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 13 No. 51/52 December 27, 2010 & January 3, 2011
Newsletter Editor: M. G. Auerbach Email: COSNewsweekly@gmail.com

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Season’s Greetings

We’re going to take a little holiday vacation. Our next issue will be emailed on January 4, 2011. Season’s Greetings and best wishes for a happy and a healthy New Year.

The Gay Agenda: Datebook: December 27, 2010-January 9, 2011

FRI-SAT: 12/31-1/01: Miami, FL: Cheyene Jackson rings in the New Year with his new show “All I Know”. www.preludebybartong.com

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

THU: 1/06: New York, NY: Kevin Spacey, currently starring as Jack Abramoff in “Casino Jack” talks about his career at the New York Times Arts & Leisure Weekend. www.artsandleisureweekend.com.

THU: 1/06: Houston TX: Fannie Flagg, out author of “Fried Green Tomatos” signs copies of “I Still Dream About You”. 7PM. Brazos Bookstore, Bissonnet. Also: SAT: 1/08: Austin TX: 3PM. Book People, N. Lamar Avenue.

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

SUN: 1/09: New York, NY: Billie Joe Armstrong, John Gallagher Jr and Michael Mayer, discuss “American Idiot” and Green Day at the New York Times Arts & Leisure Weekend. www.artsandleisureweekend.com.

Newsworthy:

DADT: The Senate ends the ban on gays serving openly in the military. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/19/us/politics/19cong.html?hp

The Human Rights Campaign has leased Harvey Milk’s camera shop in the Castro. It’s not going down well with many acitivists. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/20/us/20milk.html?hpw

The Human Rights Watch slammed Iran for harassing gays. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/12/15/world/europe/AP-EU-Netherlands-Human-Rights-Iran.html?_r=1

North Carolina: The Supreme Court has voided a same-sex couple’s second parent adoption. Pam’s House Blend reports: http://pamshouseblend.com/diary/18271/nc-supreme-court-voids-samesex-couples-second-parent-adoption

Soccer Foul. A leading international gay rights group demanded an official apology from FIFA following Sepp Blatter's comment about homosexual fans traveling to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup.Sports Illustrated reports: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/soccer/12/14/fifa.gayrights.ap/index.html#ixzz18JRsacXp

Lesbian Coach’s Exit from Belmont University is the talk of Nashville. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/18/education/18belmont.html?hpw

Commissioned: A musical of the film “Far From Heaven” in which a woman discovers that her husband is in the closet. The creators wrote the script for “Take Me Out” (the story of a baseball star who comes out) and “Grey Gardens”. New York Press reports: http://www.nypress.com/blog-7931-far-from-heaven-the-musical.html

The Buzz (People Making News)

Coming Out: Nigel Evans, Britain’s Deputy Commons Speaker and a conservative politician, has come out. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2010/12/conservative-british-.html

Transitions:

Blake Edwards, the film director who staged “Victor/Victoria” for his wife Julie Andrews, has died on 12/15/10 at age 88. “Victor/Victoria” was a 1980s hit about a starving opera singer who pretends to be a Polish count who performs as a female impersonator. He also directed “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and the Pink Panther films. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/17/movies/17edwards.html

Awards and Honors:

Nominees: Screen Actors Guild Awards. Among them: Jane Lynch, “Glee”, Annette Bening, http://www.sag.org/nominations-announced-17th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards

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. Application deadline is 2/11/11. www.pointfoundation.org.

The Resource Center:

Resource: LGBT News: The Gay Politics Report, a twice-weekly compendium of national news involving the LGBT community, is published by The Victory Fund. For a free email subscription: http://www.victoryfund.org/home

In Print:

American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare: The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee by Karen Abbott. Random House. Using exclusive interviews and never-before-published material, the author vividly delves into Gypsy's world, including her intensely dramatic triangle relationship with her sister, actress June Havoc, and their formidable mother, Rose.

Sal Mineo: A Biography by Michael Gregg Michaud, Crown/Archetype. The biography of the actor/director who was one of cinema’s first bad boys. He worked with gay-themed material, and died in a burtal murder.

On CD: Use Those Gift Cards

***Be A Santa. Lea DeLaria swings traditional Christmas songs on her new album. Warner Classics.
***Burlesque. RCA. The motion picture soundtrack with Cher, Christina Aguilera, Kristen Bell, and Alan Cumming.
***Confessions, a new album from Liza Minnelli. Decca. Release date: 9/21/10.
***La Cage aux Folles, the Broadway revival recording. PS Classics. with Kelsey Grammer and Douglas Hodge.
***The Scottsboro Boys, 2010 Off-Broadway musical cast recording with out composer and lyricist.Kander & Ebb score. JAY Records.
***Sondheim: The Birthday Concert. The New York Philharmonic and Broadway greats celebrate the 80th birthday of the out composer. David Hyde Pierce hosts. Among the cast: Bernadette Peters, Elaine Stritch, Patti LuPone, Mandy Patinkin, Audra McDonald, Donna Murphy, and more.
***Sondheim on Sondheim. Original Broadway cast recording. New arrangements of over two-dozen Sondheim tunes interspersed with audio commentary by the composer himself, who reveals fascinating details about his life and his art. With Barbara Cook, Vanessa Williams, Tom Wopat. PS Classics.

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu. Rufus Wainwright performances his acclaimed piece at Carnegie Hall. 12/29/10. www.rufuswainwright.com
***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.
***Celebrity Autobiography: the special New Year’s Eve show with Rick Holmes , Cady Huffman,, Kristen Johnston, Andrea Martin, and Christopher Sieber. 12/31/10. www.celebrityautobiography.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.
***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
***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
***Songs My Mother Taught Me. Lorna Luft sings Judy Garland. 1/04/11-1/09/11. http://feinsteinsattheregency.com/

Elsewhere...

***A Catered Affair. the Harvey Fierstein and John Bucchino musical based on the film with a little gay sensibility added. to 1/23/11. Houston, TX. www.mainstreettheater.com.
***Dirty Little Showtunes. Off-color, adults-only musical spoof on Broadway shows from “Wicked” to “Grey Gardens”. Six guys skewer showtunes in an antidote to Sugarplum saturation. to 1/16/10. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org.
***The Loose Chanteuse. Varla Jean Merman’s new show. 1/01/11-1/15/11, Silverlake, CA. . www.varlaonline.com
***Marga Gomez New Year’s Eve Spectacular. An evening with San Francisco's queer queen of New Year's Eve. 12/31/10. San Francisco, CA.www.therhino.org
***Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays. Playlets about marriage equality. to 2/07/11. Los Angeles, CA. www.StandingOnCeremony.net
***Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Tracy Letts and Amy Morton star as sparring spouses in out Edward Albee’s masterpiece. to 2/13/11. Chicago, IL. . www.steppenwolf.org.

On Display

thru 1/23/11: Washington, DC: Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture. A controversial display of portraits from the late 19th century through today illustrates the changing social attitudes towards sexual difference and how it is depicted. National Portrait Gallery. http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/museums/national-portrait-gallery-smithsonian-institution,793021.html

thru 2/28/11: San Francisco, CA: Particular Voices: Portraits of Gay and Lesbian Jewish Writers: Jewish Community Center of SF features acclaimed photographic exhibit by American photographer Robert Giard who chronicled a broad survey of contemporary American gay and lesbian literary figures, including Allen Ginsberg, Tony Kushner and more.Jewish Community Center of SF www.jccsf.org/arts.

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”.
***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.
***Little Fockers. Barbra Streisand returns as “Roz” in the latest “Meet The Parents” series.
***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

***HOWL, the docu-feature about Allen Ginsberg (James Franco) by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman.
***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). .
***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.
***Prayers for Bobby. Sigourney Weaver stars in a true story about the mother of a gay son who has problems accepting him.

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/January: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
***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.

***TUE: 12/28. Kennedy Center Honors. Among those honored: Jerry Herman and Bill T. Jones. CBS. Check local listings.
***FRI: 12/31: Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On. The divine Miss M’s Vegas extravaganza which is Midler’s first special in over a decade. 9PM. HBO. Additional airings. Check local listings.
***WED: 1/05: People’s Choice Awards. 9PM. CBS. www.PeoplesChoice.com

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

1/11/11: New York, NY: Johnny Weir does a booksigning for “Welcome to My World”. 7PM. Borders Books, Columbus Circle.

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: 2010 in Review Part 2

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 nation, the only one with an out head of state, which legalised same sex marriage in 2010. Answer: Iceland. The Advocate reported: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/06/11/Iceland_Legalizes_Gay_Marriage/

2. Question: Name this international company. It ran popular gay-friendly TV commercials in Europe; Company management refused to air them in America, leaving many LGBT diners with an unsavory taste in their mouths. Answer: McDonald’s. Au revoir, happy meals. The Huffington Post reported: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/17/mcdonalds-homophobic-comm_n_616458.html. =

3. Question: Name this international tourist attraction, a shrine to a flamboyant entertainer. The attraction was forced to close. Answer: The Liberace Museum in Las Vegas. NPR reported: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130571040&sc=fb&cc=fp.

4. Question: Name this gay hero amongst the over-worked working class, who jumped ship with a brew to protest air rage. Answer: Steven Slater, a JetBlue flight attendant. He lost his job in the process. USAToday reported: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-10-19-jetblue-attendant-plea_N.htm. =

5. Question: Name this right-wing Republican, known for his public anti-gay activity. He came out to the surprise of many. Answer: Ken Mehlman, former Republican National Committee Chair and President Bush’s campaign manager in 2004. The Atlantic reportrf: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/08/bush-campaign-chief-and-former-rnc-chair-ken-mehlman-im-gay/62065/ .

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: January Milestones

1. Question: Name this musician, author and activist, who was the first person to come out on television on January 18, 1973. His family was the subject of a reality series documentary on PBS.

2. Question: Name this playwright and activist. On January 12, 1982, a group of gay men met at his apartment to form the GMHC, Gay Men’s Health Crisis, a non-profit organization to provide programs and services to people with HIV. Today, the GMHC is one of the nation’s laregest AIDS service organizations, and the playwright is best known for his activism.

3. Question: Name this out award-winning actor and activist. His gay and lesbian theatre and film colleagues, among them Alec McGowen, Simon Callow, Stephen Fry, Cameron Macintosh, and Martin Sherman, came out publicly in the UK’s Guardian to support his knighthood on January 9, 1991.

4. Question: Name this popular icon who was outed in January, 2005. He joined Tinky Winky and Bert & Ernie as gay icons.

5. Question: Name this bisexual American actress, born January 31, 1902. She was best known for her portrayals of Southern belles, although she had a mouth that could frighten sailors.

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/