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queerVOICE
National Day of Silence
James Duggan
copyright 2010
|  Please understand my reasons for not writing today. I am
participating in the Day of Silence, a national youth movement protesting the
silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies
in schools.
My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by
harassment, prejudice, and discrimination. I believe that ending the silence is
the first step toward fighting these injustices.
Think about the voices you are
not hearing today.
What are you going to do to end the silence? |
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What It Looks Like From Here
Thom Cardwell
copyright 2010 | "Come Fly With Us"! That's the theme of Delaware HIV Consortium's annual
gala benefit, an exciting evening of award presentations, culinary offerings,
festive libations, a "Duty Free Shop" silent auction, Frank Sinatra crooners in
the "Las Vegas" Lounge, and, of course, dancing, and all for an important
cause, the continuing fight for a cure for HIV and AIDS. This evening begins with
"guest passengers" at 6:30 p.m., April 17, "boarding at the
main gate" in the Golden Belle Ballroom
at the Clarion Hotel-The Belle, in New Castle, Delaware, with the presentation
of the prestigious Red Ribbon Awards
at this year's 6th Annual WOW
Awards Celebration, recognizing
individuals, corporations and organizations for excellence in community
leadership, service, volunteerism and philanthropy in the field of HIV/AIDS
throughout Delaware. Presenters will include city, state and county
dignitaries representing the Diamond
State who will bestow the
well-earned honors, at 8 p. m., before the assembled guests. This year's lineup of honorees will include: the
Ally Award to Frank Hawkins of AIDS
Delaware; Community Award to Pat McDowell
of NAMI Delaware; Corporate Award to Danielle
Davis and Gilead; Guardian Angel
Award to Joyce Bunkley; Humanitarian
Award to Nick Mirkay; Impact Award
to Club Phred and philanthropic
members: Fred Dawson, Keith Ayars, Brian Daring, Kathy Layfield,
Mark Sisk, Gaetano "Vince" Vinciguerra and Ron Wintersgill, Kurt Brown,
Debbie Brown; Ryan White Award to Dr. Lisa Phillips; Volunteer of the
Year Award to Kathy Hilmer; and Visionary
Award to MAC AIDS Fund. "The Delaware HIV Consortium is
proud to honor these individuals and corporations for their excellence in
community leadership, service, volunteerism and philanthropy in the field of
HIV/AIDS," said Delaware HIV Consortium Executive Director Peter Houle. "Without their dedication,
compassion and support it would be difficult to achieve our mission. This is a
tribute to this year's honorees that make a difference in the lives of
thousands of men, women, children and families infected and affected by HIV
disease. We salute them." Despite the 16 years of dedicated work of The
Delaware HIV Consortium in the fight against HIV and AIDS, Houle pointed out
that "HIV/AIDS
continues to be a silent epidemic nationwide and in Delaware. It is alarming
that every nine and a half minutes
someone in the United States
becomes newly infected with HIV. In Delaware,
the rate of infection is still twice that of the national average." Although it is no
longer the number one killer of people between the ages of 24 and 44 the rate
of infection in Delaware is highest among
people of color, men and women over the age of 50 and young people under the
age of 24, according to studies in the Diamond State. Houle said that an
estimated one in every 246 Delawareans is HIV positive, meaning Delaware ranks among the
top ten states for the highest rate of HIV infection in the country. In
addition, it is estimated that 25
percent of all HIV-positive individuals are unaware of their infection/status. The Center of Disease Control
in Washington, D. C., currently estimates that more than 56,300 Americans continue
to become newly infected with HIV in the United States every year. Obviously there's still
a lot of work ahead of The
Delaware HIV Consortium and AIDS nonprofit groups across the country. That's
why such benefit events still need to planned and we all need to support their
efforts in whatever way we can. I hope to see you there. For more information, call 302.654.5471; or visit delawarehiv.org.
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 | speakOUT on the Qt
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"Rent" Star Anthony Rapp to perform at
Equality FORUM'S SUNDAY OUT! At The Piazza
Anthony Rapp | Anthony Rapp, who played the role of
Mark in the Tony Award-winning musical and film version of Rent, will perform at SundayOUT!
At The Piazza on May 2. Rapp will be the special guest performer in the
Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus (PGMC) Cabaret. A professional singer and actor
since the age of nine, Rapp has appeared in numerous films, television series
and Broadway shows. He received an Outer Critics Circle award and a Drama Desk nomination
for his Broadway debut in Precious Sons
with Judith Light and Ed Harris.
SundayOUT!
At The Piazza in Philadelphia Northern Liberties from noon to 7 p.m. will
feature seven hours of entertainment, including the Philadelphia Freedom Band;
a fashion show; "Gays in Hollywood" presented by TLA; dance performances; and several
national recording artists, courtesy of Q102 and My 106.1; along with Rapp and
PGMC.
SundayOUT!
at The Piazza will take a GLBT festival to a new plateau," said Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director, Equality Forum.
The Piazza offers free parking and easy access by car and public
transportation. There will be a free shuttle from Knock in the gayborhood, at
the corner of 12th & Locust Streets, every 15 minutes.
SundayOUT! At The Piazza | Equality
Forum 2010 with Africa as the international
focus will be our best-ever," said Lazin. The weeklong national and
international summit will be held from Monday, April 26 to Sunday, May 2 in Philadelphia. There is no
registration fee and all substantive panels are free.
The
week kicks off with the 11th Annual Gay and Lesbian Art Exhibit
featuring preeminent photographers Richard Renaldi and Marc Yankus, in
collaboration with The University of the Arts. The exhibit, showcasing
Richard Renaldi's "Fall River Boys" and Marc Yankus's "When You Were There" is
free and open to the public all week long.
Equality
Forum 2010 features over 45 programs, parties and special events. Among the programming highlights are: Obama
GLBT Appointees, A Conversation with Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, National
Sports Panel, National Legal Panel and Africa as the international focus.
The
Brian Sanders Dance Tribute on Friday, April 30 pays homage to one of the dance
world's most innovative young choreographers and founder of the nationally
acclaimed JUNK. Join Equality Forum at the Merriam Theatre as dancers from The
University of the Arts perform several pieces choreographed by Brian Sanders, a
faculty member at the UArts School of Dance.
The
International Equality Dinner on Saturday, May 1at the National Constitution
Center is Equality Forum's annual signature event. David Boies and Ted Olson will
receive with the 15th annual International Role Model Award and CNN will
be honored with the 8th annual International Business Leadership
Award. U.S. Senator Bob Casey and Governors Ed Rendell are the Honorary Dinner Chairs and
will attend.
As
always, there are plenty of opportunities to celebrate at Equality Forum 2010,
with parties at Stir, Tavern on Camac, Q Lounge, Sisters and three SundayOUT! Parties
in Northern Liberties.
For
a complete schedule of events, visit equalityforum.com.
comments@QUEERtimes.net
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 | Thom's Table on the Qt!
Thom Cardwell
copyright 2010
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 Does brunch
(one of my favorite meals) have to be relegated exclusively to Sundays? Not if you're talking about Oyster House, 1516 Sansom Street, the popular raw bar
and restaurant in Center City that has been a longtime Philadelphia family owned-and-operated
seafood dining destination but recently launched Saturday Brunch, perhaps a new tradition.
"There are
not many, if any, other restaurants in the city that offer some many seafood
selections for brunch and we're very proud of our delicious new menu," stated
proprietor and third-generation owner Sam Mink.
"Whether our guests want oysters on the half shell and champagne or shrimp and
grits, we've created a great assortment of dishes to satisfy them."
Highlights of the scrumptious menu include: Johnnycakes,
shellfish sausage and maple crème fraiche; Oyster Scrapple, sunny side eggs, horseradish crème fraiche and cocktail
sauce; Smoked Salmon and Deviled
Eggs with smoked paprika, Arugula salad and rye toast; Shrimp and Grits with poached egg and
spicy shrimp sauce; Oyster Omelet
with sauce Newberg; and Smoked
Trout Hash with Yukon gold potatoes and fried eggs. These menu items are
priced in the $11 and $12 range and served from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., every Saturday.
(A foodies
alert: the oyster scrapple, also
available a la carte for $4, was
the subject of a recent Philadelphia Inquirer article,
which called it "nicely seasoned...surprisingly crisp, light and refreshingly
bright with a gentle hit of horseradish cream." The oyster scrapple is
seasoned with fennel seed and cayenne pepper, blended with buckwheat and
cornmeal, then cooked polenta-style in oyster juices. Crisp on the
outside and creamy on the inside, it is pan-fried and served with a sprinkle of
sea salt. Yummy!)
Not to
mention that oysters are mythically considered one of Mother Nature's "aphrodisiac" so whose arguing if you're stimulated
both from your culinary and your physical reaction? Certainly, not me!
For more information,
call 215.567.7683; or visit oysterhousephilly.com
 Without
question another of the city's new dining destination is along East Passyunk Avenue (EPA), between
Dickinson and Morris, where there has been an ever-growing and diversity of
cuisine choices expanding for at least the last two years.
So it's not
surprising that the merchant's association in that part of South
Philadelphia is hosting new special events throughout the year.
To celebrate spring, there are 20 restaurants being featured in "Flavors of the Avenue," noon to 5 p.m., on April
24, all along East Passyunk
Avenue, under the tents where restaurants will be
offering samples of their signature dishes and drinks. Wine, beer, specialty
cocktails and coffee are also included, no matter if it's sunny or rainy.
Chefs and restaurateurs
participating come from: Adobe Cafe, Avenue
Cheese Shop, Black N Brew, Cantina Los Caballitos, Cellini's, Chiarella's, Da
Vinci Ristorante, El Zarape, Fond, Fuel, Isabella Pizza, Izumi, Le Virtu, Lucky
13, Mamma Maria's, Paradiso, Ray's Happy Birthday Bar, South Philly Bar &
Grill, Stogie Joe's, and Tre Scalini.+
Organizers of "Flavors" said that patrons can also
enjoy free live music by Chad &
Willy, the "Flavors of Fashion" show and a craft market by Crafty Balboa at the Fountain.
Tickets are only $20 per person in advance; $25 at
the door, $10 for children under 12 and free for children under 2 years of age.
As an extra perk, all advance ticket purchasers will be
entered to win a "Dine Around EPA" package.
For information, visit visiteastpassyunk.com/flavors
 Avalon
Restaurant, 312 South High Street, West Chester,
Penn., is one of 12 dining destinations participating in this year's West Chester Restaurant Week, April
18-14.
The rustic Italian BYOB
has created a special, three-course prix fixe menu that will offer such choices of appetizers as: baked goat
cheese, oven roasted tomatoes, olive crisp, sauteed PEI mussels, chorizo,
garlic white wine, mixed green salad, poached pear and candied pecans, bruschetta
duet, or white anchovies, baby Arugula,
roasted peppers, balsamic cipollini onions: entrees: baked manicotti with lamb Bolognese, fish du jour,
eggplant caponata, panko pine nut crumb, saba glaze, pork duet, shoulder and
sausage, roasted peppers, plum tomatoes, seafood stew, cod, clams, shrimp
chorizo, white beans butter poached shrimp, spinach and white beans, lemon
white wine, braised beef short ribs with creamy polenta or seared salmon, sauteed
baby spinach, Meyer lemon and green olive relish; and a choice of desserts, made fresh on-site daily.
West Philadelphia
native Chef Brandt-Lee emphasizes
simple bold flavors from exceptional ingredients. He uses seasonal ingredients
harvested, when possible, from local farms including Pete's Produce, Bluemoon
Acres and Shellbark Hollow.
For more information, call 610.436.4100; or visit avalonrestaurant.net
comments@QUEERtimes.net
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| Thom's World
Thom Cardwell
copyright 2010
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So you wanna make a movie and bring it to Hollywood? Well, you'll need to know a few things before you
realize your dream. Howard Rosenman | And this weekend Hollywood is
coming to Philadelphia, when famed producer Howard Rosenman of "Father of the Bride," "Buffy the Vampire
Slayer," "Stranger Among Us," "You Kill Me," "The Main Event," "Family Man,"
among others, and including two important and acclaimed documentaries in the
canon of queer cinema, "Celluloid Closet"
and "Common Threads: Stories from the
Quilt," will be "pitching" the "Hollywood Sell," what it really
takes to get a film made in Tinseltown.
Rosenman's presentation is from an insider's point of view, from which he
brings three decades of bringing stories to the screen, as "one of the most
prolific and well-known producers in film and television." You'll definitely get your money's worth from
attending his workshop and conversation, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 17, at Stein Auditorium/Nesbitt Hall, 3215
Market St., at Drexel University, in
University City, Philadelphia. Winner of several awards, including an Academy Award and two Peabody Awards, Rosenman will also
share with the audience his lively insights and exciting adventures with
screenwriters, actors, directors, producers and anyone who adores film and
television. So, we're talking many of the people who Rosenman has worked with: Barbara Streisand, Steve Martin, Melaine
Griffith, Joss Whedon, Nicholas Cage and Sir Ben Kingsley, to name a handful. Tickets are $50; $40 for Philadelphia Cinema
Alliance/Philadelphia QFest 2010 members with the code, PHILLYCINEMA; and $30 for students with proper ID with the code STUDENT. Tickets may also be purchased
at the door. Tonight, on behalf of the Philadelphia Cinema
Alliance and in conjunction with the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, I'll be hosting a "MEET and GREET with Howard Rosenman," 5-7 p.m., Friday, April 16,
at The Prime Rib, The
Radisson-Warwick Hotel, 17th and Locust Sts., off Rittenhouse
Square, with a cash bar with Happy
Hour specials, complimentary appetizers, and our own private room. Sorry, it's a social event, so no pitching your
film projects tonight! Otherwise, we'll look forward to seeing you there
and at the workshop! For more information
and tickets, visit thehollywoodsell.com.
comments@QUEERtimes.net
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What They Said and Did!
Thom Cardwell
copyrighted 2010
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On speaking about TRANSform Me, the reality VHI
show about makeovers with a twist, host Laverne Cox, the first African  American
transgender woman to appear on television says that real beauty isn't simply
skin deep:
"The message
of the show is about each woman-each person, really-deciding who they want to
be in the world and how they feel inside being reflected on the outside. The
whole concept is that we've used, as transgender women, our own transition. And
I know for me personally, I had a vision for myself that started pretty much
from who I knew I was on the inside and manifesting that outwardly. So that's
what we try to do for all the women." (OutFrontColorado, April 7, 2010).
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On reviewing the last 30 years as a queer reporter Michael Bronski
reflects on what has happened and perhaps is happening on the  LGBTQ rights
struggle:
"There is
nothing wrong with gay people wanting to get married and have kids, but it is a
step in the wrong direction for a large chunk of the community's economic and
emotional resources to be channeled into one issue, especially an issue that
has proven so unpopular with the majority of Americans. It is also a mistake to
view the fight for same-sex marriage outside the context of the last 30 years .
. . Queer activism has not died out. Gay activists are fighting against
discrimination and for the right to join the military, as well as for same-sex
marriage-but the basic rules of the game have changed, and now, rather than
fighting for personal freedom, we are fighting for personal freedom, we are
fighting for the illusion of community acceptance." (Guide, April 2010)
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On discussing "The Moonlight Earth," the recently
released, fifth novel from queer author Christopher Rice,
and what where the  central story came about:
"I knew that
I wanted to write a book that centered on a relationship between a straight
female and her gay sibling. I'd also heard a rumor about a certain Middle
Eastern king being gay and it inspired a vague general story about some sort of
hot young gay guy from the U.S. who goes over to the Middle East and gets
involved in some weirdness from which his siblings have to extract him. As I
began researching the specifics of it I found the story along the way. I
traveled to Thailand and Hong Kong because I knew that's where I wanted the bulk
of the story to be. I knew that the gay Middle Eastern character was actually
leaving the Middle East to misbehave in
another part of the world and it made sense for the story, I also researched
planes and the life of flight attendants and what they do. I've always been
kind of a plane geek so that was fun for me." (RAGE monthly, April 2010)
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