Source: Seattle Opera press release
Seattle -- In an initiative intended to attract diverse audience bases, Seattle Opera is launching LGBT Nights, designed especially for Seattle’s Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender community. Seattle Opera has designated one Friday performance of each of three popular operas as evenings when members of the LGBT community can gather at McCaw Hall and enjoy all that Seattle Opera has to offer. 

The first three LGBT nights will take place during Aida (August 22), The Pearl Fishers (January 23), and The Marriage of Figaro (May 15).

The kickoff event on August 22 will be hosted by Seattle Opera Board of Trustees member and noted Man about Town JJ McKay and Washington State Senator Ed Murray. These events are priced at $100 per ticket and include discounted main floor orchestra seating, private intermission receptions including complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres during the first intermission and coffee and dessert during the second intermission, and free admission to "Overtures to the Opera" (regularly priced at $7.00), an informative and fast-paced pre-opera lecture.

"We are delighted to welcome friends and family from the LGBT community to three unforgettable evenings of entertainment and merriment for an affordable price," said Alvin Alexander Henry, Seattle Opera’s Director of Marketing and Communications. "Our guests will be able to socialize, make new friends, and network with other opera goers while attending performances at one of the premier opera companies.  Opera is for everyone."

Tickets may be purchased in two ways—online by going to seattleopera.org/tickets or via mobile phone by going to mobile.seattleopera.org. Use the Promotion code: LGBT to purchase tickets.

For more information, visit Seattle Opera’s website at www.seattleopera.org/LGBT.

Seattle Opera's Board of Trustees dedicates the 2008/09 season to Speight Jenkins in celebration of his 25th Anniversary as General Director.

Fashion and style come together for a fierce and fabulous evening tomorrow, June 26, 2008, but you'll need to have the right connections to have the chance to be dismissed as a "mess" of some kind.

In a private, invitation-only event Bravo’s Project Runway 4 winner Christian Siriano will host the "Tastemaker Cocktails" event benefiting Gay City Health Project, a multicultural gay men's health organization dedicated to preventing HIV transmission by building community, fostering communication, and nurturing self-esteem.

So if you have an in at Gay City, use your connections if you'd like to meet Christian. (Of course, one must be brave to do so, since he seems to be awfully quick to judge and one wouldn't want to be dismissed as a "**** mess" [using whatever adjective is now the thing for that descriptor].)

The fundraising event is sponsored by Basil Hayden’s Bourbon and Out Magazine Celebrate Style.

Guests will enjoy designer Basil Hayden cocktails "crafted to showcase the spirit’s fashion-forward attitude." A flawlessly designed fashion accessory inspired by the distinctive packaging of Basil Hayden and designed by the fierce-minded Siriano will be up for auction.

In addition to proceeds raised from the auction, Basil Hayden and Siriano will donate $1,000 to the Gay City Health Project cause. The affair is the finale of the Basil Hayden “Tastemaker” series, a six-event tour in Seattle that has raised $15,000 for worthy charities nationwide.

Christian Siriano, became the youngest winner in series history when he made it work up till the very end during Project Runway 4.

Siriano caters to today’s top celebrities, designing intricate fashions for style icons Victoria Beckham, Heidi Klum and rapper Eve. He has appeared on various TV shows including “Ugly Betty” and debuted his collection at New York City’s 2008 Spring Fashion Week.

[press release from Tolt Congregational United Church of Christ]

"Christian...and Gay?"  Tolt Congregational United Church of Christ in Carnation [get directions] invites the community to a presentation on May 7, 2008, to hear a progressive Christian voice on this topic.

Pastor Stephen Haddan, who received his Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in Minnesota, will discuss “Who We Are, What We Believe, and How We Use the Bible.”

Tolt's position as a church which welcomes and affirms all people regardless of race, gender, economic status or sexual identity will also be explained.

Church youth leader Cindy Sattler notes that this presentation is especially timely with the recent valley discussions regarding the work of the Gay-Straight Alliance at Mt Si High School. “I’ve noticed that many who oppose the GSA do so by claiming the word “Christian” to describe themselves, as if being Christian explains the foundation upon which a person stakes their case. It alarms me that so many find the words “gay” and “Christian” to be mutually exclusive,” she says.

Tolt Congregational, founded in 1894, belongs to the United Church of Christ, a denomination that dates back to the Mayflower. Eleven signers of the Declaration of Independence were members of UCC  predecessor bodies. The UCC was the first mainline church to ordain an African-American (1785), a woman (1853) and an openly gay pastor (1972).

The presentation will begin at 7 PM and a social time with refreshments will follow. The church is located at Hwy 203 and Morrison Street.

hattip: MtSiParents.blogspot.com

Hi! I'm Bruce!

We hope you've had a wonderful winter and spring! (Although we, like you, had a bit of difficulty with the whole "spring" thing this year. Sure the springtime buds and flowers were there, but it has felt a whole lot like winter for the past couple of months.)

But we're confident that all this meteorological pain will be rewarded with an incredible summer. And what happens every year in summer? All together now: The Queen City Cruise!

Indeed! Summer! And the smiling, decorated Goodtime II will motor out of its dock for the Cruise exactly 100 days from now on August 9.

And this year's Cruise just happens to coincide with Seafair Saturday, so you'll have a chance to see the Blue Angels flying over in a practice run just like in the good ol' days. 

Tickets go on sale LGBT Pride Saturday, June 28, exclusively on our web site.

We're really excited about all the help we're getting to make this year's Cruise the best ever.

We're delighted to welcome an athletic group of guys that we like to call the Buoys of Summer as partners and beneficiaries of this year's Cruise. They're more officially known as "Series 2008 Organizing Committee" but our version is shorter and more to the point, don't you think.

They're busy working out all of the complex details for "Northwest Quest: The 2008 NAGAAA Gay Softball World Series and ASANA Softball World Series 2008" (Whew. What a name, eh?) Thousands of gay jocks and athletic supporters will be in town for the series to be held August 22 to August 30. That's a really big deal and a lot of work, but the Buoys of Summer have agreed to take a bit of time off from organizing all those games and events to help out with the Cruise. We're honored.

We're equally happy to welcome Gay City Health Project which has signed for its maiden voyage this year as a partner and beneficiary. Since they've co-produced The Bump for years, they know how to throw a big party. (Of course, that's one that we still think of with the longer name we gave it for its first few years as a TTCA party: Things That Go BUMP in the Night.)

We also welcome back Action Northwest as a beneficiary and partner.

As always, the beneficiaries become an important part of the Cruise experience as they provide the volunteers who do much the work to make your day on the water a wholly enjoyable and outstanding experience.

We've had our mailing list at ttca.org turned off for the winter to save a bit of cash for the beneficiaries, but it's up and running again. If you haven't signed up before, do it now! (Names that were on the list before are still there. You should have gotten an email from me by now to mark the re-start.)

Members of the list get special offers, like early and late ticket-buying options, plus all the info you need to get ready for the big day on August 9. (Oh, and we don't sell, trade, or otherwise spam the list. You'll get a few emails about the Cruise per month this summer and then we'll go dark again with it all.)

Oh... and the theme? This year's party is Queen City Cruise: PROJECT GANGPLANK. There will be plenty of challenges and contests for all Cruisers, including the Buoys of Summer.

Please forward this message to any friends that you think might be interested in the Cruise and be sure to advise them to sign up for the Cruise Alert list.

Happy cruising!
Bruce

  [a message from Equal Rights Washington]

Hutch v. Mount Si

On Friday April 25th students at over 7,000 schools nationwide participated in the Day of Silence to bring attention to how LGBT students and students perceived as LGBT face bullying, violence and taunts in schools simply because of who they are. Outside  Mt. Si High School a leader of the anti-gay industry Ken Hutcherson organized a protest of the Day of Silence. Parents and community members supportive of the Day of Silence welcomed students in silence as they arrived to show support for LGBT students and to call for an end to bullying. 

Now we ask you to sign a petition to the school administration so that they know there is strong support for the Day of Silence and that the High School must continue to address the needs of LGBT students.

Thanks for all you do,

Josh Friedes
Advocacy Director
Equal Rights Washington

Sign this petition and notify:
Joel Aune
Randy Taylor

[petition at: http://eqfed.org/campaign/day_of_silence/]

Three Dollar Bill Cinema is having its first annual AuctionFest!

"Some Like It HOT" is an evening of dinner, dessert, film, and fabulous auction items on Seattle's waterfront to support Three Dollar Bill Cinema.

when: May 3rd at 5:30PM
where: Bell Harbor Conference Center at Pier 66
how: Buy your tickets online or call or email the office to pay by check: auction@seattlequeerfilm.org or 206-323-4274

Auction items include:

• Two Full Festival Passes plus two Opening Night tickets to the Seattle International Film Festival
• VIP Tickets and camping package to the Sasquatch Music Festival
• A walk-on role for a major motion picture shot in Seattle
• Your own private outdoor movie party including concessions
• 7 night stay at Villa Rainbow, a gorgeous gay guesthouse on the island of St. Maarten (French Caribbean)
• Props from Dreamgirls, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and the tv show: Friday Night Lights
• Fire eating lessons
• Private Hot Tub party for 4
• Your personal voicemail greeting recorded by Perez Hilton
• Meet Sandra Bernhard plus tickets to her concert

5:30pm-doors open, silent auctions, passed appetizers followed by sit-down dinner, hosted wine, and live auction.

Get your tickets before they sell out!

[announcement from QSquared]

This is your friendly reminder that GLITTERBOMB! is fast approaching!  GLITTERBOMB! is about high-energy dance music, unique experiences and is a massive glitter attack on the Seattle social scene. 

The night will be hosted by Aleksa Manila and will include performances by West End Boys with special guests, SoulChilde, Miss Bebe Doll and hot music spun by DJ LA Kendall.  Those looking for more can retreat to the exclusive Sparkle Lounge where you will relax to chill sounds by DJ Bret Law.  The night will include many surprises and will be an amazing evening of energy, music and community!

Excessive use of body glitter is highly recommended.  Super fabulous glitter costume prizes will be awarded; check website for details.

GLITTERBOMB! will take place at CHAC (Capitol Hill Arts Center) on May 17, 2008 in the main stage.  Tickets are $20/$25 at the door.  A limited number of Sparkle Lounge Passes are available for $35/$40 at the door.  The Sparkle Lounge pass includes unlimited access to the exclusive Sparkle Lounge and gift bags for the first 50 guests.

Please check out our  freshly glitterized and super sexy website: www.myspace.com/thenightshiftpresents for more information.  Tickets are available at www.brownpapertickets.com and are going fast so be sure to purchase yours now!

[Three Dollar Bill announcement]

Three Dollar Bill Cinema's "I Love The Nightlife!" April Film Series continues Thursday, April 17 with Some of my Best Friends Are..., presented at Northwest Film Forum at 7 pm. and followed by a post-screening party at Madison Pub.

In his book, 101 Must-See Movies for Gay Men, author Alonso Duralde writes about the film, "If this unavailable on video gem ever screens anywhere near you, cancel all plans and go, go, go."

Set on Christmas Eve 1971 in a Greenwich Village gay bar, Some of my Best Friends Are... features hilarious performances from "Golden Girls'" Rue McClanahan as a rich 'fag hag,' Warhol superstar Candy Darling, "Buck Rogers'" Gil Gerard and beloved out icon Fannie Flagg.

Screening attendees are invited to attend a post-party at Madison Pub, located at 1315 E. Madison Street. Drink specials will be offered to ticket holders.

Three Dollar Bill Cinema's "I Love the Nightlife!" retrospective film series focuses on the portrayal of the underground gay social scene through vintage queer film. The series concludes Thursday, April 24 with The Detective. In this 1968 film, Frank Sinatra stars as an honest but conflicted cop, tough on crime but struggling with a law enforcement establishment where racism and homophobia are the norm.  While investigating the murder of a wealthy and well-connected gay man, the mystery takes a turn with surprising results.

Tickets are $10, $9 for Three Dollar Bill Cinema members, and $32 for a series pass.

The Northwest Film Forum is located at 1515 12th Ave in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood.

Tickets are available online from Brownpaperbag. Three Dollar Bill has more information.