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Row Team Austin Hosts
Twist & Shout PartyOn Thurs., Apr. 30, Row Team Austin invites the public to attend an evening social event and to support America's largest Gay Games rowing team in their goal to represent Austin in Amsterdam this August. As one of Austin's newest clubs, Twist provides the perfect setting for everyone to unwind with the rowers or shout out their support on the dance floor with music spun by DJ Roland Belmares. Door prizes and plenty of food will also keep the party twisting from 7 to l0pm. 100% of the $l0 suggested admission goes toward expenses that will enable the team to participate in the games. Twist is located at 505 Neches between 5th and 6th St. and one block west of Red River.
The RTA rowers-over forty in all-will be on hand to answer questions about their training and participation in the Gay Games. "We're looking forward to this chance to meet the general community and tell them why this is so important for us and for Austin," said Steve Siefert, one of RTA's original members. "We all have our own reasons. For me it's about showing a strong, healthy and dedicated face of the Gay community that is often ignored. I'm also anxious to see Austin again represented as an internationally renowned center for rowing as it was over a hundred years ago." Siefert has been living in Austin over 10 years and caught on to rowing 7 years ago after watching rowers on Town Lake. "It's all-consuming, graceful, and exhilarating, all at the same time! Plus, rowers can do this for life."
For more information about RTA call: 512.708.9303 or visit the new website: www.rowteamaustin.org.
For more information about Gay Games visit: www.gaygames.org.
Ellen Canceled
After months of speculation re- garding the fate of Ellen, ABC is canceling the first and only program on primetime television with a lead Lesbian or Gay character.
"ABC's decision clearly denies the profound impact which Ellen has had on our society and the future of television programming," said Joan M. Garry, GLAAD Executive Director. "Ellen broke ground with her historic coming-out episode, and continued to do so throughout this past season, providing us with a strong and wholly positive television hero. Ellen will be sorely missed by GLAAD, our community, and her many fans from all walks of life."
Last Apr., Ellen Morgan came out of the closet to an audience of millions. Ellen DeGeneres and the show have been awarded a number of honors in the past year, including an Emmy and a Peabody Award for the "Puppy Episode." In Oct., ABC branded the sitcom with a parental advisory warning. Episodes that included any type of same-sex affection, including hand holding, were subject to the warning. Earlier this year, ABC placed the program on hiatus, giving Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizza Place the show's timeslot. Then ABC decided only to air Ellen's finale, leaving two already taped episodes out of the schedule.
"Ellen didn't just open the closet door for Lesbian and Gay primetime characters," said Chastity Bono, GLAAD Entertainment Media Director, "she blew the door off its hinges. Like groundbreaking television programs in the past, Ellen will serve as a catalyst for even more Gay-inclusive programming on television in the future."
Is Ellen Moving To London?
Ellen DeGeneres says Britain is more liberal for Gay men and Lesbians than at the U.S. and she may be looking for an apartment there. DeGeneres, who is visiting Britain-with her mom, Betty, and life partner, Anne Heche-for an evening of programs with a Gay theme on British TV, said Britons' attitude toward Gay men and Lesbians is far more progressive. "It seems to be not such a big deal here for whatever reason. I'm not sure why, but it's great, so I'm looking at apartments," she told the Daily Telegraph.
DeGeneres is a native of New Orleans. The award-winning coming-out episode of her now canceled ABC series Ellen is among the shows to be aired in Britain.
Gay Day Women's Event Update
As earlier reported, Sat., June 6th is the first Club Skirts "Harem" during Gay Day at The Magic Kingdom. The early response has been considerable and the organizers anticipate a sell out. Based on the enthusiastic calls, Club Skirts Harem has signed a five-year contract with Arabian Nights, the site of the event just outside the west gate of Disney.
Tickets and event information can still be obtained by calling 888.5.SKIRTS. Good Time Tours will be happy to handle your plans for travel and accommodation at 888.429.3527.
Lesbian Playwright Wins Pulitzer
Paula Vogel, an out Lesbian playwright, recently won the coveted Pulitzer Prize for her play about incest called How I Learned To Drive. A spokesperson for the Pulitzer Prize Board said that they are not "aware" of any other open Lesbians winning any of the Pulitzer prizes in the competition's 80-year history.
Previous Lesbian writers who have won a Pulitzer Prize include Willa Cather and Elizabeth Bishop, for fiction and poetry, respectively.
Vogel, who grew up in Maryland just outside of Baltimore, will soon be returning to ther area to work for three years as playwright-in-residence at Washington, D.C.'s historic Arena Stage. she is already working on a play called Civil War Christmas that chronicles the history of the area.
Vogel now joins a list of Gay Pulitzer Prize winners from drama that includes Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee, Lanford Wilson and Tony Kushner.
How I Learned To Drive has less overtly Gay content than some of Vogel's other plays. The Baltimore Waltz, for example, examined the relationship between a Gay man and his sister.
Phoenix, AZ Pride Celebration
Now-open Gay Rob Halford, former lead singer of metal band Judas Priest, was the Grand Marshal for Arizona Central Pride's parade through Phoenix on Apr. 18. That was a big step forward from last year, when the town's first pride parade in eight years ended up having to borrow a non-Gay local radio personality at the last minute to have any grand marshal at all. This year's march had sixty entries, compared to 55 last year, and took about an hour to complete its route. But while the parade was relatively small and low-key, the Gay Pride Festival in a local park was jumping, with total attendance estimated at 12,000 for music, dancing, food, entertainment, and the annual Miss Gay Pride drag contest.
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