Gay News Magazine Headlines (T24T-2)

Life's a Drag: Dito van Reigersberg's cabaret homecoming at GALA Hispanic Theatre

Feature Story: Dito van Reigersberg has made a name for himself in Philadelphia, a founder of that city's Pig Iron Theatre Company. Pig Iron performances have earned the company an Obie Award and countless Barrymore Awards from Philadelphia's Theatre Alliance. Then there is van Reigersberg's own Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret, named for his cheeky tribute to the maven of American dance, the late Martha Graham, at whose school he once studied. That show, recurring monthly, won ''Best Drag Act 2006,'' as voted by readers of Philadelphia's City Paper. But before he was the toast of Philly, van Reigersberg was a D.C.-area denizen. Next week, he'll return to those roots, taking the stage at GALA Hispanic Theatre. This won't be an encore of Pig Iron's acclaimed Poet in New York, about gay Spanish poet Frederic Garcia Lorca who was killed in the Spanish Civil War and which put van Reigersberg onstage at D.C. Warehouse Theater a few years ago. Instead, he brings us Martha. And if Philadelphia audiences are to be believed, we're lucky to have her. ...more

Northern Va. Nods: AGLA takes party time to laud leaders

Gauge: In keeping with holiday-season traditions, the Arlington Gay and Lesbian Alliance (AGLA) is honoring one individual and one group at the group's annual holiday party, Thursday, Dec. 4. The 2008 individual award will be going to Kris McLaughlin. ''She served as AGLA president for three and a half years,'' says the group's current president, Daniel Hays. ''That might have been the longest anyone has served. But it's not just that. She's done tons of stuff. When she first moved to the area, she started doing communication work for AGLA. She's the LGBT representative on the Arlington County Board Diversity Dialogue Task Force. She was named a 2006 Capital Pride Hero.'' ...more

Wone Widow Files Suit: Recent developments in Robert Wone case include $20 million civil lawsuit

Gauge: Kathy Wone has spoken publicly only once since her husband, Robert Wone, was murdered in the Dupont Circle-area townhouse of Joseph Price, his partner Victor Zaborsky, and their roommate Dylan Ward, on Aug. 2, 2006. A year after Robert Wone's mysterious death, with no arrest, no apparent leads and her husband's case growing colder, Kathy Wone urged anyone with information about that night to come forward. ''Having a murder on your conscience is no small load to carry as you try to live, I imagine, as normal a life as possible,'' she said at an Aug. 6, 2007, press conference. ''Confessing will be the hardest thing that you do in your life, our laws will impose severe consequences, but it will also be the most freeing thing that you can do for yourself.'' ...more

Tim Gunn worries new 'Project Runway' season may not air

Tim Gunn worries new 'Project Runway' season may not air
Design guru frets over TV show's future
By REBECCA ARMENDARIZ, Washington Blade | Dec. 4 at 4:40 PM Dec. 4 at 4:40 PM
"Project Runway" host Tim Gunn, in an interview with the Blade, said he worries the sixth season of the hit Bravo show may never air.

The legal challenges over the popular reality fashion design contest involve lawsuits between the Weinstein Company, which produces the series, and NBC Universal, Bravo's parent company. Earlier this year, the Weinstein Company sold the rights to the series to Lifetime Networks.

Lifetime recently filed a countersuit against the Weinstein Company, Bravo and NBC Universal seeking exclusive rights to the show, according to media reports.

Gunn said today that he has no idea when the latest season, the bulk of whic ...

Preachers protest adoption ruling

Preachers protest adoption ruling
Conservative preachers upheld stereotypes that were refuted in trial
By JUAN CARLOS RODRIGUEZ, South Florida Blade | Dec. 4 at 2:11 PM Dec. 4 at 2:11 PM

A group of conservative preachers representing the Christian Coalition said they support removing adopted children of gay parents from stable homes, rather than let a ruling ...

Poll: Calif. gay marriage ban driven by religion

Poll: Calif. gay marriage ban driven by religion
Age, race not strong factors
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) | Dec. 4 at 8:36 AM Dec. 4 at 8:36 AM
Voters' economic status and religious convictions played a greater role than race and age in determining whether they supported the Nov. 4 ballot measure outlawing same-sex marriage in California, a new poll shows.

The ban drew its strongest support from both evangelical Christians and voters who didn't attend college, according to results released Wednesday by the Public Policy Institute of California.

Age and race, meanwhile, were not as strong factors as assumed. According to the poll, 56 percent of voters over age 55 and 57 percent of nonwhite voters cast a yes ballot f ...

SFFD needs more LGBTs, firefighter says

The San Francisco Fire Department is distributing job applications for entry-level firefighter positions, and at least one gay firefighter is hoping LGBTs will apply. At station number 6 in the Castro, Keith Baraka, 43, said, “I’m the lone gay person out of 27 people that work there on a regular basis.” Baraka, who’s been with the department [...]

Special health panel meeting on cuts

The city’s health department is facing $26.7 million in mid-year cuts. Members of the public are encouraged to attend a special meeting of San Francisco’s health commission Tuesday, November 25, to discuss part of the reductions, which would come at the request of Mayor Gavin Newsom’s budget office. The cuts could affect areas including HIV prevention [...]

Charges May Be Filed in Vicious Gay Beating in Utah

After first declining to file assault or burglary charges in August, Salt Lake County prosecutors are again reviewing whether to bring charges against a group of attackers who are accused of beating a gay male couple this summer, reports Utah's .

Conservative Episcopalians Announce Plan to Break Away

A dissenting group from the Episcopal Church announced Wednesday that it will establish a rival denomination, challenging the mainstream church's decision to ordain openly gay bishop Gene Robinson in 2003.

GLAAD survey shows majority of Americans want equality for GLBT people

75 percent of respondents said same-sex marriage or civil unions should be legal. A new survey conducted in the wake of the passage of California's Proposition 8 reveals that 75 percent of Americans support marriage, adoption and inclusive hate-crime...

Photo Gallery: Pride and Picket Signs

More than 200 people convened outside the Nashville Metro Courthouse Nov. 15 for a gay-rights rally. The peaceful protest was part of a nationwide movement held held in response to the passing of California's Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in...

New 'Nutcracker' adds Nashville flavor to holiday classic

Nashville Ballet unveils new sets and costumes. Nashville Ballet will soon unveil its premiere of its brand-new Nutcracker. The old version of Nutcracker has delighted thousands of Middle Tennesseans for more than 18 years. The new production maintains...

Tim Gunn worries new 'Project Runway' season may not air

Tim Gunn worries new 'Project Runway' season may not air
Design guru frets over TV show's future
By REBECCA ARMENDARIZ, Washington Blade | Dec. 4 at 4:40 PM Dec. 4 at 4:40 PM
"Project Runway" host Tim Gunn, in an interview with the Blade, said he worries the sixth season of the hit Bravo show may never air.

The legal challenges over the popular reality fashion design contest involve lawsuits between the Weinstein Company, which produces the series, and NBC Universal, Bravo's parent company. Earlier this year, the Weinstein Company sold the rights to the series to Lifetime Networks.

Lifetime recently filed a countersuit against the Weinstein Company, Bravo and NBC Universal seeking exclusive rights to the show, according to media reports.

Gunn said today that he has no idea when the latest season, the bulk of whic ...

Preachers protest adoption ruling

Preachers protest adoption ruling
Conservative preachers upheld stereotypes that were refuted in trial
By JUAN CARLOS RODRIGUEZ, South Florida Blade | Dec. 4 at 2:11 PM Dec. 4 at 2:11 PM

A group of conservative preachers representing the Christian Coalition said they support removing adopted children of gay parents from stable homes, rather than let a ruling ...

Poll: Calif. gay marriage ban driven by religion

Poll: Calif. gay marriage ban driven by religion
Age, race not strong factors
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) | Dec. 4 at 8:36 AM Dec. 4 at 8:36 AM
Voters' economic status and religious convictions played a greater role than race and age in determining whether they supported the Nov. 4 ballot measure outlawing same-sex marriage in California, a new poll shows.

The ban drew its strongest support from both evangelical Christians and voters who didn't attend college, according to results released Wednesday by the Public Policy Institute of California.

Age and race, meanwhile, were not as strong factors as assumed. According to the poll, 56 percent of voters over age 55 and 57 percent of nonwhite voters cast a yes ballot f ...