Friday, February 29, 2008

Ellen declares I AM NOT A SECOND CLASS CITIZEN





In an surprising departure from the usual light daytime tone on her show, today ELLEN DENEGERES took a few moments to comment on the recent senseless slaying of 14 year old Lawrence King in Oxnard by a fellow student, brought on by homophobia.

"Larry was not a second class citizen. I am not a second class citizen," Ellen declare, "It's okay to be gay".

Ellen went on to talk about messaging in the media, and urged everyone to put an end to gays as a punchline in jokes in television, film and radio (as in last month's ridiculous jokes from Fox radio after the Heath Ledger death).

At the end, the audience - some in tears - gave her a standing ovation in support.

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you'll remember my post on the senseless killing of Sean Kennedy 8 months ago. More info on that, and for a similar rant (only with vulgar language) and info on how you can get involved: WHEN WILL WE SAY ENOUGH

Click on that link there and you can also listen to some examples of how gays are punchlines in the media.

Kudos Ellen for standing up for our rights. Kudos.

A Good Weekend to be a Lesbian




Hello Darlings,

I've been absent for a while because I am the last wave of human animals in the US to contract the current PLAGUE going around. You know the one I'm talking about since almost everyone I know has had it. After a week, chained to my couch, I thought I was getting better until I caught a peasant painting a black X on my front door.


Needless to say, I went out last night. I attended the GLAAD party (gearing up for the big Glaad Awards this season) and Platinum at East/West. What a night! Everyone was out. If I get some photos sent to me, I'll put them up (I myself could not bare to bring my camera since the mere motion of pushing down the little button would have sent my dilapidated body into a coma for sure).


Since I could barely keep my head up last night, I noticed almost everyone at the GLAAD event at ELEVEN was wearing very cool black shoes. My friend Jovy took a photo. Mine are the Kenneth Cole's on the left.

Anyway, onto the gossip. Then the unbelievable line up of dyke-apalooza that is this weekend in Los Angeles.

Gossip item number one:
A few little birdies told me that after something like 17 years together, Robin and Sandy have broken up. If you don't know who I am talking to, please reference Dawn and Cyndi on THE L WORD.

First, apologizes to the gay men for this lesbionic blog entry...but the world is your gay oyster, so let us sisters have a little fun.










YOUR HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA - FOR LESBIANS



First, tonight... you cannot miss this!

Speaking of GIRL BAR (owned by Sandy Sach's), tonight as part of Poppy Champlin's comedy night, it's the LESBIAN SHORT FILM NIGHT.


I've seen most of these and it's going to be hysterical. Two of them star the hysterical Jane Lynch: THE FRANK ANDERSON PROJECT and LOVE IS LOVE.

The other is made by Poppy herself and is about the upcoming Sappho Bacchanal, The Dinah Shore Weekend.

The third is by the infamous Karey Dornetto, creator of the hysterical HI, I'M ILENE. So I'm sure it's going to be wrong, wrong wrong.



The party starts at 8 pm and costs a mere $5. Click on the flyer to enlarge for details.

Get there by 7:30 for a table, and there are drink specials starting at 9 pm, I believe.







Oh, I shoulda mentioned this first, but today - FRIDAY - Ellen is going to speak out on her show about the recent school shooting of Lawrence King.


For the first time...I think EVER...since starting her talk show she openly claims "I'm GAY AND IT'S OKAY".

Lawrence King was shot a few weeks ago in Oxnard by a fellow 14 year old boy who he had just asked to be his Valentine. This incident reiterated the need to eradicate the constant "fag-as-a-punch-line" bull shit in this country (please reference that horrible John Gibson.

Ellen speaks to that as well and I have to say..."Thank you, Ellen!" Thank you for taking time out from your show to reiterate this.

Back to the partying. (Please, you know we cannot celebrate without first having consciousness about our civil rights, mm-hm, please right?).

So after the show tonight at Girl Bar, think about stopping by O BAR for Shannon Kempa's new upscale girl night there. Bottle service available and PINK vodka is the sponsored liquor there. If you haven't had that yet it's like liquid CRACK since it's not only caffeinated, but herbalized as well.

For those of you with some tread worn on your shoes, O BAR used to be FELT, where Linda and Michelle of FUSE had the infamous and undoubtedly best lesbian night ever anywhere in the universe on Tuesday nights. Seriously, I think every woman I slept with in the '90's I met at that night!

Okay, speaking of Linda and Michelle, FUSE is teaming up with ILENE CHAIKEN and OURCHART to bring you life imitating art. Life imitating SHOWTIME'S night time sudsy lesbo soaper THE L WORD actually.

FYKE NIGHT!
There will be NO GUEST LIST for this event.
THIS WILL BE A SOLD OUT EVENT SO BUY YOUR TICKETS EARLY FRIDAY AT TRUCK STOP.
TICKETS WILL BE SOLD FOR $20.
Tickets can also be purchased at the door the
night of the event.
$10 between 9:00-9:55pm
$20 after 9:55pm
YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS!


Okay, if oil wrestling isn't really up your lesbian alley, you have the choice of two FABULOUS lesbians plays that have both received wonderful reviews:


STAY FOREVER: The Life and Music of Dusty Springfield

For more information and tickets click here.

Dynamic singer/ actress Kirsten Holly Smith brings the great Dusty Springfield vibrantly to life through song and monologue in the world premiere of STAY FOREVER!

Thurs/Fri/Sat at 8 p.m. Sundays at 7 p.m.
The Renberg Theatre, Village at Ed Gould Plaza
1125 N. McCadden Pl.
Los Angeles, CA 90038





PROVE IT ON ME


KJAZZ is sponsoring a wine and cheese reception this Friday night - but the show has been extended due to extremely good reviews until March 30th, so catch it any night!



If you're still alive on Sunday, don't forget to catch the new episode of THE L WORD at Falcon - two showings, one at 7 and one at 9 pm. See it with 400 of your closest lesbian friends under the stars.

If you know anyone at IN MAGAZINE, you should call them and tell them to get you into the 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY, also happening Sunday night.

Kisses,

The Lesbian Diarist

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Ellen's Response to Gay School Shooting

Tune in to tomorrow's ELLEN SHOW to catch her serious opening when she comments on the recent shooting of out gay student Lawrence King in Oxnard.  

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

I'm Lost

Dear JJ Abrams,

As a New Year's resolution might I suggest perhaps answering more questions than raising them?  I'm still wondering what the black smoke means and how polar bears got on the island.

Also, just wondering why there aren't any gay survivors.  I mean, weren't there flight attendants on that plane?

With all these new questions, new mysteries and new characters...please don't tell me this will all end with Jack waking up from a dream in a bed next to Suzanne Pleshette or worse, in a Victoria Principal's shower.  Or god forbid, with all the survivors looking up to the sky only to see Fonzie jumping a motorcycle over the island.

Sincerely,

The Lesbian Diarist

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Lesbian Doc Wins Oscar

I have to admit, it was not a very GAY Oscar's this year.

The only two real gay moments were FREEHELD winning the best short subject award and Scott Rudin thanking his partner.

I was watching the ceremony with a group of lesbians, and we are all slightly disappointed that the FREEHELD filmmakers, two straight women, had to reiterate more than once that they were NOT gay and were married. All they would have had to do was thank their husbands. Sheesh.

Meanwhile, this is an absolutely astounding and heart breaking documentary. I caught it up at the Fresno Reel Pride festival and actor Steve Callahan (EAST SIDE STORY) and I left the theatre and literally held each other and dried our tears after the screening.

I've included a description of this doc below from their web site. Also try to catch FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO in your travels, another fantastic doc.

Here were the highlights of my Oscar viewing. These are real quotes from real lesbians.

Lesbian Comment #1: "I'm glad they nominated Javier Bardem just so we can look at him."
Lesbian Comment #2: "Jennifer Garner has had face work. For sure."
Lesbian Comment #3: "George Clooney is so yummy, I just want to lick his face."
Lesbian Comment #4: "Oh no, Jennifer Hudson, the girls do NOT look good in that dress."
Lesbian Comment #5: "Helen Mirren is still smoking hot." "But she's fat." "Darling, at 65 one is allowed to have some hips, k, this isn't the fucking L Word."
Lesbian Comment #6: "Johnny Depp is hot."
Lesbian Comment #7: "Has John Stewart said anything funny yet?"
Lesbian Comment #8: "They made a movie about Edith Piaf?"


FREEHELD follows the desperate battle of Lieutenant Laurel Hester, a dying lesbian New Jersey police officer who fights to transfer her pension to her domestic partner, Stacie Andree. As her elected officials, The Freeholders, stand firmly against her, and the town explodes around her, Laurel races against time to provide for the love of her life -- before it is too late. Amidst the media circus surrounding Laurel and Stacie, Wade was alone in being granted constant access to the couple, imbuing the film with an intimacy unavailable to the mainstream media. For the last ten weeks of Laurel's life, Wade lived with Laurel and Stacie, slept in their guest room, stayed up late with them, and sat in the hospital with them. Laurel wrote Wade into her Last Will and Testament as the only person allowed to film her memorial service. WINNER - Special Jury Prize - SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL WINNER - Audience Award - BOSTON FILM FESTIVAL

Monday, February 25, 2008

Upcoming Events





2008 HRC Gala committee at the Annual HRC Los Angeles Gala.

Awardees
Anne Hathaway - Ally for Equality Award
Bravo – Corporate Visibility Award
Point Foundation – Community Service Award
Cat Cora – Hero Visibility Award
Andrea Meyerson, Women on a Roll – Local Hero Award
Melissa Crutcher – Hero Courage Award

Keynote Speaker
Jesse Brune
Ricki Lake
Christian Siriano
George Takei
Nick Verreos

Special Guests
TBD

Ticket Information
$275 - Regular Tickets
$400 - VIP Ticket (includes: preferred Seating,& VIP Cocktail Reception)

To purchase tickets:

Online - CLICK HERE to purchase tickets online via Box Office Tickets

Mail or Phone - Please contact Robin Winston, Levy, Pazanti & Assoc., at 310-201-5033 or Robin@lpaevents.com or Download our fax/mail order form.
For information on the HRC Dinner click here

For tickets to Sondheim, click here.



The next Smoking Cocktail Mixer is March 19th.

8 pm - 10:00 pm (but stay 10 pm - 2 am for HOTEL)
The Standard Hotel, WeHo
Purple Lounge.

EXTENDED:

theatre
STAY FOREVER: The Life and Music of Dusty Springfield

For more information and tickets click here
.

Dynamic singer/ actress Kirsten Holly Smith brings the great Dusty Springfield vibrantly to life through song and monologue in the world premiere of STAY FOREVER!

Febuary 7-24 Thurs/Fri/Sat at 8 p.m. Sundays at 7 p.m.
The Renberg Theatre, Village at Ed Gould Plaza
1125 N. McCadden Pl.
Los Angeles, CA 90038

"Kirsten Holly Smith is breathtaking in this incredible piece about one of my all-time favorite performers."
-Co-producer Jorja Fox (CSI:Crime Scene Investigation)

Here's a special sneak peak at the show!



theatre
PROVE IT ON ME


Tickets and information on PROVE IT ON ME click here.

January 19, 2008 - March 2, 2008
Friday & Saturday at 8pm
The Stella Adler Theatre
6773 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood CA 90028

New Orleans voodoo and Harlem Blues come together like sultry lovers on a hot summer night in 1929 with FORBIDDEN LOVE.

"A touchingly passionate lesbian love story set in New York in 1929, loaded with sultry Harlem blues...inspiring, tension packed direction and fine cast performances!" Tolucan Times

Starring Sweet Baby J'ai, Aynsley Bubbico, Deobrah Kellar.


comedy
GAYS R US at the Famous Hollywood Improv

This is my favorite night of the month. For more info go to http://www.myspace.com/queerontheirfeet

Wednesday, March 5th
8 pm Show time

The Hollywood Improv
8162 Hollywood Boulevard



Tuesday, March 11th
Fundraiser for Lambda Letters Project
at Hamburger Mary's
as part of the stand up comedy night I'm Just Saying
8:30 pm, West Hollywood
raffles, comedy, auction


Save the Date!! LAGLC's Women's Night and GLAAD's Media Awards Show. Click on picture to enlarge invitation.


Ben Affleck Comes Out

Jimmy Kimmel got back at his gf Sara Silverman on his post Oscar show by showing this star studded video, "I"m fucking Ben Affleck", with a cute gay turn by Harrison Ford and starring Cameron Diaz, Huey Lewis, Don Cheadle, Brad Pitt, Lance Bass and more!

Friday, February 22, 2008

Now That's What I'm Talking About - The Smoking Cocktail LGBT MIXER IN REVIEW


It's hard to pin point the MOST exciting part of the evening, but what tickled my old, gray haired fancy the most about the inaugural Smoking Cocktail LGBT Mixer was the wide range of media artists represented in attendance.

We had stand up comedians, journalists, actors, writers (play, screen and novel!), producers, directors, radio personalities, magazine editors, photographers, entire casts of gay shows, bloggers, dancers and tons of out singer/songwriters!

All areas of gay media were covered from radio to tv to film to theatre to magazine/news print to internet to recording artists.

YEA!

I'm just going to throw some names out there now because there is no way I can write 'em all down next to the pictures: The cast of THE LAIR, Andrea James from Logo's TRANSAMERICA, comedians Jason Stuart, Jenny McNulty, Poppy Champlin and Kate Rigg, actor/producer Charlie David (DANTE'S COVE, MULLIGANS), Michelle Wolff (DANTE'S COVE, MANGO KISS), Thea Gill and Michelle Clunie (QUEER AS FOLK), Sundance programmer Shannon Kelley, recording artists Guy B, Melineh Kurdian, and half of the Perry Twins, producer Stephen Israel (BOY CULTURE, SWIMMING WITH SHARKS), Quincy LeNear and Deondray Gossett (GLAAD nominees for THE DL CHRONICLES), director Michelle Ehlen (BUTCH JAMIE), actors Kevin Stea (NAKED BOYS SINGING, TRUTH OR DARE), Steve Callahan (EAST SIDE STORY, NINE LIVES), Jessica Graham (2 MINUTES LATER), James Brandon (CORPUS CHRISTI), Ben and Harvey from the Ben and Harvey Show, Photographers Adam Bouska and Beck Starr, club promoters Shannon Kempa, Woody Woodbeck, and Linda Fusco, Jon Fleming (DANTE'S COVE, WILL & GRACE), LK Avelar (GLAAD), Claudette Sexy DJ, singer/actress J Karen Thomas (WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR, Mauricio Sanchez (I LOVE NEW YORK) .... and this is what I remember! I didn't even get a chance to talk to half the room!

Big thank you to promoter ELIOT LONDON who put this all together!

THANK YOU ALL FOR TURNING OUT!!! Kisses!!! And see you next month. Remember to bring your business cards, postcards and flyers and let's NETWORK!







Lesbian circle.

With Frank.


Q and D with Guy B.





My new boy crushes Brandon and Steve!!!!


From SHELTER, art director Michael Fitzgerald and editor Michael Hofacre.
Also from SHELTER, Bing Tell and Rob Cabral (they did our wonderful additional photography!)






The swing chairs were a big hit.

Jon with GF Meredith, me and Miss Jackson from IN MAGAZINE.





Kevin Stea with Paul from the Fruit Salad Show and Michelle Ehlen star/director BUTCH JAMIE.






Ben and Dave


Elliot London with the Virgin America pack.

Jessica Graham and Melineh.


Frank and Matthew from FRONTIERS with Shannon and me trying to be hip.




Me and Mr. London.







Matthew with me, Elliot and author Lisa Dickey.





Ben and Dave with Matt Chun from here!

Craig and Beck.
He had bigger hair than me.



See, I'm always with my new boy crushes Steve and Brandon!

Mauricio Sanchez from BACHELOR PARTY 2 and I LOVE NEW YORK.

Mauricio loves on Woody, from CURRENT TV.


We're smart, we wear glasses.

With my Jewish wife Jason Stuart, Elliot, LK and Brian Nolan (THE LAIR).
Poppy and Kate.

Gay movies! Gay TV shows!

Gay plays!



Jason explains the gay SAG caucus to Michael and Andrea.



Shannon seems perplexed at Lydia as Jason looks on.


It took me two hours to get through this to get to the bar.




It's Dustry Springfield!


















Michael, Danny and Brian...stars of NEUROTICA.

Stars of here's vampire circuit party tv show, THE LAIR ...sexy, scary, sexy-scary!!!









Out gay actors are hot.






Photos courtesy of Tony DiMaio and Beck Starr.