The Gay Agenda — April

Rubyfruit Mysteries
Renowned author Rita Mae Brown, who penned the seminal lesbian bestseller Rubyfruit Jungle, as well as a popular series of mysteries with her cat Sneaky Pie, sneaks herself into Houston for a couple of events. Brown speaks and signs copies of her latest book, The Big Cat Nap (Bantam), at a luncheon at Briar Club, 2603 Timmons Lane on April 12 at 11:30 a.m. Later, Brown speaks and signs copies at Murder by the Book, 2342 Bissonnet Street, at 6:30 p.m. www.murderbooks.com.

B-There. Queer Bingo features cash prizes and a performance by Tanya Hyde. Benefits Houston GLBT Community Center. April 7, 4:30pm. Don Julio’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina, 322 Westheimer Rd. • houstonglbtcommunitycenter.org.

Hop To It. It wouldn’t be Easter without that massive, world-record-holding outdoor cocktail party, Bunnies on the Bayou. For the 33rd time, the exemplary fundraising organization invites 3,000 or so of its closest friends to enjoy a drink, some sun, DJ Chris Allen, and the good feeling of supporting 12 local LGBT charities. April 8, 1–6 p.m. Wortham Center’s Fish Plaza, 500 Texas Ave. • bunniesonthebayou.org.

Queer and Loud Art. Hope Is Never Silent, a juried exhibition, accepts submissions highlighting the best of Texas queer artists through April 13. hopeisneversilent.blogspot.com.

Bikinis Recommended. At Girl Jam Deuce, the girls gather on the beach for a day of volleyball and football followed by an evening performance by Coles Whalen celebrating the release of her new CD, I Wrote This for You. DJ Melle Mel Frausto spins during the day. April 14. Riptide Surf Bar, 523 24th Street in Galveston.

Artful Charity
Goodwill Gala committee members visited John Ross Palmer’s Houston Heights art gallery and selected the piece of artwork at left—an Oxford Series 46” x 40” mixed media on canvas that Palmer created in 2008—for auction at the event. Benefits Goodwill Houston. April 21. River Oaks Country Club, 1600 River Oaks Blvd. • [email protected] • 713/699-6357.

Save This. Gulf Coast Archive and Museum of LGBT History stages its Annual Tent Revival with emcee Ginger Vitis, DJ Chris Brooks, and more. Benefits GCAM. April 15, 2 p.m. EJ’s, 2517 Ralph St. • gcam.org.

Not at All Taxing. Singer/songwriter Coles Whalen plays tunes from her new CD, I Wrote This for You. April 15, 6 p.m. The Usual, 5519 Allen St. • theusualpub.com • 281/501-1478.

Alone No More. Award-winning psychotherapist Denise O’Doherty, LPC, LMST, LCDC, RN, offers “Secrets of Finding and Maintaining a Long-term Relationship.” April 21, 10 a.m.–noon. Leisure Learning Annex, 2990 Richmond Ave. • llu.com • 713/529-4414.

Don’t Cry for iFest. Houston International Festival 2012 highlights the culture of South America, with a focus on Argentina. Among many other artists on multiple stages, Texas daughter Ruthie Foster plays tunes from her new album, Let It Burn, on the Americas Stage at Houston International Festival, April 21. The festival runs weekends, April 21–29, 11 a.m. Downtown Houston, in the City Hall, Tranquility Park, and Sam Houston Park areas • iFest.org.

House Call. Austin’s notorious and highly healing Therapy Sisters, an all-woman, musical comedy quartet, pay a restorative visit to Sandi Glorfield and Arden Eversmeyer’s House Concert Series. April 22. A reception with the artists starts at 3 p.m. with the concert following at 4 p.m. [email protected].

They Am What They Am. Theatre Under the Stars’s gay patrons enjoy OUT@TUTS, a cabaret-style event at Artista Restaurant following the performance of La Cage aux Folles, the gay musical. April 26. Hobby Center for Performing Arts, 800 Bagby St. • tuts.com • 713/558-8887.

BCPA Under the Stars. Bayou City Performing Arts makes its debut at Miller Outdoor Theatre in a show filled with song, dance, theater, and more from Bayou City Chorale, Gay Men’s Chorus of Houston, Bayou City Women’s Chorus, Houston Pride Band, and Unhinged Productions. April 27, 8 p.m. Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, 100 Concert Dr. • bayoucityperformingarts.org.

Fore for Kindred Spirits. The women of Kindred Spirits Foundation present their 3rd Annual Charity Golf Tournament
 & Dinner, welcoming beginners and experienced golfers alike. The day’s play on 18 holes is followed by the traditional BBQ Awards Dinner with prizes awarded for first, second, and third place, plus a silent auction. Register in teams of four for $400, or sign up individually for $100. Dinner-only tickets: $20. April 28, 1:30 p.m. Bear Creek Golf World’s Presidents Golf Course, 16001 Clay Rd. Benefits KSF’s women’s charities. Register: kindredspiritshouston.org.

Road Trip. Make your voice heard and your outrage known at the Rally Against the War on Women (see article “This Means War,” calling attention to Texas’s battle on reproductive rights. April 28, 4 p.m. State Capitol, 112 E. 11th Street, south side, in Austin. wowtex.org.

Judicious Achievement. Attorney Mitchell Katine’s professional career has exemplified the college’s core mission: to provide an exceptional legal education to a diverse body of students who will serve their community and the profession with distinction. Katine receives South Texas College of Law’s 2012 Alumni Impact Award, at the South Texas College of Law Awards gala. April 28. Hotel Za Za, 5701 Main St. • stcl.edu.

BCPA Night at La Cage aux Folles. Gay Men’s Chorus of Houston performs in the lobby before a performance of La Cage aux Folles, and a reception with the cast after the show. When fans log on to tuts.com/promo and enter the promotional code BCPA to buy tickets, $20-per-ticket-sold benefits BCPA. May 4. Theatre Under the Stars. Hobby Center for Performing Arts, 800 Bagby St. 713/521-7464.

¡Ole! Casa de Sombreros’ Cinco de Mayo Celebration benefits Association for Family & Community Integrity, Inc. May 5, 6 p.m. F Bar, 202 Tuam St. • [email protected].