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In this cult classic, sweethearts Brad and Janet, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a transvestite scientist. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker and a creepy butler. Through elaborate dances and rock songs, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation. In this special 25th anniversary revival this deliberately kitschy rock 'n' roll sci-fi gothic musical is more fun than ever.
Equinox Theatre Company is thrilled to present their highly anticipated premiere of Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show. Performances will be May 26 through July with performances on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 PM with a pay-what-you-can Industry Night on Thursday, June 29. There will also be two MidnightAudience Participation performances on Saturday, June 10 and Saturday, June 24. All other shows will be non-participatory.
Lambda Literary has announced the recipients of Lambda's Dr. James Duggins Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist Prizes. This year Lambda recognizes James Earl Hardy and Shani Mootoo.
The prize honors LGBTQ-identified authors who have published multiple novels, built a strong reputation and following, and show promise to continue publishing high quality work for years to come. Made possible through the generous support of the late Dr. James Duggins, the award includes a cash prize of $5000.
The judges for the Duggins Prize were award-winning poets Julie Enszer and Reginald Harris. In a joint statement they said of this year's winners:
"When we first peeked at the applicants for this award, we both shared a deep appreciation and admiration for Shani Mootoo's novels. They are fresh, exciting, and tell stories from the perspective of diasporic Caribbean LGBTQ life, an under-examined perspective in contemporary literature. From her first novel to the most recent, Mootoo's work as a novelist continues to present diverse, complex characters rooted in LGBTQ communities in powerful and provocative ways. While her current body of work--including the novels Cereus Blooms at Night, He Drown She in the Sea, Valmiki's Daughter, Moving Forward Sideways Like a Crab; her short fiction Out on Main Street: And Other Stories; and her poetry collection The Predicament of Or--seems like enough for a full career, we are hopeful that we and all readers will be greeted with many more works by Shani Mootoo."
Enszer and Harris continued, "James Earl Hardy established a category--the gay hip-hop love story--and all of our lives are better for it. We both have fond memories of encountering Hardy's novels and their unique point of view. Hardy is a vital chronicler of black LGBTQ/MSM life, writing with humor and a vibrant erotic edge. B-Boy Blues was the first in a series of books that chronicles the lives of African American gay men with charm, honesty, and audacity. Hardy's work in the B-Boy series--B-Boy Blues, 2nd Time Around, If Only For One Nite, The Day Eazy-E Died, Love the One You're With, and A House is Not a Home--helped a generation of queer people traditionally underrepresented in literature to see themselves on the page. Now his characters appear not only in novels, but also on the stage. Like Mootoo, Hardy has had a full career, but we anticipate his continued productivity as a writer and look forward to the new directions his imagination and creativity will take his readers." Hardy and Mootoo will be recognized as winners of the Duggins Prize at the 29th Annual Lambda Literary Awards ceremony on June 12th in New York City.
"The Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist prize had been on hold for two years since, sadly, Dr. Duggins passed away in 2015," said Tony Valenzuela, Lambda's Executive Director. "Jim was deeply proud of our LGBTQ literary community and would have been thrilled to see us honor, through his passion and generosity, these two extraordinary novelists, James Earl Hardy and Shani Mootoo. We congratulate them!"
Turner Classic Movies (TCM)
and FilmStruck will
celebrate Pride Month this June with extensive movie lineups dedicated
to exploring LGBT themes in cinema. Honoring a number of LGBT actors and
artists whose talents helped them overcome the
roadblocks they faced because of their orientation or gender identity,
TCM will spotlight
Gay Hollywood, hosted by entertainment journalist Dave Karger and author and historian
William Mann, every Thursday in June, and FilmStruck will present a
Gay and Lesbian Cinema showcase, hosted by film critic Alonso Duralde.
Actor and television personality RuPaul joined entertainment anchor Keltie Knight, actress Becca Tobin and fashion designer Jac Vanek on their popular LadyGang podcast this week. In the interview, he discussed how a psychic predicted his fame to his late mother while still in the womb, and the moment they knew the prophecy had come through, along with how his mom gave him the courage to start doing drag when he got in the game – the 1980’s.
On Wednesday, 24 May 2017, the Judicial Yuan, Taiwan’s highest court, ruled that restricting marriage to only a man and a women was unconstitutional, voting in favor of marriage equality. Taiwan has made history as the first Asian country to vote in favor of same-sex marriage. The 14 grand justices demanded that current laws be amended within 2 years to allow for same-sex marriage, in the event laws have not changed in that timeframe, couples will be able to register their marriage anyway.
Jessica Stern, Executive Director of OutRight Action International, commented on the win in Taiwan saying, “This is a great victory for Taiwan and for all of Asia. Taiwanese activists have been campaigning for years to achieve this outcome and all of their efforts have paid off in full. Amidst conservative pushback against LGBTIQ rights and equality in other parts of Asia, this is much welcomed good news and reason to celebrate. Love trumps hate.”
Jean Chong, OutRight Action International’s Program Field Coordinator, reflected on how this decision might impact the wider Asian region saying, “The historic ruling in Taiwan paves the way for other Asian countries to follow suit. It says you can be Asian, be valued for who you are and who you love, and be on the right side of history. Taiwan might just start a positive domino effect where we will see other countries like Japan, Vietnam, and Thailand following in these footsteps.”
The ruling did not clarify whether the civil law will be changed or whether a new law will be enacted to allow for same-sex couples to marry. Activists in the country have been advocating for a change in the civil code. Regardless of how the laws will be changed the ruling is a guarantee for marriage equality for Taiwanese citizens.
The SCRUFF sponsored charity event FORK ON THE LEFT, KNIFE IN THE BACK: BROADWAY ROASTS MICHAEL MUSTO, saw a glittery colliding of worlds on Monday, May 22nd at 8PM at the Actors Temple Theater, 339 West 47th Street, as Broadway and Nightlife personalities came together to honor the pop culture journalist and New York Nightlife fixture MICHAEL MUSTO. All proceeds from the event went to benefit Callen-Lorde, the vital community Health Center that provides sensitive, quality health care and related services targeted to New York's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities.
Roasters included film and television star ROSIE O'DONNELL (who will kicked off the evening and promised to match all the money raised that evening), Comedian and Emmy Award Winner BRUCE VILANCH (who hosted the event); Insult Comedian & Winner of Ru Paul’s Drag Race Season 6, BIANCA DEL RIO; Actress and Standup Comedian JUDY GOLD; Actor, Director and Producer MARKUS KELLE (NYC Nightlife Fixture); Singer, Songwriter and Tony Award Nominated Actress, ORFEH (Legally Blonde on Broadway); New York Post Journalist and Broadcaster, MICHAEL RIEDEL; Creator of one of the biggest dating apps in the world, SCRUFF, JOHNNY SKANDROS; Television Personality, Model, Author and Singer COUNTESS LUANN D'AGOSTINO (Real Housewives of New York City); Disco and Pop Singer RANDY JONES (The Village People); Season 5 Winner of Ru Paul’s Drag Race, JINKX MONSOON; Lola in Broadway’s Kinky Boots CRYSTAL DEMURE; Satirist and Viral Sensation RANDY RAINBOW; Sultry Siren of Avenue Q, LUCY THE SLUT (and her talented puppet handler ELIZABETH ANN BERG). DANIEL DEMELLO & NATHANIEL NOWAK produced the event, which was directed by RACHEL KLEIN.
Friends and family of the late Gilbert Baker will hold an activist march and rally against LGBTQ discrimination and bigotry in memory of the world-renowned artist who created The Rainbow Flag, the international symbol of LGBTQ pride and liberation. Baker, a lifelong LGBTQ and social justice activist, died suddenly March 31 in his Manhattan home. He was 65.
The political march and rally “Raise the Rainbow!” will take place, appropriately, on Flag Day, which is Wednesday, June 14, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. “Raise the Rainbow!” is a public event open to all. Attendees are invited to bring their own rainbow-themed banners, art pieces and protest signs.
The event begins at 6:00 PM with a rally at the Stonewall Inn, the bar whose 1969 riots sparked the modern LGBTQ movement. Stonewall is located at 53 Christopher Street. Speakers will celebrate the life, art and radical legacy of Gilbert Baker through personal recollections, resistance speeches and Baker’s own political speeches. At 8:00 PM, participants will march the length of Christopher Street to Christopher Street Pier, carrying banners created by Gilbert Baker. They will raise a Rainbow Flag and call for a rededication to progressive and radical activism, completing the tribute at 9:00 PM.
“Gilbert Baker belonged to all of us, and his sudden passing has been a shocking loss to millions across the world,” said event co-organizer and longtime friend Charley Beal. “There is no better way to honor his work and his memory than to hold this march and protest, to fight the LGBTQ oppression of Donald Trump’s administration. We must continue Gilbert’s work, because the struggle for LGBTQ liberation is not over.”
British singer, songwriter, and musician Leon Else releases the lyric video for his new single, “What I Won’t Do” today. The track was written by Else, long-time collaborator Joshua “JT” Thompson and Jasper Leaks, and produced by The Futuristics. “What I Won’t Do” follows previous singles “Dance,”“Black Car,” and “The City Don’t Care”.
After taking a break from the spotlight, Nelly Furtado is back as she headlines the first-ever Canada Pride in Montréal, presented by TD in collaboration with the Casino de Montréal. Nelly Furtado will give a 90-minute performance on Friday, August 18, 2017 at 9 pm on the TD stage in Parc des Faubourgs. This new outside venue for Montréal Pride, located at the entrance of the Jacques-Cartier bridge, will welcome up to 30,000 spectators for the occasion.
Nelly Furtado is highlighting her brand new album, “The Ride”, released at the end of March. She received a Grammy Award in 2002 and a BRIT Award in 2007, and made a name for herself with a number of hit songs including, “I’m Like a Bird”, “Turn Off the Light”, “Say It Right”, “Maneater” and “Promiscuous”. With a career spanning two decades, five studio albums, 16+ million records sold world-wide, and a plethora of accolades, Nelly Furtado is a proven chart-topping luminary.
Éric Pineault, founding president of Montréal Pride, is very pleased that Nelly Furtado accepted the invitation. “This is a really big win for us at Montréal Pride. Nelly Furtado is a Canadian artist of international stature with chart-topping hits that everyone knows! And with her new album, we get to discover a whole new side of Nelly. And most importantly, she’s always been an outspoken ally of our communities, caring about the struggles of the members of the sexual diversity and gender plurality. It’s a perfect match!”
In an interview that Nelly Furtado did a few years ago with Chicago Pride, she talked about her connection with the LGBTQ+ communities. “My gay and lesbian fans have been with me from the beginning. I think they could connect to the individualism and free-spiritedness that’s in the songs. A lot of my gay fans really like my early radio stuff, which I think are a lot about being true to yourself and not listening to what other people have to say about the choices in your life. Honestly, I’m not quite sure, but it’s great!”
From August 10 to 20, Montréal will be the host city for Canada Pride Montréal 2017, a special nation-wide edition of Montréal Pride. For the occasion, a new outdoor site will be inaugurated at Parc des Faubourgs with four times the capacity of Place Émilie-Gamelin, the festival’s primary venue in past years which will continue to play a major role during this year’s festivities. The complete program, which will include more than 150 activities, will be coming soon. The festival will of course include Montréal’s revered drag performers, with multiple events including a recognition of Mado’s 30 years of drag, a showcase of local performers at ILLUSION, and even a special show with Drag Superstars from RuPaul’s Drag Race.
In addition to the exciting daily shows, Canada Pride Montréal 2017 will also host two human rights conferences – a three-day national conference and a one-day international conference highlighting issues in the Francophonie – as well as a sports tournament, a Community day and the traditional Pride Parade.
Matthew Weiner, creator of the series Mad Men, has been
friends with Aimee Mann for what feels like a lifetime. So it’s no
surprise he happily agreed to sit down with her to discuss Mental Illness, her ninth studio album. Spoiler alert: There will be Trump.
The National LGBTQ Task Force has announced that Alexa Elizabeth Rodriguez, Ben de Guzman, Eliot Sutler, Rodney McKenzie, Jr., and Terrance Laney will be serving as host committee co-chairs for the 2018 Creating Change Conference. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the organizing and skills building conference is the nation's largest gathering of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and allied advocates. The conference is set to take place January 24-28, 2018 at the Marriott Wardman Park, 2660 Woodley Road N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008.
"We’re thrilled to have Alexa, Ben, Eliot, Rodney, and Terrance join us as host committee co-chairs for the 2018 Creating Change Conference," said Russell Roybal, Deputy Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force. "The annual conference would not succeed without the help of the passionate and tireless work of the host committee and volunteers. Creating Change will be celebrating 30 years of training LGBTQ advocates from across the nation and beyond. We invite LGBTQ and allied advocates in the DMV area to join the host committee and help us make the 2018 Creating Change Conference a huge success!"
Alexa Elizabeth Rodriguez is the Executive Director of Trans-Latina DMV. Born and raised in Usulután, El Salvador, she has worked with numerous health and advocacy organizations including Identity Inc., Mariposas Group, Empoderáte Youth Center, Casa de Maryland's HIV Program, La Clinica del Pueblo, Miss Maryland Latin@, Miss Translatina, the Latino GLBT History Project, and the National Trans-Latina Coalition.
Ben de Guzman has been a leading voice on issues of racial equity, immigrant rights, veteran affairs, and LGBTQ justice for more than 15 years. He's worked with organization such as the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project and the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA). A proud son of Filipino immigrants, de Guzman was born and raised in New Jersey and has called D.C. home for over 20 years.
Eliot Sutler is a civil rights and employment attorney and Black bisexual activist. Sutler founded the Bisexual Women of Color Collaborative (BiWoCC), co-led the 2016 Bisexual Institute at Creating Change, moderated the 2016 White House Bisexual Briefing, and sat on the 2016 Capitol Hill Bi Week panel. Currently, Sutler serves on the board of BiNet USA.
Rodney McKenzie, Jr. is the Director of Partnerships at Demos. With over 15 years of experience fighting for grassroots political power in marginalized communities, McKenzie previously directed the Academy for Leadership and Action at the National LGBTQ Task Force. He holds a Master of Divinity from the Union Theological Seminary.
Terrance Laney is the Deputy Director of the D.C. Mayor's Office of LGBTQ Affairs. Previously, he worked with Congresswoman Maxine Waters, the National Black Justice Coalition, BYP100, Rhode Islanders United for Marriage Equality, the 2012 Obama campaign, and the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club. Laney is an active member of the DC Gay Flag Football league and Unity of Washington DC Church.
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There is no secret that the focus of most people’s fitness is weight loss. In talking with clients, class participants, gym members and friends, especially in the LGBTQ community the first goal people tell me is that they want to lose weight, get lean/tone up or become more “defined”. However more often then not I see people who are discouraged and mad at themselves because they don’t see the progress that they expect and they numbers they want, especially in regards to weight loss. To not consistently be dropping pounds seems to be a sign of failure in the midst of all the sweat and exhaustion that has come from the countless hours at the gym. Are you not losing the weight or making the gains you expected? Let me tell you, it’s perfectly okay and it certainly doesn’t mean you should stop.
When I started my journey toward better physical fitness and on my quest to earn a spot on the Olympic Team, I was 50lbs heavier and very much motivated. However in the 5.5 years since I started, initially I used weight to measure my progress but after the first 4 months my weight had plateaued and I wasn’t seeing the kind of changes on the scale that I was. I didn’t even look very defined either. Now there are no “weight” standards per se to be on the Olympic Team since you are judged on your performance and abilities rather than you’re size and looks but that’s not to say that most Olympians don’t look really good and hot. It’s important to remember that their looks, body types and muscles, especially on swimmers (hence the sports popularity!) are a side effect of all the hard training and discipline that they put in to push themselves to compete at that level.
If you’re feeling discouraged because you are not seeing the weight loss or the definition or the progress you were expecting, think about it in different terms. Compare yourself now to where you were when you started, think about an exercise you really struggled with, pushups for example. How many pushups were you able to do the first time? How many can you do now? Do you take fitness classes? Zumba is a great example of a fitness class that many people have a hard time with at first. My first Zumba class I was so uncoordinated and felt like an idiot, I struggled to get the moves down and felt like a spider trying to dance. In addition it was a challenge just to keep up, thinking that my heart was going to rip out of my chest like a scene from Alien. When I went back again and took another class I found not only was I more coordinated and knew the moves a bit better but I could keep up better and found that I was actually getting into the dance. That is the definition of progress!
Being able to do even one more pushup than last time, that’s progress! Not having to stop and rest so many times, or even not having to rest as long as you did last time? Progress. Being able to maintain your balance for longer? PROGRESS! Your body is capable of so much more that limiting your definition of progress solely to weight loss only limits the capabilities of your body and mind.
Looking thin and hot won’t get you as far as the you’d like to think because at some point you’ll be expected to do more right? Not to say weight loss doesn’t have dozens of benefits but better overall physical fitness has been shown to improve people’s life in all other aspects. It’s important to see your fitness from a broader perspective and how your weight loss can tie into other aspects of your life. From helping a singer expand his vocal range to lifting people out of depression, being able to function more in daily life and get through the day with more energy. I’ve seen people go from not being able to run a mile without stopping to running a full marathon in less than a year and they did not lose a single pound nor do they look like a Greek god. What’s more interesting and motivating than how you look? How about those little things you can easily do now that was a struggle before. Think about how far you’ve come since you’ve started, all those little things that were outside your comfort zone and now people look at you in awe, impressed and wondering what your secret is. Most importantly it’s about accomplishing more than you ever thought possible.
Next time your feeling discouraged, don’t be mad because you only lost one pound or seemed to plateau and aren’t making progress because you are. It’s the little things that count right? :-)
David Smith is an exercise professional, athlete, blogger and owner of Stonewall Fitness.
Kate Shindle, President of Actors' Equity Association, the national labor union representing professional actors and stage managers, released the following statement in reaction to President Trump’s proposed budget for 2018. The new budget plan again proposes to close the National Endowment for the Arts. The new budget includes just enough funding for “necessary expenses to carry out the closure of the National Endowment for the Arts.”
“The NEA supports middle-class arts jobs in every congressional district in the country. The last thing we need to do is slash a program that creates and sustains jobs in small and regional theaters all over America. Thousands of our members have already spoken up about how the NEA is an economic lifeline in so many places. Members of Congress heard us loud and clear when they decided to maintain the NEA’s funding for the rest of 2017. As Congress takes up the new budget, Actors’ Equity will continue our fight to protect the NEA’s critical seed funding that helps productions get off the ground in small and regional theaters.”
Equity has historically fought for increased funding and recognition of the NEA. Over the last few months, Equity launched an aggressive campaign to preserve the NEA after media reports emerged that President Trump might slash funding for the program. Shindle passionately demanded that Congress fund the NEA in a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., the very same day President Trump announced his proposed budget. The following week, Equity councilors and rank and file members lobbied on the hill during National Arts Advocacy Day. Equity members across the country gathered to support the NEA, from rallies in New York to community discussions in Minneapolis. Equity gathered thousands of petitions from members and supporters of the arts asking Congress to fund the NEA. Equity also joined with a coalition that included 11 other national unions representing 4 million workers demanding that Congress fund the NEA.
