Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 4/18/11

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 14 No. 15 April 18, 2011
Newsletter Editor: M. G. Auerbach Email: COSNewsweekly@gmail.com

The Fine Print

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The Gay Agenda: Datebook: April 18-24, 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: 6/18: Chicago, IL: Windy City Gay Idol talent competition. www.windycitymediagroup. com

THU: 4/21: 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.

THU: 4/21: San Francisco, CA: Lambda Legal San Francisco Celebration. Fundraiser. http://www.lambdalegal.org/events/

THU: 4/21: 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

THU: 4/21: 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

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

THU-SAT: 4/21-4/23: 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.

FRI: 4/22: New York, NY: Thanks GLAAD, It’s Friday. After work networking event for young professional LGBTs and allies. Industry. http://www.glaad.org/events/tgif/nyc

Newsworthy:

Coming Out: Judge Vaughn Walker, who struck down Proposition 8 in California, came out publicly today for the first time. He retired from the bench in February. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2011/04/judge-vaughn-walker-says-he-is-gay-for-first-time-publicly-says-judges-should-never-recuse-themselve.html

9 Million Gays. According to a new UCLA study, an estimated 9 million Americans identify as LGBT.
The Los Angeles Times reports: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/04/9-million-americans-identify-as-lesbian-gay-bisexual-or-transgender-study-finds.html?cid=6a00d8341c630a53ef0147e3ce823c970b
ABC reports: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/williams-institute-report-reveals-million-gay-bisexual-transgender/story?id=13320565

10 Facts About American Gays. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/04/08/10_Facts_About_Americas_Gays/

Delaware: The state senate passed a civil unions law, which now moves to the state house. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/04/07/Delaware_Senate_Passes_Civil_Unions_Bill/

Judge Rules Against Target. A San Diego Superior Court judge ruled 4/07/11 that local marriage equality advocates must remain 30 feet from the entrances of all Target stores in California and that they may only approach shoppers one entrance at a time. The San Diego Union Tribune reports: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/apr/07/judge-keeps-solicitors-30-feet-from-target/

Gay Caveman Found near Prague. The Huffington Post reports: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/07/gay-caveman-found-prague_n_846246.html

Malcolm X had gay affairs with white men, according to a new book published by a Columbia University historian. PinkPaper.com reports: http://news.pinkpaper.com/NewsStory/5151/6/04/2011/malcolm-x-had-gay-affairs-with-white-men-new-book-claims.aspx

DOMA: How It Impacts Same-Sex Couples. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports: http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/us-gay-marriage-ban-904927.html

The Fall of Rome: We caused it. According to new research from an Italian academic, gays caused the fall of The Roman Empire. The Scotsman reports: http://www.scotsman.com/news/Fall-of-the-Roman-Empire.6748647.jp

The Buzz (People Making News)

Heroes: The Advocate’s Forty Under 40: http://advocate.com/Print_Issue/Features/Forty_Under_40_Part_One/

OUT 5th Annual Power 50: http://www.out.com/power50/

James Cappleman won a run-off election to become Chicago’s second out alderman on a city council of 50 members. GayPolitics reports: http://www.gaypolitics.com/2011/04/05/breaking-gay-candidate-wins-chicago-city-council-race/

Louis Marinelli, the anti-gay activist who had a major role in the National Organization for Marriage “Summer Marriage Tour” has come out in support of marriage equality. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2011/04/mastermind-of-national-organization-for-marriage-bus-tour-resigns-from-nom-comes-out-for-marriage-eq.html

Christopher Meloni supports New York Marriage Equality. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/04/12/Christopher_Meloni_for_NY_Marriage_Equality/

Transitions:

William H. Prusoff, a pharmacologist at the Yale School of Medicine who, with a colleague, developed an effective component in the first generation of drug cocktails used to treat AIDS, died on 4/03/11, at age 90. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/07/health/research/07prusoff.html?_r=1&hpw

Eliot Stanton Castillo, known as "Miss Ellie", the Provincetown entertainer, died on 4/07/11 at age 79. Prpovincetown Magazine reports: http://provincetownmagazine.org/local-Obituaries/ellie-december-1-1931-april-7-2011

Awards and Honors:

GLAAD Media Awards Winners in Los Angeles: Kristin Chenoweth, “Glee” and “Modern Family”. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2011/04/glaad-media-awards-presented-in-los-angeles.html

Photo Shoots, Audio and Video

Coming Out: Video Essay: Runner Austin Hendrix comes out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7mJAgL2trA&feature=youtu.be

Photos: Neil Patrick Harris and company in Sondheim’s “Company”. BroadwayWorld.com reports: http://broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_NY_Philharmonic_AllStar_COMPANY_in_Performance_Sneak_Peek_20110408

Features

Coming Out: Lisa Sherman, General Manager of LOGO talks about her coming out experience after 17 years in the closet at Verizon. dot429 reports: http://dot429.com/articles/2011/01/04/logo-vp-gay-as-career-killer-to-gay-career

Coming Out: The story of Austin Hendrix, one openly gay athlete. USAToday reports: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2011-04-07-2903551120_x.htm

Outsports, the website dedicated to supporting out and coming out athletes, is profiled by the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/08/sports/08outsports.html?hp

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***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.
***Gay Bride of Frankenstein. the pop/rock musical in concert. 4/24/11. www.gaybrideoffrankenstein.com
***Gay Plays for Straight People (and Gay People).”The All-American Genderf**k Cabaret” and “The Un-Marrying Project”. 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
***The Normal Heart. Larry Kramer’s, landmark story of the early days of the AIDS pandemic. First produced 25+ years ago, it makes its Broadway debut. Talkbacks will be held after Tuesday performances.
***Priscilla Queen of the Desert, the musical based on the 1994 Australian film. The story of three drag queens who head west across the Outback in their battered old bus. www.priscillathemusical.com.
***Séance on a Wet Afternoon. The new opera by Stephen (“Wicked”) Schwartz. New York City Opera. sung in English. to 5/01/11. www.nycopera.com.

Elsewhere...

***Dixie’s Tupperware Party. Dixie Longate’s show: Part drag. Part Tupperware. to 5/15/11, Chicago, IL; http://www.dixiestupperwareparty.com/
***The Mormon Boy Trilogy. Three plays by Steven Fales about growing up gay and Mormon. to 4/24/11. Ft. Lauderdale, FL. http://www.Risingactiontheatre.com/
***The Tempermentals. Jon Marans’ acclaimed drama about the beginning days of The Mattachine Society and the gay rights movement. John Tartaglia stars. to 5/22/11. Los Angeles, CA. http://www.TheBlank.com/

On Screen (and Video & DVD)

Out on Screen...

***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.
***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.
***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

***Black Swan. Natalie Portman plays a ballerina competing for a lead in “Swan Lake”.
***The Boy Friend. The Ken Russell film of the musical that launched Julie Andrews. Twiggy stars. Major camp.
***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.
***Rabbit Hole, John Cameron Mitchell (“Hedwig” and “Short Bus”) directs the movie version of the Broadway drama which stars Nicole Kidman. www.rabbitholefilm.com.
***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/

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

4/25/11: New York, NY: Live Out Loud Young Trailblazers Benefit. Michael Urie hosts. Live Out Loud is a non-profit dedicated to connecting LGBT youth with role models and leaders in the LGBT community. http://www.liveoutloud.info/

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

4/25/11: New York, NY: Night at The Pier, a Family Equality benefit . http://www.familyequality.org/site/PageServer

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

4/26/11: New Yorki, NY: Bistro Awards honor Carol Channing, Dionne Warwick, and 16 other artists from the New York nightlife scene. www.bistroawards.com.

4/26/11: New York, NY: GLBT Travel Expo public travel trade show/exposition. Also: 4/28/11: Philadelphia, PA: .http://www.glbttravelexpo.com/happiness/

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

4/29/11: Happauge, NY: 2011 Equality Awards Gala. .Long Island Gay & Lesbian Youth benefit with Nikki Blonsky and Wilson Cruz.. http://www.ligaly.org/content.php?pgID=184

4/29/11-5/01/11: London, ON: London Lesbian Film Festival. www.llff.ca

4/29/11: Chicago, IL: dot429 Networking Event at JBar for LGBT professionals. http://dot429.com/events

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

5/01/11: San Francisco, CA: Divas and Dames, Bay Srea divas and friends in concert to fight AIDS. a fundraiser for the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation. www.helpisontheway.org.

Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Who Said This ?

1. Question. Who said or wrote this? “I don’t want to be the greatest lesbian of the western world” said this renowned contemporary gossip columnist, who came out in her autobiography. She made the previous statement comparing herself to Sandra Bernhard. Hint: Her column was recently dropped from the New York Post. Answer: Liz Smith.

2. Question. Who said or wrote this? “Take it from me, the first rule of how not to come out to your parents: do not come out when they are driving. The second rule: do not come out on a major family holiday when the whole clan is around.” Hint: This TV sitcom actor spent his so called life on Broadway in a Jonathan Larson musical based on “La Boheme”. Answer: Wilson Cruz of “My So Called Life” and “Rent”.

3. Question. Who said or wrote this? “I don’t have any problems with my sexuality, whatever you wanna think I am. I’ll never answer the question. I’d rather have you die wanting to know.”. Hint: This singer and talk-show host got rave reviews in a movie musical, where she played a butch jailhouse matron. She’s rap royalty. Answer: Queen Latifah (Matron Mama in the movie “Chicago”).

4. Question. Who said or wrote this? “It took me 49 years to be able to say to a stranger like you that I was gay”. Hint: This actor and activist is currently reprising his role in a hot movie. He was the second openly-gay actor (the first was Nigel Hawthorne) to be nominated for the Best Actor Academy Award. Answer: Sir Ian McKellan, of “Lord of the Rings”.

5. Question. Who said or wrote this? “It is never too late to come out. Never! and, I encourage everyone to come out.”. Hint: This bisexual conductor and composer adapted “Romeo and Juliet” for Broadway and wrote a ballet and musical about three sailors running wild in New York over 24 hours. Answer: Leonard Bernstein, composer of “West Side Story” and “On The Town” (and its ballet “Fancy Free”).

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: LGBT Heroes

1. Question: Name this journalist, columnist, and activist who started a website to help gay teens regain their sense of self-worth. This website has gone international and has helped to support The Trevor Project. President Obama contributed a video to the cause.

2. Question: Name this LGBTQ ally, a teen fillm star with a young following. His public service announcements for The Trevor Project teach tolerance. In addition to a film series, he made a Broadway debut in the nude and now is succeeding in musical comedy business without really trying.

3. Question: Name this activist, the child of celebrities, who explained his coming out in two books; then became a spokesperson for transgender issues. A documentary about this activist’s transition has been optioned by the Oprah Winfrey Network.

4. Question: Name this actor, talk show host and activist, who started a vacation program for gay families, encouraged adoptions, and has been one of the loudest and brashest voices for the community.

5. Question: Name this actor, activist and ally. She helped a TV series co-star come out, sits on the Point Foundation Board to raise monies for LGBT student scholarships, and launched the “Give a Damn” campaign to expose discrimination against the LGBT community.

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/