Gearing up for Houston’s big, gay month of celebration. Including web extra content.
By Nancy Ford
Pride month is right around the corner, so it’s time once again to start marking that June calendar. We will have a more complete calendar in next month’s issue. But in the meantime, note this advance word on a few select events to help you get started with your planning.
HOME FOR THE PRIDE HOLIDAY
What is Pride Month without a major tribute to Judy Garland? Gay Men’s Chorus of Houston’s annual June concert, There’s No Place Like Home: The Life and Loves of Judy Garland, is a tribute to all things Gumm.
The gents are currently rehearsing songs from her films (yes, of course, including The Wizard of Oz ) as well as from the Carnegie Hall performances and ’60s-era television show. The program also integrates Stonewall history with the legend’s life and how it paralleled the gay movement. Saturday, June 16, 7:30 p.m. Jones Hall. Tickets: $19-$39. Details: www.gmch.org 713-521-7464.
GREEK GODS AND MORE
Pride isn’t just about the parade—it’s a daylong festival, too, offering fun, education and information to all members of GLBT community and allies.
In addition to Black Tie Dinner Kid’s Zone and Walgreen’s Wellness World, headlining Houston’s GLBT Pride Festival is pop/rock duo Nemesis. The identical gay twins Jacob and Joshua Miller—born and raised in Montana as Jehovah’s Witnesses!—star in the Logo reality show Nemesis Rising. For a preview, go to www.logoonline.com.
Opening for Nemesis is American Idol 2 finalist and TV Guide Channel entertainment correspondent Kimberly Caldwell. Currently recording a country/rock album, Caldwell also recently landed her first movie role in Wrong Turn 2, scheduled for release any day now.
Laurel, a Houston Women’s Festival and Chances Nightclub favorite, rounds out the entertainment on the festival’s main stage. Saturday, June 23, 2-8 p.m. Commonwealth at Westheimer, in the heart of Montrose. Details: www.pridehouston.org.
SUPERSTAR!
Speaking of the Pride Festival, Pride Houston continues presenting its Houston Pride Idol competition. Additional qualifying rounds will be held this month and in June at Guava Lamp. The finals will be held on the Pride Festival main stage on June 23. May 3, 17, 31, June 14, 10 p.m., at Guava Lamp. Semi-final round on June 17, p.m. at Guava Lamp. Details: www.pridehouston.org, www.myspace.com/houstonprideidol.
SHINING THROUGH
As the supreme maraschino cherry atop the ice cream sundae of Pride month, the True Colors Tour, presented by Logo, comes to town the day after the parade. Scheduled performers include The Misshapes, Dresden Dolls, Debbie Harry, Erasure, Cyndi Lauper and Rosie O’Donnell, with emcee Margaret Cho providing no less than five hours of nonstop music and entertainment with a decidedly queer twist.
Lauper, whose sister, Elen, is a lesbian, conceived the idea for the show as a result of her desire to thank the community for the love and support they have given her throughout her career.
“As an American, I was raised to believe that all people have the right to live with the same dignity, opportunity and safety. This should include everyone no matter what gender or sexual orientation,” she says. “This tour was created to celebrate our differences by raising awareness for liberty, fairness and dignity for everyone—not just some of us. Our fans can come out to celebrate a great cause while also hearing some great music.” (Look for an interview with Lauper in the June OutSmart.)
Sunday, June 24, 6 p.m. Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Lawn seating start at $26, with one dollar of every ticket sold benefiting Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Co-presented by HRC, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, and The Matthew Shepard Foundation. Details: www.truecolorstour.com.
SUPREME EVENT
It’s been four years since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that what consenting adults do in the privacy of their own homes is nobody’s bees’ wax but their own.
To celebrate, the Houston GLBT Community Center is planning its second annual Lawrence v. Texas commemoration and celebration. This year, the event will include a family barbecue (location and details had not been announced by press time). Lead plaintiff John Lawrence is scheduled to attend and offer comments (Tyron Garner, Lawrence’s co-plaintiff in the case, died in 2006).
June 26. Details to be announced: www.houstonglbtcommunitycenter.com.
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WEB ONLY ITEMS
DINNER IS SERVED
On the second Tuesday of every month, the Houston GLBT Community Center hosts an informal dinner at Hollywood Vietnamese & Chinese. For Pride month, the community center hosts dinner in conjunction with two other organizations, the Gulf Coast Archive & Museum of GLBT History (which exhibits some of its collection at the center) any special Pride door prizes. Tuesday, June 12, 6:30 p.m., Hollywood Vietnamese & Chinese (2409 Montrose Blvd.). Details: 713/524-3818, www.houstonglbtcommunitycenter.org.
PAINTING PRIDE
In June, artist John Painter has work included in an exhibition, Interruptions, at Gallery M2. Proceeds from sales at opening reception will benefit Legacy Community Health Services. Exhibition: June 3-30 at Gallery M2, 325 W. 19 th. Opening reception: Saturday, June 9, 7-10 p.m. Details: John Painter, 713/598-5450.
PROUD FAMILIES
During Pride Month, Houston Gay & Lesbian Parents welcomes GLBT parents to their monthly events, including
Family Dinner Night. Wednesday, June 13, 6:30 p.m., at Buffalo Grill. Details: [email protected].
GOTTA BAILE!
The Grammy-nominated band Avizo returns this year to perform at the annual black-tie Noche de Gala, hosted by the Gay and Lesbian Latin Organization (GALLO). Friday, June 22, 9:20 p.m.-2 a.m., at the Arabian Shrine Center (2900 N. Braeswood). Details: www.houstongallo.org.
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