Date: Tue, 17 Jan 1995 11:51:12 -0500 From: David B. O'Donnell To: Multiple recipients of list GLB-NEWS Subject: FREE WEEKLY COLUMN #2 - "HOLLYWOOD SOUP" - JAN. 15-22, '95 [ Send all responses to Ttownqueer@AOL.COM only. Any responses to the list or list-owners will be returned to you. ] PLEASE PASS THIS AROUND THE GLOBE IN CYBERSPACE! PERMISSION GRANTED TO PUBLISH, PRINT, E-MAIL, OR DISTRIBUTE THIS COLUMN FOR ONE-TIME USE ONLY IF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA ARE MET: 1. Publish the column in its entirety, including the final promotional paragraph. 2. If you are printing this, rather than publishing it electronically, send me a copy of your publication (mailing address included in column), and let me know: A) How often do you publish? B) How many copies do you print? C) What is your estimated readership? D) Who is your target audience? E) Is your publication sold, and if so, for how much? OPTIONAL: If you want to receive weekly submissions of the column, request to be on my electronic mailing list. DISTRIBUTION WILL FALL BETWEEN SUNDAY MORNING AND MONDAY NIGHT OF EACH WEEK. COLUMN #2 - WEEK OF JANUARY 15-22, 1995 TINSELTOWN'S QUEER! "News, Commentary and Gossip, With a Political Cutting Edge." Copyright 1995 by Nicholas Snow, All Rights Reserved "HOLLYWOOD SOUP" Greetings from Tinseltown! Thank you all for your warm response to my first column. I call my second column "Hollywood Soup," for it's filled with a myriad of tid bits that would best be served in a bowl, rather than on a plate, were they food, in order to get that perfect flavor, so here's what's cookin' up in my head: INGREDIENT #1: Season with an emotionally riveting, intellectually challenging and spiritually enlightening blend of classism, racism, sexism, heterosexism, anti-semitism, homophobia, sexuality, bigotry, intolerance and surprise--Go see the new JOHN SINGLETON film, "Higher Learning." In "Higher Learning", Singleton presents us with a gripping and painful look at the inhabitants of a college campus, serving as a metaphor for our greater society. Characters transform in this movie: a young African-American track star, leery of being objectified by the power structure, learns to run for his life; an awkward kid, who seemingly just wants to fit in somewhere, joins a gang of homicidal skin heads (who recruit); and a naive, white student, "straight" from her upbringing near Disneyland, makes strides in overcoming racism, and explores bisexuality with a wonderfully-portrayed lesbian (who does NOT recruit). While I was thrilled at Singleton's highly accurate presentation of sexual exploration, and his complex examination of diversity and intolerance, I was disappointed with a great many members of the audience, who had a very vocal, negative reaction to an on-screen woman-to-woman kiss (part of a brilliantly edited sequence on bi-sexual exploration). "Higher Learning" speaks to the need for coalition-bulilding, increased tolerance, and self-examination, in order to "unlearn" the many "isms" that bind us. John Singleton is a brilliant African-American filmmaker who is using his standing in Hollywood, in a very personal way, to help us all move forward together. I only wish that closeted queer filmmakers in Hollywood would step forward in support of the gay, lesbian, and bisexual aspects of our Civil Rights movement with the same level of honesty that John Singleton expresses on behalf of the African-American aspects of our collective Civil Rights movement. To John, I say, you just GO! Confidential to John Singleton: I know that you're straight, and that you have a beautiful girlfriend, so I guess that you're not available for a date, but do you, by chance, have a single, gay brother who's into tall, blond, media activists? INGREDIENT #2: Lot's of Soul! Speaking of coalition building, the Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum holds its annual conference in Los Angeles, February 16th-20th, 1995. This year's theme is "Our Families Make A Difference." For registration or further information, contact BGLLF at (213) 964-7820, or fax (213) 964-7830. I'll be bringing you highlights of the conference in upcoming columns and in episodes of my TV show. INGREDIENT #3: Star Power! TOM HANKS, ELTON JOHN, and BARBRA STREISAND are all being showcased in coming days for their work utilizing entertainment in the battle against AIDS and homophobia. Most everyone knows about Tom's Oscar-winning performance in Philadelphia, and Elton's OUTspokenness as a gay man and effectiveness as an AIDS Fundraiser, but not everyone knows about Barbra's Co-Producing role in the upcoming NBC Movie "Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story," about the highest-ranking officer ever to be discharged from the U.S. military for admitting she is a lesbian. I'll tell you all about the Babs-hosted premiere (a GLAAD/Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund Benefit), and about the Elton John/Tom Hanks tribute in an upcoming column, but be sure to watch "Serving in Silence..", starring GLENN CLOSE (Yes, there's another lesbian kiss on American broadcast televisin!) on NBC, Monday, February 6th. SOUP's ON...Bon Apetite! T.Q. Nicholas Snow, self-proclaimed "Actor-Writer-Singer-Songwriter-Publisher-Columnist-Activist-Diva", is the producer and host of the syndicated television show, "Tinseltown's Queer!" His editorial mission (and the foundation of his entertainment pursuits) is,"To examine and strengthen the relationship between the entertainment industry and the Queer (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgenderist) Civil Rights Movement, thereby positively impacting the movement itself." For more information, or with questions, comments, breaking news or gossip, E-mail Ttownqueer@aol.com, write 7985 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 450, West Hollywood, CA 90046, or call Snow's 24-HOUR Audio Press Release at (818) 771-7690.