Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 1/31/11

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 14 No. 4 January 31, 2011
Newsletter Editor: M. G. Auerbach Email: COSNewsweekly@gmail.com

The Fine Print

See previous editions.

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The Gay Agenda: Datebook: January 31-February 6, 2011

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

thru SAT: 2/05: Kingston, ON: Reel Out Queer Film & Video Festival. www.reelout.com

thru SUN: 2/06: Whistler, BC: WinterPRIDE: Whistler Gay Ski Week. www.gaywhistler.com

Just Added: THU: 1/27: Philadelphia, PA: Fay Jacobs and Stefani Deoul read and sign their new books. Fay is author of The Frying Trilogy. 5:30PM. Giovanni’s Room. www.aandmbooks.com.

SUN: 1/30: Northampton, MA: Lesléa Newman presents “He Continues to Make a Difference: The Matthew Shepard Story;” 1pm; Unitarian Society. www.uunorthampton.org/bogblog

TUE: 2/01: Los Angeles, CA: LA Clippers LGBT Equality Night. The Clippers play The Chicago Bulls. http://www.nba.com/clippers/groups/equalitynight.html

WED: 2/02: Nationwide: Groundhog Day. When rodents come out, people listen.

WED-SUN: 2/02-2/06: Minneapolis, MN: Creating Change. The National Conference on LGBT Equality. http://www.creatingchange.org/?tr=y&auid=6739637

FRI-SAT: 2/04-2/05: Miami, FL: Bryan Batt in concert. www.preludebybartong.com

SAT: 2/05: Northampton, MA: Mamma Mia! Sing-Along and Anything Goes Costume Contest. The annual Out! For Reel LGBT Film Festival’s community event. www.outforreel.org

SAT: 2/05: New York, NY: No Excuses Gala, the Human Rights Campaign New York Gala. http://www.hrcgreaterny.org/

SUN: 2/06: New York, NY: Patti LuPone is guest star for Jordan Roth’s “Broadway Talks” series at the 92nd Street Y. 7:30PM.

Newsworthy:

Resource: Free LGBT News E-Newsletter. Gay Politics Report comes out twice-weekly with news briefings. From Smart Brief. An excellent resource for LGBY officials, business organizations, and community leaders. http://www.smartbrief.com/lgbt/

Israel: a LGBT group warns parents to not keep their gay kids in the closet. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2011/01/israeli-lgbt-group-warns-parents-not-to-keep-gay-kids-in-the-closet.html

Iowa: A resolution to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage was voted for by the House Judiciary Committee. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2011/01/iowa-house-committee-votes-to-ban-same-sex-marriage-13-8.html

Gay Parents find the South more welcoming. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/19/us/19gays.html?_r=1

Another Teen Suicide, th result of Fcebook taunts. FoxNY reports: http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/local_news/new_york_state/sources-teenager-kills-himself-after-facebook-taunts-20110119

Chaz Bono’s documentary, “Becoming Chaz” premiered at Sundance. It’s the story of his F2M transition. Oprah has acquired its distribution rights. EOnline reports: http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/marc_malkin/b222133_chaz_bono_had_breast_removal_surgery.html

The Buzz (People Making News)

Profile: Tim Cook, new top guy at Apple and the most powerful gay man in Silicon Valley. Gawker reports: http://gawker.com/5736917/meet-apples-new-boss-the-most-powerful-gay-man-in-silicon-valley

Transitions:

Reynolds Price, the celebrated American author, died on 1/20/11 at age 77. Duke University reports: http://news.duke.edu/reynoldsprice/

Awards and Honors:

Nominees: 2011 Oscars with a ballot PDF. (courtesy of Towleroad): http://www.towleroad.com/2011/01/watch-live-academy-award-nominations.html

Nominees: GLAAD Media Awards. http://www.glaad.org/releases/012011mediaawards

Winners: Dorian Awards from the Gay & Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association. BroadwayWorld.com reports: http://broadwayworld.com/article/GLEE_Lansbury_et_al_Win_2011_Dorian_Awards_20010101

Nominees: The Razzies, 31st edition of honoring the worst in cinema. Cher, Liza, and Babs all compete for Worst Supporting Actress. The Huffington Post summarizes: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/24/razzie-awards-nominations-2011_n_812859.html#s228666&title=Razzies_2011_Worst.

Photo Shoots and Video

Coming Out: Kayla’s Speech. A high school senior comes out in a school assembly. tp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InN6bt0B8x0

FritoLay’s Gay Superbowl Ads from Gawker (The ads won’t run).. http://gawker.com/5742119/are-these-doritos-super-bowl-commercials-offensive

Photos: Harvey Fierstein in “La Cage Aux Folles”: http://broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Flash_First_Look_at_Harvey_Fierstein_Jeffrey_Tambor_in_LA_CAGE_AUX_FOLLES_20110118

Features

A Gay Agenda for Everyone. Dan Savage writes for The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/23/opinion/23savage.html?_r=1

Profile: Charles Busch, playwright, Broadway star, and impersonator extraordinare from BroadwayWorld.com: http://broadwayworld.com/article/BWW_Interviews_TonyNominated_Charles_Busch_20110122

Reynolds Price and his Queer Identity. The NLGJA blogs: http://nlgjareact.wordpress.com/2011/01/24/reynolds-price-and-his-queer-identity/

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.

In Print:

Coming Out: It Gets Better: Living Proof. Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating A Life Worth Living. by Dan Savage and Terry Miller..Penguin. A collection of stories from many people, known and unknown, involved in the It Gets Better Project. Release date: 3/22/11. Pre-orders available. http://www.itgetsbetter.org/blog/entry/the-it-gets-better-book-coming-march-22nd/

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***American Idiot. The Green Day musical. Melissa Etheridge guest stars as St. Jimmy for one week only. 2/01/11-2/06/11.
***Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes. Tony Kushner’s award-winning epic. Michael Urie stars thru 3/27/11. www.signaturetheatre.org.
***The Divine Sister. Charles 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". Harvey Fierstein and Jeffrey Tambor co-star beginning 2/15/11.www.LaCage.com

Elsewhere...

***Dead Man Walking. The Jake Heggie/Terrence McNally opera based on Sister Helen Prejean’s book about death row (and the film with Sean Penn). Frederica von Stade stars as Sr. Helen in what’s billed as her farewell to the operatic stage. to 2/06/11. Houston, TX. www.houstongrandopera.org.
***The Little Dog Laughed, Douglas Carter Beane's Tony Award-winning comedy about a Hollywood agent’s crisis dealing with her star’s decision to come out. to 2/13/11. Morristown, NJ. www.bickfordtheatre.org
***Marry Me A Little, an all-male production of the Stephen Sondheim revue. to 2/20/11. San Francisco, CA. www.therhino.org.
***Out of Sight. Sara Felder’s solo show about lesbians, Palestine, and juggling. to 2/13/11. San Francisco, CA. www.themarsh.org.
***Southern Baptist Sissies. Del Shores’ comedy about four gay boys in the Baptist church. Some proceeds benefit The Trevor Project. to 2/05/11. Charlotte, NC. http://www.queencitytheatre.com/
***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 Screen (and Video & DVD)

Out on Screen...

***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).
***Rabbit Hole, John Cameron Mitchell (“Hedwig” and “Short Bus”) directs the movie version of the Broadway drama which stars Nicole Kidman. www.rabbitholefilm.com.
***Twelve Thirty. Jonathan Groff and Mamie Gummer star in a quirky film about a broken family (Dad is bi). www.twelvethirtymovie.com.
***Undertow. A Peruvian film about a man with a pregnant wife who takes a male lover.

Out On Video & DVD

***Glee: Season 2, Volume 1: First ten episodes of Glee Season 2 on 3 DVDs.
***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). .
***The Life of Reilly. A riveting, sometimes hysterical documentary about Charles Nelson Reilly, the out comic, actor, and director.
***Lucky Lady. Liza Minnelli stars in the 1975 comedy with Gene Hackman and Burt Reynolds. .
***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

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

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

2/07/11: Nationwide: National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. www.blackaidsday.org.

2/07/11: New York, NY: Broadway Backwards #6. Gender bendershowtunes to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) and The LGBT Community Center (the Center). Clay Aiken, Alan Cumming, Denis O’Hare, Bobby Steggert, and more co-star. http://www.broadwaycares.org/backwards2011

2/08/11: Albany, NY: Marriage Equality Day at the State Capitol. A Marriage Equality New York Rally. http://www.meny.us/

2/09/11: New York, NY: amFar New York Gala. Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and Dionne Warwick perform for honorees Bill Clinton; Diane von Furstenberg; Dr. Mathilde Krim and Elizabeth Taylor.www.amfar.org.

2/11/11: Northampton, MA: “Heart to Heart”. The LGBT Coalition of Western Massachusetts benefit for the Shining Star Scholarship Fund for LGBT youth. www.lgbtcoationwma.org

2/19/11: Denver, CO: 2011 Youth Summit. to bring LGBTQ high school, college students and allies together for a day of dialogue. Betty DeGeneres will be in attendance. http://www.matthewsplace.com/engage/2010-youth-summit/

2/21/11: Los Angeles, CA: Carol Channing 90th Birthday Celebration. Bruce Vilanch emcees. Other Dollys in attendance: Carole Cook, Joanne Worley, Phyllis Diller. 323.933.9266 ext. 34

2/25/11-4/24/11: Washington, DC: The Edward Albee Festival. Arena Stage celebrates the legendary out playwright by presenting all 30 of his plays. www.arenastage.org.

2/26/11-2/27/11: Boston, MA: Back to Work training program for transgender people seeking jobs. http://www.hrc.org/15215.htm

2/26/11-3/05/11: Telluride, CO: Telluride Gay Ski Week. www.telluridegayskiweek.com

2/28/11: New York, NY: Harmony. A musical gala to benefit the NYC Gay Men’s Chorus and Youth Pride Chorus. Ann Harada from “Avenue Q” stars. http://www.nycgmc.org/Event.aspx?EventId=HARMONY2011

Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: January Winners

1. Question: Name this politician, the first openly gay mayor of a US state capitol, who was just sworn in as the fourth out Congressman. Answer: David N. Cicilline, US Representative for Rhode Island, and former mayor of Providence.

2. Question: Name this Golden Globe nominated (in several categories) film about a lesbian couple, whose kids try to track down their birth dad. Answer: The Kids Are All Right, starring Annette Bening and Julianne Moore. It’s nominated for Best Motion Picture.

3. Question: Name this celebrity who would have turned 100 this year. Her 1957 memoir was adopted into a famous Broadway musical and movie. Her mother was a ferocious stage mother (who ran a lesbian boarding house in real life). A Broadway diva recently played the mother; a gay icon wants to film it. Answer: Gypsy Rose Lee, born 1/08/1911. Patti LuPone was recently Mama Rose. Barbra Streisand wants to play her on film. Her biographer Karen Abbott speaks about the real Gypsy and Mama Rose, who were much different than as portrayed in the Broadway musical.: The Leonard Lopate Show: http://www.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/2011/jan/06/life-and-times-gypsy-rose-lee/

4. Question: Name this People’s Choice Award winner who began acting at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre and the Second City Comedy Troupe. Before filming a series of comedy films, this actor starred in “The Real Live Brady Bunch”. Answer: Jane Lynch of “Glee”.

5. Question: Name this People’s Choice Award winner and new parent. Recognized as one of TIME’s Most Influential people in 2010; this successful actor, awards show host, stage and screen star started in the business as a kid. Answer: Neil Patrick Harris, recent father of twins, who went from “Doogie Howser” to “How I Met Your Mother”.

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: February Milestones

1. Question: Name this elected official who started a national craze on February 12, 2004 just weeks after taking the oath office. Saying he was influenced by a President’s State of the Union address that appeared to make gays second class citizens, his actions caused national controversy, yet made him a hero within the LGBT community.

2. Question: Name this rodent, who comes out annually on February 2nd. His coming out, applauded by people everywhere, is used to predict weather events.

3. Question: Name this hit television show, which was the first to feature a lesbian liplock on February 7, 1991. Hint: It’s based down the coast from Alcatraz..

4. Question: Name this award-winning gay athlete, born February 10, 1893. He captured worldwide acclaim for his skills, only to fall into obscurity when his interest in young men came to light.

5. Question: Name this lesbian writer, born in Pennsylvania on February 3, 1874. After she moved abroad, she established a salon which nurtured some of the most important writers of the 29th century. Her partner was known for a secret ingredient in her brownies..

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/