Buy your bed from Matt Locklin's Nsomnia Furniture and benefit PWAs. GCAM preserves the community's history. Marion Coleman: Calling all kindred spirits. Jade Esteban Estrada is one of the headliners at Pride Fest, June 25. Hard core: Pansy Division performs at Pride Fest.

THIS ISSUE > NEWS & COMMENT > NEWS BRIEFS

Nsomnia Furniture
GCAM Moves
Kindred Spirits Rekindled
Houston Pride Fest Rocks Out
Datebook

CHARITY BEGINS ON THE HOME FRONT
Matt Locklin and his AIDS Housing Coalition Houston operated Nsomnia, an after-hours nightclub on Tuam, until it shut down in 2002 following a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission raid. Funds from sales at the BYOB club supported housing for indigent people living with HIV/AIDS. Since then, Locklin has operated the nonprofit West Heights House residence for PWAs. Now he has opened Nsomnia Furniture & Gifts (433 North 610 West, 713/869-1000). At the new store, Locklin and his volunteers sell new home furnishings at a discount off typical retail prices, and all sales income (after the cost of stock) supports operations of West Heights House. Nsomnia is also the factory outlet for Diamond Mattress Company of Texas.

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"We are not going away--only revamping somewhat to ease things up financially," Reeves said in a recent interview. "With overhead of over $700 each month (rent on the West Main space), it just isn't feasible to keep the museum space with as little traffic as we've had this year. It's much more logical to put our funds into preservation and research abilities."

With the closing of the 900-square-foot space (in a small apartment complex), more objects from the 30,000-object collection will move to a climate-controlled storage facility in west Houston.

At the same time it leaves a permanent space, the history museum, popularly known by its GCAM acronym, is adding activities. This month, GCAM revives its discussion program, the Sunday History Series, in collaboration with the Houston GLBT Community Center.   Presented for now on a quarterly basis, the program will feature a prominent individual from the community who will participate in a moderated discussion about his or her life and GLBT history. GCAM will videotape each program. The museum and the community center are working with Houston MediaSource, the public-access television channel, to broadcast an edited version of each program.

Jack Jackson is the first Sunday History Series guest on May 15, 4 p.m., at the community center (read an interview with the long-time volunteer, "Just Jack," in the March OutSmart). The program is scheduled to air on Houston MediaSource in June for Pride month.

Some objects from the GCAM collection will soon go on display at the community center, Reeves said. These will supplement a glass case housed at the center that already contains a number of museum pieces. Reeves said GCAM will continue to collaborate, on request, with other organizations on small traveling exhibitions. These shows will include a display in conjunction with the fifth anniversary of the Lone Star Boys of Leather in August.

This summer, GCAM will work for the first time with student interns, from University of Houston, Rice University, and Tufts University. "They will all be diligently working to sort/stack items in the storage facility for easy access there as well as working on the never-ending cataloging that goes with the territory of collecting," Reeves said. Two students from the Yes College Preparatory School will volunteer with GCAM this month.

GCAM will benefit from a fundraiser show on June 22 starring the comic, actor, and singer Jade Esteban Estrada, who will also perform during the June 25 Pride Festival (see page 16). Estrada will present his show Icons: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol.1 . The location had not been determined by press time (check the museum website, www.gcam.org, for updates).

Like all nonprofit organizations, Reeves said, GCAM continually seeks funds and volunteers. The museum also strives to increase awareness and thus build its collection through donations from individuals and groups. "After five years I still run into people who say they didn't know we exist and ultimately have thrown their overflow away," she said. "That's more history lost to our community and the world."

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KINDRED SPIRITS RETURNS
Marion Coleman hosts her fourth annual Kindred Spirits Celebration event on May 14. The yearly reunion at the Hornberger Center is a gathering of the clan for those who frequented the popular women’s club that Coleman operated from 1980 to 1989 as well as those who missed out. Proceeds benefit Houston Buyers Club, Lesbian Health Initiative, and Montrose Clinic/Montrose Counseling Center women’s programs. Terry Flores, owner of Bocados, serves as DJ (see OutFront for details of Terry's own May 22 Copa reunion).

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PRIDE ROCKS AT JUNE FEST
This year, Pride Houston (the new name for the Pride Committee of Houston) is beefing up the day of the Pride parade, Saturday, June 25, with an enhanced outdoor music festival, extending along stretches of Yoakum and Lovett off Westheimer. Event headliners are Sophie B. Hawkins, gay punk rock legends Pansy Division and Texas-born Jade Esteban Estrada. Local talent includes the trans rock band Gurl-friendz (see “Ready to Rock,” June 2004 OutSmart). The festival begins at 2 p.m. and continues until the 8:45 parade kick- off. More info: www.pridehouston.org.

On May 3, Food Addicts in Recovery, a new 12-step program, begins meeting on Monday, 7 p.m., at Bering Memorial United Methodist Church, Room 230. Details: Ed, 713/523-7361, www.foodaddictsinrecovery.com.

On May 5, 6 p.m., Ryan White Planning Council presents a panel discussion "The Super HIV Virus--Fact or Fiction?"at the United Way Community Resource Center. RSVP: 713/572-3724.

Political scientist Elizabeth McLane speaks about the current Texas legislative session at the Houston GLBT Political Caucus monthly meeting on May 4, 7 p.m., at the Houston GLBT Community Center. The caucus hosts its monthly workday on May 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at the center. Info: 713/521-1000, www.hglpc.org.

PFLAG/HATCH Scholarship Dinner moves to the Junior League of Houston on May 6, 6:30 p.m. $100. Tickets: Gary Teixeira, 713/864-3135.

The next planning meeting for the Conference on Houston's LGBT Future , is May 7, 3 p.m., at Houston GLBT Community Center. Info: 713/524-3818, www.houstonglbtcommunitycenter.org.

May 7 is the deadline for submitting an event to Pride Houston for the official Pride month calendar. May 15 is the deadline for reserving space in the June 25 Pride Parade (without incurring a late fee). Late deadline: May 30. Details: 713/529-6979, www.pridehouston.org.

Houston Splash presents Island Invasion Beach Party on May 8, noon-6 p.m. [see "The Big Splash," April OutSmart ]. Details: www.houstonsplash.com.

On May 13, Aaron Coleman hosts Featured at the Center performance night, 7 p.m., at the Houston GLBT Community Center. Bookings: Coleman, 713/522-0712, aaronssongs@yahoo.com.

Caring Cabaret II, May 13-14 at Ovations, benefits Bering Omega Community Services. $25. Tickets: 713/524-9304, www.beringomega.org.

May 13 is the deadline for HIV/AIDS service groups to apply to be Halloween Magic beneficiaries. Info: Daniel R. Zorn, 713/812-0033, extension 132, dzorn@avancehouston.org.

Mildred's Umbrella Theater Company presents Needful Creatures, May 13-28, at Midtown Art Center. $10. Tickets: 832/418-0973, www.mildredsumbrella.com.

Orange Show Center for Visionary Arts presents the Ev1.net Art Car Parade on May 14, 1 p.m., beginning at Allen Parkway and Taft. Details: 713/926-6368, www.orangeshow.org.

Pink Pistols Houston convenes its monthly shoot on May 14, 3 p.m., at American Shooting Center. Info: 281/652-5977, www.houston.pinkpistols.org.

Houston Scottish Highland Games & Celtic Festival takes place May 14 (9 a.m.-7:30 p.m.) and May 15 (10 a.m.-7 p.m.) at the Houston Farm & Ranch Club. $5-$12. Details: www.houstonhighlandgames.com.

Gay Men's Chorus of Houston presents VocalEase, its small ensemble, in "Razzle Dazzle," a performance of the music of Kander and Ebb, on May 15, 8 p.m., at Bering Memorial United Methodist Church. $20. Tickets: 800/494-TIXS, www.boxofficetickets.com/gmch.

Openly gay pianist and singer Michael Feinstein guests on InnerVIEWS , Ernie Manouse's public-television program, on May 19, 11 p.m. Info: www.houstonpbs.org.

The next Alley Theatre Act OUT night is the Blush and Bashful event for Steel Magnolias, 5:30 p.m. mixer, 7:30 performance. Tickets: 713/228-9341, www.alleytheatre.org.

Dominic Walsh Dance Theater concludes its 2004-2005 season with Encore on May 20 and 21, 8 p.m., at Wortham Center. $18-$45. Tickets: 713/652-3938, www.dwdt.org.

On May 21, dentist Randy Mitchmore donates proceeds from patients who get teeth-whitening services to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Give Back A Smile Program. Details: 713/529-9300, www.lifesmiles.us.

Houston Comets home opener is May 22, 7:30 p.m., against the Minnesota Lynx at Toyota Center. $8 and up. Tickets: 713/627-WNBA, www.wnba.com/comets.

Montrose Counseling Center presents a program on cultural diversity/sensitivity on May 27, 1-5 p.m., as part of its spring/summer training series. $10 per hour, with continuing education units provided for mental-health professionals.   Info: 713/529-0037, www.montrosecounselingcenter.org.

On May 28, Harbor Metropolitan Community Church in Galveston presents Fiesta Fun and Food Drive, 5 p.m., with collected canned goods donated to AIDS Coalition of Coastal Texas, at William Temple Center. Details: 409/762-8557, www.galvestonmcc.org.

Groove Girlz Productions present Girlz Pride.05 on June 3, 8:30 p.m., at Club 1415. Proceeds benefit Pride Houston. Info: www.groovegirlz.com.

H.A.T.C.H. Alternative Prom is June 10, 7 p.m.-midnight, at the Magnolia Ballroom. Info: 713/529-3590, www.hatchyouth.org.