Starry Revival of ‘The Boys in the Band’ Lends Gay History a High Sheen: REVIEW

The glass house on stage at the Booth Theatre seems to suggest the most shattering wounds are often self-inflicted, its plush red interior an assurance blood will be spilled.

Director Joe Mantello’s slick 50th-anniversary revival of groundbreaking gay drama The Boys in the Band opened on Broadway tonight under circumstances author Mart Crowley might hardly have imagined in 1968. Its lineup of Hollywood stars — Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, Andrew Rannells, and Jim Parsons, currently the highest-paid actor on TV — is more than just reason enough for fans to pony up for tickets. Witnessing a rising class of out A-listers sink their teeth into the self-loathing, shame, and desire that have coursed through generations of gay identity is a truly transcendent experience — even if it doesn’t quite tear up old scars.  

The glossy Manhattan duplex (designed by David Zinn) serves as a vicious playground for tonight’s birthday celebration. Michael (Parsons), our host, ticks about his preparations like a time bomb; Harold (Quinto), the droll eccentric of honor, is going to be awhile. Michael’s onetime dalliance turned pal Donald (Bomer) is the first to arrive — and the first thing he needs is a shower. (Cue a grueling test of attention as he pads around in underwear for 10 minutes.)

The twist: Michael’s school chum Alan (Brian Hutchison) rings in distress, wanting to drop in. Problem is he’s (supposedly) straight, and “Square City” as Michael says, hardly the sort of fox welcome in this henhouse. Alan calls back to beg off, but winds up changing his mind and walking in on a whole string of fairies frolicking in-sync to “Heat Wave” by Martha and the Vandellas.   

Alan sticks around after his initial shock, warming up to Hank (Tuc Watkins), a buttoned-up school teacher whose wedding ring belies the fact that he left his wife for Larry (tart standout Andrew Rannells). Any hope Michael has of keeping Alan in the dark vanishes in the wake of a flaming Emory (scene stealer Robin de Jesus), two poles of masculinity destined to combust.

Brightened by its attractive stars, the production couches Crowley’s snappy dialogue in a self-consciously retro light, making for easy consumption (Ryan Murphy is among the producers), while often resisting the play’s darkest recesses. When Alan unleashes closeted rage on Emory, or Michael slurs racist quips at Bernard (Michael Benjamin Washington), tension scarcely seems to burn hot before it’s gone. That much of gay culture creates diversion from pain may be part of the point, but here it can be tough to feel the sting.

This may be in part because Harold and Michael, the story’s primary vessels of suffering, are too adept at keeping everyone at arm’s length here. “We tread very softly with each other,” Harold tells Michael, “because we both play each other’s game too well.” From his fashionably late entrance, the mask Harold dons for the world over his creams and salves — aloof, acerbic, affected — never drops. Quinto’s high-camp performance, though entertaining, feels less flesh-and-blood than the rest, obscuring any real connections Harold may have to the assembled party.

Though it’s Michael’s fierce battle with self-loathing that causes him to self-destruct by lashing out at everyone else, Parsons exudes an innate self-assurance that betrays few hints of vulnerability until it comes flooding out all at once. Even as his character erupts with fury, alcohol rather than bundled up feeling seems to have flipped to switch. When Michael finally collapses in earnest sobs, it’s more of a surprise than the crash of a downward spiral.

Still, it’s easy to recognize that the venom on Michael’s tongue, born of self-hate and unleashed by self-medication, continues to thrive in back channels, behind a half-century worth of progress. Gay men — in or out of the closet — still struggle to face our fears and desires, lunging for each others’ throats when the real enemy is already inside, or at every one of our doors.

“If we could just learn not to hate ourselves so much,” Michael tells Donald after washing back a Valium. We’re getting there, Michael.   

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Time’s Up? Not So Fast: ‘Carousel’ Is Back on Broadway: REVIEW
Get in, Losers: The ‘Mean Girls’ Musical Is Fun as Hell: REVIEW
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Andrew Garfield and Nathan Lane Star in Electrifying ‘Angels in America’: REVIEW

Follow Naveen Kumar on Twitter: @Mr_NaveenKumar
(photos: joan marcus)

The post Starry Revival of ‘The Boys in the Band’ Lends Gay History a High Sheen: REVIEW appeared first on Towleroad.

Starry Broadway Revival of ‘The Boys in the Band’ Lends Gay History a High Sheen: REVIEW

The military is being sued for discriminating against people living with HIV

www.queerty.com/military-sued-discriminating-people-living-hiv-20180531?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Psychotherapist Matthew Dempsey Stripped Down: WATCH

Regular readers of Towleroad will be familiar with Matthew Dempsey‘s soft-spoken YouTube sessions on racism, aging, masculinity, depression, and other topics of interest to gay men.

Generating a different kind of interest is a new ‘interview’ with Dempsey by Jerrad Matthew in which he strips down in a field of tall grasses to talk about body image. Dempsey says that while he expects “eye rolls” and “rejection,” confronting the fear of that is entirely the point.

Writes Dempsey: “Doing this photo shoot and video was not a ploy to nab some extra attention under the guise of body positivity and ‘loving yourself at any size.’ Though that’s true, I understand how ridiculous that message can be coming from me. Genetics has given me an unearned advantage in life and it’s easier for me to love my body when the world around me tells me it’s looking just fine. That said, I’ve rarely posted even a nip slip because that’s not what I’m trying to be about or promote. I’ve been afraid to show any of my body for fear that others could feel worse about theirs or even more that you would all think I’m a fraud and not care about me or what I have to say anymore.”

He adds: “Though therapy is my passion, it’s not the one note that defines me. I can sometimes get stuck in trying to predict what others want from me and not disappoint and my social media presence has been no exception. Though I don’t have any major plans of stripping down publicly on the reg, I did want to challenge my people-pleasing and literally strip down my fear of the eye rolls and rejection. When I have unrealistic expectations of myself to do things perfectly, then I’m going to have the same expectations of others and I’ll wind up happy with no one. So, here’s to a little bit of ego, a lot of surrender, and a whole lot of beauty in a shoot created by my friend Jerrad Matthew.”

For some of Dempsey’s videos, click here.

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Psychotherapist Matthew Dempsey Stripped Down: WATCH

5 Tips for Planning Your First Romantic Getaway

Those early stages of a relationship are filled with new experiences. From learning about one another’s childhood to meeting your respective families, to sharing timid first kisses or exchanging passionate “I love you’s,” each milestone will send your hearts racing with excitement, passion, butterflies and romance. But one right-of-passage takes that feeling of togetherness to […]

The post 5 Tips for Planning Your First Romantic Getaway appeared first on PlentyOfFish Blog.

5 Tips for Planning Your First Romantic Getaway

GLAAD spotlights Dinesh D’Souza’s history of anti-LGBTQ remarks following Trump pardon

www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-spotlights-dinesh-d%E2%80%99souza%E2%80%99s-history-anti-lgbtq-remarks-following-trump-pardon

Northwestern College President Apologizes for Equating Sexual Assault with Gay Relationships, Which He Characterizes as ‘Brokenness’

Greg Christy /YouTube

Northwestern College President Greg Christy apologized this week for equating sexual assault with same-sex activity in a reflection he wrote about being president of the Iowa Christian college for 10 years.

Wrote Christy in the piece, which has since been edited: “While there are many cultural issues that threaten to distort God’s vision for human flourishing, issues related to human sexuality are at the forefront. Pornography, premarital sex, adultery, sexual assault, the objectification of women, and same-sex activity all exemplify the brokenness of sexual desire and expression.”

Christy apologized after reaction on social media to the article, the Des Moines Register reports:

The phrase “sexual assault” was removed from the sentence and Christy is issuing statements to people who contact him with concerns. As of late Tuesday, however, the statement had not been posted on the college’s Facebook page.

“In no way was I intending whatsoever to equate that sexual assault was in any way, shape or form equal to or the same as any of the other items that were listed,” Christy said in an interview with the Des Moines Register on Tuesday. “I was just (trying) to say that just like same-sex activity is inappropriate, so is premarital sex, according to scripture.

“I’m sorry and regretful that those words have caused hurt to people.”

According to the paper, “Northwestern is affiliated with the Reformed Church in America, which has roots with Dutch Calvinist immigrants. The school first opened in 1882 as Northwestern Classical Academy. Eventually it added a junior college and in 1961, awarded its first bachelor’s degree.”

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Northwestern College President Apologizes for Equating Sexual Assault with Gay Relationships, Which He Characterizes as ‘Brokenness’

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: Working at the Intersections

HRC is proud to honor Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and celebrate the many advocates and allies who have driven our movement forward at the intersections of LGBTQ experiences and Asian American and Pacific Islander (API) identities.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month became a national weekly observance in 1979, scheduled to coincide with anniversaries of the completion of the transcontinental railroad — built largely by Chinese immigrants — and the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the U.S. In 1992 the observance became a permanently designated month to celebrate API communities.

Below, members of HRC’s staff share what it means to live and work at the intersections of API and LGBTQ identities:

“As a first generation, gay, Filipino-American, I find myself in a constant state of struggle – the struggle for acceptance from my family for being gay, the struggle for visibility within the wider LGBTQ community, and the struggle for equality as a person of color.  Throughout my life and career, I have found strength in the support that I’ve received from my colleagues, my friends, my mentors and my community.  During these dark and difficult times, I remind my API LGBTQ siblings that choosing to live authentically is the best form of activism you can do.  Never apologize for being yourself, and never lose faith in the power of your voice!”

— Peter Cruz, HRC Associate Director of the HIV and Health Equity Program

Pronouns: He, Him, His

“As a Taiwanese American, I am as proud of my cultural heritage as I am to be a part of the LGBTQ community. At the same time, I know full well how challenging and difficult it can be to feel invisible, marginalized or be told that your identity isn’t valid or real. As an API person working in social justice, the intersectionality of these two parts of my identity makes our work at HRC all the more meaningful to me — as they are a reminder that I must constantly do better to ensure that no one feels excluded or anything less than equal, and to serve those in our communities who need our help and support the most.”

— Mark Lee, HRC Senior Writer, Public Education & Research

Pronouns: He, Him, His

“I grew up in India which is socially conservative, and I did not know of any openly LGBTQ people. People must have been scared to come out. I only met openly LGBTQ people when I immigrated to the United States in 2000. HRC has provided me a platform to be an ally to LGBTQ people and understand their issues. I am proud to be an ally and to consider many LGBTQ people as close friends!”

— Shveta Mukherjee, HRC Accounting Manager

Pronouns: She, Her, Hers

“As someone who grew up in Nepal, pursued higher education in the United States and worked on LGBTQ rights at the national level in Nepal, regional level for the U.N. in Bangkok, and now globally with HRC in Washington, D.C., I feel fortunate to be able to understand LGBTQ rights, issues and challenges from a variety of perspectives.  My South Asian background and pan-Asian work experience allows me to draw parallels and see nuanced differences between, for instance, hijra experiences in South Asia and transgender experiences here in North America. This greatly enriches and better informs the work I do as an LGBTQ activist and professional, and I am grateful for that.”

— Saurav Jung Thapa, HRC Global Associate Director

Pronouns: He, Him, His

“It’s a great privilege to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with advocates from all backgrounds in our diverse community to protect and advance the civil rights of LGBTQ people everywhere. We are stronger by bringing our unique experiences to the fight for full equality. My API identity is shaped by my experience as an immigrant to the U.S., the strong cultural traditions of my family, and the activist spirit I have cultivated in my personal and professional life.  I’m inspired each day by my colleagues and the amazing API activists I’ve met through HRC Global and its annual Global Innovative Advocacy Summit.”

— David Yu, HRC Senior Major Gifts Officer

Pronouns: He, Him, His

“I’m fortunate to work at an organization that encourages staff to bring their authentic selves to work and celebrates our differences. As a Sri Lankan-American raised in Texas, I grew up learning how to balance my Sri Lankan heritage and cultural expectations with my American sensibilities and upbringing. I proudly own both identities and acknowledge that each have contributed to the way I go about trying to make a positive difference in the world. Working at HRC, I am part of a community that celebrates my intersectional perspective as a woman of color and an immigrant and empowers me to use my voice as a change agent in the fight for equality. LGBTQ Asian Americans face many unique challenges, including our lack of visibility in American society and balancing our cultural and familial expectations with our individual identities. I am inspired by the many API advocates, activists, and allies that use their voice to challenge stigmas, support other LGBTQ Asian Americans, and push the fight for equality forward.”

— Rashika Pedris, HRC Volunteer Leadership Organizer

Pronouns: She, Her, Hers

www.hrc.org/blog/asian-pacific-american-heritage-month-working-at-the-intersections?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

HRC Urges Insurance Commissioners & Attorneys General to Investigate Copay Accumulator Programs

HRC has joined our partners in the Federal AIDS Policy Partnership in calling on insurance commissioners and attorneys general in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. to investigate copay accumulator programs. This relatively new policy from health insurance companies disallows the subsidies that patients receive from drug or copay assistance programs to be applied towards the patient’s deductible or annual out-of-pocket maximum. This policy will prevent many individuals from accessing and adhering to PrEP, also known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, a once-daily pill used to prevent HIV.

Based on this policy, once the subsidies from the drug or copay assistance program are exhausted, a patient would be responsible for the full cost of PrEP until they meet the annual out-of-pocket maximum of their health plan. At $1,300 per month, the cost of PrEP without insurance makes it inaccessible for many individuals who would benefit from its use.

“We now have the tools and resources in place to end the HIV epidemic in the United States,” says Jay Brown, HRC Foundation’s Deputy Director of Programs, Research and Training. “And it can only be achieved by removing the obstacles that stand in the way of public health, not by setting up new barriers to effective prevention and treatment strategies. Lives are literally at stake.”

According to the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, United Healthcare, CVS Caremark and Express Scripts are currently implementing copay accumulator programs. AIDS Foundation of Chicago has also released a blog and video that contains useful information for patients and consumers.  

As one of the first national LGBTQ organizations to endorse PrEP, HRC stands with our community partners in urging insurance and pharmaceutical companies to work together to ensure that everyone who seeks PrEP has access to this life-saving resource, regardless of their ability to pay.  We are also calling on insurance commissioners and state attorneys general to investigate the impact that copay accumulator programs have in limiting access to life-saving medications for HIV & AIDS and other chronic conditions.

For more information on HRC’s work to end HIV and HIV-related stigma, click here.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-urges-insurance-commissioners-attorneys-general-to-investigate-copay-ac?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed