The 18 stories in this anthology are meant to give us a glimpse into the lives of 20-something gay men. Decades after so much gay fiction ended in despair and suicide, this collection depicts young gay life to be all about drugs, sex workers, and other delusions. This is progress? The writing isn’t bad, exactly, but much of it smacks of trying too hard to be edgy and ends up merely sensational.
— Review: Neil Ellis Orts
Died. Eleanor Tinsley, 82, an eight-term veteran of Houston’s City Council who was one of the first women elected to citywide office, died February 10. A fierce advocate of city beautification, Tinsley was also a solid champion of issues supporting Houston’s gay community. Tinsley’s husband, James, preceded her in death. Funeral services were held February 14 at South Main Baptist Church.
Hap is a good ole East Texas boy. Leonard is an African-American drag queen. Lansdale turns this unlikely paring into one of the best mystery series around. Great storytelling and hilarious situations make Hap and Leonard a perpetual favorite of mystery readers. For those of you who came to this series late, the first two books in this series have finally been reissued. For those who don’t know this series , lucky you : you can start at the beginning. Kudos to Vintage Books for reissuing these classics. — Review: Angel Curtis
When most people think of Colorado, laid-back Boulder, snowy Aspen, and cosmopolitan Denver are the go-to’s. But when thousands of others ponder the Centennial State, the little town of Trinidad comes to mind—and its reputation as the “sex change capitol of the world.”
Patrick the Penguin wakes up and discovers he has turned pink. Feeling that neither boys nor penguins can be pink, Patrick runs away to Africa to be with the flamingos. Realizing that he is safer and happier at home, he returns to a warm welcome by all. Beautifully illustrated, this is a new classic in children’s “be who you are” stories. Ages 4–8. — Review: Angel Curtis
Died. Bruce Neal Metskar, 51, died on January 15. A longtime member of the Montrose Softball League, Metskar also served on the board of that sports organization. Originally from Indiana, Metskar is survived by his partner, Ruben Diaz; two sisters; one brother; and many friends.
Died. John Paul Barnich, 63, Texas’ first openly gay city court judge, died February 2 from diabetes-related complications. Appointed to the court by Mayor Lee Brown in 1999, Barnich served on the bench until October 2007 when he resigned due to failing health, according to the Houston Chronicle. Founder of the Bar Association for Human Rights and frequent defender of gay rights and HIV-related cases, Barnich was also on the board, for four years as its chairman, of the AIDS Foundation Houston. (See also “In the Beginning,” March 2009 OutSmart.)
This new book celebrates Harvey Milk’s life and legacy in archival photos (120 in all), many rarely seen before, and in the words of those who knew him best. Extracted from interviews conducted by screenwriter Dustin Lance Black while researching his screenplay for the film Milk, this unique volume includes an introduction by Black, a foreward by Armistead Maupin, and a special section on the making of the movie. — Preview: Troy Carrington
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund announced in February it supports the reintroduction of the Uniting American Families Act, a bill sponsored by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) which would grant bi-national same-sex couples equal treatment under immigration laws by allowing them to sponsor their partner for immigration purposes.
A 60-minute infomercial described by American Family Association as revealing “the truth about the radical homosexual agenda and its impact on the family, the nation, and religious freedom,” though scheduled to air last month on a Grand Rapids, Michigan, television station, has been pulled.
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