LOOK OUT

THE KIDS WERE ALRIGHT
by Tim Brookover

Baby dykes, budding dancing queens, and gay boys donning drag for the first time were some of the highlights of the H.A.T.C.H. Prom on May 24 at the Magnolia Ballroom. The annual big dance allows youngsters-and older folks reprising high school days-to enjoy the spring fling with their dates of choice, rather than the beards many of us had to take back in the day. Generation Y prom included Steven Bratsen, Sandra De Leeuw, and Tara-Marie Martinez.

GOOD WORKS

At another end of the age bandwidth, grown-up entertainers took the stage at Spellbinders on April 21 for Really OLD Broads, a benefit revue for AssistHers. Divas Marsha Carlton and Sharon Montgomery headlined the bill. In a more perfect union, these two gals with clarion pipes and spot-on timing would be belting it out on Broadway. Lucky for us they call Houston home. Other talents in the show included generous Jerry Atwood, Dixie Eubanks, Clay Howell, and two venerable groups, High Priority of the Sweet Adelines and the Golden Girl Tappers.

Pull out the boas for the Garden Party. The fabulous Stella Link Seville-and alter ego Elmer Shehane-leads the annual drag bash on Sunday, August 4, which benefits Camp Hope. Call the Garden Party hotline, 713/932-9959, for location and details. Usually held on the fourth Saturday in July, the Garden Party moves a week later this year to avoid clashing with the just-as traditional Denim Party at the Brazos River Bottom. The cowpoke-drag party is on Sunday, July 28.

Speaking of Camp Hope, the July 21­26 AIDS Foundation Houston camp for children with HIV/AIDS welcomes 11 youngsters from Romania and four from Mexico. Mark Cohen is camp director.

Kate Kendall, National Center for Lesbian Rights executive director, headlines at the Extra Miles Awards Brunch on July 28 at the Warwick. Comedian and Texas gal Vickie Shaw performs at the seventh annual event for An Uncommon Legacy Foundation. In a recent interview, Shaw proclaimed herself "white trash that won't burn." For tix info, check out www.legacyhouston.org.

SPLISH SPLASH

From April 30 to May 6, Houston Splash once again rocked this town and Galveston Island. This year, Derek Miles, Sean Dawson, Rande Rochelle, Tony Powell, Anita Hall, and Dorothy Harris organized Splash, known far and wide as one of the grandest African-American gay and lesbian celebrations in the South. And you heard it here first: The theme for Splash 2003 is Circus Circus. Quips Dawson, "Come to Houston and watch us clown." More scoop: Splash designates a color for beach attire (this year it was blue). Yellow or red will be the color in 2003. Start shopping now for those canary and carmine Speedos and maillots.

IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

A cinema-loving crowd packed the Rice Media Center for the Houston Gay & Lesbian Film Festival opening-night party on May 28. Spotted in the throng: Jimmy Carper, Mary Lampe, Bruce Reeves, Judy Reeves, Cassandra Peterson, and Mark Willis. One night earlier, Peterson (better known as Elvira) was movie star of honor at a dinner at Ling & Javier in the Hotel Derek. Other guests included Steve Christenberry, Larry Gum, and Carlos Reyes.

At Masquerade Theatre, founding artistic director Phillip K. Duggins and his crew celebrate their fifth anniversary this month with a production of Sweeney Todd, the brazenly dark Stephen Sondheim musical. The run begins on July 6.

On July 3, Chris Arasin and other Q-Patrol volunteers join Ray Hill for a walk remembering Paul Broussard on the 11th anniversary of his hate-crime death. They will gather at the corner of Montrose Boulevard and West Drew at 10 p.m. To learn about the Broussard case, check out our July 2001 article at www.outsmartmagazine.com (click on "past issues").

NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS

Power couple Sharon Ferranti and Lauren Johnson have completed filming on their second movie, a horror flick called Make a Wish. Synopsis: For her annual birthday camping trip, Susan and her ex-girlfriends and the new squeeze of one ex head into the countryside. One by one (cue scary music), they disappear. The principally lesbian cast includes Houston products Susan Durham, Amanda Spain, and Nora Stein. Ferranti and Johnson lensed Make a Wish in the Texas Hill Country. A Thousand Miles, their first production, has been screened at 30 festivals since its 2000 premiere and will be included in a compilation of lesbian short films scheduled for release late this year.

CAROLYN ROBERTS

One of the best-known observers of our community, Carolyn Roberts, died on May 10. Among her many accomplishments, Carolyn penned a gossip column for the Houston Voice, under the nom de plume Cuervolyn. She was a founding member of the National Leather Association of Houston and a founding member and executive officer of FIST (Females In Search of Trouble). Carolyn was a co-director for the 2002 Night in Black Leather fund-raiser event. She leaves behind her husband, Jeff Roberts, parents Norma and Warren Larson, and many friends who miss her booming laugh.