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QUEERtimes weekly
Philadelphia and Beyond
05.01.09 / v.2 - i.48 It's on the Qt! | |
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Simply click the links below to navigate QUEERtimes Weekly |
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This week's
queerNEWS
From around the world! |
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Publishers
Thom Cardwell
James Duggan
Editor
James Duggan
Editor-at-Large
Thom Cardwell
Associate Editor
Peter Lancaster
Copyright 2009
All Rights Reserved - BUCKmonkey, LLC
_______________ QUEERtimes is published weekly as a service for discerning queers and heterosexuals alike in Philadelphia and beyond.
Expressed opinions are that of the author(s) and do not represent the thoughts, feelings and /or opinions of any person, organization, company, staff member, or any of our advertisers.
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queerVOICE
Come to Philly - Help Make History
James Duggan
copyright 2009
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This past week in Philadelphia, the city that stole my heart,
we have been honored with hosting Equality Forum 2009, which has grown to
become the largest annual national and international queer civil rights forum
in the world. Equality Forum's guiding mission states that
they are an "organization whose mission is to advance national and
international gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) civil rights
through education."
During this year's annual Equality Forum, organizers presented more
then 50 programs and events that featured both nationally and internationally recognized panelists,
including Bishop Gene Robinson, Rabbi Linda Holtzman, San Francisco Mayor Gavin
Newsom, Hon. Michael Guest, former U.S. Ambassador to Romania, and Russian
queer rights advocates Ruslan Porshnev and Polina Savchenko, and many others.
I personally want to wholeheartedly congratulate all of
the people who made Equality Forum another hugely successful event,
especially considering our current economic times, and for all the
outstanding work this forum represents in their worldwide effort to help bring
about full civil rights for all queers.
This Sunday Equality Forum will bring their
weeklong event to a rousing climax with the first ever National Equality March
and Rally at Independence Mall. With a first amendment rights permit
issued by the National Park Service in hand the rally will kick off its
historic march around the mall at 2:30 p.m. Individuals and
groups wishing to march will gather at 2:00 p.m. at the march launch site
located at the Northeast corner of 5th &
Market Streets. The
march route will pass by notable sites such
as Benjamin
Franklin's grave, U.S. Mint, National Constitution
Center, Federal Reserve Bank, Federal Office Building,
U.S. Courthouse, Independence Visitor
Center, Gay Pioneers Historic Marker, Liberty Bell Center, and in front of
Independence
Hall where marchers will then rally on the mall.
Why the rally you may ask? According to
Equality Forum we are rallying because there are "no federal protections
against GLBT hate crimes or workplace discrimination," "gays and lesbians are
prohibited from serving openly in the U.S. military," "same-sex families are
denied the 1,138 federal marital protections and benefits," and "in 2008,
California, Florida, and Arizona joined 26 other states that
constitutionally prohibit gay and lesbian marriages."
The goals of the rally are to advance the "passage
of federal transgender-inclusive hate crimes legislation," "passage of federal
transgender-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)," "repeal of
'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)," "support for
GLBT health issues," "equal benefits for same-sex families," "same-sex marriage
equality," and "assurance that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens
are treated with equality in all matters."
If you are of the belief that all individuals are
created equal, if you know in your heart that the fight for queer
equality is just , and if you want the world to know
you demand these rights now, be loud, proud, and be at this rally! The historic nature
of this rally will be magnified by the masses that are
expected.
Trust me, the anti-queer hate groups have made their plans to disrupt, prevent,
and provoke us during our rallying
cause. Our numbers will dilute, disguise, and diminish whatever form these
feeble attempts will take. Be part of history this Sunday, along with the men and women that
represent over
100 participating organizations, and join us in making the National Equality March
and Rally a pivotal point in our fight for our civil rights. Show the world that we are mad as hell and if
they don't know why, TELL THEM!
Informational Links:
National Equality Rally
Equality Forum
Over 100 Organizations will March for Equality on
Independence Mall
National Lesbian and Gay Band Association to March for
Equality on Independence Mall
GLBT Murder Victims Remembered at National Equality Rally
at Independence Hall
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What It Looks Like From Here
Thom Cardwell
copyright 2009 |
 We're losing our "Golden Girls." On April 25,
Bea Arthur is dead at the age of 86.
Estelle Getty died last year. BUT,
at least, we still have the shows in reruns, and the characters of Dorothy and
Sophia live on. We also have the cast
album of "Mame" (1966) with her gal
pal in the theater and on Broadway, "her bosom buddy," Angela Lansbury. (Bea Arthur played a brilliant Vera Charles.)
 The lyrics celebrate in their own subtle way, lesbianism, though that's not the
relationship in neither the original classic film of "Auntie Mame" (1958) with the great Rosalind Russell nor the stage musical adaptation that Lansbury and
Arthur offered in their memorable performances. Remember the not so subtle
lines, "I'll be your Alice Toklas, if
you'll be my Gertrude Stein."
The stage actress Arthur brought to the small screen, larger than life
portrayals of women who were strong, inside and outside, always questioning the important issues, somehow, bringing a truly
feminine quality, despite her mannish size, to the characters of both Maude (a spinoff sitcom by Norman Lear
from his groundbreaking, "All in the  Family") and Dorothy, the most times unemployed, part time high school teacher,
who was a failure in love, with men who were never good for her or good enough
for her but she was forever seeking that perfect, idealized relationship.
Though I never personally met Bea Arthur, I always wanted to do so. Still, she
comes across so genuinely, so lovingly in "Golden
Girls" that I feel--curiously--deeply saddened, like I knew/know her and
that this week I have lost a close friend. And you?
 Edward Gorey--was he or wasn't
he? Probably, the world is not stopping, even momentarily, to ponder the
question of the sexual orientation of the quirky, peculiar, strange and
different illustrator and writer of small and odd shaped picture books with
minimalist story lines and plots, many of them about crimes and even murders
and other ghastly things, with titles like The
Gashlycrumb Tinies, The Doubtful
Guest, The Epiplectic Bicycle
and The Haunted Tea-Cozy.
As the surrealist artist Max Ernst
exclaimed: "Edward Gorey's work is
remarkable and mysterious." In an interview with Lisa Solod (Boston Magazine, September 1980), Gorey in answer to
her question about his sexual preferences, replied: "I am fortunate that I am
apparently reasonably undersexed or something. I know people who lead really outrageous
lives. I've never said that I was gay and I've never said  that I wasn't. A lot
of people would say that I wasn't because I never do anything about it. What
I'm trying to say is that I am a person
before anything else."
Of course, Gorey's favorite things--ballet, opera, fur coats and cats--might signal
something in his DNA that could possibly scream homosexual! And, at Harvard, he roomed for three years with
the big queer poet and celebrated art critic Frank O'Hara and one of his closest friends was the queer writer Edmund White. And, some of his heroes
were in-your-face queers of the century, George
Ballachine and Lincoln Kirstein.
But Gorey is now deceased so he can't do anything any way!
His signature art work lives on in exhibits like "The Art of Edward Gorey" currently on view at The Brandywine River Museum to May 17.
 In Philadelphia,
we're all about the Equality Forum,
more aptly named than ever, it seems to me. When you think about it, there are
Americans, like you and me, who support equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender people, queers like you and me, and then there are other Americans,
a little less like you and me, who, for a variety of reasons, oppose equality for
queer folks.
This weekend why not attend a panel, discussion or some other type of activity
that you might not normally do any other time of the year. Go ahead and show
your unity in our push for equality by participating in Equality Forum and the National Equality March and Rally in the
City of Brotherly Love
and Sisterly Affection where independence, liberty and justice for all was
founded. How empowering is that?
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Thom's Table on the Qt!
Thom Cardwell
copyright 2009
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Celebrate with Italian
 Happy Anniversary to owners Claire DiLullo and Toto
Schiavone of Moonstruck,
7955 Oxford Avenue, in the Fox Chase of
Philadelphia, who are marking their 30th year with the restaurant by offering
diners a tasting menu for $30, from May 18 to 22, featuring classic Italian
cuisine from the original menu, then-inspired by consulting chef and TV food
personality and cook book author, Marcella
Hazan. (The couple also owned and operated, Toto, for 10 years, in the
space now occupied by Estia, in Center
City.)
Originally opened as Ristorante DiLullo,
Moonstruck raised the standard for what restaurants served in the Greater
Northeast Philadelphia and the entire city by introducing their own homemade
pasta and gelato to diners for the first time.
Truly a lover's paradise of food, camaraderie and fine dining, Donna Ewanciw has served as executive chef
at Moonstruck for the past 27 years.
Twelve employees have been at
Moonstruck for over 25 years, 8 employees have been there for the
restaurant's entire history. Fifty men
and women met at the restaurant and got married. Beyond all this, 11 former employees have been mentored
and learned from their experience at Moonstruck, venturing out to open their
own restaurants. How's that for longevity and influence!
The dinner-only restaurant will
feature two dishes that have remained on the menu for three decades including,
tortelloni di biete, a ravioli dish with ricotta, mascarpone, fresh mozzarella,
and Swiss chard in a tomato basil "salsa cruda" and fegato di vitello
which is sautéed calf's liver with sage sherry sauce, sautéed onions, and crispy
smoked bacon.
Celebrate with Tequila
 If you're a fan of Cinco de Mayo (chef/owner Jose Garces certainly is), then you can
celebrate the Mexican holiday on Tuesday at Distrito, 3945 Chestnut Street, in the University
City section of Philadelphia, where with an exceptional four-course Don Julio Tequila Tasting Dinner at the
all-day Cinco de Mayo Party on May 5. The Don Julio Tasting Dinner will be
served at 7pm, featuring Garces' inspired Mexican fare paired with Don Julio's
award-winning 100% blue agave tequilas, for $60 per person.
Menu items include: Morita-Cured
Cobia, cured cobia loin with tequila-pickled melon, smoked steelhead roe and
sweet mustard emulsion; Huitlacoche Tamale, a traditional Mexican tamale with
hedgehog mushrooms and charred tomatillo salsa; and Artisan Colorado Lamb Loin
with sweet corn pudding, ramps and blood orange and jalapeno marmalade.
Diners will have two options for
Cinco de Mayo at Distrito. The first floor bar area will be transformed into
the "Cinco Lounge." DJ's will be spinning live music throughout the day. Guests
will enjoy $5 Mexican street food snacks like Esquites and Nachos Ignacio and
$5 drinks specials that includes all draught beers, sangria and Sauza Hornitos
margaritas. Guests will also be able to purchase raffle tickets for a
one-of-a-kind Cabo Wabo Guitar, signed by Sammy Hagar.
Upstairs, Distrito will offer a
Cinco Dinner Menu for $30 per person. The menu will include: Costillas, morita
chile barbecue spare ribs with chipotle coleslaw and peanuts, Huitlacoche
Tamale with wild mushrooms, sweet corn and Mexican crema and Coctel de
Mariscos, a "seafood cocktail" of hiramasa, tuna and salmon with jicama and
lime. To pair with the food, a Don Julio tequila flight will also offered for
$20 per person. For more information,
call 215.222.1657; or visit distritorestaurant.com
Celebrate with Wine
 Lovers of the grape unite! The Eighth
Annual Philadelphia Wine Festival, presented by Philadelphia Magazine and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board will return May
2, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., at the Philadelphia
Marriott Downtown at 1201
Market St. in Center City.
Tickets are $125 per person; the VIP tickets are $225 and doors open at 5pm for
the private tasting of select rare wines.
This year's organizers have attracted more
than 600 of the world's finest wines to participate in the grand tasting.
Wine aficionados will interact with
winemakers, executives and brand ambassadors of wineries from California,
Italy, France, South America,
Australia, New Zealand and beyond. Beyond the
varietals being tasted, there will also be an extensive selection of
collectable and highly allocated wines featured. Winemakers and local representatives will
be at tables all night and will be on hand to answer questions and discuss
their signature wines with guests.
Light fare from La Scala's, Ristorante Panorama, DiBruno Bros. and The Capital
Grille and desserts from The Restaurant School of Philadelphia will be offered.
An onsite silent auction will benefit The
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board will operate an on-site store featuring
wines sampled at the event, including many that are highly sought after, or not
available for purchase in Pennsylvania.
A concierge staff will assist with loading wine purchases to guests' cars.
Sponsors include: Lexus, Ten
Rittenhouse Square, The Restaurant School at
Walnut Hill and KYW Radio 1060. For tickets, call 800.595.4TIX;
or visit philadelphiawinefestival.com
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speakOUT on the Qt!
Copyrighted 2009
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This Week's Contributor: Christopher Rice
 An Open Letter to Amazon.com
To: Patricia Smith, Director
of Corporate Communication, Amazon.com
From: Christopher
Rice
Board President,Lambda Literary Foundation
5482
Wilshire Blvd, #1595, Los
Angeles,
CA 90036
info@lambdaliterary.org
Lambda Literary Foundation applauds Amazon.com for their quick and decisive
response to an apparent computer glitch that had the effect of marginalizing
large numbers of LGBT-focused books.
Within forty-eight hours of the problem coming to national attention, most of
the writers whose books were affected by this issue reported to us that their
sales rankings had been restored and their books could once again be found
through general searches.
There is no arguing with the speed and scope of Amazon's technical response to
this issue.
We are impressed and we are encouraged. But more importantly, we would like to
thank you for restoring the visibility of LGBT writers.
It is our conclusion that Amazon is committed to offering the customer the most
complete selection of titles available. This is good news to us. Inherent in
this business decision is a commitment to inclusion and diversity, and this
commitment can be used to serve LGBT writers who are often marginalized or
rendered invisible by homophobia and cruel market forces.
Prior to the events of Easter Weekend, Amazon had demonstrated business
policies that were inclusive of LGBT writers and their work. You remain a loyal
and generous customer to most of our LGBT small presses, and Book Surge, your
self-publishing instrument, has been a welcoming home to LGBT writers who have
yet to gain access to mainstream publishers.
That said, the Lambda Literary Foundation is excited about this opportunity to
open a dialogue with you about the numerous ways in which LGBT visibility is
compatible with your highly successful business model.
We were very pleased to hear that you are taking steps to prevent a repeat of
this problem, and we look forward to being a knowledgeable participant in this
process.
Christopher Rice, son of literary parents Stan and Anne
Rice, is the author of "Light Before Day" (2007) and other The New York Times
best-selling novels.
_______________________________________
[speakOUT on the Qt is
a guest opinion column. The author's opinion is their own and does not reflect the
opinions of QUEERtimes or our advertisers. Do you have something to say that
you wish to share with fellow QUEERtimes readers? Then submit your column by
Tuesday, noon, for publication in the Friday of the same week. The publishers
reserve the right to accept, decline or edit, for content, style, accuracy, and
space, from what you submit. Anonymous submissions will be rejected without
being read. A byline posting is required. Up to 450 word submissions accepted
which must be accompanied by your personal contact information for
verification.] Send copy to james@QUEERtimes.net]
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What They Said:
copyrighted 2009 |
 Queer writer Kevin Sessums ("Mississippi Sissy")
finally went for the jugular in a recent interview (Parade, April 26, 2009) with the Australian hunk of an actor, 40-year-old, Hugh Jackman,
who came out of his theatrical closet in his Tony award-winning portrayal of
queer fellow Australian singer/songwriter, the flamboyant Peter Allen in "The Boy from Oz." There have always
been rumors about Jackman's sexual orientation despite the fact that he's been
happily married to Australian actress Deborra-Lee Furness for 13 years and they
have two adopted children. This year Jackman surprised and delighted
audiences as the master of ceremony of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts &
Sciences' Oscar presentation. The action hero Jackman will soon appear on the
big screen in "X-Men: Origins: Wolverine," the fourth in the series.
But the actor yearns for respect in the industry and, more importantly, as a
human being. His serious side (and there's evidently plenty of that) is directed
by his 17 years of study at the School
of Practical Philosophy.
In answer to being queer, Jackman explained: "I'd be
happy to go and deny it, because I'm not. But by denying it; I'm saying there
is something shameful about it, and there's isn't anything shameful. The
questions about sexuality I find more here in America than anywhere else, because
it's a big hang-up and defines what people think about themselves and others.
It's not a big issue in Australia.".
____________________________
 Tommy
Hilfiger, the
American designer is still defending the preppy look. Though he didn't create
it, he certainly embraced in a stunningly ingenious way taking out of the
rarefied world that was its roots--the preparatory school of the elite classes
and the ivy league worlds of Harvard, Yale and Princeton--recreating
and recasting it to the urban world. He gave a generation of African-American
males a truly nationalistic and signature way of dressing, helping to define,
along the way, the hip hop world. He told the editors (Details, May, 2009): "I'm biased. I believe preppy is the way to go. It
references old world charm and conjures up every icon from Robert Redford to
James Dean. We should be proud of it. There's a comfort to preppy. When done well,
with great quality, it looks like a combination of Italian and English."
And, later, his advice on dressing well, Hilfiger said: "The best thing a man
can do is to be true to himself and be classy without being boring. The worst
thing a man can do is overdo it--trying too hard is a big non-no."
____________________________
 Hello, Dolly, but that's in Dolly
Parton, who will be greeted on Broadway when the musical stage version of
the film, "9 to 5," the 1980 comedy about "three underpaid women who take crazy
revenge on their pig of a boss" which starred Parton, alongside Jane Fonda and
Lily Tomlin, opens on the Great White Way! But the 63-year-old, five foot
one, big bosomed and big haired country girl from Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, won't be on the
boards but her songs will be. "I was just dumb enough to say yes" Parton told
Jesse Green (New York,
April 27, 2009) when owner of the rights, Showtime Entertainment president
Robert Greenblatt, approached her to write
the songs for "9 to 5." ("Life Doesn't Mean Much to Me," her first song,
was written at the age of five, Parton recalls.) The cast on Broadway will be:
Stephanie J. Block, Allison Janney and Megan Hilty. Greenblatt and the show's
other producers are counting on the Parton brand to help make the show a
blockbuster success. When Green asked Parton if she'll ever stop working--the
branding, the merchandising, the real estate, Dollywood, the touring, the
recording career, the female dynamo replied: "Never!
I want to be like one of those little fainting goats that get scared and then
just fall over. I want to go and go and then drop dead in the middle of
something I'm loving to do. And if that doesn't happen, if I wind up in a
wheelchair; at least I'll have my high heels on."
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Events on the Qt! |
This Weekend:
Equality Forum
National Equality March & Rally
May 9, 2009 (Saturday)
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QUEERtimes is published by BUCKmonkey, LLC, for the Greater Philadelphia Region's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning people and our loyal Hetero supporters. Expressed opinions are that of the author(s) and do not represent the thoughts, feelings and /or opinions of any person, organization, company, staff member, or any of our advertisers.
QUEERtimes, queerVIEW, queerARTS, queerVOICE, queerMUSIC, queerNEWS, BackTalk, Thom's Table, Thom's Table's Tips, Thom's World, Thom's Closet, What It Looks From From Here, Mister Philadelphia, Citizen Q, fueled by BUCKmonkey, "It's On the QT" and the Qt and Bm Logos are all Trademarks of BUCKmonkey, LLC.
Copyright BUCKmonkey - QUEERtimes 2009 All Rights Reserved |
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