Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 13 March 30, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com
The Fine Print
See previous editions.
The Gay Agenda: Datebook: March 30-April 5, 2009
This Just In !!! to SAT: 3/28: Deland, FL: Central Florida Gay and Lesbian Theater Festival. Hosted by Stetson University. www2.stetson.edu/kaleidoscope/theater-fest.htm
MON-SUN: 3/30-4/05: Palm Springs, CA: Kraft Nabisco Golf Championship. previously known as the Dinah Shore Golf Championship. women and golf. www.nabiscochampionship.com or www.dinahshoreweekend.com
TUE: 3/31: New York, NY: Mitzi Gaynor signs Blu-Ray discs of "South Pacific" as the musical celebrates its 50th anniversary. Cast members from the original Broadway production and the current revival join her. 5:30PM. Barnes & Noble, Lincoln Triangle. www.bn.com.
TUE: 3/31: Muncie, IN: David Sedaris kicks off a national tour reading from "When You Are Ingulfed in Flames". Also: WED: 4/01: Pittsburgh, PA: David Sedaris reads from "When You Are Ingulfed in Flames". www.pgharts.org. THU: 4/02: Peekskill, NY: FRI: 4/03: Portland, ME: SAT: 4/04: Frederick, MD: SUN: 4/05: Amherst, MA: http://www.barclayagency.com/sedaris_appearances.html
WED: 4/01: Kennesaw, GA: Bill Konigsberg reads from his debut novel "Out of the Pocket" about a high school athlete who comes out. http://www.billkonigsberg.com/default.asp?Link=Book_Tour
WED-SAT: 4/01-4/04: Kingston, RI: University of Rhode Island GLBTIQQ Symposium. 15th Annual URI Symposium on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Questioning Issues. www.uri.edu/glbt/symposium.html
WED: 4/01: Ridgewood, NJ: Cloris Leachman, Oscar winner and occasional dancer, signs copies of "Cloris: The Autobiography". 7PM. Bookends, East Ridgewood Ave. Also: THU: 4/02: New York, NY: Cloris Leachman, Oscar winner and occasional dancer, signs copies of "Cloris: The Autobiography". 7:30PM. Barnes & Noble, Lincoln Triangle.
THU: 4/02 Providence, RI: Staceyann Chin headlines Brown University's "The Black Lavender Experience: Theater and Conversations Sparked By The Work of Queer Playwrights of Color.” www.brown.edu/lgbtq
Newsworthy:
Vermont: Governor Jim Douglas said he will veto a same-sex marriage bill if it comes to his desk. The Senate approved a bill with a role-call vote of 26-4 on 3/24/09. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/03/vermont-governor-says-he-will-veto-samesex-marriage-bill.html
George Weber, the WABC news radio reporter whose body was found stabbed to death in his Brooklyn apartment on 3/21/09, was killed by a teen he met on Craigslist who was advertising sex for $60. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/03/nyc-news-reporter-murdered-by-16yearold-craigslist-hookup.html
The Buzz (People Making News)
Coming Out: Miss Cleo, former spokesperson for the Psychic Readers Network, has come out. She's now released a spoken-word CD and started a radio show. The Palm Beach Post reports: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/local_news/epaper/2009/03/24/0324cleo.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=76
Awards and Honors:
Winners: Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards. Among the winners: Dolly Parton, John Glover, Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127353.html
Winner: NPR Reporter Tina Antolini of 88.5FM/WFCR is receipient of the Gracie Award, presented annually by the American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT) to honor exemplary programming created for women, by women, and about women. She received the Gracie for her three-part series "Voices of the Transgender Community of Western Massachusetts." The piece can be heard at www.wfcr.org
Features
Profile: Cheyenne Jackson, Broadway's "It" Boy. Edge Washington DC reports: http://www.edgewashington.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=theatre&sc2=&sc3=&id=88651
In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance
New York City (and Broadway)
***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett makes his Broadway debut in Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole co-star.
***Hair, The first major American rock musical, which has "sodomy" and other words in its lyrics. www.publictheater.org.
***33 Variations. Moises ("The Laramie Project") Kaufman's new play with music brings Jane Fonda back to Broadway. Colin (“Mad Men”) Hanks co-stars.. to 5/25/09.
***West Side Story. The acclaimed musicalization of "Romeo & Juliet" in a new production directed by Arthur Laurents. www.broadwaywestsidestory.com.
Elsewhere...
***Act A Lady. A group of men in a small Prohibition-era town cross-dress to perform a play. to 4/26/09. New Conservatory Theatre Pride Season. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org
***The Andrews Brothers. Roger Bean's musical about three USO stagehands who long to sing with The Andrews Sisters. to 4/26/09. Ft. Lauderdale, FL. www.risingactiontheatre.com
***Blind Faith. a world premiere by Harry Cronin. Two teen boys fall in love in conservative Colorado Springs. to 5/03/09. New Conservatory Theatre Pride Season. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org
***Grey Gardens, the award-winning musical about mother and daughter Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale, former society queens turned into recluses with 51 cats.to 5/17/09. Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. www.ordway.org.
***Master Class. Barbara Walsh stars as opera diva Maria Callas in Terrence McNally's Tony-Award winning play. to 4/05/09. Millburn, NJ. www.papermill.org.
***Thank Gays It's Friday. LGBT Comedy acts every Friday at midnight. The Laugh Factory. Los Angeles, CA. www.laughfactory.com
On Screen (and Video & DVD)
Resource: Cine-Queer: GLAAD's Guide to What's LGBT in Film: http://www.glaad.org/eye/cinequeer.php
Out on Screen...
***Ciao. Two men meet after the death of a mutual friend. www.ciaomovie.com.
***Hair: Let the Sunshine In. Pola Rapaport's documentary that traces the roots and legacy of the landmark musical, which features interviews with authors James Rado and Gerome Ragni, composer Galt MacDermot and late director Tom O'Horgan as well as Oscar winner Milos Forman, who directed the 1979 film adaptation of Hair.
***Little Ashes, Paul Morrison's drama about the young lives and loves of Salvador Dali, Luis Bunuel and Frederico Garcia Lorca. www.littleashes-themovie.com.
***The Universe of Keith Haring, a documentary on the late gay pop artist. Now making the rounds of film festivals and independent cinemas
***Valentino: The Last Emperor, a new documentary about the life of the Italian fashion designer, focusing on his business and romantic relationship with Giancarlo Giametti, who says they've spent a total of two months apart since they met..
Out On Video & DVD
***Chris and Don: A Love Story. Tina Mascara's documentary about British writer Christopher Isherwood and his lover, the much younger American artist Don Bachardy.
***Fashion Victims, a 2008 German film, tells the story of a straight fashion designer’s teen son who falls for his father’s biggest rival in the design world.
***FirstOUT International, a collection of gay-themed shorts including “The Postcard” (about a post office clerk who thinks a customer is flirting with him), “Mirror Mirror” (a poignant goodbye story), “El Primo,” (about the relationship between two teen male cousins) and “Le Basier” (love comes unexpectedly while practicing a kiss scene for a production of “Romeo and Juliet”).
***Jerome Robbins: Something to Dance About, a documentary about the American dancer/choreographer/director whose genius was tempered by obsessive behavior, perfectionism, and guilt over his bisexualism.
***Laughing Matters: Next Gen, a gay standup comedy documentary that follows Andrea Meyerson putting together the fourth installment of her series of comics for the gay standup circuit.
***Milk, Gus Van Sant's film about gay activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn). Also starring: Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, James Franco. Milk comes to DVD with extras.
***Religulous. Bill Maher travels the globe to investigate the current state of world religion, questioning many religious leaders on LGBT rights. www.lionsgate.com/religulous.
***"Rent" Filmed Live on Broadway. Film made of the final performances of the landmark musical New to DVD and Blu-Ray.
***The Yellow Brick Road And Beyond. A feature documentary takes a look at the phenomenon that is The Wizard of Oz, highlighting some of the earliest stage and screen adaptations, and the musical Wicked.
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 every Friday. www.glaad.org/eye/tv_listings.php
***March: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events
4/09/09-4/11/09: Calgary, AB: Canada Badminton, Bowling, Curling, Running, Swimming, Volleyball Western Cup XXVII, North America's longest running annual LGBT multi-sport tournament and trophy event. www.westerncup.com
4/09/09-4/12/09: Washington, DC: International Gay Square Dance Clubs Convention. www.iagsdc.org
4/11/09: Jersey City, NJ: Nathaniel Frank, author of "Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America" does a reading and booksigning. Chillfest. http://www.unfriendlyfire.org/events.php
4/11/09: West Hollywood, CA: Cloris Leachman, Oscar winner and occasional dancer, signs copies of "Cloris: The Autobiography". 7:PM. Book Soup, Sunset Blvd.
4/16/09-4/19/09: Miami, FL. Miami Latin Gay Film Festival. www.miamilatingayfilmfestival.com
4/17/09-4/19/09: Minneapolis, MN: 2009 Bisexual Empowerment Conference (BECAUSE) at the University of Minnesota. Keynote speaker: Robyn Ochs. Also: screening of the documentary "Bi the Way" including dialogue with director Josephine Decker. www.becauseconference.org.
4/17/09-4/19/09: Jersey City, NJ: New Jersey Bowling Gotham Open, an IGBO sponsored gay bowling tournament. www.gothambowling.com
4/17/09: Nationwide: National Day of Silence. The National Day of Silence brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. www.dayofsilence.org
4/18/09-4/19/09: San Diego, CA: Camp Courage. An intensive two-day training institute organized by the California-focused Courage Campaign to provide grassroots activists the practical, hands-on skills to organize in their communities on marriage equality for same-sex couples. www.couragecampaign.org/campcouragearmy.
4/20/09: New York, NY: The Broadway Beauty Pageant. Male cast members from Broadway shows compete for the crown through talent, interview an swimsuit competitions. Michael Urie and Seth Rudetsky judge. Proceeds will benefit the Ali Forney Center, the nation's largest and most comprehensive organization dedicated to homeless LGBT youth. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127418.html
4/23/09-4/26/09: New Haven, CT: Yale LGBT Reunion Weekend.
www.yalegala.org/YaleGayRunion.html.
4/24/09-4/26/09: Toronto, ON: All Out Swim 2009, splash and swim competition. www.dsctoronto.ca/alloutswim/
4/24/09-5/03/09: Miami, FL: Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. www.MGLFF.com
4/27/09-4/28/09: New York, NY: 23rd Annual Easter Bonnet Competition, the two-day Broadway spectacular that features the companies of more than 20 Broadway, off-Broadway and touring productions singing, dancing, and donning original Easter bonnets. A benefit for Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS. www.broadwaycares.org
4/27/09-5/03/09: Philadelphia, PA: Equality Forum. largest national & internationall LGBT civil rights forum with 60+ programs, parties & special events. www.equalityforum.com
Last 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. Answer: Palm Springs, CA. Sonny Bono was once mayor. His marriage to Cher produced Chastity Bono.
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. Answer: New Orleans, LA. Southern Decadence is a big gay Labor Day Weekend party.
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. Answer: Key West, FL, where the locals are called conches. Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote frequented the island city.
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. Answer: Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
This 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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
The first person to submit the correct answers gets their name in print right here. Email your answers to: OnQYB@aol.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/
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 3/23/09
Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 12 March 23, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com
The Fine Print
See previous issues
The Gay Agenda: Datebook: March 23-29, 2009
This Just In !!! THU: 3/19: New York, NY: NGLJA Headlines and Headliners Benefit at CNN. 14th annual edition. Soledad O'Brien hosts. http://www.nlgja.org/newyork09.htm
This Just In !!! SAT: 3/21: New York, NY: Night of a Thousand Gowns, the 23rd annual charity ball and silent auction to benefit LIFEbeat—The Music Industry Fights AIDS and MCCNY Homeless Youth Services. Performers for the benefit will include Michelle Williams, Christopher Sieber, Lea DeLaria, Ari Gold and Kelly King. www.icny.org/tickets.
MON: 3/23: New York, NY: Legends, a reading of the infamous James Kirkwood comedy with Charles Busch, Lypsinka, Whoopi Goldberg and Bryan ("Mad Men") Batt. Fran Lebowitz narrates. A benefit for Friends in Deed: The Crisis Center for Life-Threatening Illness. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/125984.html
TUE: 3/24: New York, NY: Arthur Laurents, the out director, does a reading and booksigning of his new book, "Mainly on Directing: Gypsy, West Side Story, and Other Musicals". 7:30PM. Barnes & Noble, Lincoln Triangle. www.bn.com.
WED-SUN: 3/25-3/29: Keystone, CO: OutBoard, annual LGBT snowboarding festival. www.outboard.org
WED: 3/25: New York, NY: Nathaniel Frank, author of "Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America" does a reading and booksigning. 7PM. LGBT Community Center. http://www.unfriendlyfire.org/events.php
FRI: 3/27: New York, NY: The Big Gay Sing: A Sing-a-long Extravaganza. Scott Nevins, the New York City Gay Men's Chorus and the audience sing some gay faves. www.biggaysing.com.
FRI: 3/27: Dallas, TX: Del Shores, author of "Sordid Lives" and "Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife", unveils his one-man show "Del Shores: The Storyteller". www.delshores.net.
SAT: 3/28/: New York, NY: 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. Tyra Banks and Suze Orman to be honored. www.glaad.org
SAT-SUN: 3/28-3/29: Pittsburgh, PA: Pennsylvania Volleyball Steel City Classic, a NAGVA-sanctioned vball tourney. www.SteelCityVolleyball.org
www.edgepublications.com.
Newsworthy:
Coming Out: West Point Grads Come Out to show support of the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". The Navy Times reports on Knights Out, a group of 38 graduates of West Point, who came out on 3/16/09 and offered to serve as liaisons between alumni and Army administrators as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is in the process of being repealed as well as a support group for LGBT US Military Academy active duty alumni, cadets, and their families. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/03/38-west-point-grads-come-out-of-the-closet-in-show-of-force.html
"Laramie Project" Costs Oklahoma Teacher Her Job. Gay rights groups are complaining about the firing of a rural Oklahoma high school teacher who lost her job last week after assigning "The Laramie Project" the play abo9ut the murder of Matthew Shepard, to her students. USAToday reports: http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-03-16-teacher-laramie_N.htm
Record-Breaking Benefit: Stars from ABC’s “All My Children,” “One Life to Live,” and “General Hospital” performed at the 5th Annual ABC Daytime and SOAPnet Salutes Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS benefit on 3/09/09, raising an all time record of $330,000 bringing the cumulative total to nearly $1.5 million dollars since the shows inception in 2005. www.broadwaycares.org
Awards and Honors:
Lambda Literary Awards Finalists have been announced. There are 105 finalists from 72 publishers. Winners will be announced on 5/28/09. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/03/21st-annual-lambda-literary-award-finalists-announced.html
In Memoriam:
James Purdy, the American writer, whose works frequently addressed gay issues, died on 3/13/09 at age 94. He was best known for his novel "Malcolm" which was adapted for the stage by Edward Albee. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/14/books/14purdy.html?_r=1
Natasha Richardson, the actress, died on 3/18/09 at age 45, following a ski accident. She was the daughter of Vanessa Redgrave and Tony Richardson, the bi-director who was one of the first high profile entertainment industry people to die from HIV/AIDS. Natasha was a major AIDS activist in New York, and involved with amFAR. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/03/natasha-richardson-actress-and-advocate-for-people-with-aids-dies.html
Features
Profile: Arthur Laurents. "When You're a Shark, You're a Shark All The Way". The 91 year old Broadway author/director made a revival of his "Gypsy" Broadway's hot ticket last season. Now, he's doing the same with "West Side Story" which opens this week. New York Magazine reports: http://nymag.com/arts/theater/profiles/55341/
San Francisco: An Alternate World. In writer-director Dorothy Adams' new play, "Lead," lesbians rule a world in which all children are born female and men (or "dawgs") are created in a lab. the San Francisco Chronicle reports:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/12/NSE4164LUB.DTL&type=performance
In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance
New York City (and Broadway)
***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett makes his Broadway debut in Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole co-star.
***Finian's Rainbow. Cheyenne Jackson stars in the Encores revival of the musical. to 3/29/09. www.nycitycenter.org.
***Gates of Gold. Frank McGuinness' comedy-drama based on Hilton Edwards and Micheal MacLiammoir, partners in business and also in life, who together founded Dublin's Gate Theater in Dublin in 1928. to 3/29/09. www.59e59.org.
***The Gay Agenda's Great Big Broadway Show, presented by Shortened Attention Span who are committed to complete and utter world domination through showtunes. opens 3/25/09 and runs the last Wed. of each month. www.ShortenedAttentionSpan.com
***Hair, The first major American rock musical, which has "sodomy" and other words in its lyrics. www.publictheater.org.
***West Side Story. The acclaimed musicalization of "Romeo & Juliet" in a new production directed by Arthur Laurents. www.broadwaywestsidestory.com.
Elsewhere...
***Act A Lady. A group of men in a small Prohibition-era town cross-dress to perform a play. to 4/26/09. New Conservatory Theatre Pride Season. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org
***After the Garden: Edith Beale Live at Reno Sweeney Miss Pixie's Backroom Palace, a recreation of Edith (Little Edie) Bouvier Beale's famous nightclub act, which lasted less than a week after "Grey Gardens". to 3/29/09. Washington, DC. www.ganymedearts.org.
***And The Award Goes To...The Gay Mens Chorus of Los Angeles perform Broadway hits. Wilson Cruz guest stars. Miss Coco Peru hosts. 3/28/09-3/29/09. Glendale, CA. www.glcma.org.
***The Andrews Brothers. Roger Bean's musical about three USO stagehands who long to sing with The Andrews Sisters. to 4/26/09. Ft. Lauderdale, FL. www.risingactiontheatre.com
***Blind Faith. a world premiere by Harry Cronin. Two teen boys fall in love in conservative Colorado Springs. to 5/03/09. New Conservatory Theatre Pride Season. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org
***Grey Gardens, the award-winning musical about mother and daughter Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale, former society queens turned into recluses with 51 cats.to 5/17/09. Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. www.ordway.org.
***La Cage Aux Folles. The Jerry Herman/Harvey Fierstein musical based on the film that became "Birdcage".to 3/29/09. Santa Rosa, CA. www.6thstreetplayhouse.com
***Master Class. Barbara Walsh stars as opera diva Maria Callas in Terrence McNally's Tony-Award winning play. to 4/05/09. Millburn, NJ. www.papermill.org.
On Screen (and Video & DVD)
Resource: Cine-Queer: GLAAD's Guide to What's LGBT in Film: http://www.glaad.org/eye/cinequeer.php
Out on Screen...
***Ciao. Two men meet after the death of a mutual friend. www.ciaomovie.com.
***Hair: Let the Sunshine In. Pola Rapaport's documentary that traces the roots and legacy of the landmark musical.
***Little Ashes, Paul Morrison's drama about the young lives and loves of Salvador Dali, Luis Bunuel and Frederico Garcia Lorca. www.littleashes-themovie.com.
***The Universe of Keith Haring, a documentary on the late gay pop artist. Now making the rounds of film festivals and independent cinemas.
***Were The World Mine, Tim Gustafson's film about a struggling gay teen in a homophobic town, who fantasizes about a potion that turns the town gay. http://www.weretheworldminefilm.com/
Out On Video & DVD
***Fashion Victims, a 2008 German film, tells the story of a straight fashion designer’s teen son who falls for his father’s biggest rival in the design world.
***FirstOUT International, a collection of gay-themed shorts.
***Laughing Matters: Next Gen, a gay standup comedy documentary that follows Andrea Meyerson putting together the fourth installment of her series of comics for the gay standup circuit.
***Milk, Gus Van Sant's film about gay activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn).
***Religulous. Bill Maher travels the globe to investigate the current state of world religion, questioning many religious leaders on LGBT rights. www.lionsgate.com/religulous.
***"Rent" Filmed Live on Broadway. Film made of the final performances of the landmark musical New to DVD and Blu-Ray.
***The Yellow Brick Road And Beyond. A feature documentary takes a look at the phenomenon that is The Wizard of Oz, highlighting some of the earliest stage and screen adaptations, and the musical Wicked.
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 every Friday. www.glaad.org/eye/tv_listings.php
***March: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
***WED: 3/25: Sir Ian McKellan, out actor and activist takes on Shakespeare's "King Lear". Great Performances on PBS. Check local listings.
***SUN: 3/29: "The Making of Me: John Barrowman". Barrowman, out star of "Torchwood", attempts to discover the origins of his homosexuality in a documentary. 10PM. BBC America. www.bbcamerica.com.
Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events
3/30/09-4/05/09: Palm Springs, CA: Kraft Nabisco Golf Championship. previously known as the Dinah Shore Golf Championship. women and golf. www.nabiscochampionship.com or www.dinahshoreweekend.com
4/01/09-4/04/09: Kingston, RI: University of Rhode Island GLBTIQQ Symposium. www.uri.edu/glbt/symposium.html
4/09/09-4/11/09: Calgary, AB: Canada Badminton, Bowling, Curling, Running, Swimming, Volleyball Western Cup XXVII, www.westerncup.com
4/09/09-4/12/09: Washington, DC: International Gay Square Dance Clubs Convention. www.iagsdc.org
4/17/09-4/19/09: Minneapolis, MN: 2009 Bisexual Empowerment Conference (BECAUSE) at the University of Minnesota. www.becauseconference.org.
4/17/09-4/19/09: Jersey City, NJ: New Jersey Bowling Gotham Open, an IGBO sponsored gay bowling tournament. www.gothambowling.com
4/17/09: Nationwide: National Day of Silence. The National Day of Silence brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. www.dayofsilence.org
4/18/09-4/19/09: San Diego, CA: Camp Courage. An intensive two-day training to provide grassroots activists the practical, hands-on skills to organize in their communities on marriage equality for same-sex couples. www.couragecampaign.org/campcouragearmy.
Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: The Corner Bookstore and More
When we learned that A Different Light Books in West hollywood was closing, it brought to mind the LGBT community's rich heritage of bookstores that served as community centers; organizations that fostered LGBT literature and publishing...
1. Question: Name America's earliest self-styled gay and lesbian bookstore, founded in 1967. Its founder, who was one the organizer's of the first pride march, displayed a sign proclaiming it "a bookshop for the homophile movement". There was also a "gay is good" sticker in the window. Answer: The Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop in New York, founded by activist Craig Rodwell. It will unfortunately close on March 29, 2009. Because Rowell refused to stock pornography, at first his entire inventory comprised only about 25 titles.
2. Question: When the entity in Question #1 closes, where will the oldest operating bookstore in North America be located ? Answer: Toronto, Ontario, which is home to the Glad Day Bookshop, Canada's oldest LGBT bookstore, which opened in 1970.
3. Question: Name this national non-profit devoted to the promotion, preservation and publication of LGBT literature. Its mission is the promotion of LGBT literacy in the widest possible sense. An annual award program (scheduled for May, 2009) puts the organization on the national map. Answer: The Lambda Literary Foundation. lambdaliterary.org
4. Question: Name this worker-owned feminist bookstore, the oldest continuously-operating independent feminist bookstore in the USA. Its name is the same as a mega-seller who has put many independent booksellers out of business. Answer: Amazon Feminist Bookstore in Minneapolis, MN, founded in 1970. www.amazonfembks.com
5. Question: Name this LGBT American literary magazine, which began publishing in 1976. It was known both for its serious discussion of issues within the gay community and its satire of anti-gay criticism, It also featured original fiction from then up-and-coming authors like Andrew Holleran. After over 230 issues, it closed in 1995. Answer: Christopher Street
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: OnQYB@aol.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/
Volume 12 No. 12 March 23, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com
The Fine Print
See previous issues
The Gay Agenda: Datebook: March 23-29, 2009
This Just In !!! THU: 3/19: New York, NY: NGLJA Headlines and Headliners Benefit at CNN. 14th annual edition. Soledad O'Brien hosts. http://www.nlgja.org/newyork09.htm
This Just In !!! SAT: 3/21: New York, NY: Night of a Thousand Gowns, the 23rd annual charity ball and silent auction to benefit LIFEbeat—The Music Industry Fights AIDS and MCCNY Homeless Youth Services. Performers for the benefit will include Michelle Williams, Christopher Sieber, Lea DeLaria, Ari Gold and Kelly King. www.icny.org/tickets.
MON: 3/23: New York, NY: Legends, a reading of the infamous James Kirkwood comedy with Charles Busch, Lypsinka, Whoopi Goldberg and Bryan ("Mad Men") Batt. Fran Lebowitz narrates. A benefit for Friends in Deed: The Crisis Center for Life-Threatening Illness. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/125984.html
TUE: 3/24: New York, NY: Arthur Laurents, the out director, does a reading and booksigning of his new book, "Mainly on Directing: Gypsy, West Side Story, and Other Musicals". 7:30PM. Barnes & Noble, Lincoln Triangle. www.bn.com.
WED-SUN: 3/25-3/29: Keystone, CO: OutBoard, annual LGBT snowboarding festival. www.outboard.org
WED: 3/25: New York, NY: Nathaniel Frank, author of "Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America" does a reading and booksigning. 7PM. LGBT Community Center. http://www.unfriendlyfire.org/events.php
FRI: 3/27: New York, NY: The Big Gay Sing: A Sing-a-long Extravaganza. Scott Nevins, the New York City Gay Men's Chorus and the audience sing some gay faves. www.biggaysing.com.
FRI: 3/27: Dallas, TX: Del Shores, author of "Sordid Lives" and "Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife", unveils his one-man show "Del Shores: The Storyteller". www.delshores.net.
SAT: 3/28/: New York, NY: 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. Tyra Banks and Suze Orman to be honored. www.glaad.org
SAT-SUN: 3/28-3/29: Pittsburgh, PA: Pennsylvania Volleyball Steel City Classic, a NAGVA-sanctioned vball tourney. www.SteelCityVolleyball.org
www.edgepublications.com.
Newsworthy:
Coming Out: West Point Grads Come Out to show support of the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". The Navy Times reports on Knights Out, a group of 38 graduates of West Point, who came out on 3/16/09 and offered to serve as liaisons between alumni and Army administrators as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is in the process of being repealed as well as a support group for LGBT US Military Academy active duty alumni, cadets, and their families. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/03/38-west-point-grads-come-out-of-the-closet-in-show-of-force.html
"Laramie Project" Costs Oklahoma Teacher Her Job. Gay rights groups are complaining about the firing of a rural Oklahoma high school teacher who lost her job last week after assigning "The Laramie Project" the play abo9ut the murder of Matthew Shepard, to her students. USAToday reports: http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-03-16-teacher-laramie_N.htm
Record-Breaking Benefit: Stars from ABC’s “All My Children,” “One Life to Live,” and “General Hospital” performed at the 5th Annual ABC Daytime and SOAPnet Salutes Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS benefit on 3/09/09, raising an all time record of $330,000 bringing the cumulative total to nearly $1.5 million dollars since the shows inception in 2005. www.broadwaycares.org
Awards and Honors:
Lambda Literary Awards Finalists have been announced. There are 105 finalists from 72 publishers. Winners will be announced on 5/28/09. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/03/21st-annual-lambda-literary-award-finalists-announced.html
In Memoriam:
James Purdy, the American writer, whose works frequently addressed gay issues, died on 3/13/09 at age 94. He was best known for his novel "Malcolm" which was adapted for the stage by Edward Albee. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/14/books/14purdy.html?_r=1
Natasha Richardson, the actress, died on 3/18/09 at age 45, following a ski accident. She was the daughter of Vanessa Redgrave and Tony Richardson, the bi-director who was one of the first high profile entertainment industry people to die from HIV/AIDS. Natasha was a major AIDS activist in New York, and involved with amFAR. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/03/natasha-richardson-actress-and-advocate-for-people-with-aids-dies.html
Features
Profile: Arthur Laurents. "When You're a Shark, You're a Shark All The Way". The 91 year old Broadway author/director made a revival of his "Gypsy" Broadway's hot ticket last season. Now, he's doing the same with "West Side Story" which opens this week. New York Magazine reports: http://nymag.com/arts/theater/profiles/55341/
San Francisco: An Alternate World. In writer-director Dorothy Adams' new play, "Lead," lesbians rule a world in which all children are born female and men (or "dawgs") are created in a lab. the San Francisco Chronicle reports:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/12/NSE4164LUB.DTL&type=performance
In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance
New York City (and Broadway)
***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett makes his Broadway debut in Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole co-star.
***Finian's Rainbow. Cheyenne Jackson stars in the Encores revival of the musical. to 3/29/09. www.nycitycenter.org.
***Gates of Gold. Frank McGuinness' comedy-drama based on Hilton Edwards and Micheal MacLiammoir, partners in business and also in life, who together founded Dublin's Gate Theater in Dublin in 1928. to 3/29/09. www.59e59.org.
***The Gay Agenda's Great Big Broadway Show, presented by Shortened Attention Span who are committed to complete and utter world domination through showtunes. opens 3/25/09 and runs the last Wed. of each month. www.ShortenedAttentionSpan.com
***Hair, The first major American rock musical, which has "sodomy" and other words in its lyrics. www.publictheater.org.
***West Side Story. The acclaimed musicalization of "Romeo & Juliet" in a new production directed by Arthur Laurents. www.broadwaywestsidestory.com.
Elsewhere...
***Act A Lady. A group of men in a small Prohibition-era town cross-dress to perform a play. to 4/26/09. New Conservatory Theatre Pride Season. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org
***After the Garden: Edith Beale Live at Reno Sweeney Miss Pixie's Backroom Palace, a recreation of Edith (Little Edie) Bouvier Beale's famous nightclub act, which lasted less than a week after "Grey Gardens". to 3/29/09. Washington, DC. www.ganymedearts.org.
***And The Award Goes To...The Gay Mens Chorus of Los Angeles perform Broadway hits. Wilson Cruz guest stars. Miss Coco Peru hosts. 3/28/09-3/29/09. Glendale, CA. www.glcma.org.
***The Andrews Brothers. Roger Bean's musical about three USO stagehands who long to sing with The Andrews Sisters. to 4/26/09. Ft. Lauderdale, FL. www.risingactiontheatre.com
***Blind Faith. a world premiere by Harry Cronin. Two teen boys fall in love in conservative Colorado Springs. to 5/03/09. New Conservatory Theatre Pride Season. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org
***Grey Gardens, the award-winning musical about mother and daughter Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale, former society queens turned into recluses with 51 cats.to 5/17/09. Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. www.ordway.org.
***La Cage Aux Folles. The Jerry Herman/Harvey Fierstein musical based on the film that became "Birdcage".to 3/29/09. Santa Rosa, CA. www.6thstreetplayhouse.com
***Master Class. Barbara Walsh stars as opera diva Maria Callas in Terrence McNally's Tony-Award winning play. to 4/05/09. Millburn, NJ. www.papermill.org.
On Screen (and Video & DVD)
Resource: Cine-Queer: GLAAD's Guide to What's LGBT in Film: http://www.glaad.org/eye/cinequeer.php
Out on Screen...
***Ciao. Two men meet after the death of a mutual friend. www.ciaomovie.com.
***Hair: Let the Sunshine In. Pola Rapaport's documentary that traces the roots and legacy of the landmark musical.
***Little Ashes, Paul Morrison's drama about the young lives and loves of Salvador Dali, Luis Bunuel and Frederico Garcia Lorca. www.littleashes-themovie.com.
***The Universe of Keith Haring, a documentary on the late gay pop artist. Now making the rounds of film festivals and independent cinemas.
***Were The World Mine, Tim Gustafson's film about a struggling gay teen in a homophobic town, who fantasizes about a potion that turns the town gay. http://www.weretheworldminefilm.com/
Out On Video & DVD
***Fashion Victims, a 2008 German film, tells the story of a straight fashion designer’s teen son who falls for his father’s biggest rival in the design world.
***FirstOUT International, a collection of gay-themed shorts.
***Laughing Matters: Next Gen, a gay standup comedy documentary that follows Andrea Meyerson putting together the fourth installment of her series of comics for the gay standup circuit.
***Milk, Gus Van Sant's film about gay activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn).
***Religulous. Bill Maher travels the globe to investigate the current state of world religion, questioning many religious leaders on LGBT rights. www.lionsgate.com/religulous.
***"Rent" Filmed Live on Broadway. Film made of the final performances of the landmark musical New to DVD and Blu-Ray.
***The Yellow Brick Road And Beyond. A feature documentary takes a look at the phenomenon that is The Wizard of Oz, highlighting some of the earliest stage and screen adaptations, and the musical Wicked.
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 every Friday. www.glaad.org/eye/tv_listings.php
***March: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
***WED: 3/25: Sir Ian McKellan, out actor and activist takes on Shakespeare's "King Lear". Great Performances on PBS. Check local listings.
***SUN: 3/29: "The Making of Me: John Barrowman". Barrowman, out star of "Torchwood", attempts to discover the origins of his homosexuality in a documentary. 10PM. BBC America. www.bbcamerica.com.
Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events
3/30/09-4/05/09: Palm Springs, CA: Kraft Nabisco Golf Championship. previously known as the Dinah Shore Golf Championship. women and golf. www.nabiscochampionship.com or www.dinahshoreweekend.com
4/01/09-4/04/09: Kingston, RI: University of Rhode Island GLBTIQQ Symposium. www.uri.edu/glbt/symposium.html
4/09/09-4/11/09: Calgary, AB: Canada Badminton, Bowling, Curling, Running, Swimming, Volleyball Western Cup XXVII, www.westerncup.com
4/09/09-4/12/09: Washington, DC: International Gay Square Dance Clubs Convention. www.iagsdc.org
4/17/09-4/19/09: Minneapolis, MN: 2009 Bisexual Empowerment Conference (BECAUSE) at the University of Minnesota. www.becauseconference.org.
4/17/09-4/19/09: Jersey City, NJ: New Jersey Bowling Gotham Open, an IGBO sponsored gay bowling tournament. www.gothambowling.com
4/17/09: Nationwide: National Day of Silence. The National Day of Silence brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. www.dayofsilence.org
4/18/09-4/19/09: San Diego, CA: Camp Courage. An intensive two-day training to provide grassroots activists the practical, hands-on skills to organize in their communities on marriage equality for same-sex couples. www.couragecampaign.org/campcouragearmy.
Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: The Corner Bookstore and More
When we learned that A Different Light Books in West hollywood was closing, it brought to mind the LGBT community's rich heritage of bookstores that served as community centers; organizations that fostered LGBT literature and publishing...
1. Question: Name America's earliest self-styled gay and lesbian bookstore, founded in 1967. Its founder, who was one the organizer's of the first pride march, displayed a sign proclaiming it "a bookshop for the homophile movement". There was also a "gay is good" sticker in the window. Answer: The Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop in New York, founded by activist Craig Rodwell. It will unfortunately close on March 29, 2009. Because Rowell refused to stock pornography, at first his entire inventory comprised only about 25 titles.
2. Question: When the entity in Question #1 closes, where will the oldest operating bookstore in North America be located ? Answer: Toronto, Ontario, which is home to the Glad Day Bookshop, Canada's oldest LGBT bookstore, which opened in 1970.
3. Question: Name this national non-profit devoted to the promotion, preservation and publication of LGBT literature. Its mission is the promotion of LGBT literacy in the widest possible sense. An annual award program (scheduled for May, 2009) puts the organization on the national map. Answer: The Lambda Literary Foundation. lambdaliterary.org
4. Question: Name this worker-owned feminist bookstore, the oldest continuously-operating independent feminist bookstore in the USA. Its name is the same as a mega-seller who has put many independent booksellers out of business. Answer: Amazon Feminist Bookstore in Minneapolis, MN, founded in 1970. www.amazonfembks.com
5. Question: Name this LGBT American literary magazine, which began publishing in 1976. It was known both for its serious discussion of issues within the gay community and its satire of anti-gay criticism, It also featured original fiction from then up-and-coming authors like Andrew Holleran. After over 230 issues, it closed in 1995. Answer: Christopher Street
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: OnQYB@aol.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/
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 3/16/09
Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 11 March 16, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com
The Fine Print
About this Newsletter: See previous editions
The Gay Agenda: Datebook: March 16-22, 2009
MON: 3/16: North Hollywood, CA: Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards. www.ladramacriticscircle.com
MON: 3/16: Washington, DC: Nathaniel Frank, author of "Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America" does a reading and booksigning. Lambda Rising. Also: WED: 3/18: Miami, FL: 7PM. Books and Books. THU: 3/19: Atlanta, GA: 8PM. Outwrite Books. http://www.unfriendlyfire.org/events.php
WED-SUN: 3/18-3/22: Mammoth Lakes, CA: Elevation 2009, the 7th annual Mammoth Gay Ski Week. www.mammothgayski.com
WED-FRI: 3/18-3/20: Ithaca, NY: Ithaca College Sport, Sexuality, and Culture Conference. Former NBA player, John Amaechi, will deliver the keynote address. http://www.ithaca.edu/hshp/grad/sportmgmt/sportsexualitycultureintr/ConferenceSchedule/
SAT-SUN: 3/21-3/22: Los Angeles, CA: The Brothers Gershwin--George & Ira. The 25th anniversary S.T.A.G.E. benefit for AIDS Project Los Angeles. Cast performing Gershwins hits include: John Lloyd Young, Shoshana Bean, Lucas Grabeel, Loretta Devine, Sam Harris, Jai Rodriguez and more. S.T.A.G.E. founder and actor Michael Kearns to be honored. www.stagela.com
Newsworthy:
Outrage, Kirby Dick's documentary that exposes closeted gay and lesbian politicians who actively campaign against gay rights, will have its world premiere at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. Dick most recently directed "This Film Is Not Yet Rated", about the Motion Picture Association of America’s rating system. His 2005 documentary "Twist of Faith", about Catholic Church complicity in hiding sexual abuse by priests, was nominated for an Academy Award.
London: As the stage musical of "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" opens on the West End, it's the end of the road for old-school drag queens. The misogynistic, wig-wearing female impersonator is being replaced by a sassier, more sophisticated act. The Independent reports:
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/end-of-the-road-for-oldschool-drag-queens-1639775.html
The Buzz (People Making News)
Coming Out: Dustin Lance Black, Oscar-winning screenwriter of "Milk", tells his coming out story. The Providence Journal reports: http://www.projo.com/movies/content/lb_oscarwinningwriterofmilk_03-06-09_C9DGUP6_v14.2058f67.html
Awards and Honors:
Chad Allen will receive the Davidson/Valentini Award at GLAAD's Media Awards in San Francisco on 5/09/09. www.glaad.org.
Winners: The American Women in Radio and Television 2009 Gracie Allen Awards: Suze Orman (Individual Achievement Award for Outstanding Host-Information or Entertainment) and Rachel Maddow: (Individual Achievement Award for Outstanding Host-News Program).
Winners: Bistro Awards, celebrating excellence in the cabaret field: Liza Minnelli, Liz McCartney and Euan Morton. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126815.html
Photo Shoots and Video
Legends Promo Video: Lypsinka and Charles Busch play the roles originated by Mary Martin and Carol Channing. Whoopi Goldberg co-stars in the first-ever New York presentation of James Kirkwood's play on 3/23/09 as a benefit for Friends In Deed: The Crisis Center for Life-Threatening Illness. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJPLgA2aZhY.
Features
Heard on "The View". Did Whoopi Goldberg Come Out ? And, Rachel Maddow describes being outed. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/03/rachel-maddow-was-outed-to-her-parents-by-anonymous-letter.html
Opportunities
The Publishing Triangle works to further the publication of books and other materials written by lesbian and gay authors or with lesbian and gay themes. Founded in 1988, The Publishing Triangle works to create support and a sense of community for lesbian and gay people in the publishing industry. www.publishingtriangle.org
In Print:
Upcoming Titles Of Note for LGBT Readers. The Washington Blade reports: http://www.washblade.com/2009/3-6/arts/books/14182.cfm
Mainly on Directing: Gypsy, West Side Story, and Other Musicals by Arthur Laurents. Knopf. A book about theater, the art, the artist, the insider, the outsider, enriched by the author's two loves, love for the theater and love for his partner of fifty-two years, Tom Hatcher, who shared and inspired every aspect of his life and his work.
In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance
New York City (and Broadway)
***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett makes his Broadway debut in gay Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole co-star.
***Gates of Gold. Frank McGuinness' comedy-drama based on Hilton Edwards and Micheal MacLiammoir, partners in business and also in life, who together founded Dublin's Gate Theater in Dublin in 1928. to 3/29/09. www.59e59.org.
***The Gay Agenda's Great Big Broadway Show, presented by Shortened Attention Span who are committed to complete and utter world domination through showtunes. opens 3/25/09 and runs the last Wed. of each month. www.ShortenedAttentionSpan.com or http://thatgayagendaband..wordpress.com
***Judy Gold is Mommy Queerest. The lesbian comic takes on her role as Jewish mom. 3/20/09. Joe's Pub. www.joespub.com.
***33 Variations. Moises ("The Laramie Project") Kaufman's new play with music brings Jane Fonda back to Broadway. Colin (“Mad Men”) Hanks co-stars.. to 5/25/09.
***West Side Story. The acclaimed musicalization of "Romeo & Juliet" in a new production directed by Arthur Laurents. www.broadwaywestsidestory.com.
Elsewhere...
***After the Garden: Edith Beale Live at Reno Sweeney Miss Pixie's Backroom Palace, a recreation of Edith (Little Edie) Bouvier Beale's famous nightclub act, which lasted less than a week after "Grey Gardens". to 3/29/09. Washington, DC. www.ganymedearts.org.
***A Beautiful View. Daniel MacIvor's take on two women in love. MacIvor is one of Canada's greatest living playwrights. to 3/22/09. San Francisco, CA. www.therhino.org.
***Grey Gardens, the award-winning musical about mother and daughter Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale, former society queens turned into recluses with 51 cats. to 5/17/09. Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. www.ordway.org.
***La Cage Aux Folles. The Jerry Herman/Harvey Fierstein musical based on the film that became "Birdcage".to 3/29/09. Santa Rosa, CA. www.6thstreetplayhouse.com
***Master Class. Barbara Walsh stars as diva Maria Callas in Terrence McNally's award winning play. to 4/05/09. Millburn, NJ. www.papermill.org.
***Sin, A Cardinal Deposed. A docudrama about the lawyer who pursues Boston Archibishop Cardinal Bernard Law for his failure to protect the victims of sexual abuse at the hands of priests in his archdiocese. Thursdays to 4/02/09. Los Angeles, CA. www.thehayworth.com.
***Xanadu, the Broadway musical hit based on the Olivia Newton John movie. "Children's theatre for 40 year old gay men". to 3/29/08. Chicago, IL. www.BroadwayInChicago.com
On Screen (and Video & DVD)
Resource: Cine-Queer: GLAAD's Guide to What's LGBT in Film: http://www.glaad.org/eye/cinequeer.php
Out on Screen...
***Ciao. Two men meet after the death of a mutual friend. www.ciaomovie.com.
***Doubt, the film adaptation of John Patrick Shanley's award-winning drama. A nun (Meryl Streep) suspects a popular priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of abusing a boy.
***Hair: Let the Sunshine In. Pola Rapaport's documentary that traces the roots and legacy of the landmark musical, which features interviews with authors James Rado and Gerome Ragni, composer Galt MacDermot and late director Tom O'Horgan as well as Oscar winner Milos Forman, who directed the 1979 film adaptation of Hair.
***Shifting the Canvas. Cheyenne Jackson, Scott Thompson and John Paul Pitoc star in this comedy drama about a Brooklyn cafe owner, who acts as "patriarch" to a wayward group of younger gay and lesbian artists. www.shiftingthecanvas.com.
***The Universe of Keith Haring, a documentary on the late gay pop artist. Now making the rounds of film festivals and independent cinemas.
Out On Video & DVD
***Fashion Victims, a 2008 German film, tells the story of a straight fashion designer’s teen son who falls for his father’s biggest rival in the design world.
***FirstOUT International, a collection of four gay-themed shorts.
***Laughing Matters: Next Gen, a gay standup comedy documentary that follows Andrea Meyerson putting together the fourth installment of her series of comics for the gay standup circuit.
***Milk, Gus Van Sant's film about gay activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn). Also starring: Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, James Franco. Milk comes to DVD with extras. The San Francisco Bay Times reports: http://www.sfbaytimes.com/?sec=article&article_id=10247
***Religulous. Bill Maher travels the globe to investigate the current state of world religion, questioning many religious leaders on LGBT rights. www.lionsgate.com/religulous.
***The Yellow Brick Road And Beyond. A feature documentary takes a look at the phenomenon that is The Wizard of Oz, highlighting some of the earliest stage and screen adaptations, and the musical Wicked.
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 every Friday. www.glaad.org/eye/tv_listings.php
***March: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
This Just In: THU: 3/12: Broadway's "West Side Story" dances for Dave Letterman. 11:35PM.CBS.
***TUE: 3/17: Carol Burnett plays a former dancer involved with the murder of a couple on "Law & Order: SVU". 10PM. NBC.
Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events
3/23/09: New York, NY: Legends, a reading of the infamous James Kirkwood comedy with Charles Busch, Lypsinka, Whoopi Goldberg and Bryan ("Mad Men") Batt. Fran Lebowitz narrates. A benefit for Friends in Deed: The Crisis Center for Life-Threatening Illness. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/125984.html
3/25/09-3/29/09: Keystone, CO: OutBoard, annual LGBT snowboarding festival. www.outboard.org
3/28/09-3/29/09: Pittsburgh, PA: Pennsylvania Volleyball Steel City Classic, a NAGVA-sanctioned vball tourney. www.SteelCityVolleyball.org
3/30/09-4/05/09: Palm Springs, CA: Kraft Nabisco Golf Championship. best known as the Dinah Shore Golf Championship. women and golf. www.nabiscochampionship.com or www.dinahshoreweekend.com
3/31/09: Muncie, IN: David Sedaris begins a national tour reading from "When You Are Ingulfed in Flames". http://www.barclayagency.com/sedaris_appearances.html
4/01/09-4/04/09: Kingston, RI: University of Rhode Island GLBTIQQ Symposium. 15th Annual URI Symposium on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Questioning Issues. www.uri.edu/glbt/symposium.html
4/09/09-4/11/09: Calgary, AB: Canada Badminton, Bowling, Curling, Running, Swimming, Volleyball Western Cup XXVII, 27th anniversary of North America's longrun annual LGBT multi-sport tournament and trophy event. www.westerncup.com
4/09/09-4/12/09: Washington, DC: International Gay Square Dance Clubs Convention. www.iagsdc.org
4/17/09-4/19/09: Minneapolis, MN: 2009 Bisexual Empowerment Conference (BECAUSE) at the University of Minnesota. www.becauseconference.org.
4/17/09-4/19/09: Jersey City, NJ: New Jersey Bowling Gotham Open, an IGBO sponsored gay bowling tournament. www.gothambowling.com
4/17/09: Nationwide: National Day of Silence. bringing attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. www.dayofsilence.org
4/18/09-4/19/09: San Diego, CA: Camp Courage. An intensive training institute organized by the Courage Campaign to provide grassroots activists with practical, hands-on skills to organize in their communities on marriage equality for same-sex couples. www.couragecampaign.org/campcouragearmy.
Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Fashion Icons
1. Question: Name this gay designer (1932-1990) who was the first international fashion superstar. He designed Jackie Kennedy’s famous Inauguration pillbox hat, and is best known for his social life at Studio 54, where he hung out with Bianca Jagger, Elizabeth Taylor, and Liza Minnelli. Answer: Halston, born Roy Halston Frowick.
2. Question: Name this possibly bisexual design icon, whose ad campaigns, using photos by Bruce Weber and Herb Ritts, were full of homo-eroticism. Brooke Shields was featured in one of his most famous ads, and MarkyMark’s billboard in Times Square caused numerous fender-benders. Answer: Calvin Klein. Brooke said “Nothing Comes Between me and my Calvins” and MarkyMark in boxer-briefs made Times Square sizzle in 1992.
3. Question: Name this acclaimed gay fashion designer, one of Italy’s first public figures to come out. His fashion was legend, and he frequently collaborated with Elton John onstage and in AIDS charity work. He was murdered in Miami, but his sister keeps the business going. Answer: Gianni Versace.
4. Question: Name this gay American designer (1940-1986), one of the first to develop casual sportswear for women and men. He was also one of the first public figures to die from complications of AIDS. Answer: Perry Ellis.
5. Question: Name this gay Broadway designer who won Tony Awards for making Nathan Lane look like both a producer and a gambler, Harvey Fierstein look like a Baltimore matron, and Tommy Tune’s women of Venice look chic. Answer: William Ivey Long, Tony winner for “The Producers”, “Guys and Dolls”, “Hairspray” and “Nine”.
This Week’s Trivia Quiz: The Corner Bookstore and More
When we learned that A Different Light Books in West hollywood was closing, it brought to mind the LGBT community's rich heritage of bookstores that served as community centers; organizations that fostered LGBT literature and publishing...
1. Question: Name America's earliest self-styled gay and lesbian bookstore, founded in 1967. Its founder, who was one the organizer's of the first pride march, displayed a sign proclaiming it "a bookshop for the homophile movement". There was also a "gay is good" sticker in the window.
2. Question: When the entity in Question #1 closes, where will the oldest operating bookstore in North America be located ?
3. Question: Name this national non-profit devoted to the promotion, preservation and publication of LGBT literature. Its mission is the promotion of LGBT literacy in the widest possible sense. An annual award program (scheduled for May, 2009) puts the organization on the national map.
4. Question: Name this worker-owned feminist bookstore, the oldest continuously-operating independent feminist bookstore in the USA. Its name is the same as a mega-seller who has put many independent booksellers out of business.
5. Question: Name this LGBT American literary magazine, which began publishing in 1976. It was known both for its serious discussion of issues within the gay community and its satire of anti-gay criticism, It also featured original fiction from then up-and-coming authors like Andrew Holleran. After over 230 issues, it closed in 1995.
The first person to submit the correct answers gets their name in print right here. Email your answers to: OnQYB@aol.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/
Volume 12 No. 11 March 16, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com
The Fine Print
About this Newsletter: See previous editions
The Gay Agenda: Datebook: March 16-22, 2009
MON: 3/16: North Hollywood, CA: Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards. www.ladramacriticscircle.com
MON: 3/16: Washington, DC: Nathaniel Frank, author of "Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America" does a reading and booksigning. Lambda Rising. Also: WED: 3/18: Miami, FL: 7PM. Books and Books. THU: 3/19: Atlanta, GA: 8PM. Outwrite Books. http://www.unfriendlyfire.org/events.php
WED-SUN: 3/18-3/22: Mammoth Lakes, CA: Elevation 2009, the 7th annual Mammoth Gay Ski Week. www.mammothgayski.com
WED-FRI: 3/18-3/20: Ithaca, NY: Ithaca College Sport, Sexuality, and Culture Conference. Former NBA player, John Amaechi, will deliver the keynote address. http://www.ithaca.edu/hshp/grad/sportmgmt/sportsexualitycultureintr/ConferenceSchedule/
SAT-SUN: 3/21-3/22: Los Angeles, CA: The Brothers Gershwin--George & Ira. The 25th anniversary S.T.A.G.E. benefit for AIDS Project Los Angeles. Cast performing Gershwins hits include: John Lloyd Young, Shoshana Bean, Lucas Grabeel, Loretta Devine, Sam Harris, Jai Rodriguez and more. S.T.A.G.E. founder and actor Michael Kearns to be honored. www.stagela.com
Newsworthy:
Outrage, Kirby Dick's documentary that exposes closeted gay and lesbian politicians who actively campaign against gay rights, will have its world premiere at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. Dick most recently directed "This Film Is Not Yet Rated", about the Motion Picture Association of America’s rating system. His 2005 documentary "Twist of Faith", about Catholic Church complicity in hiding sexual abuse by priests, was nominated for an Academy Award.
London: As the stage musical of "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" opens on the West End, it's the end of the road for old-school drag queens. The misogynistic, wig-wearing female impersonator is being replaced by a sassier, more sophisticated act. The Independent reports:
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/end-of-the-road-for-oldschool-drag-queens-1639775.html
The Buzz (People Making News)
Coming Out: Dustin Lance Black, Oscar-winning screenwriter of "Milk", tells his coming out story. The Providence Journal reports: http://www.projo.com/movies/content/lb_oscarwinningwriterofmilk_03-06-09_C9DGUP6_v14.2058f67.html
Awards and Honors:
Chad Allen will receive the Davidson/Valentini Award at GLAAD's Media Awards in San Francisco on 5/09/09. www.glaad.org.
Winners: The American Women in Radio and Television 2009 Gracie Allen Awards: Suze Orman (Individual Achievement Award for Outstanding Host-Information or Entertainment) and Rachel Maddow: (Individual Achievement Award for Outstanding Host-News Program).
Winners: Bistro Awards, celebrating excellence in the cabaret field: Liza Minnelli, Liz McCartney and Euan Morton. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126815.html
Photo Shoots and Video
Legends Promo Video: Lypsinka and Charles Busch play the roles originated by Mary Martin and Carol Channing. Whoopi Goldberg co-stars in the first-ever New York presentation of James Kirkwood's play on 3/23/09 as a benefit for Friends In Deed: The Crisis Center for Life-Threatening Illness. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJPLgA2aZhY.
Features
Heard on "The View". Did Whoopi Goldberg Come Out ? And, Rachel Maddow describes being outed. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/03/rachel-maddow-was-outed-to-her-parents-by-anonymous-letter.html
Opportunities
The Publishing Triangle works to further the publication of books and other materials written by lesbian and gay authors or with lesbian and gay themes. Founded in 1988, The Publishing Triangle works to create support and a sense of community for lesbian and gay people in the publishing industry. www.publishingtriangle.org
In Print:
Upcoming Titles Of Note for LGBT Readers. The Washington Blade reports: http://www.washblade.com/2009/3-6/arts/books/14182.cfm
Mainly on Directing: Gypsy, West Side Story, and Other Musicals by Arthur Laurents. Knopf. A book about theater, the art, the artist, the insider, the outsider, enriched by the author's two loves, love for the theater and love for his partner of fifty-two years, Tom Hatcher, who shared and inspired every aspect of his life and his work.
In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance
New York City (and Broadway)
***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett makes his Broadway debut in gay Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole co-star.
***Gates of Gold. Frank McGuinness' comedy-drama based on Hilton Edwards and Micheal MacLiammoir, partners in business and also in life, who together founded Dublin's Gate Theater in Dublin in 1928. to 3/29/09. www.59e59.org.
***The Gay Agenda's Great Big Broadway Show, presented by Shortened Attention Span who are committed to complete and utter world domination through showtunes. opens 3/25/09 and runs the last Wed. of each month. www.ShortenedAttentionSpan.com or http://thatgayagendaband..wordpress.com
***Judy Gold is Mommy Queerest. The lesbian comic takes on her role as Jewish mom. 3/20/09. Joe's Pub. www.joespub.com.
***33 Variations. Moises ("The Laramie Project") Kaufman's new play with music brings Jane Fonda back to Broadway. Colin (“Mad Men”) Hanks co-stars.. to 5/25/09.
***West Side Story. The acclaimed musicalization of "Romeo & Juliet" in a new production directed by Arthur Laurents. www.broadwaywestsidestory.com.
Elsewhere...
***After the Garden: Edith Beale Live at Reno Sweeney Miss Pixie's Backroom Palace, a recreation of Edith (Little Edie) Bouvier Beale's famous nightclub act, which lasted less than a week after "Grey Gardens". to 3/29/09. Washington, DC. www.ganymedearts.org.
***A Beautiful View. Daniel MacIvor's take on two women in love. MacIvor is one of Canada's greatest living playwrights. to 3/22/09. San Francisco, CA. www.therhino.org.
***Grey Gardens, the award-winning musical about mother and daughter Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale, former society queens turned into recluses with 51 cats. to 5/17/09. Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. www.ordway.org.
***La Cage Aux Folles. The Jerry Herman/Harvey Fierstein musical based on the film that became "Birdcage".to 3/29/09. Santa Rosa, CA. www.6thstreetplayhouse.com
***Master Class. Barbara Walsh stars as diva Maria Callas in Terrence McNally's award winning play. to 4/05/09. Millburn, NJ. www.papermill.org.
***Sin, A Cardinal Deposed. A docudrama about the lawyer who pursues Boston Archibishop Cardinal Bernard Law for his failure to protect the victims of sexual abuse at the hands of priests in his archdiocese. Thursdays to 4/02/09. Los Angeles, CA. www.thehayworth.com.
***Xanadu, the Broadway musical hit based on the Olivia Newton John movie. "Children's theatre for 40 year old gay men". to 3/29/08. Chicago, IL. www.BroadwayInChicago.com
On Screen (and Video & DVD)
Resource: Cine-Queer: GLAAD's Guide to What's LGBT in Film: http://www.glaad.org/eye/cinequeer.php
Out on Screen...
***Ciao. Two men meet after the death of a mutual friend. www.ciaomovie.com.
***Doubt, the film adaptation of John Patrick Shanley's award-winning drama. A nun (Meryl Streep) suspects a popular priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of abusing a boy.
***Hair: Let the Sunshine In. Pola Rapaport's documentary that traces the roots and legacy of the landmark musical, which features interviews with authors James Rado and Gerome Ragni, composer Galt MacDermot and late director Tom O'Horgan as well as Oscar winner Milos Forman, who directed the 1979 film adaptation of Hair.
***Shifting the Canvas. Cheyenne Jackson, Scott Thompson and John Paul Pitoc star in this comedy drama about a Brooklyn cafe owner, who acts as "patriarch" to a wayward group of younger gay and lesbian artists. www.shiftingthecanvas.com.
***The Universe of Keith Haring, a documentary on the late gay pop artist. Now making the rounds of film festivals and independent cinemas.
Out On Video & DVD
***Fashion Victims, a 2008 German film, tells the story of a straight fashion designer’s teen son who falls for his father’s biggest rival in the design world.
***FirstOUT International, a collection of four gay-themed shorts.
***Laughing Matters: Next Gen, a gay standup comedy documentary that follows Andrea Meyerson putting together the fourth installment of her series of comics for the gay standup circuit.
***Milk, Gus Van Sant's film about gay activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn). Also starring: Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, James Franco. Milk comes to DVD with extras. The San Francisco Bay Times reports: http://www.sfbaytimes.com/?sec=article&article_id=10247
***Religulous. Bill Maher travels the globe to investigate the current state of world religion, questioning many religious leaders on LGBT rights. www.lionsgate.com/religulous.
***The Yellow Brick Road And Beyond. A feature documentary takes a look at the phenomenon that is The Wizard of Oz, highlighting some of the earliest stage and screen adaptations, and the musical Wicked.
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 every Friday. www.glaad.org/eye/tv_listings.php
***March: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
This Just In: THU: 3/12: Broadway's "West Side Story" dances for Dave Letterman. 11:35PM.CBS.
***TUE: 3/17: Carol Burnett plays a former dancer involved with the murder of a couple on "Law & Order: SVU". 10PM. NBC.
Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events
3/23/09: New York, NY: Legends, a reading of the infamous James Kirkwood comedy with Charles Busch, Lypsinka, Whoopi Goldberg and Bryan ("Mad Men") Batt. Fran Lebowitz narrates. A benefit for Friends in Deed: The Crisis Center for Life-Threatening Illness. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/125984.html
3/25/09-3/29/09: Keystone, CO: OutBoard, annual LGBT snowboarding festival. www.outboard.org
3/28/09-3/29/09: Pittsburgh, PA: Pennsylvania Volleyball Steel City Classic, a NAGVA-sanctioned vball tourney. www.SteelCityVolleyball.org
3/30/09-4/05/09: Palm Springs, CA: Kraft Nabisco Golf Championship. best known as the Dinah Shore Golf Championship. women and golf. www.nabiscochampionship.com or www.dinahshoreweekend.com
3/31/09: Muncie, IN: David Sedaris begins a national tour reading from "When You Are Ingulfed in Flames". http://www.barclayagency.com/sedaris_appearances.html
4/01/09-4/04/09: Kingston, RI: University of Rhode Island GLBTIQQ Symposium. 15th Annual URI Symposium on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Questioning Issues. www.uri.edu/glbt/symposium.html
4/09/09-4/11/09: Calgary, AB: Canada Badminton, Bowling, Curling, Running, Swimming, Volleyball Western Cup XXVII, 27th anniversary of North America's longrun annual LGBT multi-sport tournament and trophy event. www.westerncup.com
4/09/09-4/12/09: Washington, DC: International Gay Square Dance Clubs Convention. www.iagsdc.org
4/17/09-4/19/09: Minneapolis, MN: 2009 Bisexual Empowerment Conference (BECAUSE) at the University of Minnesota. www.becauseconference.org.
4/17/09-4/19/09: Jersey City, NJ: New Jersey Bowling Gotham Open, an IGBO sponsored gay bowling tournament. www.gothambowling.com
4/17/09: Nationwide: National Day of Silence. bringing attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. www.dayofsilence.org
4/18/09-4/19/09: San Diego, CA: Camp Courage. An intensive training institute organized by the Courage Campaign to provide grassroots activists with practical, hands-on skills to organize in their communities on marriage equality for same-sex couples. www.couragecampaign.org/campcouragearmy.
Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Fashion Icons
1. Question: Name this gay designer (1932-1990) who was the first international fashion superstar. He designed Jackie Kennedy’s famous Inauguration pillbox hat, and is best known for his social life at Studio 54, where he hung out with Bianca Jagger, Elizabeth Taylor, and Liza Minnelli. Answer: Halston, born Roy Halston Frowick.
2. Question: Name this possibly bisexual design icon, whose ad campaigns, using photos by Bruce Weber and Herb Ritts, were full of homo-eroticism. Brooke Shields was featured in one of his most famous ads, and MarkyMark’s billboard in Times Square caused numerous fender-benders. Answer: Calvin Klein. Brooke said “Nothing Comes Between me and my Calvins” and MarkyMark in boxer-briefs made Times Square sizzle in 1992.
3. Question: Name this acclaimed gay fashion designer, one of Italy’s first public figures to come out. His fashion was legend, and he frequently collaborated with Elton John onstage and in AIDS charity work. He was murdered in Miami, but his sister keeps the business going. Answer: Gianni Versace.
4. Question: Name this gay American designer (1940-1986), one of the first to develop casual sportswear for women and men. He was also one of the first public figures to die from complications of AIDS. Answer: Perry Ellis.
5. Question: Name this gay Broadway designer who won Tony Awards for making Nathan Lane look like both a producer and a gambler, Harvey Fierstein look like a Baltimore matron, and Tommy Tune’s women of Venice look chic. Answer: William Ivey Long, Tony winner for “The Producers”, “Guys and Dolls”, “Hairspray” and “Nine”.
This Week’s Trivia Quiz: The Corner Bookstore and More
When we learned that A Different Light Books in West hollywood was closing, it brought to mind the LGBT community's rich heritage of bookstores that served as community centers; organizations that fostered LGBT literature and publishing...
1. Question: Name America's earliest self-styled gay and lesbian bookstore, founded in 1967. Its founder, who was one the organizer's of the first pride march, displayed a sign proclaiming it "a bookshop for the homophile movement". There was also a "gay is good" sticker in the window.
2. Question: When the entity in Question #1 closes, where will the oldest operating bookstore in North America be located ?
3. Question: Name this national non-profit devoted to the promotion, preservation and publication of LGBT literature. Its mission is the promotion of LGBT literacy in the widest possible sense. An annual award program (scheduled for May, 2009) puts the organization on the national map.
4. Question: Name this worker-owned feminist bookstore, the oldest continuously-operating independent feminist bookstore in the USA. Its name is the same as a mega-seller who has put many independent booksellers out of business.
5. Question: Name this LGBT American literary magazine, which began publishing in 1976. It was known both for its serious discussion of issues within the gay community and its satire of anti-gay criticism, It also featured original fiction from then up-and-coming authors like Andrew Holleran. After over 230 issues, it closed in 1995.
The first person to submit the correct answers gets their name in print right here. Email your answers to: OnQYB@aol.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/
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 3/09/09
Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 10 March 9, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com
The Fine Print
See previous editions:
The Gay Agenda: Datebook: March 9-15, 2009
MON: 3/09: New York, NY: ABC & Soap.Net Salute Broadway Cares. Actors from such ABC daytime shows as "All My Children," "One Life to Live" and "General Hospital" offer musical numbers and skits. www.broadwaycares.org.
MON: 3/09: San Francisco, CA: Nathaniel Frank, author of "Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America" does a reading and booksigning. 6PM. Commonwealth Club. Also: TUE: 3/10: San Francisco, CA: 7:30PM. Books Inc/Castro. WED: 3/11: Chicago, IL: 7PM. Borders/N.Clark. http://www.unfriendlyfire.org/events.php
TUE: 3/10: New York, NY: Mikhail Baryshnikov, international ballet star, signs copies of "Merce My Way". 7:30PM. Barnes & Noble, Lincoln Triangle.
THU-SAT: 3/12-3/14: Storrs, CT: True Colors XVI Conference focusing on the needs of LGBTQ youth and their allies through a comprehensive annual conference. Programs on mental and behavioral health. www.ourtruecolors.org.
FRI: 3/13: Washington, DC: Freedom to Serve Rally and Lobby Day to build momentum for repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and to support all servicemembers.12 Noon. US Capitol grounds. www.sldn.org.
SAT: 3/14: Washington, DC: SLDN 17th National Dinner and Silent Auction, a fund-raiser for the Servicemember's Legal Defense Network. www.sldn.org.
Newsworthy:
Update: The California Supreme Court hears arguments today (3/05/09) on Proposition 8. Towleroad updates: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/03/prop-8-eve-of-justice-vigils-held-across-california.html
California: The high school production of "Rent" will go on. The production had been cancelled when school administrators objected to the musical's content and gay characters. The New York Times reports: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/high-school-rent-production-will-go-on/
California: Sean Penn, Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and Equality California (EQCA) held a press conference on 3/03/09 to announce the re-introduction of legislation creating Harvey Milk Day in California.
Washington, DC: The house of gay rights pioneer Frank Kameny is now a national historical landmark, the first gay-related site approved for landmark status in the District of Columbia. The Washington Blade reports: http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=24228
Los Angeles: A Different Light Bookstore to close. The independent bookseller was the major LGBT bookseller in the market and they were renowned for presenting readings and booksignings. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid73856.asp
The Lambda Literary Foundation is launching a Directory of Professional Services this month. Listings of working professionals in the following areas will be included: editors, literary agents, publicists, graphic designers, web designers, writing workshops, etc. To be listed: info@lambdaliterary.org.
The Equality Forum, Philadelphia's weeklong LGBT cultural event that takes place every spring, will not receive its usual $115,000 support from the city this year. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid73981.asp
Grey Gardens' Edith (Little Edie) Bouvier Beale returns to life in a Washington, DC recreation of her short-lived stage act, as reimagined by Ganymede Arts. The Washington Post reports: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/26/AR2009022601222.html
Don’t Ask / Don’t Tell
***Towleroad has additional information on Nathaniel Frank's book, "Unfriendly Fire", an upcoming PBS special and more: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/03/military-suppressed-evidence-critical-of-gay-ban-says-author.html
***Rep. Ellen Tauscher is interviewed on her quest to end the military's failed policy. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/03/rep-ellen-tauscher-on-dont-ask-dont-tell.html
The Buzz (People Making News)
James Dobson, the conservative evangelical leader who has spoken out against gay rights, has resigned as chairman of Focus on the Family. The Associated Press reports: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iYgrbhrH3ysV5JVN7Ol2jFuSdtVwD96K5RH03
Tony Kushner, playwright of "Angels in America", will be celebrated with a three-month festival of his works at Minneapolis' prestigious Guthrie Theatre. His world premiere, "The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures", begins previews 5/09/09. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126812.html
Terrence McNally, the out playwright, will be showcased, as three of his plays about opera are presented at The Kennedy Center in 2010. "Terrence McNally's Nights at the Opera" includes "Masterclass", his story of Maria Callas; "The Lisbon Traviata", the comedy about opera queens and diva worshippers who adore Callas, and "Golden Age", a world premiere about the composer Donizetti and his final opera, "I Puritani". www.kennedy-center.org.
Awards and Honors:
Campus Pride honored three college seniors with Voice & Action Leadership Awards for being young adult role models and activists within the LGBT community: Celso Perez (Boston College), Shawna Scott (University of Georgia), and Justin Hager (University of Wisconsin–Madison). The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid73516.asp
In Memoriam:
Neal Kenyon, the actor-turned-director who staged "Dames At Sea" (which made Bernadette Peters a star), died on 2/27/09 at age 79. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20081224/ARTICLE/812240340/2055/NEWS?Title=Director_made_theater__his_life_
In Print:
Milk: A Pictorial History of Harvey Milk by Dustin Lance Black. Foreward by Armistead Maupin. Newmarket Press. This official illustrated companion book by the Oscar-winning screenwriter of "Milk" features oral histories, archival photographs, behind-the-scenes stills, and the story of the Focus Features film directed by Gius Van Sant and starring Oscar winner Sean Penn as gay-rights icon Harvey Milk.
In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance
New York City (and Broadway)
***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett makes his Broadway debut in Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole co-star.
***Christine Jorgensen Reveals. Bradford Louryk stars as America's first famous transsexual, in his solo theatre piece which won numerous awards. to 3/15/09. www.ticketcentral.com
***Gates of Gold. Frank McGuinness' comedy-drama based on Hilton Edwards and Micheal MacLiammoir, partners in business and also in life, who together founded Dublin's Gate Theater in Dublin in 1928. to 3/29/09. www.59e59.org.
***33 Variations. Moises ("The Laramie Project") Kaufman's new play with music brings Jane Fonda back to Broadway. Colin (“Mad Men”) Hanks co-stars.. to 5/25/09.
***West Side Story. The acclaimed musicalization of "Romeo & Juliet" in a new production directed by Arthur Laurents. www.broadwaywestsidestory.com.
Elsewhere...
***After the Garden: Edith Beale Live at Reno Sweeney Miss Pixie's Backroom Palace, a recreation of Edith (Little Edie) Bouvier Beale's famous nightclub act. to 3/29/09. Washington, DC. www.ganymedearts.org.
***A Beautiful View. Daniel MacIvor's take on two women in love. MacIvor is one of Canada's greatest living playwrights. to 3/22/09. San Francisco, CA. www.therhino.org.
***A Conversation With Edith Head. Susan Claassen's portrayal of the award-winning designer who gave good Hollywood costume. 3/13/09: Tubac, AZ.www.tubacarts.org.
***Jerry Herman's Broadway. The National Symphony Orchestra celebrates the out composer. 3/12/09-3/14/09. Washington, DC. www.kennedy-center.org
***La Cage Aux Folles. The Jerry Herman/Harvey Fierstein musical based on the film that became "Birdcage".to 3/29/09. Santa Rosa, CA. www.6thstreetplayhouse.com
***Master Class. Barbara Walsh stars as opera diva Maria Callas in Terrence McNally's Tony-Award winning play. to 4/05/09. Millburn, NJ. www.papermill.org.
***Sin, A Cardinal Deposed. A docudrama about the lawyer who pursues Boston Archibishop Cardinal Bernard Law for his failure to protect the victims of sexual abuse at the hands of priests in his archdiocese. Thursdays to 4/02/09. Los Angeles, CA. www.thehayworth.com.
On Screen (and Video & DVD)
Resource: Cine-Queer: GLAAD's Guide to What's LGBT in Film: http://www.glaad.org/eye/cinequeer.php
Out on Screen...
***Ciao. Two men meet after the death of a mutual friend. www.ciaomovie.com.
***Doubt, the film adaptation of John Patrick Shanley's award-winning drama. A nun (Meryl Streep) suspects a popular priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of abusing a boy.
***Hair: Let the Sunshine In. Pola Rapaport's documentary that traces the roots and legacy of the landmark musical.
***Milk, Gus Van Sant's film about gay activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn). Also starring: Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, James Franco.
***Shifting the Canvas. Cheyenne Jackson, Scott Thompson and John Paul Pitoc star in this comedy drama about a Brooklyn cafe owner, who acts as "patriarch" to a wayward group of younger gay and lesbian artists. www.shiftingthecanvas.com.
Out On Video & DVD
***Brideshead Revisited. In the 1930s, Charles and Sebastian (Matthew Goode and Ben Wishaw) tryst on a country estate. www.bridesheadrevisited-themovie.com.
***Chris and Don: A Love Story. Tina Mascara's documentary about British writer Christopher Isherwood and his lover, the much younger American artist Don Bachardy.
***Religulous. Bill Maher travels the globe to investigate the current state of world religion, questioning many religious leaders on LGBT rights. www.lionsgate.com/religulous.
***"Rent" Filmed Live on Broadway. Film made of the final performances of the landmark musical New to DVD and Blu-Ray.
***The Yellow Brick Road And Beyond. A feature documentary takes a look at the phenomenon that is The Wizard of Oz, highlighting some of the earliest stage and screen adaptations, and the musical Wicked.
Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events
3/18/09-3/22/09: Mammoth Lakes, CA: Elevation 2009, the 7th annual Mammoth Gay Ski Week. www.mammothgayski.com
3/18/09-3/20/09: Ithaca, NY: Ithaca College Sport, Sexuality, and Culture Conference. Former NBA player John Amaechi, will deliver the keynote address. http://www.ithaca.edu/hshp/grad/sportmgmt/sportsexualitycultureintr/ConferenceSchedule/
3/23/09: New York, NY: Legends, a reading of the infamous James Kirkwood comedy with Charles Busch, Lypsinka, Whoopi Goldberg and Bryan ("Mad Men") Batt. www.playbill.com/news/article/125984.html
3/25/09-3/29/09: Keystone, CO: OutBoard, annual LGBT snowboarding festival. www.outboard.org
3/28/09-3/29/09: Pittsburgh, PA: Pennsylvania Volleyball Steel City Classic, a NAGVA-sanctioned vball tourney. www.SteelCityVolleyball.org
3/30/09-4/05/09: Palm Springs, CA: Kraft Nabisco Golf Championship. previously known as the Dinah Shore Golf Championship. women and golf. www.nabiscochampionship.com or www.dinahshoreweekend.com
4/01/09-4/04/09: Kingston, RI: University of Rhode Island GLBTIQQ Symposium. 15th Annual URI Symposium on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Questioning Issues. www.uri.edu/glbt/symposium.html
4/09/09-4/11/09: Calgary, AB: Canada Badminton, Bowling, Curling, Running, Swimming, Volleyball Western Cup XXVII, 27th anniversary of North America's longest running annual LGBT multi-sport tournament. www.westerncup.com
4/09/09-4/12/09: Washington, DC: International Gay Square Dance Clubs Convention. www.iagsdc.org
4/17/09-4/19/09: Minneapolis, MN: 2009 Bisexual Empowerment Conference (BECAUSE) at the University of Minnesota. www.becauseconference.org.
Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
President Bill Clinton signed DADT, the paradigm for gays in the military, into law 15 years ago.
1. Question: Name this non-profit organization, founded in 1993, which provides support and legal assistance to gays in the military affected by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". It has responded to over 9,000 requests for legal assistance since its founding. Answer: Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, the non-partisan, non-profit, legal services, watchdog and policy organization. For a history of DADT and a list of SLDN programs an services: www.sldn.org.
2. Question: Name the author of the definitive history of LGBT people in the US military. This author, who had chronicled the gay rights movement in the Harvey Milk years and the rise of AIDS activism in the USA, died shortly after completing the book. Answer: Randy Shilts. "Conduct Unbecoming: Gays and Lesbians in the US Military: Vietnam to the Persian Gulf", was published in 1993. "And The Band Played On", his chronicle of HIV, is one of the most fascinating and compelling books of the late 20th century.
3. Question: Name this gay soldier who was perhaps the best-known openly gay man in the 1970s. A Vietnam War veteran and recipient of the Purpole Heart and the Bronze Star, he came out and fought to stay in the Air Force, a battle that put hiim on the cover of Time Magazine in 1975. Answer: Leonard Matlovich (1943-1988), Technical Sergeant. His outspoken manner resulted in articles in The New York Times and a television movie on NBC.
4. Question: Name this out former colonel in the Washington National Guard and a gay rights activist. Prior to DADT, she came out in a security clearance, and was discharged. She fought for reinstatement. Her battle became the subject of an award-winning film. Answer: Margarethe "Grethe" Cammermeyer. On 6/11/92, she was honorably discharged from the military. Cammermeyer filed a lawsuit against the decision in civil court. In June, 1994, a judge ruled her discharge, and the ban on gays and lesbians serving in the military, unconstitutional. She returned to the National Guard and served as one of the few officially accepted openly gay or lesbian people in the military until her retirement in 1997."Serving in Silence" a film version of her autobiography of the same name, starred Glenn Close.
5. Question: Name this Naval Academy student who was expelled from Annapolis in 1987, after coming out to his commanding officer. At the time, he was six weeks from graduation and one of the top six midshipmen within the academy. He sued for reinstatement. His case was unique in that he was accused of no homosexual conduct; his separation from the military was predicated solely upon his admission of homosexuality. After a long legal battle, he chose not to appeal his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Today, he's a successful attorney. Answer: Joseph Steffan. His autobiography, "Honor Bound: A Gay American Fights for His Right to Serve His Country" was published by Villard Press in 1992.
This Week’s Trivia Quiz: Fashion Icons
1. Question: Name this gay designer (1932-1990) who was the first international fashion superstar. He designed Jackie Kennedy’s famous Inauguration pillbox hat, and is best known for his social life at Studio 54, where he hung out with Bianca Jagger, Elizabeth Taylor, and Liza Minnelli.
2. Question: Name this possibly bisexual design icon, whose ad campaigns, using photos by Bruce Weber and Herb Ritts, were full of homo-eroticism. Brooke Shields was featured in one of his most famous ads, and MarkyMark’s billboard in Times Square caused numerous fender-benders.
3. Question: Name this acclaimed gay fashion designer, one of Italy’s first public figures to come out. His fashion was legend, and he frequently collaborated with Elton John onstage and in AIDS charity work. He was murdered in Miami, but his sister keeps the business going.
4. Question: Name this gay American designer (1940-1986), one of the first to develop casual sportswear for women and men. He was also one of the first public figures to die from complications of AIDS.
5. Question: Name this gay Broadway designer who won Tony Awards for making Nathan Lane look like both a producer and a gambler, Harvey Fierstein look like a Baltimore matron, and Tommy Tune’s women of Venice look chic.
The first person to submit the correct answers gets their name in print right here. Email your answers to: OnQYB@aol.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/
Volume 12 No. 10 March 9, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB@aol.com
The Fine Print
See previous editions:
The Gay Agenda: Datebook: March 9-15, 2009
MON: 3/09: New York, NY: ABC & Soap.Net Salute Broadway Cares. Actors from such ABC daytime shows as "All My Children," "One Life to Live" and "General Hospital" offer musical numbers and skits. www.broadwaycares.org.
MON: 3/09: San Francisco, CA: Nathaniel Frank, author of "Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America" does a reading and booksigning. 6PM. Commonwealth Club. Also: TUE: 3/10: San Francisco, CA: 7:30PM. Books Inc/Castro. WED: 3/11: Chicago, IL: 7PM. Borders/N.Clark. http://www.unfriendlyfire.org/events.php
TUE: 3/10: New York, NY: Mikhail Baryshnikov, international ballet star, signs copies of "Merce My Way". 7:30PM. Barnes & Noble, Lincoln Triangle.
THU-SAT: 3/12-3/14: Storrs, CT: True Colors XVI Conference focusing on the needs of LGBTQ youth and their allies through a comprehensive annual conference. Programs on mental and behavioral health. www.ourtruecolors.org.
FRI: 3/13: Washington, DC: Freedom to Serve Rally and Lobby Day to build momentum for repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and to support all servicemembers.12 Noon. US Capitol grounds. www.sldn.org.
SAT: 3/14: Washington, DC: SLDN 17th National Dinner and Silent Auction, a fund-raiser for the Servicemember's Legal Defense Network. www.sldn.org.
Newsworthy:
Update: The California Supreme Court hears arguments today (3/05/09) on Proposition 8. Towleroad updates: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/03/prop-8-eve-of-justice-vigils-held-across-california.html
California: The high school production of "Rent" will go on. The production had been cancelled when school administrators objected to the musical's content and gay characters. The New York Times reports: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/high-school-rent-production-will-go-on/
California: Sean Penn, Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and Equality California (EQCA) held a press conference on 3/03/09 to announce the re-introduction of legislation creating Harvey Milk Day in California.
Washington, DC: The house of gay rights pioneer Frank Kameny is now a national historical landmark, the first gay-related site approved for landmark status in the District of Columbia. The Washington Blade reports: http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=24228
Los Angeles: A Different Light Bookstore to close. The independent bookseller was the major LGBT bookseller in the market and they were renowned for presenting readings and booksignings. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid73856.asp
The Lambda Literary Foundation is launching a Directory of Professional Services this month. Listings of working professionals in the following areas will be included: editors, literary agents, publicists, graphic designers, web designers, writing workshops, etc. To be listed: info@lambdaliterary.org.
The Equality Forum, Philadelphia's weeklong LGBT cultural event that takes place every spring, will not receive its usual $115,000 support from the city this year. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid73981.asp
Grey Gardens' Edith (Little Edie) Bouvier Beale returns to life in a Washington, DC recreation of her short-lived stage act, as reimagined by Ganymede Arts. The Washington Post reports: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/26/AR2009022601222.html
Don’t Ask / Don’t Tell
***Towleroad has additional information on Nathaniel Frank's book, "Unfriendly Fire", an upcoming PBS special and more: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/03/military-suppressed-evidence-critical-of-gay-ban-says-author.html
***Rep. Ellen Tauscher is interviewed on her quest to end the military's failed policy. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/03/rep-ellen-tauscher-on-dont-ask-dont-tell.html
The Buzz (People Making News)
James Dobson, the conservative evangelical leader who has spoken out against gay rights, has resigned as chairman of Focus on the Family. The Associated Press reports: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iYgrbhrH3ysV5JVN7Ol2jFuSdtVwD96K5RH03
Tony Kushner, playwright of "Angels in America", will be celebrated with a three-month festival of his works at Minneapolis' prestigious Guthrie Theatre. His world premiere, "The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures", begins previews 5/09/09. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126812.html
Terrence McNally, the out playwright, will be showcased, as three of his plays about opera are presented at The Kennedy Center in 2010. "Terrence McNally's Nights at the Opera" includes "Masterclass", his story of Maria Callas; "The Lisbon Traviata", the comedy about opera queens and diva worshippers who adore Callas, and "Golden Age", a world premiere about the composer Donizetti and his final opera, "I Puritani". www.kennedy-center.org.
Awards and Honors:
Campus Pride honored three college seniors with Voice & Action Leadership Awards for being young adult role models and activists within the LGBT community: Celso Perez (Boston College), Shawna Scott (University of Georgia), and Justin Hager (University of Wisconsin–Madison). The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid73516.asp
In Memoriam:
Neal Kenyon, the actor-turned-director who staged "Dames At Sea" (which made Bernadette Peters a star), died on 2/27/09 at age 79. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20081224/ARTICLE/812240340/2055/NEWS?Title=Director_made_theater__his_life_
In Print:
Milk: A Pictorial History of Harvey Milk by Dustin Lance Black. Foreward by Armistead Maupin. Newmarket Press. This official illustrated companion book by the Oscar-winning screenwriter of "Milk" features oral histories, archival photographs, behind-the-scenes stills, and the story of the Focus Features film directed by Gius Van Sant and starring Oscar winner Sean Penn as gay-rights icon Harvey Milk.
In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance
New York City (and Broadway)
***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett makes his Broadway debut in Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole co-star.
***Christine Jorgensen Reveals. Bradford Louryk stars as America's first famous transsexual, in his solo theatre piece which won numerous awards. to 3/15/09. www.ticketcentral.com
***Gates of Gold. Frank McGuinness' comedy-drama based on Hilton Edwards and Micheal MacLiammoir, partners in business and also in life, who together founded Dublin's Gate Theater in Dublin in 1928. to 3/29/09. www.59e59.org.
***33 Variations. Moises ("The Laramie Project") Kaufman's new play with music brings Jane Fonda back to Broadway. Colin (“Mad Men”) Hanks co-stars.. to 5/25/09.
***West Side Story. The acclaimed musicalization of "Romeo & Juliet" in a new production directed by Arthur Laurents. www.broadwaywestsidestory.com.
Elsewhere...
***After the Garden: Edith Beale Live at Reno Sweeney Miss Pixie's Backroom Palace, a recreation of Edith (Little Edie) Bouvier Beale's famous nightclub act. to 3/29/09. Washington, DC. www.ganymedearts.org.
***A Beautiful View. Daniel MacIvor's take on two women in love. MacIvor is one of Canada's greatest living playwrights. to 3/22/09. San Francisco, CA. www.therhino.org.
***A Conversation With Edith Head. Susan Claassen's portrayal of the award-winning designer who gave good Hollywood costume. 3/13/09: Tubac, AZ.www.tubacarts.org.
***Jerry Herman's Broadway. The National Symphony Orchestra celebrates the out composer. 3/12/09-3/14/09. Washington, DC. www.kennedy-center.org
***La Cage Aux Folles. The Jerry Herman/Harvey Fierstein musical based on the film that became "Birdcage".to 3/29/09. Santa Rosa, CA. www.6thstreetplayhouse.com
***Master Class. Barbara Walsh stars as opera diva Maria Callas in Terrence McNally's Tony-Award winning play. to 4/05/09. Millburn, NJ. www.papermill.org.
***Sin, A Cardinal Deposed. A docudrama about the lawyer who pursues Boston Archibishop Cardinal Bernard Law for his failure to protect the victims of sexual abuse at the hands of priests in his archdiocese. Thursdays to 4/02/09. Los Angeles, CA. www.thehayworth.com.
On Screen (and Video & DVD)
Resource: Cine-Queer: GLAAD's Guide to What's LGBT in Film: http://www.glaad.org/eye/cinequeer.php
Out on Screen...
***Ciao. Two men meet after the death of a mutual friend. www.ciaomovie.com.
***Doubt, the film adaptation of John Patrick Shanley's award-winning drama. A nun (Meryl Streep) suspects a popular priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of abusing a boy.
***Hair: Let the Sunshine In. Pola Rapaport's documentary that traces the roots and legacy of the landmark musical.
***Milk, Gus Van Sant's film about gay activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn). Also starring: Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, James Franco.
***Shifting the Canvas. Cheyenne Jackson, Scott Thompson and John Paul Pitoc star in this comedy drama about a Brooklyn cafe owner, who acts as "patriarch" to a wayward group of younger gay and lesbian artists. www.shiftingthecanvas.com.
Out On Video & DVD
***Brideshead Revisited. In the 1930s, Charles and Sebastian (Matthew Goode and Ben Wishaw) tryst on a country estate. www.bridesheadrevisited-themovie.com.
***Chris and Don: A Love Story. Tina Mascara's documentary about British writer Christopher Isherwood and his lover, the much younger American artist Don Bachardy.
***Religulous. Bill Maher travels the globe to investigate the current state of world religion, questioning many religious leaders on LGBT rights. www.lionsgate.com/religulous.
***"Rent" Filmed Live on Broadway. Film made of the final performances of the landmark musical New to DVD and Blu-Ray.
***The Yellow Brick Road And Beyond. A feature documentary takes a look at the phenomenon that is The Wizard of Oz, highlighting some of the earliest stage and screen adaptations, and the musical Wicked.
Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events
3/18/09-3/22/09: Mammoth Lakes, CA: Elevation 2009, the 7th annual Mammoth Gay Ski Week. www.mammothgayski.com
3/18/09-3/20/09: Ithaca, NY: Ithaca College Sport, Sexuality, and Culture Conference. Former NBA player John Amaechi, will deliver the keynote address. http://www.ithaca.edu/hshp/grad/sportmgmt/sportsexualitycultureintr/ConferenceSchedule/
3/23/09: New York, NY: Legends, a reading of the infamous James Kirkwood comedy with Charles Busch, Lypsinka, Whoopi Goldberg and Bryan ("Mad Men") Batt. www.playbill.com/news/article/125984.html
3/25/09-3/29/09: Keystone, CO: OutBoard, annual LGBT snowboarding festival. www.outboard.org
3/28/09-3/29/09: Pittsburgh, PA: Pennsylvania Volleyball Steel City Classic, a NAGVA-sanctioned vball tourney. www.SteelCityVolleyball.org
3/30/09-4/05/09: Palm Springs, CA: Kraft Nabisco Golf Championship. previously known as the Dinah Shore Golf Championship. women and golf. www.nabiscochampionship.com or www.dinahshoreweekend.com
4/01/09-4/04/09: Kingston, RI: University of Rhode Island GLBTIQQ Symposium. 15th Annual URI Symposium on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Questioning Issues. www.uri.edu/glbt/symposium.html
4/09/09-4/11/09: Calgary, AB: Canada Badminton, Bowling, Curling, Running, Swimming, Volleyball Western Cup XXVII, 27th anniversary of North America's longest running annual LGBT multi-sport tournament. www.westerncup.com
4/09/09-4/12/09: Washington, DC: International Gay Square Dance Clubs Convention. www.iagsdc.org
4/17/09-4/19/09: Minneapolis, MN: 2009 Bisexual Empowerment Conference (BECAUSE) at the University of Minnesota. www.becauseconference.org.
Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
President Bill Clinton signed DADT, the paradigm for gays in the military, into law 15 years ago.
1. Question: Name this non-profit organization, founded in 1993, which provides support and legal assistance to gays in the military affected by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". It has responded to over 9,000 requests for legal assistance since its founding. Answer: Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, the non-partisan, non-profit, legal services, watchdog and policy organization. For a history of DADT and a list of SLDN programs an services: www.sldn.org.
2. Question: Name the author of the definitive history of LGBT people in the US military. This author, who had chronicled the gay rights movement in the Harvey Milk years and the rise of AIDS activism in the USA, died shortly after completing the book. Answer: Randy Shilts. "Conduct Unbecoming: Gays and Lesbians in the US Military: Vietnam to the Persian Gulf", was published in 1993. "And The Band Played On", his chronicle of HIV, is one of the most fascinating and compelling books of the late 20th century.
3. Question: Name this gay soldier who was perhaps the best-known openly gay man in the 1970s. A Vietnam War veteran and recipient of the Purpole Heart and the Bronze Star, he came out and fought to stay in the Air Force, a battle that put hiim on the cover of Time Magazine in 1975. Answer: Leonard Matlovich (1943-1988), Technical Sergeant. His outspoken manner resulted in articles in The New York Times and a television movie on NBC.
4. Question: Name this out former colonel in the Washington National Guard and a gay rights activist. Prior to DADT, she came out in a security clearance, and was discharged. She fought for reinstatement. Her battle became the subject of an award-winning film. Answer: Margarethe "Grethe" Cammermeyer. On 6/11/92, she was honorably discharged from the military. Cammermeyer filed a lawsuit against the decision in civil court. In June, 1994, a judge ruled her discharge, and the ban on gays and lesbians serving in the military, unconstitutional. She returned to the National Guard and served as one of the few officially accepted openly gay or lesbian people in the military until her retirement in 1997."Serving in Silence" a film version of her autobiography of the same name, starred Glenn Close.
5. Question: Name this Naval Academy student who was expelled from Annapolis in 1987, after coming out to his commanding officer. At the time, he was six weeks from graduation and one of the top six midshipmen within the academy. He sued for reinstatement. His case was unique in that he was accused of no homosexual conduct; his separation from the military was predicated solely upon his admission of homosexuality. After a long legal battle, he chose not to appeal his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Today, he's a successful attorney. Answer: Joseph Steffan. His autobiography, "Honor Bound: A Gay American Fights for His Right to Serve His Country" was published by Villard Press in 1992.
This Week’s Trivia Quiz: Fashion Icons
1. Question: Name this gay designer (1932-1990) who was the first international fashion superstar. He designed Jackie Kennedy’s famous Inauguration pillbox hat, and is best known for his social life at Studio 54, where he hung out with Bianca Jagger, Elizabeth Taylor, and Liza Minnelli.
2. Question: Name this possibly bisexual design icon, whose ad campaigns, using photos by Bruce Weber and Herb Ritts, were full of homo-eroticism. Brooke Shields was featured in one of his most famous ads, and MarkyMark’s billboard in Times Square caused numerous fender-benders.
3. Question: Name this acclaimed gay fashion designer, one of Italy’s first public figures to come out. His fashion was legend, and he frequently collaborated with Elton John onstage and in AIDS charity work. He was murdered in Miami, but his sister keeps the business going.
4. Question: Name this gay American designer (1940-1986), one of the first to develop casual sportswear for women and men. He was also one of the first public figures to die from complications of AIDS.
5. Question: Name this gay Broadway designer who won Tony Awards for making Nathan Lane look like both a producer and a gambler, Harvey Fierstein look like a Baltimore matron, and Tommy Tune’s women of Venice look chic.
The first person to submit the correct answers gets their name in print right here. Email your answers to: OnQYB@aol.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/
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 3/02/09
Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 9 March 2, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB
The Fine Print
See previous posts
The Gay Agenda: Datebook: March 2-8, 2009
to SAT: 3/07: Lake Tahoe, NV: Lake Tahoe WinterFest Gay & Lesbian Ski Week. includes Outlaugh comedy festival. www.LakeTahoeWinterfest.com
MON: 3/02: New York, NY: Cheyenne Jackson makes his nightclub debut in "Back to The Start". Seth Rudetsky is musical director. Also:SUN: 3/08. www.feinsteinsatloewsregency.com
MON: 3/02: New York, NY: Broadway for a New America: Standing Up for Marriage Equality and a Progressive Agenda for Change. A benefit including: Melissa Errico, Nellie McKay, Rosie Perez, Lillias White, Hugh Panaro, Stockard Channing, Richard Belzer, Tovah Feldshuh, and Seth Rudetsky. www.Jews4Change.com
MON: 3/02: Washington, DC: Nathaniel Frank, author of "Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America" does a reading and booksigning. 12Noon. Center for American Progress. Also: THU: 3/05: Los Angeles, CA: 7:30PM. A Different Light Books. SAT: 3/07/09: San Diego, CA: Time TBD. Obelisk Books/San Diego LGBT Community Center. http://www.unfriendlyfire.org/events.php
TUE: 3/03: New York, NY: The Big Gay Variety Show to benefit New York Civil Liberties Union, one of New York State’s leading advocates for the rights of LGBT New Yorkers. Jackie Hoffman and Nellie McKay headline. www.nyclu.org/BigGayShow.
WED-FRI: 3/04-3/06: Philadelphia, PA: Rethinking Sex: Gender and Sexuality Studies State of the Field Conference. Sponsored by Penn’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center, Women’s Studies, and the Alice Paul Center for Research on Women, Gender, and Sexuality. www.sas.upenn.edu/wstudies/rethinkingsex/
FRI-SUN: 3/06-3/08: Los Angeles, CA: Fusion, LGBT people of color film festival.
www.outfest.org/fusion.html
SAT: 3/07: Pittsburgh: PA: Margaret Cho performs outrageous comedy in a benefit for the Gay and Lesbian Community Center. www.glccpgh.org
SAT: 3/07: Chicago, IL: Chicago Takes Off. burlesque show to fight HIV/AIDS in the Chicagoland area. www.rideforaids.org
Newsworthy:
FBI Probed Valenti's Sexuality. According to recently surfaced information, The FBI's J. Edgar Hoover investigated then LBJ aide Jack Valenti (who later became head of the Motion Picture Association of America). Hoover thought Valenti, although married, was gay and in a secret relationship. The Washington Post reports: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/18/AR2009021803819.html
Rev. Fred Phelps, the homophobic (God Hates Fags) cleric, was barred entry to the UK, where he was headed to protest a production of "The Laramie Project" (the drama about Matthew Shepard). The Guardian reports: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/19/britain-bans-us-cleric
Film Examines Gay Hate Crime. A new documentary profiles the 2003 murder of a lesbian teen in Newark, NJ. the New York Times reports: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/remembering-a-newark-hate-crime/
"Milk" lost the battle for the best film Oscar on 2/22/09, but a day later activists say it has won a lasting place in U.S. culture wars by energizing mostly young, gay men and women to speak out. Reuters reports: http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE51N0BE20090224
California: Joy in the Castro as "Milk" picks up Oscars. The San Francisco Chronicle reports: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/22/MNFU162QFP.DTL&tsp=1
The Buzz (People Making News)
Coming Out: Ann Hampton Callaway, the fixture on the New York cabaret scene who has written material for Barbra Streisand, Patti LuPone, and Fran Drescher has come out. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid73310.asp
Shin Inouye was appointed as The White House's Director of Specialty Media for the White House. The out Inouye was formerly spokesperson for specialty media at Obama’s presidential campaign and the Presidential Inaugural Committee. The Washington Blade reports: http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=24160
Gay is Grand: Alan Cumming, the out actor, will be grand marshall of the Tartan Day Parade, in his hometown of Aberfeldy, Scotland. The New York Post's Page Six reports: http://www.nypost.com/seven/02192009/gossip/pagesix/gay_is_grand_155836.htm
Awards and Honors:
The Oscars: "Milk" picks up honors for Dustin Lance Black's screenplay and Sean Penn's performance. Their acceptance speeches were awesome. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/02/slumdog-millionaire-took-the-best-picture-last-night-at-the-academy-awards-along-with-7-other-trophies-but-it-was-the-s.html
Winners: Independent Spirit Awards: "Milk" won for "Best First Screenplay" (Dustin Lance Black) and "Best Supporting Actor" (James Franco). For the complete list: www.spiritawards.com
Winners: 29th Annual Golden Raspberry (Razzies) Awards: http://www.razzies.com/history/08winners.asp
Features
Transgender Vets: The Hidden Population. Tucson has become home to a small army of veterans who are trying to live transgender lives. The Arizona Daily Star reports: http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/281260
Profile: Dustin Lance Black, Oscar winner for "Milk", discusses Harvey Milk 30 years later. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/02/exclusive-milk-screenwriter-dustin-lance-black-on-milk-30-years-later.html
Duo-Profile: John Epperson and Lypsinka discuss their upcoming performances with Charles Busch and Whoopi Goldberg in James Kirkwood's "Legends", which finally comes to Broadway for a one-nighter. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/126357.html
In Print:
Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America by Nathaniel Frank. Thomas Dunne Books. the definitive history of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", which went into effect 15 years ago on March 1, as written by one of the major authorities on the subject. www.unfriendlyfire.org.
In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance
New York City (and Broadway)
***Avow. Bill C. Davis’s drama explores the Catholic church's reactions to same-sex marriage. to 3/08/09. www.CardinalGroupNYC.com
***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett makes his Broadway debut in Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole co-star.
***Christine Jorgensen Reveals. Bradford Louryk stars as America's first famous transsexual, in his solo theatre piece which won numerous awards. to 3/15/09. www.ticketcentral.com
***Gates of Gold. Frank McGuinness' comedy-drama based on Hilton Edwards and Micheal MacLiammoir, partners in business and also in life, who together founded Dublin's Gate Theater in Dublin in 1928.to 3/29/09. www.59e59.org.
***Hair, The first major American rock musical, which has "sodomy" and other words in its lyrics. www.publictheater.org.
***West Side Story. The acclaimed musicalization of "Romeo & Juliet" in a new production directed by Arthur Laurents. www.broadwaywestsidestory.com.
Elsewhere...
***A Beautiful View. Daniel MacIvor's take on two women in love. MacIvor is one of Canada's greatest living playwrights. to 3/22/09. San Francisco, CA. www.therhino.org.
***A Conversation With Edith Head. Susan Claassen's portrayal of the award-winning designer who gave good Hollywood costume. 3/05/09-3/08/09, Tucson, AZ. www.invisibletheatre.com. .
***Hangin' Out: That Naked Musical. A musical revue. to 3/15/09. Macha Theatre. West Hollywood, CA. www.plays411.com/hangin’out
***La Cage Aux Folles. The Jerry Herman/Harvey Fierstein musical based on the film that became "Birdcage".to 3/29/09. Santa Rosa, CA. www.6thstreetplayhouse.com
***Master Class. Barbara Walsh stars as opera diva Maria Callas in Terrence McNally's Tony-Award winning play. to 4/05/09. Millburn, NJ. www.papermill.org.
***Simply Barbra Salutes The Oscars. Steven Brinberg as Streisand performs her movie music. to 3/15/09. Ft. Lauderdale, FL. www.risingactiontheatre.com
***Sin, A Cardinal Deposed. A docudrama about Boston Archibishop Cardinal Bernard Law who failed to protect tvictims of sexual abuse at the hands of priests in his archdiocese. to 4/02/09. Los Angeles, CA. www.thehayworth.com.
On Screen (and Video & DVD)
Resource: Cine-Queer: GLAAD's Guide to What's LGBT in Film: http://www.glaad.org/eye/cinequeer.php
Out on Screen...
***Ciao. Two men meet after the death of a mutual friend. www.ciaomovie.com.
***Doubt, A nun (Meryl Streep) suspects a popular priest of abusing a boy.
***Hair: Let the Sunshine In. Pola Rapaport's documentary that traces the roots and legacy of the landmark musical.
***I Love You Phillip Morris. Based on real-life events. Jim Carrey plays Steven Russell, who falls for his cellmate, Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor), after being put in prison and makes regular attempts to escape when the object of his affections is released.
***Milk, Gus Van Sant's Oscar-winning film about gay activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn).
Out On Video & DVD
***Chris and Don: A Love Story. Tina Mascara's documentary about British writer Christopher Isherwood and his lover, the much younger American artist Don Bachardy.
***Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Neil Patrick Harris stars in Joss Whedon's internet musical.
***Religulous. Bill Maher travels the globe to investigate the current state of world religion, questioning many religious leaders on LGBT rights. www.lionsgate.com/religulous.
***"Rent" Filmed Live on Broadway. Film made of the final performances of the landmark musical New to DVD and Blu-Ray.
***The Yellow Brick Road And Beyond. A feature documentary takes a look at the phenomenon that is The Wizard of Oz.
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 every Friday. www.glaad.org/eye/tv_listings.php
***March: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
This Just In !!! ***SAT: 2/28: Rosie O'Donnell plays a therapist who helps a teen scarred from the foster care system in "America". 9PM. Lifetime.
***TUE: 3/03: Cynthia Nixon appears on Live With Regis and Kelly. Syndicated. Check local listings.
***FRI: 3/06: Siegfried and Roy, Las Vegas' one-time fun couple, chat with Elizabeth Vargas on 20/20. 10PM. ABC. http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=6807154&page=1
Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events
3/12/09-3/14/09: Storrs, CT: True Colors XVI Conference focusing on the needs of LGBTQ youth and their allies. www.ourtruecolors.org.
3/18/09-3/20/09: Ithaca, NY: Ithaca College Sport, Sexuality, and Culture Conference. Former NBA player John Amaechi, will deliver the keynote address. http://www.ithaca.edu/hshp/grad/sportmgmt/sportsexualitycultureintr/ConferenceSchedule/
3/23/09: New York, NY: Legends, a reading of the infamous James Kirkwood comedy with Charles Busch, Lypsinka, Whoopi Goldberg and Bryan ("Mad Men") Batt. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/125984.html
3/25/09-3/29/09: Keystone, CO: OutBoard, annual LGBT snowboarding festival. www.outboard.org
3/30/09-4/05/09: Palm Springs, CA: Kraft Nabisco Golf Championship. previously known as the Dinah Shore. women and golf. www.dinahshoreweekend.com
4/01/09-4/04/09: Kingston, RI: University of Rhode Island GLBTIQQ Symposium. on GLBT, Intersex, Queer and Questioning Issues. www.uri.edu/glbt/symposium.html
4/09/09-4/12/09: Washington, DC: International Gay Square Dance Clubs Convention. www.iagsdc.org
4/17/09-4/19/09: Minneapolis, MN: 2009 Bisexual Empowerment Conference (BECAUSE) at the University of Minnesota. Keynote speaker: Robyn Ochs. Also: screening of the documentary "Bi the Way" including dialogue with director Josephine Decker. www.becauseconference.org.
Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: March Milestones
1. Question: Name this nation, the first in the Middle East, to decriminalise same-sex acts between consenting adults on March 23, 1988. Answer: Israel.
2. Question: Name this organization, the most powerful political advocate for AIDS action, which was founded on March 14, 1987. Ten days later, it staged a major protest in New York City. Answer: ACT-UP, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power. Playwright Larry Kramer was one if its founders.
3. Question: Name this American author, born March 10, 1934, who turned his days as a hustler and a drifter into a highly-praised 1963 American novel. Today, he teaches literature. Some of his subsequent works also deal with hustling. Answer: John Rechy, author of “City of Night” and “Numbers”.
4. Question: Name this gay pop-idol dancer, born in Siberia in March, 1938, who lept to fame when he defected to the West. His stagework was legendary; he also played a gay film icon in a Ken Russell movie. Answer: Rudolf Nureyev, best known for his dance partnership with Dame Margot Fonteyn, many years his senior. He starred as Valentino in Russell’s film bio.
5. Question: Name this gay music legend, singer, piano-man, and songwriter, who was born on March 25, 1947. He has conquered the Billboard charts, Broadway and Hollywood, and is perhaps best known worldwide for his elegy to a dead princess. Answer: Elton John.
This Week’s Trivia Quiz: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
President Bill Clinton signed DADT, the paradigm for gays in the military, into law 15 years ago.
1. Question: Name this non-profit organization, founded in 1993, which provides support and legal assistance to gays in the military affected by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". It has responded to over 9,000 requests for legal assistance since its founding.
2. Question: Name the author of the definitive history of LGBT people in the US military. This author, who had chronicled the gay rights movement in the Harvey Milk years and the rise of AIDS activism in the USA, died shortly after completing the book.
3. Question: Name this gay soldier who was perhaps the best-known openly gay man in the 1970s. A Vietnam War veteran and recipient of the Purpole Heart and the Bronze Star, he came out and fought to stay in the Air Force, a battle that put hiim on the cover of Time Magazine in 1975.
4. Question: Name this out former colonel in the Washington National Guard and a gay rights activist. Prior to DADT, she came out in a security clearance, and was discharged. She fought for reinstatement. Her battle became the subject of an award-winning film.
5. Question: Name this Naval Academy student who was expelled from Annapolis in 1987, after coming out to his commanding officer. He was six weeks from graduation and one of the top six midshipmen within the academy. He sued for reinstatement. His case was unique in that he was accused of no homosexual conduct; his separation from the military was predicated solely upon his admission of homosexuality. After a long legal battle, he chose not to appeal his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Today, he's a successful attorney.
The first person to submit the correct answers gets their name in print right here. Email your answers to: OnQYB@aol.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/
Volume 12 No. 9 March 2, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB
The Fine Print
See previous posts
The Gay Agenda: Datebook: March 2-8, 2009
to SAT: 3/07: Lake Tahoe, NV: Lake Tahoe WinterFest Gay & Lesbian Ski Week. includes Outlaugh comedy festival. www.LakeTahoeWinterfest.com
MON: 3/02: New York, NY: Cheyenne Jackson makes his nightclub debut in "Back to The Start". Seth Rudetsky is musical director. Also:SUN: 3/08. www.feinsteinsatloewsregency.com
MON: 3/02: New York, NY: Broadway for a New America: Standing Up for Marriage Equality and a Progressive Agenda for Change. A benefit including: Melissa Errico, Nellie McKay, Rosie Perez, Lillias White, Hugh Panaro, Stockard Channing, Richard Belzer, Tovah Feldshuh, and Seth Rudetsky. www.Jews4Change.com
MON: 3/02: Washington, DC: Nathaniel Frank, author of "Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America" does a reading and booksigning. 12Noon. Center for American Progress. Also: THU: 3/05: Los Angeles, CA: 7:30PM. A Different Light Books. SAT: 3/07/09: San Diego, CA: Time TBD. Obelisk Books/San Diego LGBT Community Center. http://www.unfriendlyfire.org/events.php
TUE: 3/03: New York, NY: The Big Gay Variety Show to benefit New York Civil Liberties Union, one of New York State’s leading advocates for the rights of LGBT New Yorkers. Jackie Hoffman and Nellie McKay headline. www.nyclu.org/BigGayShow.
WED-FRI: 3/04-3/06: Philadelphia, PA: Rethinking Sex: Gender and Sexuality Studies State of the Field Conference. Sponsored by Penn’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center, Women’s Studies, and the Alice Paul Center for Research on Women, Gender, and Sexuality. www.sas.upenn.edu/wstudies/rethinkingsex/
FRI-SUN: 3/06-3/08: Los Angeles, CA: Fusion, LGBT people of color film festival.
www.outfest.org/fusion.html
SAT: 3/07: Pittsburgh: PA: Margaret Cho performs outrageous comedy in a benefit for the Gay and Lesbian Community Center. www.glccpgh.org
SAT: 3/07: Chicago, IL: Chicago Takes Off. burlesque show to fight HIV/AIDS in the Chicagoland area. www.rideforaids.org
Newsworthy:
FBI Probed Valenti's Sexuality. According to recently surfaced information, The FBI's J. Edgar Hoover investigated then LBJ aide Jack Valenti (who later became head of the Motion Picture Association of America). Hoover thought Valenti, although married, was gay and in a secret relationship. The Washington Post reports: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/18/AR2009021803819.html
Rev. Fred Phelps, the homophobic (God Hates Fags) cleric, was barred entry to the UK, where he was headed to protest a production of "The Laramie Project" (the drama about Matthew Shepard). The Guardian reports: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/19/britain-bans-us-cleric
Film Examines Gay Hate Crime. A new documentary profiles the 2003 murder of a lesbian teen in Newark, NJ. the New York Times reports: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/remembering-a-newark-hate-crime/
"Milk" lost the battle for the best film Oscar on 2/22/09, but a day later activists say it has won a lasting place in U.S. culture wars by energizing mostly young, gay men and women to speak out. Reuters reports: http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE51N0BE20090224
California: Joy in the Castro as "Milk" picks up Oscars. The San Francisco Chronicle reports: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/22/MNFU162QFP.DTL&tsp=1
The Buzz (People Making News)
Coming Out: Ann Hampton Callaway, the fixture on the New York cabaret scene who has written material for Barbra Streisand, Patti LuPone, and Fran Drescher has come out. The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid73310.asp
Shin Inouye was appointed as The White House's Director of Specialty Media for the White House. The out Inouye was formerly spokesperson for specialty media at Obama’s presidential campaign and the Presidential Inaugural Committee. The Washington Blade reports: http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=24160
Gay is Grand: Alan Cumming, the out actor, will be grand marshall of the Tartan Day Parade, in his hometown of Aberfeldy, Scotland. The New York Post's Page Six reports: http://www.nypost.com/seven/02192009/gossip/pagesix/gay_is_grand_155836.htm
Awards and Honors:
The Oscars: "Milk" picks up honors for Dustin Lance Black's screenplay and Sean Penn's performance. Their acceptance speeches were awesome. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/02/slumdog-millionaire-took-the-best-picture-last-night-at-the-academy-awards-along-with-7-other-trophies-but-it-was-the-s.html
Winners: Independent Spirit Awards: "Milk" won for "Best First Screenplay" (Dustin Lance Black) and "Best Supporting Actor" (James Franco). For the complete list: www.spiritawards.com
Winners: 29th Annual Golden Raspberry (Razzies) Awards: http://www.razzies.com/history/08winners.asp
Features
Transgender Vets: The Hidden Population. Tucson has become home to a small army of veterans who are trying to live transgender lives. The Arizona Daily Star reports: http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/281260
Profile: Dustin Lance Black, Oscar winner for "Milk", discusses Harvey Milk 30 years later. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/02/exclusive-milk-screenwriter-dustin-lance-black-on-milk-30-years-later.html
Duo-Profile: John Epperson and Lypsinka discuss their upcoming performances with Charles Busch and Whoopi Goldberg in James Kirkwood's "Legends", which finally comes to Broadway for a one-nighter. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/126357.html
In Print:
Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America by Nathaniel Frank. Thomas Dunne Books. the definitive history of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", which went into effect 15 years ago on March 1, as written by one of the major authorities on the subject. www.unfriendlyfire.org.
In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance
New York City (and Broadway)
***Avow. Bill C. Davis’s drama explores the Catholic church's reactions to same-sex marriage. to 3/08/09. www.CardinalGroupNYC.com
***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett makes his Broadway debut in Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole co-star.
***Christine Jorgensen Reveals. Bradford Louryk stars as America's first famous transsexual, in his solo theatre piece which won numerous awards. to 3/15/09. www.ticketcentral.com
***Gates of Gold. Frank McGuinness' comedy-drama based on Hilton Edwards and Micheal MacLiammoir, partners in business and also in life, who together founded Dublin's Gate Theater in Dublin in 1928.to 3/29/09. www.59e59.org.
***Hair, The first major American rock musical, which has "sodomy" and other words in its lyrics. www.publictheater.org.
***West Side Story. The acclaimed musicalization of "Romeo & Juliet" in a new production directed by Arthur Laurents. www.broadwaywestsidestory.com.
Elsewhere...
***A Beautiful View. Daniel MacIvor's take on two women in love. MacIvor is one of Canada's greatest living playwrights. to 3/22/09. San Francisco, CA. www.therhino.org.
***A Conversation With Edith Head. Susan Claassen's portrayal of the award-winning designer who gave good Hollywood costume. 3/05/09-3/08/09, Tucson, AZ. www.invisibletheatre.com. .
***Hangin' Out: That Naked Musical. A musical revue. to 3/15/09. Macha Theatre. West Hollywood, CA. www.plays411.com/hangin’out
***La Cage Aux Folles. The Jerry Herman/Harvey Fierstein musical based on the film that became "Birdcage".to 3/29/09. Santa Rosa, CA. www.6thstreetplayhouse.com
***Master Class. Barbara Walsh stars as opera diva Maria Callas in Terrence McNally's Tony-Award winning play. to 4/05/09. Millburn, NJ. www.papermill.org.
***Simply Barbra Salutes The Oscars. Steven Brinberg as Streisand performs her movie music. to 3/15/09. Ft. Lauderdale, FL. www.risingactiontheatre.com
***Sin, A Cardinal Deposed. A docudrama about Boston Archibishop Cardinal Bernard Law who failed to protect tvictims of sexual abuse at the hands of priests in his archdiocese. to 4/02/09. Los Angeles, CA. www.thehayworth.com.
On Screen (and Video & DVD)
Resource: Cine-Queer: GLAAD's Guide to What's LGBT in Film: http://www.glaad.org/eye/cinequeer.php
Out on Screen...
***Ciao. Two men meet after the death of a mutual friend. www.ciaomovie.com.
***Doubt, A nun (Meryl Streep) suspects a popular priest of abusing a boy.
***Hair: Let the Sunshine In. Pola Rapaport's documentary that traces the roots and legacy of the landmark musical.
***I Love You Phillip Morris. Based on real-life events. Jim Carrey plays Steven Russell, who falls for his cellmate, Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor), after being put in prison and makes regular attempts to escape when the object of his affections is released.
***Milk, Gus Van Sant's Oscar-winning film about gay activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn).
Out On Video & DVD
***Chris and Don: A Love Story. Tina Mascara's documentary about British writer Christopher Isherwood and his lover, the much younger American artist Don Bachardy.
***Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Neil Patrick Harris stars in Joss Whedon's internet musical.
***Religulous. Bill Maher travels the globe to investigate the current state of world religion, questioning many religious leaders on LGBT rights. www.lionsgate.com/religulous.
***"Rent" Filmed Live on Broadway. Film made of the final performances of the landmark musical New to DVD and Blu-Ray.
***The Yellow Brick Road And Beyond. A feature documentary takes a look at the phenomenon that is The Wizard of Oz.
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 every Friday. www.glaad.org/eye/tv_listings.php
***March: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
This Just In !!! ***SAT: 2/28: Rosie O'Donnell plays a therapist who helps a teen scarred from the foster care system in "America". 9PM. Lifetime.
***TUE: 3/03: Cynthia Nixon appears on Live With Regis and Kelly. Syndicated. Check local listings.
***FRI: 3/06: Siegfried and Roy, Las Vegas' one-time fun couple, chat with Elizabeth Vargas on 20/20. 10PM. ABC. http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=6807154&page=1
Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events
3/12/09-3/14/09: Storrs, CT: True Colors XVI Conference focusing on the needs of LGBTQ youth and their allies. www.ourtruecolors.org.
3/18/09-3/20/09: Ithaca, NY: Ithaca College Sport, Sexuality, and Culture Conference. Former NBA player John Amaechi, will deliver the keynote address. http://www.ithaca.edu/hshp/grad/sportmgmt/sportsexualitycultureintr/ConferenceSchedule/
3/23/09: New York, NY: Legends, a reading of the infamous James Kirkwood comedy with Charles Busch, Lypsinka, Whoopi Goldberg and Bryan ("Mad Men") Batt. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/125984.html
3/25/09-3/29/09: Keystone, CO: OutBoard, annual LGBT snowboarding festival. www.outboard.org
3/30/09-4/05/09: Palm Springs, CA: Kraft Nabisco Golf Championship. previously known as the Dinah Shore. women and golf. www.dinahshoreweekend.com
4/01/09-4/04/09: Kingston, RI: University of Rhode Island GLBTIQQ Symposium. on GLBT, Intersex, Queer and Questioning Issues. www.uri.edu/glbt/symposium.html
4/09/09-4/12/09: Washington, DC: International Gay Square Dance Clubs Convention. www.iagsdc.org
4/17/09-4/19/09: Minneapolis, MN: 2009 Bisexual Empowerment Conference (BECAUSE) at the University of Minnesota. Keynote speaker: Robyn Ochs. Also: screening of the documentary "Bi the Way" including dialogue with director Josephine Decker. www.becauseconference.org.
Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: March Milestones
1. Question: Name this nation, the first in the Middle East, to decriminalise same-sex acts between consenting adults on March 23, 1988. Answer: Israel.
2. Question: Name this organization, the most powerful political advocate for AIDS action, which was founded on March 14, 1987. Ten days later, it staged a major protest in New York City. Answer: ACT-UP, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power. Playwright Larry Kramer was one if its founders.
3. Question: Name this American author, born March 10, 1934, who turned his days as a hustler and a drifter into a highly-praised 1963 American novel. Today, he teaches literature. Some of his subsequent works also deal with hustling. Answer: John Rechy, author of “City of Night” and “Numbers”.
4. Question: Name this gay pop-idol dancer, born in Siberia in March, 1938, who lept to fame when he defected to the West. His stagework was legendary; he also played a gay film icon in a Ken Russell movie. Answer: Rudolf Nureyev, best known for his dance partnership with Dame Margot Fonteyn, many years his senior. He starred as Valentino in Russell’s film bio.
5. Question: Name this gay music legend, singer, piano-man, and songwriter, who was born on March 25, 1947. He has conquered the Billboard charts, Broadway and Hollywood, and is perhaps best known worldwide for his elegy to a dead princess. Answer: Elton John.
This Week’s Trivia Quiz: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
President Bill Clinton signed DADT, the paradigm for gays in the military, into law 15 years ago.
1. Question: Name this non-profit organization, founded in 1993, which provides support and legal assistance to gays in the military affected by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". It has responded to over 9,000 requests for legal assistance since its founding.
2. Question: Name the author of the definitive history of LGBT people in the US military. This author, who had chronicled the gay rights movement in the Harvey Milk years and the rise of AIDS activism in the USA, died shortly after completing the book.
3. Question: Name this gay soldier who was perhaps the best-known openly gay man in the 1970s. A Vietnam War veteran and recipient of the Purpole Heart and the Bronze Star, he came out and fought to stay in the Air Force, a battle that put hiim on the cover of Time Magazine in 1975.
4. Question: Name this out former colonel in the Washington National Guard and a gay rights activist. Prior to DADT, she came out in a security clearance, and was discharged. She fought for reinstatement. Her battle became the subject of an award-winning film.
5. Question: Name this Naval Academy student who was expelled from Annapolis in 1987, after coming out to his commanding officer. He was six weeks from graduation and one of the top six midshipmen within the academy. He sued for reinstatement. His case was unique in that he was accused of no homosexual conduct; his separation from the military was predicated solely upon his admission of homosexuality. After a long legal battle, he chose not to appeal his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Today, he's a successful attorney.
The first person to submit the correct answers gets their name in print right here. Email your answers to: OnQYB@aol.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/
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 2/23/09
Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 8 February 23, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB
The Fine Print
See previous editions:
The Gay Agenda: Datebook: February 23-March 1, 2009
to SAT:2/28: Telluride, CO: Telluride Gay Ski Week. www.telluridegayskiweek.com
MON: 2/23: New York, NY: Defying Inequality: The Broadway Concert: A Celebrity Benefit for Equal Rights, benefiting: Family Equality Council, Empire State Pride Agenda, Equality California, Garden State Equality and The VT Freedom to Marry Task Force. Evening includes Marc Shaiman's "Prop 8 - The Musical". Cast includes: Douglas Carter Beane, Kerry Butler, Lynda Carter, Gavin Creel, Harvey Fierstein, John Gallagher, Jr., Jonathan Groff, Cheyenne Jackson, Carson Kressley, Cameron Mathison, Rue McClanahan, Seth Rudesky, Michael Urie, www.defyinginequality.com.
TUE-SUN: 2/24-3/01: New York, NY: CineKink NYC. mixed gay/ straight film festival exploring a wide variety of sexualities through documentary, comedy, porn, drama & more. www.cinekink.com
THU: 2/26: New York, NY: Bill Konigsberg does a reading from "Out of The Pocket", his new novel about a high school athlete's coming out. GLYDSA Authors Series: Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center. http://www.orthogays.org/calendar.html
FRI-SAT: 2/27-2/28: New York, NY: FOLLY: The Grand Street Follies 2009, a benefit for God's Love We Deliver and TWEED TheatreWorks. Cast includes: Jackie Hoffman, The Lady Bunny, Julie Halston, Flotilla DeBarge, and more. www.abronartscenter.org
FRI: 2/27: Nationwide: TransAction Day. Sponsored by GLSEN to encourage dialogue about gender, gender roles and the full range of gender identities, and to advocate for inclusive, safe schools for all students. http://www.dayofsilence.org/transaction.html
SUN-SAT: 3/01-3/07: Lake Tahoe, NV: Lake Tahoe WinterFest Gay & Lesbian Ski Week. includes Outlaugh comedy festival. www.LakeTahoeWinterfest.com
Newsworthy:
Coming Out: Batwoman. DC Comics is resurrecting the classic comic book character as a lesbian, unveiling the new Batwoman in July as part of an ongoing weekly series that began this year. EDGE Boston reports: http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=&sc3=&id=87244
California: An Orange County high school principal has banned a school production of "Rent" because the musical has gay characters. The Orange County Register reports: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/school-gay-asrani-2308187-script-high
AbFab returns to TV. The American version of "Absolutely Fabulous" will go before the cameras with Kathryn Hahn and Kristen Johnston starring for FOX. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126180.html
The Buzz (People Making News)
Coming Out: Ezra Temko, Newark, DE City Councilman comes out, as he introduces anti-discrimination legislation. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/02/delaware-city-c.html
Wanda Sykes will be the first out performer to entertain at the White House Corresponent's Dinner, an annual Presiential "roast". Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/02/wanda-sykes-to.html
Jeremy Bernard, the out fundraiser, was appointed as White House liaison to the National Endowment for the Humanities. Bernard worked with his partner, Rufus Gifford, to raise millions of dollars through their company for Obama’s campaign in California. Gifford was tapped to become the new finance director for the Democratic National Committee. The Washington Blade reports: http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=24085
Awards and Honors:
Winner: Teddy Award (the LGBT award in conjunction with the Berlin Film Festival). the Mexican drama "Rabioso Sol, Rabioso Cielo (Raging Sun, Raging Sky)" took the award for best feature. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/02/gay-mexican-dra.html
In Memoriam:
John McGlinn, the conductor and musical archivist who devoted himself to finding and recording the restored scores of early works of the American musical theatre, died on 2/14/09 at age 55. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126362.html
Photo Shoots and Video
Photos: 2009 amFAR Honors, benefitting the American Foundation for AIDS Research. Honorees: Donna Karan, Liza Liza Minnelli and Howard and Cindy Rachofsky. from BroadwayWorld.com: http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_The_2009_amfAR_Honors_20090213
Photos: Broadway Backwards benefit for the New York LGBT Community Center from Broadway World.com:
http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_BROADWAY_BACKWARDS_4_Performance_Part_One_20090211
http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_BROADWAY_BACKWARDS_4_Performance_Part_Two_20090211
http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_BROADWAY_BACKWARDS_4_Performance_Part_Three_20090211
http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_BROADWAY_BACKWARDS_4_Backstage_20090211
Features
Coming Out: Profile: Billie Jean King talks about the impact of bring outed and coming out on her tennis career. Tennis.com reports: http://www.tennis.com/features/general/features.aspx?id=164732
In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance
New York City (and Broadway)
***Avow. Bill C. Davis’s drama explores the Catholic church's reactions to same-sex marriage. to 3/08/09. www.CardinalGroupNYC.com
***Blanche Survives Katrina in a FEMA Trailer Named Desire. Mark Sam Rosenthal is Blanche, who leaves New Orleans for the Superdome, is evacuated to Shreveport, and becomes a fragile, alcoholic, sex-addicted belle. to 3/15/09. www.sohoplayhouse.com
***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett makes his Broadway debut in Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole co-star.
***Christine Jorgensen Reveals. Bradford Louryk stars as America's first famous transsexual, in his solo theatre piece which won numerous awards. “Ex-GI Becomes Blonde Beauty: Operation Transforms Bronx Youth” (NY Daily News headline: 12/01/52). to 3/15/09. www.ticketcentral.com
***The Story of My Life, a musical about two guys and a lifelong friendship. Malcolm Gets stars. www.thestoryofmylife.com
Elsewhere...
***A Beautiful View. Daniel MacIvor's take on two women in love. MacIvor is one of Canada's greatest living playwrights. to 3/22/09. San Francisco, CA. www.therhino.org.
***Hangin' Out: That Naked Musical. A musical revue. to 3/15/09. Macha Theatre. West Hollywood, CA. www.plays411.com/hangin’out
***La Cage Aux Folles. The Jerry Herman/Harvey Fierstein musical based on the film that became "Birdcage".to 3/29/09. Santa Rosa, CA. www.6thstreetplayhouse.com
***The Little Dog Laughed. The Tony-nominated comedy. A barracuda Hollywood agent in high heels has a problem. Her matinee idol client plans to come out. to 3/08/09. Washington, DC. www.signature-theatre.org.
***Sin, A Cardinal Deposed. A docudrama about the lawyer who pursues Boston Archibishop Cardinal Bernard Law for his failure to protect the victims of sexual abuse at the hands of priests in his archdiocese. Bruce Davison, Gary Cole, Dan Lauria, Wendie Mallick, Hamish Linklater, and James Handy will star. Thursdays 2/26/09-4/02/09. Los Angeles, CA. www.thehayworth.com.
***Tennessee in the Summer. Joe Besecker's take on the psyche of gay playwright Tennessee Williams. to 3/01/09. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org.
On Screen (and Video & DVD)
Resource: Cine-Queer: GLAAD's Guide to What's LGBT in Film: http://www.glaad.org/eye/cinequeer.php
Out on Screen...
***Ciao. Two men meet after the death of a mutual friend. www.ciaomovie.com.
***Doubt, the film adaptation of John Patrick Shanley's award-winning drama. A nun (Meryl Streep) suspects a popular priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of abusing a boy.
***Every Little Step. A documentary about the making of the 2006 Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line".
***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), after being put in prison and makes regular attempts to escape when the object of his affections is released.
***Milk, Gus Van Sant's film about gay activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn). Also starring: Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, James Franco.
***Shifting the Canvas. Cheyenne Jackson, Scott Thompson and John Paul Pitoc star in this comedy drama about a Brooklyn cafe owner, who acts as "patriarch" to a wayward group of younger gay and lesbian artists. www.shiftingthecanvas.com.
***Were The World Mine, Tim Gustafson's film about a struggling gay teen in a homophobic town, who fantasizes about a potion that turns the town gay. http://www.weretheworldminefilm.com/
Out On Video & DVD
***Brideshead Revisited. In the 1930s, Charles and Sebastian (Matthew Goode and Ben Wishaw) tryst on a country estate. www.bridesheadrevisited-themovie.com.
***Chris and Don: A Love Story. Tina Mascara's documentary about British writer Christopher Isherwood and his lover, the much younger American artist Don Bachardy.
***Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Neil Patrick Harris stars in Joss Whedon's internet musical.
***Religulous. Bill Maher travels the globe to investigate the current state of world religion, questioning many religious leaders on LGBT rights. www.lionsgate.com/religulous.
***"Rent" Filmed Live on Broadway. Film made of the final performances of the landmark musical New to DVD and Blu-Ray.
***The Yellow Brick Road And Beyond. A feature documentary takes a look at the phenomenon that is The Wizard of Oz, highlighting some of the earliest stage and screen adaptations, and the musical Wicked.
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 every Friday. www.glaad.org/eye/tv_listings.php
***February: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
This Just In: HU: 2/19: Faye Dunaway guest stars as a surgeon who botches a surgery on "Grey's Anatomy". 9PM. ABC.
This Just In ! FRI: 2/20: Rosie O'Donnell visits "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson". CBS. Check local listings.
Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events
3/02/09: Washington, DC: Nathaniel Frank, author of "Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America" begins a reading/booksigning tour. does a reading and booksigning. 12Noon. Center for American Progress. For information on all tour dates. http://www.unfriendlyfire.org/events.php
3/4/09-3/6/09: Philadelphia, PA: Rethinking Sex: Gender and Sexuality Studies State of the Field Conference. www.sas.upenn.edu/wstudies/rethinkingsex/
3/06/09-3/08/09: Los Angeles, CA: Fusion, LGBT people of color film festival.
www.outfest.org/fusion.html
3/07/09: Chicago, IL: Chicago Takes Off. burlesque show to fight HIV/AIDS in the Chicagoland area. www.rideforaids.org
3/09/09: New York, NY: ABC & Soap.Net Salute Broadway Cares. Actors from such ABC daytime shows as "All My Children," "One Life to Live" and "General Hospital" offer musical numbers and skits. www.broadwaycares.org.
3/12/09-3/14/09: Storrs, CT: True Colors XVI Conference focusing on the needs of LGBTQ youth and their allies through a comprehensive annual conference. Programs on mental and behavioral health. www.ourtruecolors.org.
3/18/09-3/20/09: Ithaca, NY: Ithaca College Sport, Sexuality, and Culture Conference. Former NBA player, author, and entrepreneur, John Amaechi, will deliver the keynote address. http://www.ithaca.edu/hshp/grad/sportmgmt/sportsexualitycultureintr/ConferenceSchedule/
3/23/09: New York, NY: Legends, a reading of the infamous James Kirkwood comedy with Charles Busch, Lypsinka, Whoopi Goldberg and Bryan ("Mad Men") Batt. A benefit for Friends in Deed: The Crisis Center for Life-Threatening Illness. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/125984.html
3/25/09-3/29/09: Keystone, CO: OutBoard, annual LGBT snowboarding festival. www.outboard.org
Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Hooray for Hollywood
1. Question: Name this 1969 film, which featured gay themes and was the first X-rated film to win the “Best Picture” Oscar. Its openly gay director made several mainstream movies with gay characters. Answer: Midnight Cowboy, which featured Jon Voight as a Times Square hustler. John Schlesinger, the director, also filmed “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and about a bisexual menage.
2. Question: Name this 1972 Oscar-winning film, based on a Tony-winning musical based on a gay author’s journals about his life in Europe. It won 8 Oscars. Its in-your-face decadence featured threesomes, transvestites and other club types. Answer: Cabaret, based on the musical of the same name, adapted from Christopher Isherwood’s “Berlin Stories”.
3. Question: Name this actor, who received an Oscar for a breakthrough performance as a real-life transgender victim. Answer: Hilary Swank, Oscar winner for “Boys Don’t Cry”, the story of Brandon Teena.
4. Question: Name this actor, who received an Oscar for playing an HIV-infected man who was the subject of discrimination in the first major Hollywood film to deal with HIV. Answer: Tom Hanks, who starred in “Philadelphia” in 1993.
5. Question: Name this out singer and songwriter who got an Oscar gold with a song about going green. For over a decade, this artist's music has been top of the charts; the artist is a GLAAD Media Award winner, a cancer survivor, and a spokesperson for coming out issues. Answer: Melissa Etheridge. Her song "I Need to Wake Up" won the Oscar for "Best Song". It was featured in Al Gore's award-winning movie about global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth".
This Week’s Trivia Quiz: March Milestones
1. Question: Name this nation, the first in the Middle East, to decriminalise same-sex acts between consenting adults on March 23, 1988.
2. Question: Name this organization, the most powerful political advocate for AIDS action, which was founded on March 14, 1987. Ten days later, it staged a major protest in New York City.
3. Question: Name this American author, born March 10, 1934, who turned his days as a hustler and a drifter into a highly-praised 1963 American novel. Today, he teaches literature. Some of his subsequent works also deal with hustling.
4. Question: Name this gay pop-idol dancer, born in Siberia in March, 1938, who lept to fame when he defected to the West. His stagework was legendary; he also played a gay film icon in a Ken Russell movie.
5. Question: Name this gay music legend, singer, piano-man, and songwriter, who was born on March 25, 1947. He has conquered the Billboard charts, Broadway and Hollywood, and is perhaps best known worldwide for his elegy to a dead princess.
The first person to submit the correct answers gets their name in print right here. Email your answers to: OnQYB@aol.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/
Volume 12 No. 8 February 23, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB
The Fine Print
See previous editions:
The Gay Agenda: Datebook: February 23-March 1, 2009
to SAT:2/28: Telluride, CO: Telluride Gay Ski Week. www.telluridegayskiweek.com
MON: 2/23: New York, NY: Defying Inequality: The Broadway Concert: A Celebrity Benefit for Equal Rights, benefiting: Family Equality Council, Empire State Pride Agenda, Equality California, Garden State Equality and The VT Freedom to Marry Task Force. Evening includes Marc Shaiman's "Prop 8 - The Musical". Cast includes: Douglas Carter Beane, Kerry Butler, Lynda Carter, Gavin Creel, Harvey Fierstein, John Gallagher, Jr., Jonathan Groff, Cheyenne Jackson, Carson Kressley, Cameron Mathison, Rue McClanahan, Seth Rudesky, Michael Urie, www.defyinginequality.com.
TUE-SUN: 2/24-3/01: New York, NY: CineKink NYC. mixed gay/ straight film festival exploring a wide variety of sexualities through documentary, comedy, porn, drama & more. www.cinekink.com
THU: 2/26: New York, NY: Bill Konigsberg does a reading from "Out of The Pocket", his new novel about a high school athlete's coming out. GLYDSA Authors Series: Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center. http://www.orthogays.org/calendar.html
FRI-SAT: 2/27-2/28: New York, NY: FOLLY: The Grand Street Follies 2009, a benefit for God's Love We Deliver and TWEED TheatreWorks. Cast includes: Jackie Hoffman, The Lady Bunny, Julie Halston, Flotilla DeBarge, and more. www.abronartscenter.org
FRI: 2/27: Nationwide: TransAction Day. Sponsored by GLSEN to encourage dialogue about gender, gender roles and the full range of gender identities, and to advocate for inclusive, safe schools for all students. http://www.dayofsilence.org/transaction.html
SUN-SAT: 3/01-3/07: Lake Tahoe, NV: Lake Tahoe WinterFest Gay & Lesbian Ski Week. includes Outlaugh comedy festival. www.LakeTahoeWinterfest.com
Newsworthy:
Coming Out: Batwoman. DC Comics is resurrecting the classic comic book character as a lesbian, unveiling the new Batwoman in July as part of an ongoing weekly series that began this year. EDGE Boston reports: http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=&sc3=&id=87244
California: An Orange County high school principal has banned a school production of "Rent" because the musical has gay characters. The Orange County Register reports: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/school-gay-asrani-2308187-script-high
AbFab returns to TV. The American version of "Absolutely Fabulous" will go before the cameras with Kathryn Hahn and Kristen Johnston starring for FOX. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126180.html
The Buzz (People Making News)
Coming Out: Ezra Temko, Newark, DE City Councilman comes out, as he introduces anti-discrimination legislation. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/02/delaware-city-c.html
Wanda Sykes will be the first out performer to entertain at the White House Corresponent's Dinner, an annual Presiential "roast". Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/02/wanda-sykes-to.html
Jeremy Bernard, the out fundraiser, was appointed as White House liaison to the National Endowment for the Humanities. Bernard worked with his partner, Rufus Gifford, to raise millions of dollars through their company for Obama’s campaign in California. Gifford was tapped to become the new finance director for the Democratic National Committee. The Washington Blade reports: http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=24085
Awards and Honors:
Winner: Teddy Award (the LGBT award in conjunction with the Berlin Film Festival). the Mexican drama "Rabioso Sol, Rabioso Cielo (Raging Sun, Raging Sky)" took the award for best feature. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/02/gay-mexican-dra.html
In Memoriam:
John McGlinn, the conductor and musical archivist who devoted himself to finding and recording the restored scores of early works of the American musical theatre, died on 2/14/09 at age 55. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126362.html
Photo Shoots and Video
Photos: 2009 amFAR Honors, benefitting the American Foundation for AIDS Research. Honorees: Donna Karan, Liza Liza Minnelli and Howard and Cindy Rachofsky. from BroadwayWorld.com: http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_The_2009_amfAR_Honors_20090213
Photos: Broadway Backwards benefit for the New York LGBT Community Center from Broadway World.com:
http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_BROADWAY_BACKWARDS_4_Performance_Part_One_20090211
http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_BROADWAY_BACKWARDS_4_Performance_Part_Two_20090211
http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_BROADWAY_BACKWARDS_4_Performance_Part_Three_20090211
http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_BROADWAY_BACKWARDS_4_Backstage_20090211
Features
Coming Out: Profile: Billie Jean King talks about the impact of bring outed and coming out on her tennis career. Tennis.com reports: http://www.tennis.com/features/general/features.aspx?id=164732
In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance
New York City (and Broadway)
***Avow. Bill C. Davis’s drama explores the Catholic church's reactions to same-sex marriage. to 3/08/09. www.CardinalGroupNYC.com
***Blanche Survives Katrina in a FEMA Trailer Named Desire. Mark Sam Rosenthal is Blanche, who leaves New Orleans for the Superdome, is evacuated to Shreveport, and becomes a fragile, alcoholic, sex-addicted belle. to 3/15/09. www.sohoplayhouse.com
***Blithe Spirit. Rupert Everett makes his Broadway debut in Noel Coward's ghostly comedy. Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole co-star.
***Christine Jorgensen Reveals. Bradford Louryk stars as America's first famous transsexual, in his solo theatre piece which won numerous awards. “Ex-GI Becomes Blonde Beauty: Operation Transforms Bronx Youth” (NY Daily News headline: 12/01/52). to 3/15/09. www.ticketcentral.com
***The Story of My Life, a musical about two guys and a lifelong friendship. Malcolm Gets stars. www.thestoryofmylife.com
Elsewhere...
***A Beautiful View. Daniel MacIvor's take on two women in love. MacIvor is one of Canada's greatest living playwrights. to 3/22/09. San Francisco, CA. www.therhino.org.
***Hangin' Out: That Naked Musical. A musical revue. to 3/15/09. Macha Theatre. West Hollywood, CA. www.plays411.com/hangin’out
***La Cage Aux Folles. The Jerry Herman/Harvey Fierstein musical based on the film that became "Birdcage".to 3/29/09. Santa Rosa, CA. www.6thstreetplayhouse.com
***The Little Dog Laughed. The Tony-nominated comedy. A barracuda Hollywood agent in high heels has a problem. Her matinee idol client plans to come out. to 3/08/09. Washington, DC. www.signature-theatre.org.
***Sin, A Cardinal Deposed. A docudrama about the lawyer who pursues Boston Archibishop Cardinal Bernard Law for his failure to protect the victims of sexual abuse at the hands of priests in his archdiocese. Bruce Davison, Gary Cole, Dan Lauria, Wendie Mallick, Hamish Linklater, and James Handy will star. Thursdays 2/26/09-4/02/09. Los Angeles, CA. www.thehayworth.com.
***Tennessee in the Summer. Joe Besecker's take on the psyche of gay playwright Tennessee Williams. to 3/01/09. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org.
On Screen (and Video & DVD)
Resource: Cine-Queer: GLAAD's Guide to What's LGBT in Film: http://www.glaad.org/eye/cinequeer.php
Out on Screen...
***Ciao. Two men meet after the death of a mutual friend. www.ciaomovie.com.
***Doubt, the film adaptation of John Patrick Shanley's award-winning drama. A nun (Meryl Streep) suspects a popular priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of abusing a boy.
***Every Little Step. A documentary about the making of the 2006 Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line".
***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), after being put in prison and makes regular attempts to escape when the object of his affections is released.
***Milk, Gus Van Sant's film about gay activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn). Also starring: Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, James Franco.
***Shifting the Canvas. Cheyenne Jackson, Scott Thompson and John Paul Pitoc star in this comedy drama about a Brooklyn cafe owner, who acts as "patriarch" to a wayward group of younger gay and lesbian artists. www.shiftingthecanvas.com.
***Were The World Mine, Tim Gustafson's film about a struggling gay teen in a homophobic town, who fantasizes about a potion that turns the town gay. http://www.weretheworldminefilm.com/
Out On Video & DVD
***Brideshead Revisited. In the 1930s, Charles and Sebastian (Matthew Goode and Ben Wishaw) tryst on a country estate. www.bridesheadrevisited-themovie.com.
***Chris and Don: A Love Story. Tina Mascara's documentary about British writer Christopher Isherwood and his lover, the much younger American artist Don Bachardy.
***Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Neil Patrick Harris stars in Joss Whedon's internet musical.
***Religulous. Bill Maher travels the globe to investigate the current state of world religion, questioning many religious leaders on LGBT rights. www.lionsgate.com/religulous.
***"Rent" Filmed Live on Broadway. Film made of the final performances of the landmark musical New to DVD and Blu-Ray.
***The Yellow Brick Road And Beyond. A feature documentary takes a look at the phenomenon that is The Wizard of Oz, highlighting some of the earliest stage and screen adaptations, and the musical Wicked.
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 every Friday. www.glaad.org/eye/tv_listings.php
***February: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
This Just In: HU: 2/19: Faye Dunaway guest stars as a surgeon who botches a surgery on "Grey's Anatomy". 9PM. ABC.
This Just In ! FRI: 2/20: Rosie O'Donnell visits "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson". CBS. Check local listings.
Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events
3/02/09: Washington, DC: Nathaniel Frank, author of "Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America" begins a reading/booksigning tour. does a reading and booksigning. 12Noon. Center for American Progress. For information on all tour dates. http://www.unfriendlyfire.org/events.php
3/4/09-3/6/09: Philadelphia, PA: Rethinking Sex: Gender and Sexuality Studies State of the Field Conference. www.sas.upenn.edu/wstudies/rethinkingsex/
3/06/09-3/08/09: Los Angeles, CA: Fusion, LGBT people of color film festival.
www.outfest.org/fusion.html
3/07/09: Chicago, IL: Chicago Takes Off. burlesque show to fight HIV/AIDS in the Chicagoland area. www.rideforaids.org
3/09/09: New York, NY: ABC & Soap.Net Salute Broadway Cares. Actors from such ABC daytime shows as "All My Children," "One Life to Live" and "General Hospital" offer musical numbers and skits. www.broadwaycares.org.
3/12/09-3/14/09: Storrs, CT: True Colors XVI Conference focusing on the needs of LGBTQ youth and their allies through a comprehensive annual conference. Programs on mental and behavioral health. www.ourtruecolors.org.
3/18/09-3/20/09: Ithaca, NY: Ithaca College Sport, Sexuality, and Culture Conference. Former NBA player, author, and entrepreneur, John Amaechi, will deliver the keynote address. http://www.ithaca.edu/hshp/grad/sportmgmt/sportsexualitycultureintr/ConferenceSchedule/
3/23/09: New York, NY: Legends, a reading of the infamous James Kirkwood comedy with Charles Busch, Lypsinka, Whoopi Goldberg and Bryan ("Mad Men") Batt. A benefit for Friends in Deed: The Crisis Center for Life-Threatening Illness. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/125984.html
3/25/09-3/29/09: Keystone, CO: OutBoard, annual LGBT snowboarding festival. www.outboard.org
Last Week’s Trivia Quiz: Hooray for Hollywood
1. Question: Name this 1969 film, which featured gay themes and was the first X-rated film to win the “Best Picture” Oscar. Its openly gay director made several mainstream movies with gay characters. Answer: Midnight Cowboy, which featured Jon Voight as a Times Square hustler. John Schlesinger, the director, also filmed “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and about a bisexual menage.
2. Question: Name this 1972 Oscar-winning film, based on a Tony-winning musical based on a gay author’s journals about his life in Europe. It won 8 Oscars. Its in-your-face decadence featured threesomes, transvestites and other club types. Answer: Cabaret, based on the musical of the same name, adapted from Christopher Isherwood’s “Berlin Stories”.
3. Question: Name this actor, who received an Oscar for a breakthrough performance as a real-life transgender victim. Answer: Hilary Swank, Oscar winner for “Boys Don’t Cry”, the story of Brandon Teena.
4. Question: Name this actor, who received an Oscar for playing an HIV-infected man who was the subject of discrimination in the first major Hollywood film to deal with HIV. Answer: Tom Hanks, who starred in “Philadelphia” in 1993.
5. Question: Name this out singer and songwriter who got an Oscar gold with a song about going green. For over a decade, this artist's music has been top of the charts; the artist is a GLAAD Media Award winner, a cancer survivor, and a spokesperson for coming out issues. Answer: Melissa Etheridge. Her song "I Need to Wake Up" won the Oscar for "Best Song". It was featured in Al Gore's award-winning movie about global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth".
This Week’s Trivia Quiz: March Milestones
1. Question: Name this nation, the first in the Middle East, to decriminalise same-sex acts between consenting adults on March 23, 1988.
2. Question: Name this organization, the most powerful political advocate for AIDS action, which was founded on March 14, 1987. Ten days later, it staged a major protest in New York City.
3. Question: Name this American author, born March 10, 1934, who turned his days as a hustler and a drifter into a highly-praised 1963 American novel. Today, he teaches literature. Some of his subsequent works also deal with hustling.
4. Question: Name this gay pop-idol dancer, born in Siberia in March, 1938, who lept to fame when he defected to the West. His stagework was legendary; he also played a gay film icon in a Ken Russell movie.
5. Question: Name this gay music legend, singer, piano-man, and songwriter, who was born on March 25, 1947. He has conquered the Billboard charts, Broadway and Hollywood, and is perhaps best known worldwide for his elegy to a dead princess.
The first person to submit the correct answers gets their name in print right here. Email your answers to: OnQYB@aol.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/
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Coming Out Support Newsweekly: 2/16/09
Coming Out Support (COS) Newsweekly
Volume 12 No. 7 February 16, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB
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 OnQYB@aol.com and write “Subscribe COS News” in subject line.
To unsubscribe: Email OnQYB@aol.com and write “Cancel COS News” in subject line.
The Gay Agenda: Datebook: February 16-22, 2009
MON: 2/16: Hudson Valley, NY: Winter Explosion. popular LGBT African-American winter event. www.winterexplosion.com
WED: 2/18: New York, NY: Michael Musto, Village Voice columnist, hosts Out Professional's "Prelude to the Academy Awards". http://www.outprofessionals.org/op/214
FRI: 2/20: Las Vegas, NV: E. Lynn Harris does a reading/booksigning of his new novel "Basketball Jones". 7PM. Borders. N. Rainbow Blvd. http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780767926270&view=isbn_events
SAT-SAT: 2/21-2/28: Telluride, CO: Telluride Gay Ski Week. www.telluridegayskiweek.com
SAT: 2/21: New York, NY: David Zippel performs "It Started With a Dream: Lyrics He Wrote / Lyrics He Wishes He'd Wrote. The Tony Award winning lyricist ("City of Angels", "The Goodbye Girl") and Oscar nominee ("Mulan", "Hercules") performs a benefit for Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS. www.bcefa.org.
SAT: 2/21: Northampton, MA: The Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler's play, performed by the Villa Jidiiots, as a benefit for the Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts. http://www.villajidiots.com/thevaginamonologues.html
SUN: 2/22: Hollywood, CA: 81st Annual Academy Awards. Hugh Jackman hosts. ABC broadcasts live.www.oscars.org
Newsworthy:
Coming Out: Showtime to Produce TV Series on Coming Out. "Way Out" comes from the A&E team who produced "Intervention". The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid72434.asp
Gay Media Investment Fund in Receivership. Avalon Equity, the investment fund which is the major shareholder in Window Media, which owns the Washington Blade, Southern Voice, Houston Voice, South Florida Blade, Genre Magazine, David Atlanta and The 411 Magazine, has been forced into receivership by the federal Small Business Administration. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/02/gay-media-inves.html
Blanche Faces Hurricane of Legal Action. The University of the South, which owns the intellectual property rights for “Streetcar Named Desire,” has threatened legal action against a one-man show that features a modern-day Blanche DuBois. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/05/theater/05ceas.html?ref=theater
Farewell "La Cage": The final curtain has fallen on the long-running Las Vegas female impersonators revue ''An Evening at La Cage.''. The New York Times reports:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/02/10/arts/AP-La-Cage-Closure.html
The Buzz (People Making News)
T.R. Knight, the out star of "Grey's Anatomy" is leaving the series along with Katherine Heigl. The Los Angeles Times reports: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2009/02/katherine-heigl.html
Awards and Honors:
Winners: Writers Guild of America: "Milk" for Original Screenplay (written by Dustin Lance Black). Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126075.html
Winners: Independent Theatre Reviewers Association (ITRA) Awards: Liza Minnelli for Best Theatrical Performance. www.TheatreReviewers.com
Nominees: Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards. Dolly Parton and John Glover make the list. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/125999.html
Nominees: Helen Hayes Awards for outstanding theatre in Washington, DC. The Washington Post reports: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/09/AR2009020903596.html
In Memoriam:
Robert Anderson, the playwright famous for "Tea and Sympathy", died on 2/09/09 at age 91. "Tea and Sympathy" was about a sensitive prep school student accused of homosexuality, who sleeps with Laura, a teacher's unhappy wife. Deborah Kerr played the wife, who uttered the drama's famous line "Years from now, when you talk about this, and you will--be kind." The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/theater/10anderson.html?_r=1&ref=theater
Blossom Dearie, a fixture on the New York cabaret scene for decades, died on 2/07/09 at age 82. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/09/arts/music/09dear.html?_r=1
Photo Shoots and Video
***Liza Minnelli's CD Signing from Playbill.com: http://www.playbill.com/multimedia/gallery/313
***Cheyenne Jackson will guest star as a gay dad on "Ugly Betty" this season. From AfterElton.com: http://www.afterelton.com/blog/snicks/how-do-you-make-a-great-show-even-better-cheyenne+jackson
Features
Friend of Dorothy. "Wicked" writer Gregory Maguire talks about his latest Oz book, "A Lion Among Men" with The Advocate: http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid72265.asp
Cheyenne Jackson gave his dog swimming lessons and other important 411 for Cheyennetologists from New York Magazine: http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2009/02/cheyenne_jackson_gave_his_dog.html
Partners Onstage and Off. Neil Bartram and Brian Hill, creators of the new Broadway musical "The Story of My Life" are partners off-stage. Brian Moylan reports for Next: http://www.nextmagazine.net/features/2.php
In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance
New York City (and Broadway)
***Blanche Survives Katrina in a FEMA Trailer Named Desire. Mark Sam Rosenthal is Blanche, who leaves New Orleans for the Superdome, is evacuated to Shreveport, and becomes a fragile, alcoholic, sex-addicted belle. to 3/15/09. www.sohoplayhouse.com
***Christine Jorgensen Reveals. Bradford Louryk stars as America's first famous transsexual, in his solo theatre piece which won numerous awards. “Ex-GI Becomes Blonde Beauty: Operation Transforms Bronx Youth” (NY Daily News headline: 12/01/52). to 3/15/09. www.ticketcentral.com
***Distracted. Cynthia Nixon stars in Lisa Loomer's comedy about parenting in the age of the internet and Ritalin. to 5/03/09. www.roundabouttheatre.org.
***The Story of My Life, a musical about two guys and a lifelong friendship. Malcolm Gets stars. www.thestoryofmylife.com
Elsewhere...
***Dolls. World premiere by and starring Michael Phillis. A gay man's doll collection comes to life. to 2/22/09. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org.
***Dusty and the Big Bad World by Cusi Cram. Dusty, hero of "the most popular animated PBS children's television show in America" goes to visit a family with two daddies. to 2/28/09. Denver, CO. www.denvercenter.org
***I Am My Own Wife, Bruce Nelson plays Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, real-life German cross-dresser, who survived the Nazis after WW2. Winner 2004 Pulitzer Prize to 2/22/09. Baltimore, MD. www.everymantheatre.org.
***The Little Dog Laughed. The Tony-nominated comedy. A barracuda Hollywood agent in high heels has a problem. Her matinee idol client plans to come out. to 3/08/09. Washington, DC. www.signature-theatre.org.
***Tennessee in the Summer. Joe Besecker's take on the psyche of gay playwright Tennessee Williams. Winner of the Jane Chambers International Gay Playwriting Contest. to 3/01/09. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org.
***Xanadu, the Broadway musical hit based on the Olivia Newton John movie. "Children's theatre for 40 year old gay men". Chicago, IL. www.BroadwayInChicago.com
On Screen (and Video & DVD)
Resource: Cine-Queer: GLAAD's Guide to What's LGBT in Film: http://www.glaad.org/eye/cinequeer.php
Out on Screen...
***Ciao. Two men meet after the death of a mutual friend. www.ciaomovie.com.
***Doubt, the film adaptation of John Patrick Shanley's award-winning drama. A nun (Meryl Streep) suspects a popular priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of abusing a boy.
***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), after being put in prison and makes regular attempts to escape when the object of his affections is released.
***Milk, Gus Van Sant's film about gay activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn). Also starring: Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, James Franco.
***Shifting the Canvas. Cheyenne Jackson, Scott Thompson and John Paul Pitoc star in this comedy drama about a Brooklyn cafe owner, who acts as "patriarch" to a wayward group of younger gay and lesbian artists. www.shiftingthecanvas.com.
***Were The World Mine, Tim Gustafson's film about a struggling gay teen in a homophobic town, who fantasizes about a potion that turns the town gay. http://www.weretheworldminefilm.com/
Out On Video & DVD
***Brideshead Revisited. In the 1930s, Charles and Sebastian (Matthew Goode and Ben Wishaw) tryst on a country estate. www.bridesheadrevisited-themovie.com.
***Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Neil Patrick Harris stars in Joss Whedon's internet musical.
***Religulous. Bill Maher travels the globe to investigate the current state of world religion, questioning many religious leaders on LGBT rights. www.lionsgate.com/religulous.
***"Rent" Filmed Live on Broadway. Film made of the final performances of the landmark musical New to DVD and Blu-Ray.
***The Yellow Brick Road And Beyond. A feature documentary takes a look at the phenomenon that is The Wizard of Oz, highlighting some of the earliest stage and screen adaptations, and the musical Wicked.
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 every Friday. www.glaad.org/eye/tv_listings.php
***February: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
***WED: 2/18: Jerome Robbins, the genius American dancer/choreographer/director ("West Side Story") is profiled on "American Masters". His genius was tempered by obsessive behavior, perfectionism, and guilt over his bisexualism. PBS. Check local listings.
***SUN: 2/22: 81st Annual Academy Awards. 8PM. Hugh Jackman hosts. ABC. www.oscars.org
Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events
2/23/09: New York, NY: Defying Inequality: The Broadway Concert: A Celebrity Benefit for Equal Rights, benefiting: Family Equality Council, Empire State Pride Agenda, Equality California, Garden State Equality and The VT Freedom to Marry Task Force. Evening includes Marc Shaiman's "Prop 8 - The Musical". Cast includes: Douglas Carter Beane, Kerry Butler, Lynda Carter, Gavin Creel, Harvey Fierstein, John Gallagher, Jr., Jonathan Groff, Cheyenne Jackson, Carson Kressley, Cameron Mathison, Rue McClanahan, Seth Rudesky, Michael Urie, www.defyinginequality.com.
2/24/09-3/01/09: New York, NY: CineKink NYC. mixed gay/ straight film festival exploring a wide variety of sexualities through documentary, comedy, porn, drama & more. www.cinekink.com
3/01/09-3/07/09: Lake Tahoe, NV: Lake Tahoe WinterFest Gay & Lesbian Ski Week. includes Outlaugh comedy festival. www.LakeTahoeWinterfest.com
3/4/09-3/6/09: Philadelphia, PA: Rethinking Sex: Gender and Sexuality Studies State of the Field Conference. www.sas.upenn.edu/wstudies/rethinkingsex/
3/06/09-3/08/09: Los Angeles, CA: Fusion, LGBT people of color film festival.
www.outfest.org/fusion.html
3/07/09: Chicago, IL: Chicago Takes Off. burlesque show to fight HIV/AIDS in the Chicagoland area. www.rideforaids.org
3/12/09-3/14/09: Storrs, CT: True Colors XVI Conference focusing on the needs of LGBTQ youth and their allies through a comprehensive annual conference. Programs on mental and behavioral health. www.ourtruecolors.org.
3/23/09: New York, NY: Legends, a reading of the infamous James Kirkwood comedy with Charles Busch, Lypsinka, Whoopi Goldberg and Bryan ("Mad Men") Batt. A benefit for Friends in Deed: The Crisis Center for Life-Threatening Illness. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/125984.html
3/25/09-3/29/09: Keystone, CO: OutBoard, annual LGBT snowboarding festival. www.outboard.org
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 with Sean Combs and Phylicia Rashad aired last year.
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: Hooray for Hollywood
1. Question: Name this 1969 film, which featured gay themes and was the first X-rated film to win the “Best Picture” Oscar. Its openly gay director made several mainstream movies with gay characters.
2. Question: Name this 1972 Oscar-winning film, based on a Tony-winning musical based on a gay author’s journals about his life in Europe. It won 8 Oscars. Its in-your-face decadence featured threesomes, transvestites and other club types.
3. Question: Name this actor, who received an Oscar for a breakthrough performance as a real-life transgender victim.
4. Question: Name this actor, who received an Oscar for playing an HIV-infected man who was the subject of discrimination in the first major Hollywood film to deal with HIV.
5. Question: Name this out singer and songwriter who got an Oscar gold with a song about going green. For over a decade, this artist's music has been top of the charts; the artist is a GLAAD Media Award winner, a cancer survivor, and a spokesperson for coming out issues.
The first person to submit the correct answers gets their name in print right here. Email your answers to: OnQYB@aol.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/
Volume 12 No. 7 February 16, 2009
Newsletter Editor: OnQYB
The Fine Print
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The Gay Agenda: Datebook: February 16-22, 2009
MON: 2/16: Hudson Valley, NY: Winter Explosion. popular LGBT African-American winter event. www.winterexplosion.com
WED: 2/18: New York, NY: Michael Musto, Village Voice columnist, hosts Out Professional's "Prelude to the Academy Awards". http://www.outprofessionals.org/op/214
FRI: 2/20: Las Vegas, NV: E. Lynn Harris does a reading/booksigning of his new novel "Basketball Jones". 7PM. Borders. N. Rainbow Blvd. http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780767926270&view=isbn_events
SAT-SAT: 2/21-2/28: Telluride, CO: Telluride Gay Ski Week. www.telluridegayskiweek.com
SAT: 2/21: New York, NY: David Zippel performs "It Started With a Dream: Lyrics He Wrote / Lyrics He Wishes He'd Wrote. The Tony Award winning lyricist ("City of Angels", "The Goodbye Girl") and Oscar nominee ("Mulan", "Hercules") performs a benefit for Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS. www.bcefa.org.
SAT: 2/21: Northampton, MA: The Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler's play, performed by the Villa Jidiiots, as a benefit for the Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts. http://www.villajidiots.com/thevaginamonologues.html
SUN: 2/22: Hollywood, CA: 81st Annual Academy Awards. Hugh Jackman hosts. ABC broadcasts live.www.oscars.org
Newsworthy:
Coming Out: Showtime to Produce TV Series on Coming Out. "Way Out" comes from the A&E team who produced "Intervention". The Advocate reports: http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid72434.asp
Gay Media Investment Fund in Receivership. Avalon Equity, the investment fund which is the major shareholder in Window Media, which owns the Washington Blade, Southern Voice, Houston Voice, South Florida Blade, Genre Magazine, David Atlanta and The 411 Magazine, has been forced into receivership by the federal Small Business Administration. Towleroad reports: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/02/gay-media-inves.html
Blanche Faces Hurricane of Legal Action. The University of the South, which owns the intellectual property rights for “Streetcar Named Desire,” has threatened legal action against a one-man show that features a modern-day Blanche DuBois. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/05/theater/05ceas.html?ref=theater
Farewell "La Cage": The final curtain has fallen on the long-running Las Vegas female impersonators revue ''An Evening at La Cage.''. The New York Times reports:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/02/10/arts/AP-La-Cage-Closure.html
The Buzz (People Making News)
T.R. Knight, the out star of "Grey's Anatomy" is leaving the series along with Katherine Heigl. The Los Angeles Times reports: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2009/02/katherine-heigl.html
Awards and Honors:
Winners: Writers Guild of America: "Milk" for Original Screenplay (written by Dustin Lance Black). Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126075.html
Winners: Independent Theatre Reviewers Association (ITRA) Awards: Liza Minnelli for Best Theatrical Performance. www.TheatreReviewers.com
Nominees: Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards. Dolly Parton and John Glover make the list. Playbill.com reports: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/125999.html
Nominees: Helen Hayes Awards for outstanding theatre in Washington, DC. The Washington Post reports: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/09/AR2009020903596.html
In Memoriam:
Robert Anderson, the playwright famous for "Tea and Sympathy", died on 2/09/09 at age 91. "Tea and Sympathy" was about a sensitive prep school student accused of homosexuality, who sleeps with Laura, a teacher's unhappy wife. Deborah Kerr played the wife, who uttered the drama's famous line "Years from now, when you talk about this, and you will--be kind." The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/theater/10anderson.html?_r=1&ref=theater
Blossom Dearie, a fixture on the New York cabaret scene for decades, died on 2/07/09 at age 82. The New York Times reports: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/09/arts/music/09dear.html?_r=1
Photo Shoots and Video
***Liza Minnelli's CD Signing from Playbill.com: http://www.playbill.com/multimedia/gallery/313
***Cheyenne Jackson will guest star as a gay dad on "Ugly Betty" this season. From AfterElton.com: http://www.afterelton.com/blog/snicks/how-do-you-make-a-great-show-even-better-cheyenne+jackson
Features
Friend of Dorothy. "Wicked" writer Gregory Maguire talks about his latest Oz book, "A Lion Among Men" with The Advocate: http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid72265.asp
Cheyenne Jackson gave his dog swimming lessons and other important 411 for Cheyennetologists from New York Magazine: http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2009/02/cheyenne_jackson_gave_his_dog.html
Partners Onstage and Off. Neil Bartram and Brian Hill, creators of the new Broadway musical "The Story of My Life" are partners off-stage. Brian Moylan reports for Next: http://www.nextmagazine.net/features/2.php
In Performance: Onstage:Theatre/Music/Dance
New York City (and Broadway)
***Blanche Survives Katrina in a FEMA Trailer Named Desire. Mark Sam Rosenthal is Blanche, who leaves New Orleans for the Superdome, is evacuated to Shreveport, and becomes a fragile, alcoholic, sex-addicted belle. to 3/15/09. www.sohoplayhouse.com
***Christine Jorgensen Reveals. Bradford Louryk stars as America's first famous transsexual, in his solo theatre piece which won numerous awards. “Ex-GI Becomes Blonde Beauty: Operation Transforms Bronx Youth” (NY Daily News headline: 12/01/52). to 3/15/09. www.ticketcentral.com
***Distracted. Cynthia Nixon stars in Lisa Loomer's comedy about parenting in the age of the internet and Ritalin. to 5/03/09. www.roundabouttheatre.org.
***The Story of My Life, a musical about two guys and a lifelong friendship. Malcolm Gets stars. www.thestoryofmylife.com
Elsewhere...
***Dolls. World premiere by and starring Michael Phillis. A gay man's doll collection comes to life. to 2/22/09. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org.
***Dusty and the Big Bad World by Cusi Cram. Dusty, hero of "the most popular animated PBS children's television show in America" goes to visit a family with two daddies. to 2/28/09. Denver, CO. www.denvercenter.org
***I Am My Own Wife, Bruce Nelson plays Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, real-life German cross-dresser, who survived the Nazis after WW2. Winner 2004 Pulitzer Prize to 2/22/09. Baltimore, MD. www.everymantheatre.org.
***The Little Dog Laughed. The Tony-nominated comedy. A barracuda Hollywood agent in high heels has a problem. Her matinee idol client plans to come out. to 3/08/09. Washington, DC. www.signature-theatre.org.
***Tennessee in the Summer. Joe Besecker's take on the psyche of gay playwright Tennessee Williams. Winner of the Jane Chambers International Gay Playwriting Contest. to 3/01/09. San Francisco, CA. www.nctcsf.org.
***Xanadu, the Broadway musical hit based on the Olivia Newton John movie. "Children's theatre for 40 year old gay men". Chicago, IL. www.BroadwayInChicago.com
On Screen (and Video & DVD)
Resource: Cine-Queer: GLAAD's Guide to What's LGBT in Film: http://www.glaad.org/eye/cinequeer.php
Out on Screen...
***Ciao. Two men meet after the death of a mutual friend. www.ciaomovie.com.
***Doubt, the film adaptation of John Patrick Shanley's award-winning drama. A nun (Meryl Streep) suspects a popular priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of abusing a boy.
***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), after being put in prison and makes regular attempts to escape when the object of his affections is released.
***Milk, Gus Van Sant's film about gay activist Harvey Milk (Sean Penn). Also starring: Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, James Franco.
***Shifting the Canvas. Cheyenne Jackson, Scott Thompson and John Paul Pitoc star in this comedy drama about a Brooklyn cafe owner, who acts as "patriarch" to a wayward group of younger gay and lesbian artists. www.shiftingthecanvas.com.
***Were The World Mine, Tim Gustafson's film about a struggling gay teen in a homophobic town, who fantasizes about a potion that turns the town gay. http://www.weretheworldminefilm.com/
Out On Video & DVD
***Brideshead Revisited. In the 1930s, Charles and Sebastian (Matthew Goode and Ben Wishaw) tryst on a country estate. www.bridesheadrevisited-themovie.com.
***Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Neil Patrick Harris stars in Joss Whedon's internet musical.
***Religulous. Bill Maher travels the globe to investigate the current state of world religion, questioning many religious leaders on LGBT rights. www.lionsgate.com/religulous.
***"Rent" Filmed Live on Broadway. Film made of the final performances of the landmark musical New to DVD and Blu-Ray.
***The Yellow Brick Road And Beyond. A feature documentary takes a look at the phenomenon that is The Wizard of Oz, highlighting some of the earliest stage and screen adaptations, and the musical Wicked.
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 every Friday. www.glaad.org/eye/tv_listings.php
***February: In the Life. LGBT news magazine. PBS. Check local listings. http://www.itl.tv/inthelife/episodes/
***WED: 2/18: Jerome Robbins, the genius American dancer/choreographer/director ("West Side Story") is profiled on "American Masters". His genius was tempered by obsessive behavior, perfectionism, and guilt over his bisexualism. PBS. Check local listings.
***SUN: 2/22: 81st Annual Academy Awards. 8PM. Hugh Jackman hosts. ABC. www.oscars.org
Conferences, Seminars, Benefits, and Special Events
2/23/09: New York, NY: Defying Inequality: The Broadway Concert: A Celebrity Benefit for Equal Rights, benefiting: Family Equality Council, Empire State Pride Agenda, Equality California, Garden State Equality and The VT Freedom to Marry Task Force. Evening includes Marc Shaiman's "Prop 8 - The Musical". Cast includes: Douglas Carter Beane, Kerry Butler, Lynda Carter, Gavin Creel, Harvey Fierstein, John Gallagher, Jr., Jonathan Groff, Cheyenne Jackson, Carson Kressley, Cameron Mathison, Rue McClanahan, Seth Rudesky, Michael Urie, www.defyinginequality.com.
2/24/09-3/01/09: New York, NY: CineKink NYC. mixed gay/ straight film festival exploring a wide variety of sexualities through documentary, comedy, porn, drama & more. www.cinekink.com
3/01/09-3/07/09: Lake Tahoe, NV: Lake Tahoe WinterFest Gay & Lesbian Ski Week. includes Outlaugh comedy festival. www.LakeTahoeWinterfest.com
3/4/09-3/6/09: Philadelphia, PA: Rethinking Sex: Gender and Sexuality Studies State of the Field Conference. www.sas.upenn.edu/wstudies/rethinkingsex/
3/06/09-3/08/09: Los Angeles, CA: Fusion, LGBT people of color film festival.
www.outfest.org/fusion.html
3/07/09: Chicago, IL: Chicago Takes Off. burlesque show to fight HIV/AIDS in the Chicagoland area. www.rideforaids.org
3/12/09-3/14/09: Storrs, CT: True Colors XVI Conference focusing on the needs of LGBTQ youth and their allies through a comprehensive annual conference. Programs on mental and behavioral health. www.ourtruecolors.org.
3/23/09: New York, NY: Legends, a reading of the infamous James Kirkwood comedy with Charles Busch, Lypsinka, Whoopi Goldberg and Bryan ("Mad Men") Batt. A benefit for Friends in Deed: The Crisis Center for Life-Threatening Illness. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/125984.html
3/25/09-3/29/09: Keystone, CO: OutBoard, annual LGBT snowboarding festival. www.outboard.org
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 with Sean Combs and Phylicia Rashad aired last year.
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: Hooray for Hollywood
1. Question: Name this 1969 film, which featured gay themes and was the first X-rated film to win the “Best Picture” Oscar. Its openly gay director made several mainstream movies with gay characters.
2. Question: Name this 1972 Oscar-winning film, based on a Tony-winning musical based on a gay author’s journals about his life in Europe. It won 8 Oscars. Its in-your-face decadence featured threesomes, transvestites and other club types.
3. Question: Name this actor, who received an Oscar for a breakthrough performance as a real-life transgender victim.
4. Question: Name this actor, who received an Oscar for playing an HIV-infected man who was the subject of discrimination in the first major Hollywood film to deal with HIV.
5. Question: Name this out singer and songwriter who got an Oscar gold with a song about going green. For over a decade, this artist's music has been top of the charts; the artist is a GLAAD Media Award winner, a cancer survivor, and a spokesperson for coming out issues.
The first person to submit the correct answers gets their name in print right here. Email your answers to: OnQYB@aol.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/
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