GUEST: Ray Hill has been one our community's most devoted and important activists. email 9:30 pm

Newswrap: Maine voters pass Question 1 to deny marriage equality to same-gender couples, but Washington's electorate supports Referendum 71 to maintain the state's "everything but marriage" domestic partners law, and Kalamazoo, Michigan voters approve the city's LGBT anti-bias Ordinance 1856; New Jersey lesbigay advocates race to get marriage equality passed in the state legislature before supportive Democratic Governor Jon Corzine leaves office after being defeated in his reelection bid by homophobic Republican Chris Christie, while several openly gay and lesbian candidates win local elections, including first-ever City Council seats in Detroit, St. Petersburg, Akron and Salt Lake City; fresh from his electoral victory, Portuguese P.M. Jose Socrates' government reportedly puts marriage equality near the top of its legislative agenda; lesbian co-parents win legal recognition in the Australian state of Tasmania; Maltese President George Abela becomes the first head of state to meet with ILGA-Europe members during one of its annual conferences; and management might be wise to not leave a bible in Sir Ian McKellen's hotel room (written by GREG GORDON, with thanks to REX WOCKNER with BILL KELLEY, and reported this week by SHERI LUNN and TAREN JAMES). more

 

9:40 pm

Illuminations Project is a Music and Dance Showcase of Houston talent to help bring awareness to AIDS. This is the 8th year for Illuminations Project and we have a fantastic show in store for you. This years performers are: Hope Stone, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, City Ballet of Houston, Regina Dane, Psophonia Dance Company, Dance of Asia America, Uptown Dance Company, Kimberly Anne O'Neil, Second Generation Dance Company, Clay Hardy and the Houston Fly Boys. Regular price tickets will go on sale through the Hobby Center on Oct 22 for $35.00. As a FB friend and through word of mouth, you may get a ten dollar discount by using the promo word: FALCON Go to www.thehobbycenter.org fpr tickets. Illuminations Project is being presented in association with the Gulf Coast Archive Museum and all net proceeds will go to the Montrose Counseling Center and the Gulf Coast Archive Museum. more

Krewe of Olympus is a service based orgainzation that started in New Orleans in 1970. The Krewe is one of the largest predominately gay Krewes in the United States, although our membership is open to all. Our principal aims are to present theatrical and educational events that perpetuate and continue Mardi Gras traditions and to raise money for community charities. Since moving to Texas, we've donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Houston and Dallas Charitable Organizations. We are a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. The Krewe of Olympus is celebrating its 40th anniversary with an event on Nov. 22nd at JR.s. Food, Cash Bar, Beads for attendees. more

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This Way Out: The electorate in 2 U.S. states went to the polls on November 3rd to vote on the rights of lesbian and gay couples. In MAINE, the issue was QUESTION 1, which asked voters to overturn the marriage equality law that the legislature had passed and the governor had signed earlier this year. AMY BROWNE at WERU-FM (with production assistance by JOHN GREENMAN) reports from Bangor. The outcome was better for same-gender couples in the state of WASHINGTON. It took a few days to count all the mail-in votes, but the final tally on REFERENDUM 71 gave gays and lesbians their first-ever statewide electoral victory, by a vote of 52 to 48 per cent. LIZ HILL (with thanks to Operations Manager RUTH BROWNSTEIN) reports from KAOS-FM in OLYMPIA. Several LGBT advocates sharply criticized President Obama and his Democratic Party for failing to speak out against the anti-lesbigay forces in Maine and Washington, including National Equality March leader CLEVE JONES (on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show) and author and "Savage Love" columnist DAN SAVAGE (on MSNBC's "Countdown" program). more

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11/16/09….no show

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Show: November 23, 2009

The following is scheduled:

Opening, general discussion

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Houston City Councilmember Jolanda "Jo" Jones believes in a Houston where a kid like her can grow up to be a successful lawyer and businesswoman, a homeowner, a City Councilmember and most importantly, a mom who can afford to give her son the opportunity for a bright future. From a childhood of poverty to the Academic All American Hall of Fame, a successful career as an attorney fighting to reform our criminal justice system, and election to Houston's City Council, Jolanda's personal story sheds light on the kind of leadership, commitment, and teamwork she brings to all her endeavors. Jolanda knows that our city government can make a real difference in the life of every Houston child because it did for her. That's why Jolanda is fighting for solutions to make our neighborhoods safer, keep our economy growing, make our city work better and ensure that every child in Houston has the best opportunity to learn. more

NewsWrap: Austria's coalition government compromises with same-gender couple civil partnerships; a federal judge orders health benefits for a 9th Circuit Court lawyer and his husband, Massachusetts queer couples challenge DOMA, New York's highest court okays state recognition of legal same-gender marriages performed elsewhere, and lesbigay Arizona state workers sue over stripped domestic partner benefits; Philippine election officials reject an "immoral" LGBT political party but hijra voters in India can now check "O" for "other"; the brutal murders of gender-variant gay teens Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado in Puerto Rico and Jason Mattison Jr. in Maryland inspire global vigils and calls for justice, while the 11th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance is marked in cities around the world; and a Democratic candidate for Attorney General worries that wording in the 2005 voter-approved Texas constitutional amendment to ban legal recognition of same-gender couples outlaws all marriages in the Lone Star State (written by GREG GORDON, with thanks to REX WOCKNER with BILL KELLEY, and reported this week by TAREN JAMES and RICK WATTS)

Last time on "This Way Out", correspondents DIXIE TREICHEL and JOHN TOWNSEND [from "Fresh Fruit" on KFAI-FM/Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota] detailed many of the challenges confronting homeless LGBT youth, and some possible solutions. In this week�s conclusion of a special 2-part feature, we learn about HOST HOME/AVENUES FOR YOUTH, and meet QAMAR, a formerly homeless gay teen, and VI, the compassionate man who took him in. more

In this month's "AUDIOFILE", the second album from a bisexual British singer offers no apologies (excerpts from "We Are Golden" and "Good Gone Girl" from MIKA's "THE BOY WHO KNEW TOO MUCH"), the eighth offering from an enduring lesbian duo is named for a Japanese proverb ("Love Won't Let Me" and "Rainin'" from WISHING CHAIR's "STAND UP 8"), and a gay Florida-based vocalist wants his latest CD to inspire hope and perseverance ("That's Just What Love Does" and "Living Out Loud" from NICK GRANATO's "IN REAL LIFE") (with comments by the artists, hosted by JD DOYLE & CHRIS WILSON, and written and produced with CHRISTOPHER DAVID TRENTHAM). audiofile more

Yes, I'm calling this month's QMH "Those Funny Lesbians: A Tribute to Lesbian Comedy." And no, that wasn't the title of the book at the left. It was originally "Lavender Runway," so adapting the graphic was just a stunt to get your attention. Hope it worked...:)

Lily Tomlin - Edith Ann on Lesbians (late 1970')
Dos Fallopia - Camp Song (1992)
Harrison & Tyler - Running It (part) (1973)
Robin Tyler - "Always a Bridesmaid, Never a Groom" (1979)
Robin Tyler Interview (2002)
Ivy Bottini - Lesbians/WLM (1976)
Out of the Closet - The Fashion Show (1977)
Alix Dobkin - Amazon ABC (1976)
Lynn Lavner comments (2003)
Lynn Lavner - Butch and Femme (1992)
Lynn Lavner - A Lesbian Too Long (1992)
Lily Tomlin - Doris Gay (late 1970s)
Kate Clinton - from 25th Anniversary Tour DVD (2007)
Kate Clinton Interview (2009)
Sue Fink - Leaping Lesbians (1977)

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The following is scheduled:

Opening, general discussion

December 1st is the 21st annual World AIDS day. To commemorate this event, there are multiple events planned around the city. A guest from the city will be on to discuss the all of the events including the candlelight vigil ceremony to be held downtown at Tranquility Park starting at 5:30 pm. more

This Way Out: Despite two near-death heart attacks, WAYSON CHOY's life is far from over � at least "NOT YET," the title of his new memoir. "This Way Out's" Brisbane correspondent JOHN FRAME sat down for a reflective conversation with the now 70-year-old gay Asian Canadian "in-betweener" about his roots, extended families, and love (Part 1, ending with a tease from next week's concluding Part 2) more

 

9:40 pm

Thomas Street Clinic is celebrating its 20th anniversary on Tuesday December 1st. The event will take place from Noon - 1 p.m. at 2015 Thomas Street. An information fair will follow from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. with free HIV testing.

The Harris County Hospital District's Thomas Street Health Center is a freestanding (first in the nation) HIV/AIDS treatment facility providing medical and psychological services to residents of Harris County diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Thomas Street Health Center provides health care services for more than 26,000 patient visits. more

GUEST: Jeff Benavides, HIV Health Educator, Thomas Street Clinic

10:00 pm

Sing along with the 2nd Annual Judy Garland Christmas Special! Return to 1963 when CBS first aired this ultra-campy black-and-white television special featuring Judy at her Judy-est. With Nancy Ford & Special Guests Sunday, December 6 - 6 p.m. In-N-Out 1537 N. Shepherd Doors open at 5 p.m. Suggested donation: $20 Light Hors D'oeuvres - Holiday Raffle Presented by Kindred Spirits Foundation, Inc. Benefiting AssistHers, Bering Support Network, Houston Buyers Club, and Lesbian Health Initiative Tickets: KindredSpiritsHouston.org Sponsored by OutSmart Magazine more

 

10:22 pm

Rainbow Pages Foundation presents "Rainbow Night at Ensemble Theatre" with their production of "Christmas with Great Aunt". The GLBT event will take place Thursday, December 10th from 6:30pm-9:30pm at Ensemble Theater. The Rainbow Pages Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the betterment of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender community in the cities and states in which we publish directories. The main focus of the foundation will be; providing access to higher education for GLBT students, developing workforce training seminars to help place GLBT adults back into the workforce with corporations that offer same sex benefits, to create a program to address the needs of GLBT people of color and create a gender identity program. Ultimately we are about helping achieve equality in a local, state and federal level to bring all GLBT people closer to a world free from discrimination of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. more

GUEST: Salangi Legacy and Lonnie Davis, Rainbow Pages

10:40 pm

This Way Out: A new book by MARY CAPPELLO, "CALLED BACK: MY REPLY TO CANCER, MY RETURN TO LIFE", uses magical writing, says "This Way Out" queer lit commentator JANET MASON, to examine a reality that is neither pretty nor pink

This Way Out" entertainment reporter STEVE PRIDE has a preview clip*, and chats with the movie's out gay writer DAVID BRIND and straight but not narrow director ADAM SALKY (with brief outro music from "Johnny Are You Queer?" performed by JOSIE COTTON) more

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The following is scheduled:

Opening, general discussion

The Gathering Progressive Storm: How 2010 is shaping up to be a monumentally difficult year for the Left in America. more

Newswrap: A judge in Argentina overrules another judge and blocks the scheduled first-ever wedding of a gay Buenos Aires couple; UNAIDS uses World AIDS Day to condemn the criminalization of same-gender sex in 80 countries, the Chinese government's first official gay bar fails to attract customers, but the 2012 International AIDS Conference will be held for the first time since 1990 in the U.S.; global pressure builds against proposed draconian anti-gay laws in Uganda; negotiations continue between the federal government and the Australian Capital Territory over its same-gender civil union ceremonies law, while the Irish parliament opens debate on a bill to grant limited but significant rights to lesbian and gay couples; the New York state Senate quashes a marriage equality bill, but the Washington, D.C. City Council approves one in the first of two votes; staff at the venerable U.S. LGBT "Washington Blade" and "Southern Voice" newspapers try to resurrect those publications after their owners go bankrupt; openly-lesbigay candidates Simone Bell, Alex Wan and Evan Low make history in U.S elections; and queer actor Alan Cumming and activist Ben Summerskill become Officers of the Order of the British Empire (written by GREG GORDON, with thanks to REX WOCKNER with BILL KELLEY, and reported this week by CHRISTOPHER GAAL and MICHAEL LEBEAU) more

 

9:40 pm

We will be discussing the upcoming Houston City election. more

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. more

. 10:40 pm

This Way Out:While UGANDA President Yoweri Musevini claimed this week that Europeans were trying to import homosexuality into his country, some evangelical Christians in the U.S. have, in fact, been importing homophobia into that east African nation. In this brief excerpt, openly lesbian news commentator RACHEL MADDOW discussed those connections with JEFF SHARLET, author of "The Family", on her MSNBC cable show.

Last time on "This Way Out", gay Asian Canadian writer WAYSON CHOY described his two near-fatal heart attacks, and the friendships that bolstered his recovery, all of which inspired his new memoir, "NOT YET", in conversation with our Brisbane correspondent JOHN FRAME. In this week's conclusion, the now-70-year-old writer expands on his definition of "family", and blames Santa Claus for his collections obsession more

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Show: December 14, 2009

The following is scheduled:

Opening, general discussion

A general discussion of Saturday's Houston City election run off. Will we make history? more

Newswrap: more

 

9:40 pm

The state of the economy, worldwide political struggles, homeless-ness: Try tossing these out as conversation starters at your next holiday party! The fact is, we've been persuaded to believe this is "the most wonderful time of the year." For some it just may be, but for others the holiday season conjures up feelings of stress, strain, anxiety, disappointment and loneliness.

Especially for LGBTQ people, the additional stress of strained family relationships or their judgments can cause the holiday blues to get the best of you. Other signs to watch out for include fatigue, having unrealistic expectations, becoming overwhelmed by holiday commercialization, feeling loss over past relationships or the loss of someone near and dear, financial constraints and not having supportive friends and family.

To compensate, we often do too much to cope, like drinking or eating more than our limit, or placing even more demands on ourselves and stretching ourselves thin.

Here are some useful strategies for keeping in tune with how you're feeling and for reducing stress.

- Keep your expectations of the holidays realistic. Remember, you can control what you do or don't do this season. Give yourself permission to be in command of your holiday social calendar. Do you have to attend everything? Of course you don"t. Pacing is key. Make a list of what"s most important and prioritize activities. You may just find the most enjoyment in planning a day doing your favorite activity or something you have been meaning to try.

- Limit predictable sources of stress. We all have that distant (or not-so-distant) family member whose call we debate answering. Should I, shouldn't I - If you have to ask yourself, you probably know the answer. After all, you could always call back another time. Again, you're in charge. If shopping, traffic, decorating and baking become overwhelming, use discretion and do something else.

- Avoid the hype. Contrary to what every high-ticket advertisement will have you believe, you are not a bad partner or lover if you didn't give him or her this year's "it" item. There are many ways to show love without going into debt. And besides, after the holidays, the prices tend to fall. Consider doing something thoughtful and creative that doesn't cost too much and is personal, like planning a day trip together.

- Enjoy time with friends and loved ones. This is a tricky one. Friends and family are a source of strength and love for many people, although we mustn't assume family and friends are safe territory for all. For many of us this may not be the case, especially LGBTQ folks. Holiday time is not necessarily the most effective time to "come out" to family because of all the existing stress. As adults, we can build our own communities and families and start our own traditions.

- Get involved. A great way to find meaning this time of year is to help others or to get involved in something new. Being around people taking part in activities helps combat feeling alone and isolated. Many organizations are eager for volunteers to get involved and contribute. It might lead to a new friend or new interest along the way.

- Don't abandon what works. If you are experiencing more stress than usual during the holidays, remember, they are temporary and will be over soon. Be aware of the healthy habits you worked at all year long. Exercise, yoga, avoiding extra calories and other things you incorporate into your schedule should help now too. Be sure to ask a friend for support if you need it. Talking to someone can make all the difference. If you don't feel you have someone to open up to, there are many local resources available for peer or professional help.

- Holiday blues or depression? When feelings don't go away or get worse, it could be a sign of depression. Some symptoms of depression include persistent sad, anxious or empty mood, loss of pleasure and interest in activities that are usually enjoyed, feelings of guilt, hopelessness or helplessness, sleeping more or less than usual, fatigue or low energy, weight loss or gain, headaches, digestive problems, muscle or joint pain, difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions and/or thoughts of suicide.

Depression is a treatable condition. If you or someone you care about are experiencing any of these symptoms, consult a mental-health professional, a crisis-response center or 911 in case of emergency.

Judy Morrissey is program director for Mazzoni Center's Open Door Counseling Program. Mazzoni Center offers individual, couples, family and group counseling services for the region's LGBT community. more

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. more

The Osito Foundation wants every child who is impacted by HIV/AIDS & Other Chronic Illnesses to have a Teddy Bear~every child deserves to know we care~especially kids who have lost a parent or who are sick themselves. more

This Way Out: more