I have been asking myself if things have changed for the LGBT people.  I think of the Stonewall riots of 1969 at Christopher Street - for the first time in American history the "homosexual" community fought back.  They fought for places to be open about their sexual orientation without fear of being arrested.  I think of the Act Up folks who made it so difficult to ignore them and their concerns.  Their actions spurred the needed dollars for AIDS awareness, relief and treatment.  To me, the LGBT people are still struggling for basic rights.  We are still vulnerable.

Anti-gay activists have adapted to the changing political landscape and use different tools to oppress the LGBT community.  California's Proposition 8 overturned the California Supreme Court's ruling that same-sex couples had a constitutional right to marry.  The definition of marriage is restricted to opposite sex couples.  Proposition 8 wording and the pro-arguments preyed on fears and covert bigotry - legalization of same-sex marriage would require teachers to tell students, even kindergarteners, that same-sex marriage is the same as opposite-sex marriage.  The California Constitution was amended by voter initiative that required a simple majority to take away a basic civil right from the LGBT community in CA.

Equality Forum held a National Same-Sex Commitment Ceremony to create "awareness of the 1,138 federal marital benefits denied to same-sex couples as a result of marriage inequality, including those legally married in Massachusetts, Vermont, Iowa, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Washington, DC."

Florida's 1977 law against gay adoptions allows "us" to be foster parents, but does not allow us to adopt.  In Florida for 5 years, Frank Martin Gill and his partner raised two half brothers removed from an abusive home.  A Florida judge approved the couple's 2008 adoption of the brothers, ruling that Florida's ban on gay adoptions was unconstitutional.  But, the state of Florida appealed that decision and is awaiting a ruling from Florida's Third Court of Appeals.

Lt. Dan Choi is waging a one-man battle against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."  He walks in the same path as those at Stonewall, and as Harvey Milk. He tells the LGBT People to demand human dignity and to not take a back seat.  Lt. Choi, I salute you.

The fight for Civil Rights requires many approaches, and one approach takes less effort than throwing a high heel at a police officer, or chaining oneself to the White House fence -- Vote.  Today the far-right is getting "Far-righter."  Think of the Tea-baggers, and their growing power within the Republican Party. 

Hey, whatever happened to the Philadelphia Gay Lesbian Theater Festival (PGLTF) that has been held for the past seven in the spring. Sadly, the rumors are true that PGLTF has closed its doors.

On their web site, PGLTF founder/artistic director, Matthew Cloran, wrote: "It is with a heavy heart that I tell you that PGLTF has closed its doors. Honestly, it's been one of the most difficult decisions I've ever had to make. I love producing our GLBT stories more than anything, however, it's been extremely difficult to keep things running, and maintain the quality of our work that is so important to us."

The posting was in March. The last sign of life for the now defunct arts nonprofit.

Happily, The Traverse Arts Project of which I and James Duggan of QUEERtimes serve as advisory board members and the online publication is proud media sponsor of the festival again this year is producing "Festivale! The 2010 Philadelphia GLBT Arts Festival" that will return, June 6-13, with an impressive lineup of theater, comedy, improvisation, dance, music and other lively queer arts performers and preformances. The brainchild of co-directors Desiree Hines and Mark Dahl the official announcement of this year's lineup will be made soon. So look for all the details in next week's Qt!

For something completely outraageous and alternative, this weekend it's all about "The Seven Deadly Seas: Music, Burlesque and Pirate Theater"in Philadelphia, May 14-16, with performance of "Waylaid & Hornswoggled" on board the tall ship, Gazela, at Penn's Landing, Columbus Blvd at Market St. Tickets are $20.

For those of you who need a queer theater fix right away, GayFest NYC 2010: New Plays for Our Times  continues now through June 6, with performances held at the Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex, 312 West 36^th St., in Manhattan. For tickets, call 866.811.4111.

The lineup includes: Mother Tongue, written by F. J. Hartland and directed by Margarett Perry, a world premiere, the play runs from now to May 23; The Legacy, written by Adam Siegel and directed by Martin Casella, a New York premiere, and runs from May 20 to June 5; and This One Girl's Story, inspired by the proud life of Sakia Gunn, book by Bil Wright, music and lyrics by Donna McClain-Freeney and dirercted by Devanand Janki. Proceeds from the festival will benefit the Harvey Milk High School of New York.

The irrepressible queer munchkin Leslie Jordan continues his entertaining one-man show, My Trip Down the "Pink" Carpet, now through July 3, at the Midtown Theater, 163 West 46^th St., Manhattan, tickets available at TheaterMania.com.

There's plenty more queer theater filling the theaters across New York City.

Of course, there's lots of buzz about The Kid, a new musical based upon a 1999 memoir about a gay couple adopting a baby. The play is actually based upon the book by none other than Dan Savage. The book for the musical is by Michael Zam, lyrics by Jack Lechner, music by Andy Monroe, musical staging by Josh Prince and directed by Scott Elliott. Presented for a limited engagement by The New Group, "The Kid" is being performed nightly at Theatre Row, 410 West 42th St., Manhattan. For tickets, call 212.279.4200.

In The Irish Curse, soap opera stud Austin Peck is playing a gay cop "who joins a support group for men frustrated by their less-than-prodigious endowments," now through May 31, at the Soho Playhouse, 75 Vandam Studio, between Sixth Ave. at Varick St., Manhattan. Tickets are $59.

White's Lies, the outrageous new comedy, definitely has its fans, enjoying a mostly shirtless hottie Tuc Watkins in the lead with notables Betty Buckley and Peter Scolari, that is now being performed at New World Stages, 340 West 50^th St., Manhattan.

What They Said and Did!