July 1, 2007
IKEA, GOLD + WILLIAMS BIG WINNERS The über-diverse IKEA furniture store has received a top industry prize for its inclusive advertising. In a ceremony held on June 11, the Commercial Closet Association chose IKEA in the Outstanding Commercial category. “Living Room,” produced by the advertising agency Deutsch, includes a same-sex couple depicted with their daughter. • Additionally, in-house ad for Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, featuring a gay male couple relaxing on their Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams furniture, won the Outstanding Print Ad (Appearing in Mainstream Media) category. • The Commercial Closet Association aims to educate advertisers about GLBT references for a more accepting society and successful business results. Winning ads can be viewed at www.commercialcloset.com/winners. • In Houston, IKEA is located at 7810 Katy Frwy. (713/688-7867, www.ikea.com). Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams (www.mitchellgold.com) plans to open a store soon at 3303 Kirby Dr. The furniture retailer, founded by partners Gold and Williams in 1989, also sells merchandise in Houston through High Fashion Home (3100 Travis, 713/528-3838, www.highfashionhome.com).
July 1, 2007
PFLAG/HATCH Youth Scholarship Foundation presents its 2007 awards to college-bound GLBT students on July 1, 2 p.m., at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Details: www.pflaghouston.org.
July 1, 2007
Day-By-Day Events, Performance, Performance for Young People, Radio, Art/Photography, HIV Testing. Plus lots of hot tickets: Miss Mint Julep, fireworks at Eleanor Tinsley, Lez Zepplin, and more…
July 1, 2007
Marijane Meaker and Martin Duberman received the Pioneer Awards in recognition of their lifetime achievements at the Lambda Literary Foundation awards ceremony on May 31 in New York City. Meaker is a pioneer of lesbian literature. Her 1952 novel Spring Fire was one of the first paperback novels to deal with a lesbian theme. Duberman, the esteemed American historian, is the author of many books, including the 1993 Stonewall. He was the founder and first director of the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies at the City University of New York Graduate School.
July 1, 2007
Few recording artists arriving on the pop music scene in the past decade have created a body of work as distinctive as that of the openly gay singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright. His deeply personal and idiosyncratic songs are like nothing else out there, partly because of his gorgeous melodies and partly because it’s not that unusual for “Bea Arthur” to turn up in his lyrics. Wainwright needn’t be compared to other artists, but names like Dylan, Lennon, and (Leonard) Cohen might come to mind when you consider the overall quality of his best work. Now comes Release the Stars, his fifth album in a decade, with 12 new songs that can only enhance his reputation. And he looks stunning in lederhosen! From Geffen Records (www.geffen.com). — Review: Jack Varsi
July 1, 2007
Rick & Steve, The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World, with its cast of Lego-inspired queer characters, entered our big gay consciousness in 1999 as a short film on the GLBT film fest circuit. Eight years later, creator Q. Allan Brocka (Queer Duck ) has retooled the concept into a sitcom for (who else?) Logo.
July 1, 2007
In the “Extra Frills” edition of this Academy Award-winning campy road trip adventure-romp, the cult classic gets an extra tarting-up with featurettes, a blooper reel, and deleted scenes including “How Trumpet Got His Nickname” and a “Fabulous Photo Gallery.” • 1994. Written and directed by Stephan Elliott. • From MGM Home Entertainment (www.mgm.com).
July 1, 2007
Blase DiStefano: I don’t know how many of the personalities you’ve interviewed are gay (maybe 10 percent?), but does one gay person stand out above the others?
July 1, 2007
Delightfully, this Comedy Central comedy series translates well to the big screen. Granted, the beginning is a little slow, but don’t shut off the DVD player. The laughs kick in soon enough and continue till past the closing credits.
July 1, 2007
Rick & Steve, The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World, with its cast of Lego-inspired queer characters, entered our big gay consciousness in 1999 as a short film on the GLBT film fest circuit. Eight years later, creator Q. Allan Brocka (Queer Duck ) has retooled the concept into a sitcom for (who else?) Logo.
