Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 8/08/11

Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 14 No. 31 August 8, 2011
Newsletter Editor: M. G. Auerbach Email: COSNewsweekly@gmail.com

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The Gay Agenda: Datebook: August 8-14, 2011

For Pride Events worldwide: www.interpride.org. or http://www.gayfriendlybiz.com/calendar.html

thru SAT: 8/13: Los Angeles, CA: Lambda Literary Writers’ Retreat for emerging LGBT voices.. http://www.lambdaliterary.org/writers-retreat/

thru THU:8/25: New York, NY: The Pop-Up Museum of Gay History. in Soho. http://www.queermuseum.com/home/

8/09/11-8/14/11: Newport, RI: FLICKERS Rhode Island International Film Festival. http://www.film-festival.org/index07A.htm

THU: 8/11: New York, NY: Broadway in Bryant Park. Free performances by the casts of “Mamma Miat” and “Avenue Q”. 12:30PM. www.1067litefm.com

THU: 8/11: Vancouver, BC: Screening: Gen Silent,Stu Maddox’s documentary about six LGBT elders and their caregivers in Boston. http://stumaddux.com/gen_silent_screenings.html

FRI-SUN: 8/12-8/28: New York, NY: New York International Fringe Festival. Fascinating off-beat, off-the-wall performances. www.fringenyc.org.

FRI: 8/12: Sag Harbor, NY: Steven Petrow discusses his book “Complete Gay & Lesbian Manners”. 8PM. Book Hampton. Also: SAT: 8/13: East Hampton, NY: 5PM. East Hampton Library. .http://www.gaymanners.com/appearances-by-steven-petrow

FRI-SUN: 8/12-8/14: Fire Island, NY: 9th Annual Fire Island Black Out, a multicultural beach event for the LGBT Community and their families. http://www.fireislandblackout.com/2011/

SAT: 8/13: Fire Island, NY: The Stonewall Swim. A fundraiser for the New York City LGBT Community. http://www.stonewallswim.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=480920

SAT-MON: 8/13-8/15: Detroit, MI: COLAGE Midwest Regional Retreat. a weekend of community, activism, and empowerment. http://www.colage.org/category/events/upcoming

SUN: 8/14: Burlington, VT: Same Love, Same Rights. The LGBT Wedding Expo. http://www.samelovesamerights.com/

Newsworthy:

IRS Revokes Tax Exempt Status of the anti gay “Americans for Truth About Homosexuality” group run by Peter LaBarbera. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2011/08/irs-revokes-tax-exempt-status-of-peter-labarberas-anti-gay-hate-group-americans-for-truth-about-homo.html

California: The Supreme Court will hear the Proposition 8 case on 9/06/11 . OnTop Magazine reports: http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=9063&MediaType=1&Category=26
Note: The hearing will be televised. SFAppeal reports: http://sfappeal.com/news/2011/07/prop-8-arguments-before-ca-supreme-court-to-be-televised.php

Massachusetts: Senator Scott Brown was conspicuously absent when the state delegation recorded its “It Gets Better” video; Democrats and LGBT blast Brown. The Republicans, in turn, blast Dan Savage. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2011/07/senator-scott-brown-blasted-for-absence-from-it-gets-better-video-gop-responds-by-attacking-dan-sava.html

Oregon: Sam Adams, the out Mayor of Portland, will not seek re-election. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/07/29/Sam_Adams_Won_t_Seek_Re-election_As_Portland_s_Mayor/

San Francisco: The GLBT History Museum opens a month-long exhibit, “40 Years Together, 40 Years Strong” about the Alic B. Toklas Democratic Club, the oldest LGBT democratic club in the nation and its 40th anniversary. The exhibit runs through August.
SF Appeal reports: http://sfappeal.com/news/2011/08/glbt-history-museum-celebrates-oldest-oldest-lgbt-democratic-club.php

The Buzz (People Making News)

Coming Out: Mo Rocca, former “Daily Show” correspondent, has come out. The Advocate reports: http://advocate.com/Arts_and_Entertainment/Media/The_Daily_Shows_Mo_Rocca_Comes_Out/

Steve Kleinedler, the out lexicographer, has been named executive editor of the American Heritage Dictionary. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/08/01/Gay_Man_Takes_Top_Editor_Spot_at_American_Heritage_Dictionary/

Transitions:

Denis O’Hare (True Blood) and partner Hugo Redwood have tied the knot in New York.

Arnold Scaasi, the fashion designer, wed Parker Ladd, his partner of 50+ years. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/fashion/weddings/arnold-scaasi-and-parker-ladd-50-years-together-and-more-to-come.html?_r=1

Awards and Honors:

Don Michaels, William Dorr Lambert Legg, and Michelangelo Signorile are the2011 National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Hall of Famers. The Advocate reports: http://advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/08/01/National_Lesbian___Gay_Journalists_Association_2011_Inductees/

Photo Shoots, Audio and Video

Video: It Gets Better: The Massachusetts Congressional Delegation (minus Scott Brown). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nluLC6F0sRw&feature=player_embedded

Audio: Can Therapy Change Sexual Orientation? NPR reports: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/08/01/138820526/can-therapy-help-change-sexual-orientation-the-jurys-still-out?sc=fb&cc=fp

Photos: Broadway’s “Hair” hosts onstage same-sex weddings. BroadwayWorld.com reports: http://broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Coverage-HAIR-Hosts-Same-Sex-Marriages-at-the-St-James-20110726

Features

Gay Christian Musicians find work balances faith and art and love. NPR reports: http://www.npr.org/2011/07/31/138782702/for-gay-christian-musicians-work-balances-faith-art-love?sc=fb&cc=fp

New Opportunities for Transgender Actors. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/movies/new-roles-for-transgender-performers.html?src=recg

The Resource Center:

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) has released a “Freedom To Serve Guide”, the first of its kind legal guide aimed at navigating LGBT military service in a post-DADT repeal environment. http://www.sldn.org/news/archives/sldn-releases-freedom-to-serve-guide-re-launches-online-site/

In Print:

Gay, Straight, and the Reason Why: The Science of Sexual Orientation by Simon LeVay. Oxford University Press. The nature vs. nurture wars over the development of homosexuality have been pretty definitively decided in favor of nature. In this survey of what makes people gay, lesbian, bi, or straight, neuroscientist LeVay (When Science Goes Wrong) brings readers up-to-date on the current state of knowledge.

In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance

New York City (and Broadway)

***Follies. The landmark Sondheim musical. Bernadette Peters, Jan Maxwell, Danny Burstein and Ron Raines star. http://www.folliesbroadway.com/
***The Judy Show: My Life As A Sitcom. Out comic Judy Gold’s new comedy. www.judygold.com.
***Master Class. Tyne Daly stars as opera diva Maria Callas in Terrence McNally’s drama with music to 9/04/11. www.manhatttantheatreclub.com
***Olive and The Bitter Herbs. A world premiere comedy by Charles Busch. Dan Butler and Julie Halston co-star. to 9/03/11. www.primarystages.org.
***A Strange and Separate People. A new play by Joe Marans, author of “The Tempermentals”. An upper West Side Jewish couple have their lives turned upside down by a charismatic gay man.

Elsewhere...

***A Blizzard in Marblehead Neck. A new opera by Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori. to 8/22/11. Cooperstown, NY. www.glimmerglass.org.
***The Book of Merman. Varla Jean Merman’s now show. to 9/17/11. Provincetown, MA. http://ptow
***The Homosexuals. World premiere by Phillip Dawkins. A modern riff on “The Boys in The Band”. to 8/24/11. Chicago, IL. www.aboutfacetheatre.com.
***I Love Being Me, Don’t You ? Sandra Bernhard’s new solo show. 8/11/11-8/14/11. Los Angeles, CA. www.redcat.org
***Rufus Wainwright performs his original settings of Shakespeare's Sonnets with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. 8/14/11. Chicago, IL. www.ravinia.org.
***Seth’s Big Fat Broadway Show, Seth Rudetsky’s hilarious “deconstructing Broadway” show. to 9/03/11. Provincetown, MA. www.ptownarthouse.com
***Sweeney Todd. Close shaves, meat pies, and Sondheim with Gregg Edelman and Liz McCartney. 8/11/11-10/09/11. Chicago, IL. http://www.drurylaneoakbrook.com/

On Display

***Judy Garland: The Television Years, the first comprehensive retrospective of Garland's career on television. thru 8/18/11. Paley Center for Media. New York, NY. www.paleycenter.org.

***HIV & AIDS: Thirty Years Ago and Archiving The History of An Epidemic: HIV & AIDS to 10/02/11. National Museum of American History, Washington, DC. http://blog.americanhistory.si.edu/

On Screen (and Video & DVD)

Out on Screen...

***Beautiful Darling: The Life and Times of Candy Darling, Andy Warhol Superstar. James Rasin’s documentary about the transgender Andy Warhol superstar, who died in 1974, at age 29.
***Beginners. Ewan McGregor plays an illustrator whose father (Christopher Plummer) comes out to him.
***Finding Judy. Gary Riotto’s new short about a Black Chicago kid who channels Judy Garland. At Film Festivals. http://www.garyriotto.com/Director.html
***Glee: The 3D Concert Movie. Gleeks heaven.
***Gun Hill Road. Esai Morales stars in the story of a young man exploring his sexuality and its effects on his family. http://www.gunhillroad.com/home
***The Perfect Host. Out star Davd Hyde Pierce throws a dinner party with an unexpected guest.

Out On Video & DVD

***Christopher and His Kind. The BBC adaptation of out author Christopher Isherwood’s autobiography. Isherwood wrote The Berlin Diaries, which was adapted as “Cabaret”, the musical.
***Kaboom, a new film from Gregg Araki. The world according to Smith, a bisexual Southern California cinema studies major (Thomas Dekker).
***Lead with Love, a documentary about strengthening families through the coming out process. Available for online viewing. http://LeadWithLoveFilm.com// The trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGxcb7Ih7N0&feature=youtu.be
***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.
***Violet Tendencies. Mindi Cohn (“The Facts of Life”) plays a fag hag in this new romantic comedy. www.violettendenciesmovie.com.

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

***Ongoing: Happily Divorced. Fran Drescher plays a woman whose husband comes out. They stay best friends. Based on her real life. WED: 10:30PM. TV Land.
***August: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/

Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events

For Pride Events worldwide: www.interpride.org. or http://www.gayfriendlybiz.com/calendar.html

8/17/11-8/21/11: Greenwich, NY: Camp Neherim for Nice Gay Jewish Boys. GLBT Jewish Culture and Spirituality East Coast summer camp http://www.nehirim.org/summer

8/19/11-8/29/11: San Diego, CA: FilmOut San Diego, gay and lesbian film festival. www.filmoutsandiego.com

8/20/11-8/27/11: Wernersville, PA: New Camp for COLAGErs! A summer camp program for youth ages 8-15 with LGBTQ parents. http://www.colage.org/category/events/upcoming

8/21/11: Seattle, WA: Same Love, Same Rights. The LGBT Wedding Expo. http://www.samelovesamerights.com/

8/23/11: New York, NY: LGBT Queens Business Network Mixer. Kew Gardens. http://www.meetup.com/TheLGBTProfessionalGayborhood/events/20968281/

8/25/11-8/28/11: Philadelphia, PA: National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Annual Conference and LGBT Media Summit. http://www.nlgja.org/convention/2011/rfp2011.htm

8/31/11-9/05/11: New Orleans, LA: Southern Decadence. www.southerndecadence.com

9/08/11-9/1111: Chicago, IL: The Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute candidate training program. http://www.glli.org/programs/candidate_campaign

Last Week’s Trivia: Music Men

1. Question: Name this gay English-born music man known for his stage performances as actor and singer, his comedies, and his music. He was also known for his wit, flamboyance and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise". He wrote a musicalfor Elaine Stritch; he composed "Mad About the Boy" and he wrote shows about bickering couples, ghostly ex-spouses, and London elite. Answer: Noel Coward (1899-1973), author of "Sail Away", "Bittersweet", "Private Lives", "Blithe Spirit" and more.

2. Question: Name this gay American-born music man who professionally partnered with a globally-famous lesbian to develop an opera about a famous American women's rights activist and a second opera which featured an all-black cast. He won the Pulitzer Prize for his film score for a post-world War II movie. Answer: Virgil Thomson, (1896-1989) who partnered with Gertrude Stein to write "The Mother Of Us All" about feminist Susan B. Anthony; the black opera "Four Saints in Three Acts" and the score to "Louisiana Story".

3. Question: Name this gay Italian-American music man, best known for his dramatic musical theatre pieces which bridged opera and Broadway (one is a famous Christmas tale) and his interest in organizing and running international music festivals, which have flourished in Europe and America. He was partnered at one point with a famous American opera composer whose name is linked with Seville. Answer: Gian-Carlo Menotti (1911-2007), founder of the Spoleto Festivals in Italy and Charleston, SC; composer of "Amahl and The Night Visitors", the classic Christmas opera, and "The Consul" and "The Saint of Bleeker Street". He was partnered with opera composer Samual Barber--they collaborated on "Vanessa".

4. Question: Name this gay American-born music man who made lower East Side puppets sing, and the cast of "Scrubs" turn a hospital into Broadway. He and his partner co-wrote the theme song for the Logo Network's animated series "Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World" and contributed additional songs for the show. He has a law degree and sings with the Los Angeles Gay Men's Chorus. Answer: Jeff Marx, who with partner Robert Lopez, wrote "Avenue Q", music for "Scrubs" and more. Lopez just snagged a Tony for “The Book of Mormon”.

5. Question: Name this gay Australian-born music man, discovered by and imported to America by a gay community icon (he married her daughter, another icon). He won an Oscar for a movie theme, wrote songs for Melissa Manchester and Olivia Newton-John, performed at Radio City, and wrote and starred in one of Broadway's notirous flops. He became more famous after his death, when a film-star played his life in a Broadway musical. Answer: Peter Allen (1944-1992), discovered by Judy Garland, married (briefly) to Liza Minnelli, composer of "Arthur's Theme" (Oscar) and "Legs Diamond" (super-flop). Hugh Jackman starred in his life story, "The Boy From Oz".

This Week’s Trivia Quiz: Politics

1. Question: Name this US Congresswoman, elected to office in November, 1970. She and fellow democrat Ed Koch introduced the first bill proposing to add sexual orientation to the protected status in the 1964 Civil Right Act. Hint: she was known for her outspoken demeanor and large hats.

2. Question: Name this legislator, a lesbian elected to state office in November, 1974. She was the first openly-gay person elected to this level of office. Hint: Her state passed its first statewide gay rights law in November, 1989.

3. Question: Name this congressman from the same state in Question #2, who was first elected in November, 1980. Now out and outspoken, he is one of the nationa’s strongest advocates for LGBT civil rights.

4. Question: Name this former executive spouse, who is best known as the author of a 1981 novel about lesbian love in the American frontier. She was ashamed to discuss her out daughter on the 2004 campaign circuit.

5. Question: Name this out TG son of a Congressman. His sexual orientation was not an issue in his father’s campaign. He and dad didn’t see eye-to-eye on LGBT rights issues, but he’s become an accomplished activist and author. His entertainer Mom is highly supportive of the gay community, and was supportive of her child's transition, saying that although there were things she didn't understand, she would be understanding. .

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/