Broadway Backwards Raises Record $466K For Broadway Cares & NYC LGBT Center

Via press release:

The 10th anniversary of Broadway Backwards capped off an exuberant, exhilarating and emotional evening of performances on Monday, March 9, 2015 with news that this year’s event raised a record $466,717 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. The sold-out show included 20 audience-pleasing numbers and multiple standing ovations for Tituss Burgess, Lena Hall, Florence Henderson, Norm Lewis, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Lillias White and more Broadway favorites, as well as a special appearance by recent Kennedy Center Honoree Lily Tomlin. Julie Halston and Rob McClure served as the evening's jovial hosts. Broadway Backwards is the annual celebration where gays and lesbians see their stories told through the great songs of musical theatre, sung by their favorite Broadway performers. It is produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and was presented again in the historic Al Hirschfeld Theatre, home to the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Kinky Boots. This year’s edition of Broadway Backwards featured a spirited 66-person cast and an onstage orchestra of 13 performing some of the most memorable numbers from previous editions of the benefit.

I was there with my buddy Mike and it was fantastic as always. As she did several years ago, 81 year-old Florence Henderson stole the show with a bawdy performance that included a macking session with an Alice stand-in. Peering into the upraised hindquarters of a muscular dancer, she quipped, "Is that the Holland or Lincoln tunnel? Helloooooo?" Mrs. Brady would not have approved. I'll post videos when they become available - in the meantime check out Playbill's photo gallery.

ISRAEL: Police Make Fourth Arrest Related To 2009 Tel Aviv LGBT Center Shooting, Say Attack Was Not A Hate Crime

Tel Aviv police have arrested a fourth suspect in the 2009 shooting spree at an LGBT teen community center that left two dead and eleven injured.  The new suspect is reportedly "well-known" to the local gay community.  Three other suspects were arrested yesterday and none have yet been identified. Despite widespread speculation that the murders were an anti-gay bias attack, police now say the attack was based on a personal dispute and that the shooter was seeking revenge.

Investigators believe one of the suspects in the deadly 2009 shooting at the Barnoar gay youth center in Tel Aviv opened fire inside the center and killed Nir Katz, 26, and Liz Trubeshi, 16. Eleven other people were injured in the shooting attack. Police believe two other suspects aided the shooter. The Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court on Thursday extended the suspects' remand by 11 days. A fourth suspect, a well-known figure within the LGBT community, was arrested overnight. Police officials said the shooting is not defined as a hate crime, adding that the suspects were under surveillance for months. The police representative at the remand hearing said the main suspect incriminated himself during his interrogation and became agitated after being told there was evidence against him.

According to police, the suspect said to be "well-known" to the gay community is not believed to have participated in the shooting itself, but has "valuable information" related to the attack. The other three suspects are alleged to have conspired "before and after the crime" and all three are suspected of numerous offenses unrelated to the community center shooting. 

Tel Aviv's gay pride parade is tomorrow.

NEW YORK CITY: West Village Streets Closed For Massive Anti-Hate Crimes Rally"Say His Name: MARK CARSON!"

TODAY: West Village Protest Rally And March In Honor Of Mark Carson

From the New York City LGBT Community Center:

On Monday evening we will gather on the steps of the Center, along with the Anti-Violence Project, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, community members, other elected officials, and LGBT community leaders and allies, and march to the site of Friday's shooting to demand an end to hate crimes against our community. At the end of the march, we will rally to denounce hate violence, call for justice and to mourn the death of Mark Carson. Please join us, and help spread the word. New York is our city, and we aren’t going backward. Join us on Monday evening to honor Mark and help ensure everyone hears our message.

MARCH AND RALLY IN RESPONSE TO LGBT HATE CRIMES – Monday, May 20th at 5:30 p.m. beginning at the Center, 208 W 13th Street, and proceeding to West 8th Street and 6th Avenue.

Say his name: MARK CARSON.

VIDEO: At The Vigil For Mark Carson

TOMORROW: The LGBT Community will hold a march.

Monday, May 20th at 5:30 p.m. beginning at the Center, 208 W 13th Street, and proceeding to West 8th Street and 6th Avenue. Following a string of heinous bias attacks against gay men, including the murder of a 32 year old man on Friday night, community members, elected officials, LGBT community leaders and allies will march to the site of Friday's shooting to demand an end to hate crimes against the LGBT community. At the end of the march, we will rally to denounce hate violence, call for justice and to mourn the death of Marc Carson. Please join the Center, the NYC Anti-Violence Project, Speaker Quinn, community leaders and elected officials to reclaim our city for all New Yorkers.

The NYC Gay Men's Chorus remembered Mark Carson today at the AIDS Walk in Central Park.

FRIDAY: Summer Fur @ NYC LGBT Center

Tomorrow night NYC's LGBT Center hosts Summer Fur, a benefit dance party beginning at 9pm. Tickets: $10 at the door, $8 online.

Hosts Joe Fiore and New York Metrobears bring you Summer Fur…Be warned…MORE fur ahead! DJ Tony Ruiz will be spinning his magic. Summer Fur is the ultimate fur attack! Hot go-go bears, cheap beer, bear art, hangin’ with furry bears with all that warm, warm fur...and over 700 furry friends...Could you ask for anything more! GoGo Bears: Ryan Mr. Woof, JD, George and more! Special performance by Josie Cotton ("Johnny Are You Queer?") and special guests The Boys of Bearlesque!

I think I'll be doing a few hours at Summer Fur, then I'll head downtown to Blowoff. Possible bear overload?

Burned Rainbow Flag Hung Outside Of NYC LGBT Community Center

Staffers at the NYC LGBT Community Center in Manhattan's West Village found a burned and torn rainbow flag affixed to their front wall this morning. Executive director Glennda Testone:

"This morning our building staff arrived and discovered a burned rainbow flag hanging on one of the poster display cases outside our building. We called the NYPD, and they immediately dispatched detectives from the hate crimes unit and our local precinct. They are currently investigating the crime. We at the Center will not stand for anyone who thinks they can come into our community and try to intimidate us. We work hard to create a safe environment and provide a safe space for all LGBT New Yorkers. Hate and intolerance against us will not be accepted in New York, and it is so important the Center is a safe space in our city. It is sad that such incidents still happen in this day and age, but we appreciate the NYPD and especially the hate crimes unit doing everything they can to ensure the safety of all LGBT people in New York."

Testone reports that the perpetrator was captured on the Center's security camera, but she encourages anybody with additional information to call the NYPD at 1-800-577-TIPS.

Activists To Crash Harold Ford's Speech at NYC LGBT Community Center

LGBT activist group The Power has announced plans to crash next week's speech by former Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN) at the NYC LGBT Community Center.

On Wednesday, February 24th at 6 p.m., The Power invites you to join us in confronting anti-LGBT Senate hopeful Harold Ford, Jr. when he addresses the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City at the LGBT Community Services Center at 208 West 13th Street (between 7th & 8th Avenue). Be there early and invite all your friends to stand united against his lies. SMS: If you plan to attend, please text keyword LGBT to 95495 to get important late breaking updates via SMS. Ford, a member of one of Tennessee's most corrupt political families, has a record of lying to gay people to advance his political career. As a Tennessee Congressman, Ford pursued the endorsement of National Stonewall Democrats, promising that organization that he would not support an amendment to the Constitution banning same-sex marriage. After getting the endorsement, Ford not only supported it, he gave a floor speech on behalf of the amendment and voted for it twice!

Ford says he now supports marriage equality. He continues to remain coy about his decision on whether to oppose Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in the fall.

NY Gov. Paterson To Announce "Major Transgender Rights Policy"

NY Gov. David Paterson will appear at the NYC LGBT Community Center on Wednesday morning to announce a "major transgender rights policy."

We've got a special treat for all of our friends in the New York City area. And we're pretty sure that the rest of you will like it, too. On Wednesday, December 16, New York State Governor David A. Paterson will join us to make a major policy announcement affecting the lives of transgender New Yorkers. And you're invited to be there to hear it first! The Governor's office has asked us not to reveal what he will announce, but we can tell you that you'll definitely want to be there to hear it for yourself on Wednesday morning.

Who: New York State Governor David A. Paterson
What: A major announcement for the transgender community in New York State
Where: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, 208 West 13th Street, Manhattan
When: Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 10:30 a.m. Arrive early - doors open at 10 a.m.
Why: To hear Governor Paterson's announcement and thank him for his tireless efforts to achieve equal rights for New York State's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

It's important that we have a strong turnout to thank the Governor for his tireless efforts on behalf of the entire LGBT community in New York State. We're incredibly excited about what the Governor is doing and we know that you will be, too. We hope we'll see you on Wednesday!

Does anybody know what this is about? I presume it has something to do with GENDA. I will not be able to attend this one, dammit.

Sunday: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand To Appear At NYC LGBT Center

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand will appear at NYC's LGBT Center at 3:30PM this Sunday, where she will speak about the repeal of DADT and DOMA.

As a New York progressive, Senator Gillibrand strongly believes in equal rights for all. Since her time in the House of Representatives, she has spoken out in support of full marriage equality, becoming one of the first members of the U.S. Senate to favor full marriage rights for same sex couples. In the U.S. Senate, Senator Gillibrand is working on an aggressive agenda to provide equal rights for all, including eliminating the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in our armed forces, protecting people of all sexual orientations and gender identities from hate crimes and employment discrimination, and repealing the Defense of Marriage Act. This event is an opportunity for New York City’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community leaders to meet your new Senator, learn more about her agenda and discuss your priorities.

To attend, RSVP at the above link.

Tomorrow At NYC's LGBT Center

Saturday 9PM: Dance 208, Fire Island Classics with DJ Michael Fierman at NYC's LGBT Community Center. $10 at the door.

Cleve Jones At NYC LGBT Center

National Equality March founder Cleve Jones spoke long and passionately to an enthusiastic overflow crowd at NYC's LGBT Center last night. Numerous well-known activists were in attendance, including Brendan Fay, Gilbert Baker, Lt. Dan Choi, Brandon Brock, and Jeff Campagna, but the only real dissent came from Gay City News' Andy Humm (pictured above on the right, Father Tony on the left). Humm demanded to know what the concrete goals of the March were, leading Jones to repeat his earlier call for "full civil equality in all 50 states."

Mentioning complaints about the March's short lead time, Jones criticized earlier March On Washington events (which had many notable problems), prompting the organizer of the 1987 MOW to lengthily defend its tactics. Jones responded by citing Facebook and other tools of the digital age as obviating the need for yearlong planning. Father Tony provides the video clip below of Jones opening his speech.

UPDATE: Here's World Of Wonder's Wayne Anderson's report from the evening.

Cleve Jones: Two NYC Appearances

NEM founder Cleve Jones will be in NYC this week to give two speeches. On Wednesday he'll be at the NYC LGBT Center at 7PM to talk about the March. On Thursday he'll be in Queens at the Jewish Center of Jackson Heights at 7PM. I'll be at the LGBT Center appearance.

Glennda Testone Named Executive Director Of NYC LGBT Community Center

After a 22 year career, Richard Burns stepped down as executive director of the NYC LGBT Community Center eight months ago. Longtime LGBT and women's activist Glennda Testone has been named to replace him, making her the first woman to take the post.

“At a time when the opportunities and challenges faced by our community are limitless, the Center is a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of LGBT people,” said Testone. “I am honored and excited to lead the Center in providing the kind of thriving, nurturing community that we all want to come home to. It is an ambitious goal, but my commitment to serving the LGBT community, the passion of the people involved and the possibilities for this institution are also limitless.”

NYC's LGBT Center is visited by 8000 people weekly and hosts over 300 community groups. It is the second-largest LGBT center in the world.

Queering The Blogosphere

Tomorrow I'll be participating in a panel discussion at the NYC LGBT Community Center titled "Queering The Blogosphere: Reflections On LGBT Blogging."

Gay blogging has recently experienced a meteoric rise in popularity and now serves as a major new resource for information and entertainment for the LGBTQ community. In fact, a recent study has shown that LGBT adults are now spending more time on the internet and visiting web blogs than their straight counterparts. How important then is gay blogging as an alternate means of communication, and what specifically has been its impact, both positive and negative, on the LGBTQ community? Is its potential to give voice to underrepresented members of our community being fulfilled, or is gay blogging proving itself to be just another medium through which mainstream LGBTQ ideas & images are disseminated. Our panelists will address these questions, as well as share their experiences as bloggers and the contributions they feel they are making to further the interests of the LGBTQ community through this new medium.

Panel members include: Oriol Gutierrez, Jr., Deputy Editor of POZ Magazine and former President of the NY chapter of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association; Bradford Shellhammer, a pioneering gay blogger and founding editor of Queerty.com; Joe My God, 2007 weblog award winner for best lgbt blog; and Erin Mulrooney, Research and Planning Associate at NYC’s LGBT Center.

Wednesday, May, 13, Reception 6PM, Program 7PM, $10.

Tonight: NY Marriage Equality Meetings

Tonight at the NYC LGBT Center:

Both Marriage Equality New York and Civil Rights Front will be having their monthly meetings tonight at the LGBT Center. MENY is at 6:30pm, CRF at 7:30pm. These may be the last meetings before the Prop 8 decision is issued, so I'd strongly urge you to attend one or both. Both meetings will also talk about the counter-demonstration that's being planned against the National Organization for Marriage (Sunday, May 17, 1pm, 3rd Ave & 40t St)

(Via - Eric Leven)

Fur Ball NYC: Saturday May 9th

Next Saturday May 9th at the NYC LGBT Community Center in the West Village: FUR BALL. Tickets: $8 advance, $10 at the door.

Be warned…fur ahead! Join Dance 208 as we celebrate everything furry and fuzzy. Furball is back! There are 2 floors of dancing, go-go bears, cheap beer, bear art, and warm warm fur...and over 700 furry friends... So leave the caves and shake it out! And it’s a fundraiser for the Center! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Cheap beer! Hot Guys! Go-Go Bears! Great sounds! Let the fur fly!

I have, uh, kinda foggy memories of the last Fur Ball.

Broadway Backwards 4 Recap

The Broadway sites have posted their coverage of Monday's Broadway Backwards 4, the annual all-star fundraiser for the NYC LGBT Center in which classic showtunes are given a gay twist. Above is Broadway World's Walter McBride's shot of Cheyenne Jackson bottoming for Sandra Bernhard. McBride has many more photos here.

Go to Theater Mania for a great photo recap by Tristan Fuge. Broadway.com has a lengthy clip of performances and interviews posted, which for some reason won't embed here. Go see it. And AfterElton's Michael Portantiere has posted a series of super hot performance shots, including the one below of Florence Henderson. Below that is the LGBT Center's interview with Jai Rodriguez and his partner. My own review from yesterday is here.

Broadway Backwards 4

Last night Horshack made me cry. For realz. At Broadway Backwards, the fourth annual NYC LGBT Center fundraiser show which featured a galaxy of Broadway stars, it was Welcome Back, Kotter's Ron Palillo's skit about Prop 8 that had me in tears. Another highlight was Florence Henderson's raunchy take There Is Nothing Like A Dame from South Pacific which featured references to muff-diving and a lesbian relationship with Brady Bunch maid Alice. And I don't care how famous you are, having a packed house of show queens sing happy 75th birthday to you in a Broadway theater on 42nd Street....that's got to be a lifetime highlight. 75. Years. Old. And looking amazing.

And yeah, Sandra Bernhard totally forgot the words, but having Cheyenne Jackson singing a funny-only-to-the-gays You're The Top from Anything Goes to her, ending up on his hands and knees....well, you get the picture. "Baby, I'm the bottom..." (looks up) "...and you're my top!"

I'll have reviews of the show, hopefully with video, once the Broadway sites get their stories up. Performers included Whoopi Goldberg, Tony Yazbeck (swoon), Jim Caruso (hilarious), Aaron Lazar, Gina Gershon, Alan Cumming, John Tartaglia, Tituss Burgess, Jai Rodriguez, Len Cariou, Michael Urie, Becky Newton, Mario Cantone, Maureen McGovern (!!!), Sally Mayes, Marty Thomas, and on and on. Here's a few shots I grabbed at the after party.

Richard Burns To Leave NYC LGBT Center

Richard Burns, the longest-serving head of any LGBT organization in the United States, is resigning after 22 years as executive director of the NYC LGBT Community Center. Via press release:

Richard Burns, Executive Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in New York City, has announced his departure from the Center. The longest serving leader of an LGBT organization in the United States, Mr. Burns has served as Executive Director since December 1, 1986. Mr. Burns has accepted the position of Chief Operating Officer at The Arcus Foundation, and will leave the Center in early February, 2009.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2008, the Center has grown to become the largest LGBT multi-service organization on the East Coast and second largest LGBT community center in the world. Every week, 6,000 people visit the Center, and more than 300 groups meet here. The Center has four programmatic departments: Adult Mental Health and Social Services (including Center CARE and Center CARE Recovery); Youth Enrichment Services (YES); Cultural Programs; and Advocacy. The Center offers programs and activities that provide adult and youth counseling, social services and referrals, educational forums, advocacy, community organizing opportunities, coalition building projects, leadership development workshops, and cultural programs.

Congratulations are due Richard Burns for building the NYC LGBT Center into the invaluable community resource it has become for queer New Yorkers. A search for Burns' replacement is underway.