Gender Literature. Aiming to illustrate “the beautiful diversity of gender,” Boston Davis Bostian, Mel Reiff Hill, Jay Mays, and Robin Mack are the creators of a new endeavor called The Gender Book. Funded by Houston Arts Alliance and Idea Fund, the project began when the four felt compelled to educate each other about what it means to live and express and perform one’s gender, Mays, the project’s editor, explains. “This project is bringing communities from all over the world to engage in the conversation about ‘doing’ gender, that it’s not something you just ‘have,’ but something that is performed, even if you’re performing it for yourself.” • “The project’s six-page ‘teaser,’ The Gender Book(let), has already begun to create a dialogue across disciplines and communities around the goal of education and social justice for gender minorities, providing a much-needed resource for guerrilla and formal educators alike across the country,” Mays says. “Our hope,” they say, “is to change the face of gender education in a way that is approachable, easy to understand, and even beautiful.” The online version is available in January, but the public is invited to view the work-in-progress, and add to its content at an introductory event. December 8, 6 p.m. Lawndale Art Center, 4912 Main St. • thegenderbook.com.
Fruits and Nuts. Houston’s newest cabaret theater celebrates the season with Fruitcakes! A Very Special Holiday Special through December 19 and a New Year’s Eve Party, featuring highlights from Music Box Theatre’s first three productions (see page 00). Music Box Theater, 2623 Colquitt St. • themusicboxtheater.com • 713/522-7722.
Looking for a Logo. Houston ARCH is soliciting designs for its new logo to represent the online LGBT historical archive. Submissions should include the name Houston ARCH (possibly spelling out the acronym); be scalable, work both in color and black and white, be suitable for print and online reproduction, and not be confusable with other orgs of similar names. Designs may be submitted to [email protected] by January 5. All designs will be posted anonymously to the Houston ARCH wiki, with voting taking place at Houston ARCH’s January 25 meeting. houstonarch.pbworks.com.
Energizing Our Future, the 27th International Gay & Lesbian Leadership Conference, brings together hundreds of openly LGBT leaders in government, politics, advocacy, business, and community organizations for three days of training, skills building, networking, and discussion of key issues facing out leaders and their communities. December 1–4. Hilton Americas-Houston, 1600 Lamar St. • glli.org/2011conference.
Day-to-Day Divas. Regina Dane, Marcia Mink Gill, Ginger Vitis, and other local drag superstars autograph PWA Holiday Charities’ Diva Days Calendar at its debut party. December 3, 8 p.m. Benefits PWA LVL Campout. Tony’s Corner Pocket, 817 Dallas St. • pwaholidaycharities.org.
Rainbows and Reindeer is Kindred Spirits Foundation’s 4th Annual Judy Garland Christmas Show & Sing-Along. Grab a couch and enjoy this ultra-campy, black-and-white television special from 1963 starring Judy, Liza, dancing Santas, and more, comedically narrated by Nancy Ford. In addition to raffling a flat-screen television and other enviable electronic items, the evening also offers a buffet and special entertainment by members of KSF’s beneficiary organizations: AssistHers, Lesbian Health Initiative Houston, and Expert Nutrition’s Ellen Hand program. Sunday, December 4, 5 p.m. Meteor Lounge, 2306 Genesee St. New pricing: $20 in advance online; $25 at the door. Tickets available at kindredspiritshouston.org.
Toys and Truth. K. Dupree’s The Truth Project and toy drive features six-time Grammy nominee Marcia Ambrosius. December 4. Benefits AIDS Foundation Houston. The Arena Theatre, 7326 Southwest Frwy. • aidshelp.org.
“Sisters, Sisters” (and “Brothers, Brothers”). Theatre Under the Stars hosts Out@TUTS, a post-show, cabaret-style event for TUTS’s LGBT friends following the performance of White Christmas, Irving Berlin’s family classic. Artista Restaurant. December 8. tuts.com/out.
Talking Points. Voices Breaking Boundaries kicks off its 2012 East End Live Art with Politiqueer, a continuation of art and conversations from the group’s June 2011 event featuring queer artists, open mic, and more. December 11, 6:30 p.m. Presented by KPFT 90.1 FM and Houston Institute for Culture, 708-C Telephone Rd. • vbbarts.org.
Red Ribbon Toy Drive. Drop off new, unwrapped toys appropriate for children who are infants through age 12 at your local Starbuck’s through December 14. Benefits AIDS Foundation Houston. aidshelp.org.
Welcome Home. Fresh from her November engagement at New York City’s famed Bitter End, Texas indie rocker Ginger Leigh plays selections from her latest CD, Better Than Well, and more. December 16. Anderson Fair, 2007 Grant St. • andersonfair.com • 832/212-4057.
Mid-Day Movie. Seniors Preparing for Rainbow Years (SPRY) screens Water for Elephants (2011), about finding love at the circus, and vice versa. December 17, 1 p.m. Montrose Counseling Center, 401 Branard Street, room 101. 713/529-0037.
The Other Sugarplum Fairies. Ricky D’Gill presents Make the Yuletide Gay Pride Show. December 17, 8:30 p.m. Benefits PWA Holiday Charities. Tony’s Corner Pocket, 817 Dallas St. • pwaholidaycharities.org.
Houston Holiday Hoedown. Bayou City Chorale and Houston Pride Band and special guests from the Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo Western Heritage Community Choir perform country classics with a holiday twist. December 20, 7:30 p.m. Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana St. • bayoucityperformingarts.com.
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