News Briefs/August

LIVE FROM HOUSTON ON AUG. 18

For the third year, community fundraiser Don Gill will dedicate money raised from his annual musical revue, LIVE, to the Gulf Coast Archive and Museum of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender History. He and co-producer Bob Bouton will present

LIVE 2002 on Sunday, August 18, at 6:30 p.m. at Keys West (817 West Dallas; 713/571-7870).

Preserving the history of our wonderful community has become so very important,” Gill says. “So much of our history has been lost. GCAM is working very hard to make sure that what history we have had and our history to be will be preserved.”

Keys West assesses no cover charge. Reserved seating for LIVE 2002 is available for $25 for a piano-side stool to $200 for a table that seats six to eight people. For reservations, contact Gill at 713/521-0911.

GCAM is located 1609 West Main #4. The museum/archive is open by appointment. More information is available at www.gcam.org or by calling 713/227-5973.

HRC HOSTS AUG. 19 TOWN HALL MEETING

Current U.S. immigration law permits straight Americans to sponsor spouses from other countries for citizenship. To spotlight the fact that same-sex couples do not have the same right, the Human Rights Campaign and 12 co-sponsoring organizations will host a town hall meeting on Monday, August 19, 7 p.m. at Bering Memorial United Methodist Church (1440 Harold). “We have invited all elected federal officials in the area,” says Charlcye Sells of HRC. “We would like to get them to sign on to the Permanent Partner Immigration Act.” Sells explains that Rep Sheila Jackson Lee is currently the only politician from this area to sponsor the legislation.

The co-sponsoring organizations are the Gulf Coast GLBT Immigration Project; Lambda Legal, Lesbian & Gay Immigration Rights Task Force; Love Sees No Borders; National Center for Lesbian Rights; Parents, Friends and Family of Lesbians and Gays; Sexual and Orientation and Gender Identity Section of the State Bar of Texas; Texas Gender Advocacy and Information Network; Texas Human Rights Foundation; Tindall & Foster, PC; and the University of Houston chapter of the National Organization for Women.

MAKE THE BIG SWITCH

Designers Troy Broussard and Jennifer Loh are preparing to work over two rooms as part of The Big Switch. This project sponsored by Bassett Furniture Direct with Houston PBS Channel 8, the Houston Chronicle, and OutSmart will allow two couples to trade homes and redecorate rooms in each others’ home with the help of Broussard and Lowe. The results will be revealed on November 2 and 3 broadcasts of “WeekDay” on Channel 8, hosted by Ernie Manouse, and in the November OutSmart.

Couples can register in pairs through Friday, August 23, at any area Bassett location. A panel of celebrity judges will narrow the field of entrants at an August 26 dinner at Sam’s Pub & Grill. After visiting the finalists, the co-sponsors will then choose the winning couples. The winners will be announced on Labor Day, September 2.
The transformations will take place on September 14 and 15. Bassett Furniture Direct will provide $1,500 per room. Either Broussard or Lowe and their professional carpenters will work with each couple to redo a room in a 48-hour period.

Entry forms and registration rules may be picked up at any of the three Houston-area Bassett Furniture Direct locations (15305 Katy Frwy. at Highway 6, 17955 North Frwy., just north of FM 1960, and 4989 Sweetwater Blvd. at Highway 59). Rules can also be accessed at www.bassetthouston.com.

PLAY BALL!

The Houston Astros have never made it to the World Series. But later this month four local teams will travel west for the Gay Softball World Series. The Montrose Softball League squads Houston Force, Rich’s Hellcats, Chaos, and Bering will vie for the title in each of their respective divisions beginning August 18 in Portland, Oregon. GAY SPORTSBOY from the Hellcats is one of the players who will compete. Before the teams depart, the league will host an August 3 casino trip to Louisiana to raise funds for its bid to host the World Series in 2004. The cost is $20. Details: RSVP: 713/867-3913.

15 GROUPS RECEIVE HOLLYFIELD GRANTS

Making its first grants in nearly two years, the Hollyfield Foundation awarded funds to 15 organizations in June:
• AIDS Foundation Houston
• AIDS Services of Austin
• AssistHers
• The Center for AIDS
• HOPE Project
• Lesbian Health Initiative
• Montrose Clinic
• Montrose Counseling Center
• OutYouth Austin
• Parents, Friends and Family of Lesbians and Gays
• PFLAG/H.A.T.C.H. Youth Scholarship Foundation
• People With AIDS Coalition Houston
• San Antonio AIDS Foundation
• Uncommon Legacy
• Unhinged Productions

CHECK IT OUT

Check out www.diffa.org/houston.html for restaurants participating in “Eat Out, Chip In” on August 22, when eateries donate a percentage of their sales to the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS.

Mildred’s Umbrella Theater Troupe hosts an August 15 benefit performance at Helios of Eros: A Circus, a new John Harvey play, benefiting the Houston Lesbian & Gay Community Center.

TRANSITIONS

Allan McClerren, 51, died on July 2. McClerren founded Fitness Exchange. A memorial service for McClerren will be held at Fitness Exchange (4040 Milam) on August 10 at 1 p.m. Contributions in McClerren’s name may be made to the Montrose Clinic.

Lynn Pannill, 53, died on May 10 from complications related to Hodgkin’s disease. Pannill was a past executive director of the People With AIDS Coalition Houston. In 1998, she founded Nonprofit Consulting Services. The family requested that contributions in Pannill’s name be made to the Trinity Episcopal Church Millenium Capital Campaign.

John Walzel, 50, died on July 1 of a heart attack. A gay rights and AIDS activist, Walzel had served since 2001 on the Human Rights Campaign national board. Walzel owned a jewelry store in Houston. Contributions in Walzel’s memory may be made to the HRC Foundation Capital Campaign.