Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 2/14/11

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 14 No. 6 February 14, 2011
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: February 14-20, 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

WED: 2/16: San Francisco, CA: 429 Inspired. Dot429’s quarterly series featuring LGBTA entrepeneurs who share what inspires their success. http://dot429.com/events

THU: 2/17: New York, NY: Jim Caruso’s Cast Party, a benefit for Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS with Liza Minnelli, Chita Rivera, and more. www.ticketmaster.com

SAT: 2/19: 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/

SAT: 2/19: Boston, MA: The Red Party, MassEquality’s annual signature fundraiser to raise monies to end LGBT bullying. http://www.massequality.org./content/red-party-massequality’s-signature-annual-fundraiser-raise-funds-combat-school-bullying

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/

Transgender Americans suffer pervasive discrimination, according to a new survey from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality. The Associated Press reports: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g0W_zt4u5HVa5Sp8BtJ9fVwfIjPA?docId=ed8c4db5108347dc94869c7a36e2a98e

Broadway Backwards raised $281,243 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. For BroadwayWorld.com’s photo recap: http://broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_Broadway_Backwards_Raises_281243_for_BCEFA_20110208

The Buzz (People Making News)

Matthew Reich has been elected president of The Harvard Law Review. He’s the first openly gay editor of the publication. Harvard reports: http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/2011/02/3_reich.html

Transitions:

It’s a Boy! (Max) for Cynthia Nixon and partner Christine Marinoni, who gave birth on 2/07/11. Broadway.com reports: http://www.broadway.com/buzz/155194/its-a-boy-tony-winner-cynthia-nixon-and-christine-marinoni-welcome-their-first-child/

Awards and Honors:

Nominees: Olivier Awards for outstanding London theatre. Douglas Carter Beane for “The Little Dog Laughed” 9Best Play); Bill T. Jones (“Fela”) and Jerry Mitchell (“Legally Blonde”) for choreography; BroadwayWorld.com reports: http://broadwayworld.com/article/2011_Olivier_Award_Nominations_Announced_LOVE_NEVER_DIES_and_AFTER_THE_DANCE_Lead_20110207

Photo Shoots and Video

Video: G-A-Y: A Quick History Lesson (with a song) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl1ysqmkKto&feature=player_embedded

Video: Harvey Fierstein, star of his musical “La Cage Aux Folles”, talks about drag past and present. Show People from Broadway.com: http://www.broadway.com/shows/la-cage-aux-folles/video/153395/show-people-la-cage-star-harvey-fierstein-on-his-delicious-drag-past-and-present/

Features

Coming Out: Steve Buckley, sports columnist, chats with The Good Men Project on the impact of his coming out. http://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/a-conversation-with-steve-buckley/

Coming Out: Clay Aiken: “I Was Always Out”...he tells the Georgia Voice in an interview. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2011/02/clay-aiken-i-was-always-out.html

Coming Out: Born Gay. Born This Way. The Photo Blog. NPR reports: http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2011/02/04/133401341/bornthisway?ps=cprs
For the blog: http://borngaybornthisway.blogspot.com

Profile: Fred Karger, Republican strategist and gay rights activist, considers a run for President. The Washington Post reports: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/02/AR2011020203272.html?sid=ST2011020203372

Prophet Motive: The Michael Urie Interview from Interview: http://www.interviewmagazine.com/blogs/culture/2011-02-03/michael-urie-angels-in-america/

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/

Diaghilev: A Life by Sjeng Scheijen. Oxford University Press. A new biography about the 20th century impresario who championed the Ballet Russes, Stravinsky, Picasso, Chanel and Balanchine as he bedded Nijinsky and other men in the arts of the day. Lambda Lit’s review: http://www.lambdaliterary.org/reviews/02/07/diaghilev-sjeng-scheije/

Lady of Burlesque: The Career of Gypsy Rose Lee by Robert Strom. McFarland Books. Chronicles the triumphs as an actress, novelist, playwright, artist, political activist, and, ultimately, star. Three appendices include details of Gypsy's will and estate, the original production and Broadway revivals of Gypsy, and complete filmographies and discographies. It also includes rare and never-before-published photographs. .

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 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. to 4/30/11. www.DivineSisterOnstage.com.
***The Importance of Being Earnest. Gay Oscar Wilde’s classic. Brian Bedford turns in a gender-bender as Lady Bracknell. to 7/03/11. 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.www.LaCage.com
***The Loose Chanteuse. Varla Jean Merman’s new show. to 2/27/11. www.varlaonline.com
***My Scandalous Life, Thomas Kilroy’s portrait of Lord Alfred Douglas, who was Oscar Wilde’s lover. Des Keogh stars. to 3/06/11. http://www.irishrep.org/

Elsewhere...

***Little Miss Sunshine. A new musical by William “Falsettos” Finn and James Lapine based on the film. Hunter Foster and Malcolm Gets co-star. to 3/27/11. LaJolla, CA. www.lajollaplayhouse.org.
***Marry Me A Little, an all-male production of the Stephen Sondheim revue. to 2/20/11. San Francisco, CA. www.therhino.org.
***Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Tracy Letts and Amy Morton star as sparring spouses in out Edward Albee’s masterpiece. 2/25/11-4/24/11. Washington, DC. www.arenastage.org.

On Display

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.

thru 3/26/11: San Francisco, CA: Exhibition: More Life! “Angels in America” at Twenty. Museum of Performance and Design. http://www.mpdsf.org/EXHIBITIONS/ANGELS/ANGELS.html

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).
***Kaboom, a new film from Gregg Araki. The world according to Smith, a bisexual Southern California cinema studies major (Thomas Dekker).
***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.

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). .
***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.
***William S. Burroughs: A Man Within. Documentary about the Beat Generation icon and one of the first writers to explore queer culture in the 1950’s. Release date: 2/15/11.

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

2/21/11: 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

2/23/11: Seattle, WA: dot429 Winter Networking Cocktails. Professional networking opportunities for the LGBTA Community. Roche Bobois. www.dot429.com

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

3/04/11: New York, NY: dot429 Inaugural Women’s Event. dot429’s queer women’s networking event.http://dot429.com/events

3/05/11: Chicago, IL: Chicago Takes Off. burlesque show to fight HIV/AIDS in the Chicagoland area.www.chicagotakesoff.org

3/05/11: New Haven, CT: The 8th Annual Dorothy Awards. New Haven Pride Center’s benefit honoring Rev. Marilyn Bowens, pastor of MCC New Haven; Tony Ferraiolo, co-founder and president of the Jim Collins Foundation; Robb Bart, owner of Gotham Citi; and the Northeast Ursamen. : http://bit.ly/dTWqRd

3/06/11: San Francisco, CA: dot429 Networking Brunch.Professional networking opportunities for the LGBTA Community. http://dot429.com/events

3/06/11: New York, NY: Broadway BearsXIV. The annual auction for Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS with a collection of 40 one-of-a-kind celebrity autographed teddy bears. http://www.broadwaycares.org/Broadway_Bears_XIV_pre-event

Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Black History Month

1. Question: Name this young, gifted, bi, black American author and playwright, who became the foremother of African-American drama, and a contributor to the understanding of pro-choice, discrimination, and Africa. She died at age 35, but her work is still read and performed frequently. Answer: Lorraine Hansberry (1930-1965), the author of "A Raisin in the Sun". A TV version of the Broadway revival with Sean Combs and Phylicia Rashad aired recently.

2. Question: Name this American author, playwright and Civil Rights activist. Gay characters appeared in his works, which often dealt with the personal impact of prejudice against those who were young, gifted, black, and gay. Answer: James Baldwin (1924-1987), whose works included "Giovanni's Room" and "Another Country".

3. Question: Name this American-born bisexual dancer, singer and actress, who lived most of her life in France. She was known for her extravagant night club act. She also adopted twelve children from all over the world and called them her "rainbow-family". Answer: Josephine Baker (1906-1975).

4. Question: Name this flamboyant rock and roll legend, who has topped pop music charts since 1956. Answer: Little Richard, who brought pop music "Lucille" and "Tutti Fruitti".

5. Question: Name this American activist in the struggle for human rights and economic justice who helped organize one of the most important civil rights actions in American history. Answer: Bayard Rustin (1912-1987), an assistant to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, who was chief organizer of the 'March on Washington for jobs and freedom" in 1963.

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: Valentine’s Day

1. Question: Name one member of this pair, together for 44 years. Both worked in a Washington, DC government office. Both were closeted. One was reportedly a cross-dresser after work, but before he put on his heels, he busted and ruined the lives of many homosexuals.

2. Question: Name this fun couple of 20+ years who were the toast of contemporary American arts and letters. One was an author and essayist who espoused many feminist theories of the day. The other immortalized pop culture's leading actors, entertainers, and icons with her magazine photography.

3. Question: Name this celebrity who tried gay marriage at least twice: first, to Judy Garland’s opening act, and last, to a producer who is still licking his wounds.

4. Question: Name this couple, together professionally and personally for 40+ years. They produced over 45 major motion pictures.

5. Question: Name this fun couple. One, a TV mogul, made history a decade ago coming out on TV and in real life; the other, a sitcom star, came out recently. One is the first out person to host a major awards show; one adapted hhis/her name from a Shakespearean character.

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/