Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 4/04/11

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 14 No. 13 April 4, 2011
Newsletter Editor: M. G. Auerbach Email: COSNewsweekly@gmail.com

The Fine Print

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The Gay Agenda: Datebook: April 4-10, 2011

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

MON: 4/04: New Haven, CT: Screening: Gen Silent,Stu Maddox’s documentary about six LGBT elders and their caregivers in Boston. Also: TUE: 4/05: Akron, OH: THU: 4/07: Greenville, NC: FRI: 4/08: Chicago, IL: SUN: 4/10: Akron, OH: http://stumaddux.com/gen_silent_screenings.html

MON: 4/04: New York, NY: Point Honors Benefit to fete Andy Cohen, Margarethe Cammermeyer and Johnson & Johnson. http://www.pointfoundation.org/newyork/index.html

MON: 4/04: Sacramento, CA: QYAD: Queer Youth Advocacy Day. https://gsanetwork.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=57

TUE: 4/05: Washington, DC: National Rainbow Seder. A Passover tradition for LGBT Jews. www.washingtondcjcc.org

WED: 4/06-SAT: 6/18: Chicago, IL: Windy City Gay Idol talent competition. www.windycitymediagroup. com

WED: 4/06: New York, NY: Homo Comicus, an evening of comedy to benefit Lambda Literary Foundation. Kate Clinton stars. Gotham Comedy Club. www.gothamcomedyclub.com

THU-SUN: 4/07-4/10: Rehoboth Beach, DE: Camp Rehoboth 2011 Women’s Fest. www.camprehoboth.com.

FRI: 4/08: New Haven, CT: Chocolate and Cheesecake. A benefit for True Colors, a program serving sexual minority youth and family services. http://www.ourtruecolors.org/

SAT: 4/09: Hollywood, CA: Campus Pride College Fair and Prep Day. West Coast Region. http://www.campusclimateindex.org/events/default.aspx

SAT: 4/09: San Francisco, CA: Dendrophile. Release Party for Justin Bond’s new CD. Castro Theatre.

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/

Resource: Gay Rights Media. News and resources of interest for the LGBT Equality Movement. http://GayRightsMedia.org/

Canada: Gay rights have taken another step forward, with a program to support refugees who are persecuted for their sexual orientation.EPost media reports: http://epostmedia.com/gay-rights-in-canada-have-taken-another-step/376462/

Transitions:

Elizabeth Taylor, the legednary actress who used her fame to become an advocate, activist, and philanthropist for the HIV/AIDS community, died on 3/23/11 at age 79.
The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/movies/elizabeth-taylor-obituary.html?hp

Lanford Wilson, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright died on 3/24/11 at age 73. An out artist, he featured gay characters in many of his plays, including “The Fifth of July”. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/25/theater/lanford-wilson-pulitzer-prize-winning-playwright-dies-at-73.html?hp

Lee Hoiby, a composer of operas and songs that balance unabashed lyricism and careful craftsmanship, died 3/28/11 at age 85. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/arts/music/lee-hoiby-opera-composer-known-for-lyricism-dies-at-85.html?_r=1

Farley Granger, the out actor who played the likable tennis pro in Alfred Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train, died 3/27/11 at age 85. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2011/03/actor-farley-granger-dead-at-85.html

Photo Shoots, Audio and Video

Audio: The Dan Savage Interview with Terry Gross on NPR’s “Fresh Air”. http://www.npr.org/2011/03/23/134628750/dan-savage-for-gay-teens-life-gets-better?sc=fb&cc=freshair

Video: The Dan Savage Interview on ABC’s Nightline (via The Advocate): http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/03/26/Dan_Savage_Appears_on_Nightline/

Photos: Varla Jean Merman, Leslie Jordan and the cast of “Lucky Guy”. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/multimedia/gallery/2291

Photos: Harvey Fierstein and Christopher Sieber in “La Cage Aux Folles” on Broadway from BroadwayWorld.com: http://broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_First_Look_at_Harvey_Fierstein_and_Christopher_Sieber_in_LA_CAGE_AUX_FOLLES_20110328

Features

Elizabeth Taylor’s legacy as an activist in the fight for HIV/AIDS people. http://www.elizabethtayloraidsfoundation.org/

It Gets Better Book Tour: Dan Savage and Terry Miller launched their book tour in New York. Towleroad reports (plus posts a clip of Savage on The Gayle King Show): http://www.towleroad.com/2011/03/it-gets-better-book-launches-in-nyc.html

Michelangelo Signorile chastises a caller who believes homosexuals can change. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QTNcE2FvDE

Editorial: DOMA and Real Family Values from The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/opinion/24thu3.html?_r=4&ref=opinionq

Marriage Equality Milestone: The Netherland was the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage on April 1, 2001. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/03/27/A_Decade_of_Dutch_Marriage_Equality/

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 4/24/11. www.signaturetheatre.org.
***Anything Goes. Gay Cole Porter’s madcap musical. Sutton Foster stars. www.roundabouttheatre.org.
***Book of Mormon, the new musical penned by "South Park" co-creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker and “Avenue Q” Tony winner Robert Lopez.
***Company (in concert). Neil Patrick Harris stars as Sondheim’s bachelor unable to commit. Patti LuPone, Anika Noni Rose, and Stephen Colbert co-star. The New York Philharmonic makes the music. 4/07/11-4/09/11. www.nyphil.org
***Gay Plays for Straight People (and Gay People).Two gay-themed plays in repertory. to 4/30/11. www.purplerep.org
***The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key To The Scriptures. Tony Kushner’s new play. to 6/12/11.www.publictheater.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 Christopher Sieber co-star. www.LaCage.com
***Priscilla Queen of the Desert, the musical based on the 1994 Australian film. Three drag queens who head across Australia in a battered old bus. www.priscillathemusical.com.

Elsewhere...

***Dixie’s Tupperware Party. Dixie Longate’s show: Part drag. Part Tupperware. to 5/15/11, Chicago, IL; http://www.dixiestupperwareparty.com/
***M. Butterfly, David Henry Hwang’s Tony Award winning play about a French diplomat who carried on a 20-year affair with a Chinese spy, never knowing his partner was a man disguised as a woman. to 4/10/11. San Francisco, CA. www.CustomMade.org/tickets
***The Mormon Boy Trilogy. Three plays by Steven Fales about growing up gay and Mormon. 4/07/11-4/24/11. Ft. Lauderdale, FL. http://www.Risingactiontheatre.com/
***Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Tracy Letts and Amy Morton star as sparring spouses in out Edward Albee’s masterpiece. to 4/24/11. Washington, DC. www.arenastage.org.

On Screen (and Video & DVD)

Out on Screen...

***Beastly. A modern take on “Beauty and the Beast”. Neil Patrick Harris is featured.
***Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride. Bob Christie’s documentary shows that Pride is more than a parade, it’s a giant step on the road to global human rights.
***Gen Silent,Stu Maddox’s new documentary about six LGBT elders and their caregivers in Boston. http://stumaddux.com/gen_silent_screenings.html
***Kaboom, a new film from Gregg Araki. The world according to Smith, a bisexual Southern California cinema studies major (Thomas Dekker).
***Making The Boys. A documentry about the production of “The Boys in The Band”, the first commercially-successful gay-themed drama which opened just before Stonewall. With Edward Albee, Mart Crowley (the playwright), Candis Cayne and others. Screening schedule on Facebook.
***Rabbit Hole, John Cameron Mitchell (“Hedwig” and “Short Bus”) directs the movie version of the Broadway drama which stars Nicole Kidman. www.rabbitholefilm.com.

Out On Video & DVD

***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. .
***Anything Goes. A 1954 TV production of Cole Porter’s musical in which Ethel Merman and Frank Sinatra made their TV debuts.
***Black Swan. Natalie Portman plays a ballerina competing for a lead in “Swan Lake”.
***Burlesque. 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).
***Glee: Season 2, Volume 1: First ten episodes of Glee Season 2 on 3 DVDs.
***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).
***Into The Woods, the Sondheim musical about some grim fairy tales. The London West-End production. www.digitaltheatre.com.
***MadMen, Season #4. .
***Prayers for Bobby. Sigourney Weaver stars in a true story about the mother of a gay son who has problems accepting him.
***The Times of Harvey Milk. The award-winning documentary about the gay rights leader.

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

***April: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
***Ongoing: The Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway. Times vay through 4/16/11. HBO. www.hbo.com

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

4/11/11: Iowa City, IA: Screening: Gen Silent,Stu Maddox’s documentary about six LGBT elders and their caregivers in Boston. Also: 4/25/11: Worcester, MA: http://stumaddux.com/gen_silent_screenings.html

4/12/11: Denver, CO: Elton John gives a benefit concert for the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Wells Fargo Theatre. www.ticketmaster.com

4/13/11: New York, NY:  Authors In Kind. Dan Savage and others present a reading and booksigning to benefit God’s Love We Deliver. https://www.glwd.org/events/signature.jsp;jsessionid=35A365BDABC4729195F3FFA19D558FD1?c=authors&n=authors

4/15/11: Nationwide: National Day of Silence. www.dayofsilence.org

4/16/11: Washington, DC: PFLAG Gala and Silent Auction. www.pflagdc.org

4/21/11: New York, NY: Defying Gravity: The Music of Stephen Schwartz. New York City Opera Gala. Victor Garber hosts. Kristin Chenoweth, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Raul Esparza and Elaine Paige star. www.nycopera.com.

4/21/11: New York, NY: Joey Arias performs a benefit for Lifebeat, the non-profit that uses music to educate young people about AIDS prevention. www.ticketmaster.com

4/21/11: Portland, OR: It Gets Better Book Tour with Dan Savage. 7:30PM. Powell’s Books. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvhZA0B_qiQ&feature=player_embedded

4/21/11-5/01/11: Miami, FL: Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. www.MGLFF.com

4/21/11-4/23/11: Calgary, AB: Western Cup, Apollo’s annual multi-sport tournament, the longest-running (29th year) annual LGBT multi-sport tournament in North America. www.westerncup.com.

4/25/11: New York, NY: PS 122’s 30th Anniversary Season Gala, honoring Justin Bond, Danny Hoch and Carmelita Tropicana. http://www.ps122.org/performances/gala_2011.html

4/25/11-4/26/11: New York, NY: 25th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition to benefit Broadway Cares. www.broadwaycares.org

4/25/11-5/01/11: Philadelphia, PA: Equality Forum. largest national LGBT civil rights forum with panels, parties, and special events. www.equalityforum.com

4/28/11-5/07/11: Washington, DC: Reel Affirmations 20, One in Ten’s LGBT Film Festival. www.reelaffirmations.org

4/30/11: Farmington, CT: Transgender Lives Conference. The Intersection of Health and Law Conference. www.transgenderlives.org

5/05/11-5/15/11: Boston, MA: Boston LGBT Film Festival. www.bostonlgbtfilmfest.org

5/10/11-5/15/11: Fort Lauderdale, FL: Lauderdale Unleashed. International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association annual conference. http://www.igltaconvention.org/

5/12/11-5/15/11: New Orleans, LA: Saints & Sinners. LGBT writers & readers from around the country gather for a hot weekend of readings, panels & performance. www.sasfest.com

5/13/11-5/15/11: Atlanta, GA: Gaylaxicon. LGBT science fiction, fantasy, horror & gaming convention. www.gaylacticnetwork.org

5/14/11: San Francisco, CA: GLAAD Media Awards. Celebrating GLAAD’s 25th anniversary. http://www.glaad.org/mediaawards

5/15/11: Minneapolis, MN: Minnesota AIDS Walk. www.mnaidsproject.org

5/15/11: New York, NY: AIDS Walk New York. http://www.gaycenter.org/aidswalk

Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: April Milestones

1. Question: Name this American blues singer, born April 15, 1894. One of her most famous songs included the lyrics: "There's two things got me puzzled, there's two things I don't understand; That's a mannish-actin' woman, and a skippin, twistin' woman-actin' man." Answer: Bessie Smith, whose best friend was male impersonator Gladys Fergusson and who had been introduced to the world of 'women-lovin' women' by blues singer Ma Rainey.

2. Question: Name this New York City educational institution that opened its doors on April 1, 1985. Named for a slain gay rights activist, it was the first publicly-funded school for LGBT kids. Answer: The Harvey Milk School, started by the Hetrick-Martin Institute.

3. Question: Name this gay American playwright, born April 17, 1887. He’s best known for his portrayal of a rural American community, but he also wrote a breakthrough role for Talullah Bankhead and a play set in Yonkers which became one of America’s most popular musicals. Answer: Thornton Wilder, author of “Our Town”, “The Skin of Our Teeth” (Bankhead played the wisecracking maid) and “The Matchmaker” which became “Hello Dolly”.

4. Question: Name this young American who died on April 8, 1990. He put a human face to HIV and AIDS, and in his final years, worked tirelessly to raise monies and awareness of AIDS issues. Several funding initiatives are named in his memory. Answer: Ryan White.

5. Question: Name this award-winning play, which opened in New York on April 14, 1968. It was the first commercially successful theatre production to deal with openly gay characters and queer subject matter. Answer: The Boys in the Band, Mart Crowley’s portrait of a birthday party that turns into “truth or dare”. The movie version on DVD features the original cast.

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: Spring Break

1. Question: Name this gay Spring Break getaway. Hollywood's A-List began wintering here in the 1930's; by the 1980's, the boys came for the Easter Weekend White Party and the girls came for golf's Dinah Shore Weekend. Its onetime Mayor, father of a major gay rights activist, was once married to a diva.

2. Question: Name this gay Spring Break getaway. This party town, one dubbed "The Paris of the Swamps" is known for its Southern Decadence, its fine food, and its non-stop partying. Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, and Christopher Rice used the city as a backdrop for America's finest dramas and literature.

3. Question: Name this gay Spring Break getaway. Ponce de Leon stumbled on it in 1513, and by the 1880's, it was a tough party town filled with pirates, smugglers, and whores. The alternative lifestyle types moved in by the 1960's. The locals refer to themselves by the name used for a shellfish.

4. Question: Name this gay Spring Break getaway. In the beach blanket movie period, it was "where the boys are". Despite an orange juice queen's anti-gay actions, the city became a gay mecca on a par with a beach to its south.

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/