LookOut

by Tim Brookover

• PRIDE AFTER DARK. With another GLBTQQSSL (that’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, and Same-Sex Loving to you) parade upon us, we once again honor the Pride Committee of Houston for civilizing the celebration back in 1997. That year, then-executive director Jack Valinski and the rest of his clever band moved the event from the most withering part of the day to the relatively more tolerable evening. Because of their vision, the youngest among us will never have to strive to remain proud while enduring the parade from the surface of the sun. On Saturday, June 29, delight in the parade and thank current executive director Ken Donnelly and the committee for saving us all money on sun block.

As usual, June features more activities than you can shake a freedom-ring necklace at. Among the highlights: On June 8, the Houston Montrose Athletic Association hosts a 5K run/walk in Memorial Park benefiting AssistHers. A deluge washed out the event last year, so race director Mac Crone is doing the no-rain dance. Linda Morales helms a committee bringing back Baile Internacional, the terrific black-tie dance and fundraiser. The 2002 event takes place at Ripley House on Friday, June 28. Tejano Music Awards nominee Stampede performs. Call 713/522-9564 for tickets. Ken Williamson directs Before the Parade Passes By, a June 28 cabaret show at the Alley Theatre benefiting the Pride Committee. Check www.pridehouston.org for the full lineup of Pride activities.

Just in time for Pride, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is spotlighting one of America’s great gay artists, Jasper Johns. An exhibition of his prints remains on display through July 28. The museum recognizes another historically queer artist with June 8-10 screenings of Caravaggio, the 1986 Derek Jarman film about the 16th-century Milanese painter, during the Houston Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.

The June 16 closing bash for the sixth annual film festival sandwiches between screenings of a 16th-anniversary print of The Wizard of Oz and a new print of Female Trouble, the John Waters trash classic–all at Rice Media Center. Credit Kristian Salinas, the clever Rice program director, with that terrifically nutty juxtaposition. Oz features a Glenda the Good Witch-led sing-along hosted by the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center. A Divine look-alike contest presented by the center precedes Female Trouble. Check out www.hlgff.org for a complete listing of festival screenings at all six venues.

• IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. Talented and adorable Michael Bolin has a second book of poems due any day now. He made quite an impression last year with Mourning Contagious Beauty, his first collection. Michael’s new book, Running from the Light (Consortium Press) will be available at Lobo.

Crossroads Market hosts writers Peggy Herring and Frankie Jones on Saturday, June 8, at 2 p.m. Herring will sign copies of her latest, The Comfort of Strangers (Naiad), and Jones will sign copies of hers, Room for Love (Naiad).

The bunch that once brunched at La Strada on Westheimer can rejoice now that reconstruction has commenced on the fire-ravaged restaurant. Scheduled for a September opening, Aldo Catania’s new double-decker restaurant will have 350 seats and a second-floor outdoor patio. Expect plenty of Bellini-drenched celebrations this fall.

• GOOD WORKS. At the April 27 party benefiting the People With AIDS Coalition of Houston, hosts Angela Blanchard, Jackie Cayton, and David Detcher grilled hamburgers, chicken burgers, and veggie burgers at their Southmore place. Spotted in the crowd were David Arpin, Ray Hill, Ken Jones, Sue Lovell, and Alex Martinez. Rodrigo Jerez and Kroger’s on Buffalo Speedway underwrote the event.

Talk about visibility. Even the outdoor marquee at the Hilton on the Southwest Freeway touted the April 20 Unity Banquet. Inside the Regency Ballroom, the sequined and swell guests at the sold-out celebration of the transgender community included Jimmy Carper, Sarah DePalma, Dan DiDonato, Vanessa Edwards Foster, Phyllis Frye, Grant Martin, Annise Parker, Brenda Thomas, and Brandi Williams. During the evening, Peggy Rudd received the Unity Committee’s lifetime achievement award. Cristan Williams, Community Awareness for Transgender Support president, received the Apogee Award for her work in launching the transgender shelter in Galveston.

On June 15, the Ranch Hill Saloon in Conroe (2111 Airport Rd.; 936/441-6426) hosts a benefit show for the CATS shelter, featuring local entertainers. Karma Hinson is organizing the event.

• PROUD WORDS. When you spot the predictable ragged band of homophobic protesters along the Pride Parade route, remember this quip from comedian Lynn Lavner: "The Bible contains six admonishments to homosexuals and 362 admonishments to heterosexuals. That doesn't mean that God doesn't love heterosexuals. It's just that they need more supervision."