Queer Film Night

Thanks everyone who came to queer film night! It was awesome.
For those who didn't, here are the films we ended up seeing:

1. My Own Private Idaho
This was directed by Gus van Sant in 1991 and is based on two Shakespeare plays. It's about two best friends who are hustlers, living in Portland. They embark on a journey of self discovery and address their relationship. River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves are the main actors in it. One thing I really enjoyed about this film were the sex scenes. They were snapshots that looked like old master paintings of people. Just really beautiful composition and light.

2. La Cage Aux Folles
This film, produced in 1978 was the original Birdcage. It literally translates to the The Cage with the Crazy Ones (or something like that...). The basic plot is about a gay couple who own a gay/drag nightclub. Their son, Laurent is hoping to marry a girl with conservative parents, so his fathers are forced to pretend they aren't gay. This movie was funny, and it's weird seeing the similarities to the more recent version.

So, if anyone is interested, feel free to check them out!

Inspiration for Drag Ball!

Queer Books and Films (version uno)

I'm trying to create lists of good/important queer books and films. This is just the first version. Don't worry, there will be more! I'm also planning to add descriptions. Basically, this list is great for all of you who want something to do this coming summer :)

BOOKS
Oranges are Not the Only Fruit, by Jeanette Winterson

Rubyfruit Jungle, by Rita Mae Brown

Two or Three Things I Know for Sure, by Dorothy Allison

Stone Butch Blues, by Leslie Feinberg

The Naked Civil Servant, by Quentin Crisp

Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel

A Boy’s Own Story by Edmund White

Joy of Gay Sex in 1977 by Edmund White

Self-Made Man by Norah Vincent


FILMS
Then She Found Me

Desert Hearts

Women In Love

Fire

Orlando

Happiness

The Celluloid Closet

When Night is Falling

If These Walls Could Talk 2

Lost and Delirious

Were the World Mine

Shortbus

Gaypril Calendar (with all the right dates...I think)

to see the image better, double click it, then click the image again.

Bakesale!

This Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday we'll be having a bakesale outside of Doris. There will be delicious chocolate covered pretzels and an assortment of other goodies! All the money we make will go toward Gaypril's Drag Ball, so tell all your friends to come. Bakers: please remember to bake your things and bring them to the table at 11:30. Sitters: please remember to come sit when you signed up to!

New T-Shirt

Here's the new T-Shirt we're going to order. The color is mint. Please email MIQA as soon as you can if you want one. They come in small, medium, and large and are five dollars.

Ugandan Clergyman Shows Gay Porn to His Congregation

Pastor Martin Ssempa decided to show gay pornography to his church in hopes of gaining support for a proposed law that would give some gay people the death penalty. Noma Padade, from the African gay rights group Behind the Mask accused the pastor of perpetuating violence by his anti-gay campaign. "Showing pornography in church in the presence of minors is twisted homophobic propaganda, where homosexuality is equated to pedophilia and pornography."

Homosexuality is already against the law in Uganda and people convicted of same-sex love are sent to jail. However, supporters of the new bill, including Pastor Ssempa want more severe punishments. He justified his decision to show gay pornography to about 300 people, saying: "We are in the process of legislation and we have to educate ourselves about what homosexuals do."
Although the anti-gay proposal has gotten wide support from Ugandan MPs and conservative groups, President Yoweri Musevini recently hinted that he might scrap the proposals due to international pressure.