LookOut

by Tim Brookover

REMEMBERING MATTHEW

Students at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts will perform The Laramie Project through December 9. Directed by school theater teacher Robert Singleton, the 2000 drama by Moises Kaufman and the Techtonic Theater Project depicts the aftermath of the Matthew Shepherd hate-crime murder. The cast includes (front, l–r) Nneka Okafor, Tamekia Jackson, Joanna Hubbard; (middle, l–r) Baruch Williams, Desiree Renee Thomas, Fernando Morillo, Johnard Washington, Raygan Kelly; (back, l–r) Skyler Nowinski, Aaron Mark, Raeyaan Hurst, David Leavitt, Blãz Bush, Luke McGinty, and Lauren Poindexter. Photo by David Lewis.

TOY LAND

A raft of festive events will gather toys this month for the Red Ribbon Toy Drive. On December 5, Houston Council of Clubs chairman Scott Kenyon and the Imperial Court of Houston-Space City Empire will present Wrapping It Up for the Kids, a benefit show at EJ’s. Glamour couple Shy Anne and Dennis Deville will have a December 6 fundraiser at the Ranch Hill Saloon in Conroe. BCBC will host its annual toy drive bash at the Lovett Inn on December 7. Mike Collins is Bayou City Boys Club president. Buck Brown, managing partner of the new KeyStar Event Complex, asks guests to bring unwrapped toys to his December 11 holiday open house.

Toys collected cheer children treated by Baylor Texas Children’s Hospital, University of Texas Health Sciences, the UT Medical Branch, and the Harris County Hospital District. AIDS Foundation Houston now organizes the drive, launched nine years ago by National Leather Association: Houston.

GOOD WORKS

S.I.S.T.E.R.S., the social and support group for lesbians of color, will host its annual holiday fundraiser event on December 6 at the Houston GLBT Community Center. Adrain Bowie is group president. Bisexual Network Houston usually hosts a movie night at the center on the first Saturday, but feeling the seasonal spirit will join in the S.I.S.T.E.R.S. celebration this month.

A percentage of sales and auction proceeds from the December 6 opening reception for the holiday art show at Amy Meyers’ Sippora Gallery will support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Young Leadership Board.

On December 9, Esther Hobbs, founder and executive director of Darla’s Learning Center, will host a tree-trimming party to benefit the school for adult women with mental retardation.

Trevan Ross, Bunnies on the Bayou p.r. chairman, has announced January 31 as the deadline for groups to apply for funds from the Easter Sunday outdoor bash. For details, check out www.bunnies.org.

Shari Heyen, Tom Downing, and Steven Wagner chair the next Human Rights Campaign gala, slated for March 20. At a November 20 event at Jacques Antiques hosted by shop owners Pamela and Jacques Passino, the local HRC chapter revealed the verdant event theme, “Garden of Eden.”

IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Even her Royal Sovereign & Imperial Court of the Single Star courtiers may not realize that their empress, SoFonda St. John, is an accomplished poet. On December 12, St. John (a.k.a. Jason Cryer) will read work at the In Our Own Write poetry evening at the Houston GLBT Community Center.

Houston Buyers Club, the nonprofit group that provides nutritional supplements and education to persons living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses, has moved to new digs on Yoakum. Fred Walters Jr. is executive director.

Just before the November elections, Mike Bodin and Randall Hendrick hosted a Caribbean-themed bash for the Houston Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus. Spotted in the crowd at the October 17 benefit for the caucus political-action committee: David Arpin, April Ayers, Ken Council, Liz James, Sam Jones, Bob Rinn, Leonard Rutan, and Tom Seymour.

SOUNDS OF THE SEASON

Gay Men’s Chorus of Houston is not the only local group with a CD. The Bering Memorial United Methodist Church choir has released MusicalItalia, a recording made during the choir’s summer tour of Italy. Rob Seible is Bering music director. The 24 tracks on the disc (to order, call 713/526-3106 during business hours) feature sacred tunes and American spirituals as well as and secular songs, including the always-appropriate “Over the Rainbow.”

On December 15 and 22, cozy up to the radio for JD Doyle’s queer holiday music shows during “Queer Voices,” the Monday-night KPFT program. ’Tis a seasonal tradition for me. Once, while motoring home and listening in the car, I had to pull over to giggle helplessly to the Vandals trannie carol, “My First Christmas as a Woman.” Everybody sing:

Cuz I know that I’m looking good

Just like a real girl should—

It’s my first Christmas as a woman.

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