To make a long story short, the drag queen who narrates this haunting murder mystery involving Bali “rent boys” and a closeted customer nearly ruins the story with extraneous ramblings about his own life. With help from a good editor, this self-published author could accomplish his goal of exploring explosive results when East meets West, and poor native boy meets rich white man. — Review: Donalevan Maines
Dale Peck explores the complexities of being gay in small-town America with his latest novel, Sprout. Based on his own experiences growing up and coming out in Long Island and Kansas, Sprout is a heartbreaking and humorous coming-of-age story. This is not an “issue” book, but an exploration of discovering your identity amid the confusion of high school. — Review: Troy Carrington
Sergeant Erin Brody and a squad of troopers seek a killer creature stalking their all-female military base. Accompanied on the quest by her cat, Psycho, she finds love with the secretive Dr. Belinda Duncan. Threats then compound, including one on Brody’s own life, in this adventure filled with humor and
suspense. — Review: Angel Curtis
Victor Fleming, the legendary director of The Wizard of Oz, wasn’t gay, but his first big star was, according to biographer Michael Sragow. On the set of Fleming’s silent-screen “horse opera,” he writes, there was “raw kidding” between screen idol Jack Kerrigan (described as “quite a lady himself”) and “the ultra-heterosexual cowboy extras and crew,” but there was also “enough hard-nosed tolerance” for everyone to do their jobs. Known in Hollywood as “the real Rhett Butler,” Fleming won his Oscar for salvaging Gone with the Wind after gay director George Cukor was fired, perhaps in part because of tensions that stemmed from Clark Gable’s brief sexual encounter with Cukor’s friend, openly gay star William Haines. — Review: Donalevan Maines
“Thank God you’re gay,” advises one of the over-70 characters whom humorist Henry Alford interviews for this witty guide to navigating through life. “What do you mean?” Alford asks, taken aback. Then Alford tells us what he thinks it means, along with lots of clever quotes on aging and wisdom from the famous and not-so-famous, and riffs on conversations with his elders, from his mother and stepfather to gay playwright Edward Albee and the fabulous Sylvia Miles, whose two Oscar nominations (for Midnight Cowboy and Farewell, My Lovely) honored a combined nine minutes of screen time. (Miles quips, “‘Oh, look at her, she’s outrageous,’ they say of me. Well, better that than I should be in-rage-eous.”) — Review: Donalevan Maines
The history of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people must not disappear like a gentle breeze that leaves no mark. Our history gives us meaning, identity, and inspiration. Sometimes it makes us happy, and sometimes it makes us sad. It offers us markers that show where we’ve been, and it gives us guideposts to tomorrow’s goals.
In the Appalachian Mountains, circa 1960, a self-described sissy boy, Buddy, becomes best friends with a blue boy, Early, who can sometimes perform miracles. To Buddy’s alarm, Early’s dad begins to market his son as the “Blue Jesus.” Told in Buddy’s defiant and very funny voice, this novel explores issues around friendship, race, faith, and Nancy Drew. Smart, heartfelt, and laugh-out-loud funny, it is a new Southern classic. Highly recommended. — Review: Neil Ellis Orts
GLBT Health and Wellness Pavilion and the Legal Advice Tent are cornerstones of the 2009 Pride Festival.
Walgreens Health & Wellness Pavilion
Stonewall Law Association Legal Advice Tent
Festival Facts: Festival Date & Hours, Location & Directions, Street Closures
Entertainment
Family Retreat
Festival Latino
Gender Block
Community Street
Kids’ Zone
Rules & Guidelines
Transportation
Parade Viewing TIPS and ADVICE
Lesléa Newman (Heather Has Two Mommies) follows up last month’s Mommy, Mama, and Me with a book showing the joy of two-dad families. Beautifully illustrated by Carol Thompson, this book is sure to be a favorite of children and the fathers who love them. A great gift or addition to the collection of those who love children’s books, this one will be a classic. It’s wonderful to finally see a book that celebrates gay dads in their everyday lives. — Review: Angel Curtis
The picture looked so perfect. You weren’t really looking for a vacation destination, but the smiling faces on that poster made you want one. Happy couples on sandy beaches or green hillsides, astride horses, or with snorkels over their noses.
The best way to keep in touch with what's going on in Houston? Sign up for our newsletter, which is jampacked with features, special invites, discounts, and sneak previews reserved for newsletter members only. .
