ONE Night promo from EZTV Museum on Vimeo.
You wouldn’t expect a city that rightly views itself as the gay capital of Southern California to express its Pride in three short days. The City of West Hollywood this year has scheduled 40 days of arts, cultural, educational and community events. This year’s One City One Pride events are all grouped under the theme “I Do,” to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the legalization of same-sex marriage in California. Many events are free, with some requiring ticket purchase and/or advance RSVP.
This year the city also has launched an online service that allows you to search for One City One Pride events by location or by date and type of event. For calendar updates, check that or Events at WEHOville.com. Here are a few highlights to whet your appetite:
May 22. Love is Love: The Five Year Road to Marriage, a special exhibition celebrating the struggle for marriage equality featuring photos taken at Prop 8 rallies across Southern California. A reception will feature classical renditions of pop songs by Queertet, and special comments by Mayor John D’Amico and photographer David McCoy. West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., free admission. 7 to 9 pm
May 27. A talk with author Dennis Altman. As part of West Hollywood’s monthly Lambda Lit Book Club, author and activist Dennis Altman will discuss his latest book,”The End of the Homosexual?” He will entertain questions from the audience and sign copies of the book that will be for sale at the end of the program. Presented by: The West Hollywood Library and Lambda Literary Foundation. West Hollywood Library Community Room, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. 7 to 9 p.m.,
May 28. Sexuality and Human Rights on the Global Stage. This installment of West Hollywood’s Human Rights Speakers Series will feature global leaders discussing issues of sexuality, gender and human rights. West Hollywood City Council Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. Admission free. 7 to 9 p.m.,
May 29. Stagebridge LA: No Day But Today. This evening of contemporary musical theatre featuring the seniors from the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center isdirected by Mark Salyer and Kay Cole with musical direction by James Lent. $10.00 suggested donation at the door. Renberg Theatre, 1125 N. McCadden Pl., Los Angeles. 7 to 9 p.m
May 30. A Lovely Bouquet of Flowers: The Play. Monologue, dialogue and performance art based on real interviews fictionalized for the stage and addressing homelessness, sex work, social work, religion, healthcare, ageism and pride in transgender communities. WeHo Park Auditorium. 647 N. San Vicente Blvd. Admission free. 7 p.m.
May 30. LGBT Dynasty LA Art Show. Gallerie Sparta hosts an opening reception of its LGBT art show. 8641 Sunset Blvd. Admission free. RSVP required to [email protected]. 6 to 9 p.m.
May 31. Hollywood Master Chorale: Voices of Freedom The Chorale celebrates the fight for same-sex marriage in a concert that revolves around Randall Thompson’s “A Concord Cantata.” It will also include noted freedom anthems, from Irving Berlin, Stephen Paulus and others. West Hollywood City Council Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. Admission free. 4 p.m.
May 31. ONE Night, an outdoor digital art event in West Hollywood Park featuring projections on an inflatable balloon and music and dance performances by Kate Crash and Kate Johnson. Produced in collaboration with ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, EZTV and LA ACM-SIGGRAPH. West Hollywood Park, 647 N. San Vicente Blvd., free admission. 8 to 11 pm
June 4. WeHo Pride Community Kickoff/ Outfest West Hollywood Screening. Christopher Street West and WeHo Mayor John D’Amico with an open house/preview of the art and culture pavilion at the LA Pride Festival. followed by Outfest’s monthly film screening. West Hollywood City Council Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. Kickoff admission free. Film $8. TIME?
June 5. TransPride Exhibit, Brought to You by the Letter ‘T’ The L.A. Center’s Advocate & Gochis Galleries a show of work by some of SoCal’s finest transgender artists including Isabella McGrath, Leon Mostovoy, Andrew Overtoom and Kathryn Wilkins along with a self-portrait project by ransgender young people. Advocate & Gochis Galleries, The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Pl., Los Angeles. Admission free. Opening reception from 7 – 9pm. Exhibit runs through July 12..
June 6. Out There: I Do. The 7th annual “Out There” art exhibition celebrates marriage equality and the special role played by West Hollywood in that struggle. Gallery 825, 825 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles. Admission free. Opening reception 5 to 9 p.m.
June 7. Jay R.Lawton: Project 50. An exhibit of work by this Los Angeles recording the leather/fetish/kink community. ONE Archives Gallery & Museum, 626 N Robertson Blvd. Admission free, except during LA Pride Festival. On exhibit through June 22.
June 7. Queer Classics Presents: The Importance of Being Earnest. Two couples fight for the right to be engaged in this masterful satire written by Oscar Wilde and reimagined by Queer Classics. The Actors Company, 916 N. Formosa Ave., Los Angeles. Tickets $10. Performances June 07, 8:30 PM; June 14, 3:30 PM; June 15, 5:30 PM; June 19, 8:30 PM; June 22, 11:00 AM
June 10. -Big Joy: The Adventures of James Broughton. A documentary about this California queer liberationist who expressed himself in poetry, as a filmmaker and as a member of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and the Radical Faeries. West Hollywood City Council Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd.. Admission free (suggested donation $5-$20. 8 p.m.
June 11. ALAP Lesbian & Gay Play Reading Festival . Readings of new six new short LGBT plays on the theme “I Do” chosen by a panel of judges presented by The Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights (ALAP). Plummer Park , Rooms 1 and 2, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd. Admission free. 7 p.m.
June 13. Miss Barbie-Q: Rumor Has It – Part II: Not the Marrying Kind, Anecdotes, poetry, monologue and storytelling show Miss Barbie Q trying to decide if she is the marrying kind. West Hollywood Library. 625 N. San Vicente Blvd.. Admission free. 8 pm.
June 14. -LA Doctor’s Symphony: Classics with a Twist. A concert showcasing works of gay composers Saint-Saens, Griffes, Copland, Tchaikovsky, Bernstein and Ravel and featuring Mariano Dugatkin playing works of Piazzolla on the bandoneón. Plummer Park Fiesta Hall, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd. Admission free. 2 p.m.
June 14. -Metropolitan Master Chorale: ‘All You Need is Love.’ A concert celebrating the love of music, the right to love,and the love of singing together. West Hollywood City Council Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd.. Tickets are $25 general, $20 senior or student and $5 children. Available online at www.metrosings.org/performances. Shows at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
June 15. Summer Sounds Father’s Day Concert. A child-friendly celebration of parenthood featuring information and activities for parents and prospective parents and their kids. The band will be La Sirena y Mar de Ashe. West Hollywood Park, 647 N. San Vicente Blvd. Admission is free. 1 p.m.
June 15. June Mazer Lesbian Archives presents ‘Baby, You Are My Religion.’ A reading by Dr. Marie Cartier from her book about the American butch-femme bar culture of the mid-20th century. West Hollywood Council Chambers. 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. Admission free. 4 pm.
June 18. TRIBE WeHo Gay Men’s Discussion Group . A look at ‘Love and Marriage’ West Hollywood Library Community Room, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., Admission free. 7:30 pm.
June 21. ALAP Lesbian & Gay Play Reading Festival. A reading of one new full-length LGBT play on the theme “I Do” chosen by a panel of judges. West Hollywood Library Community Room. 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. Admission free. Noon.
June 21. A Midsummer Afternoon’s Queer Wedding Reception, a special reception featuring some of Southern California’s most cutting-edge queer musicians and performance artists, all curated by Planet Queer and Apt 3F. The show will be followed at 7 p.m. by ‘Behold the Bridegrooms’ an exploration of the poetry of James Broughton on the 100th anniversary of his birth.. Plummer Park’s Fiesta Hall, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd., free admission. 3:30 to 9 pm
June 22. This Joint Is Jumpin’ by Vox Femina. A jazz concert by jazz bassist and vocalist Jennifer Leitham and the Jennifer Leitham Trio and a “Q &A” with Leithamr about “I Stand Corrected”, the documentary about her life and career. Congregation Kol Ami, 1200 N. La Brea Ave. Admission free. 3 p.m.
June 22. ‘Ivy,’ a Portrait of a Crusader. An ensemble cast, relying on interviews with West Hollywood resident Ivy Bottini, tells the story of a woman whose determination makes a lasting impact on feminism and gay rights. West Hollywood City Council Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. Admission free. 7 p.m.
June 24. Annual Rainbow Key Awards. Recognition of those who have made significant contributions to the LGBT community. West Hollywood City Council Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. Admission is free. 7:30 p.m.
June 25. Pacific Serenades: Sense & Sensuality. Performances by a bassoon and string quartet of a new work by gay Los Angeles composer Jeffrey Parola and Maurice Ravel’s String Quartet. West Hollywood City Council Chambers,, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. Ticket $32; $5 students with ID, available at www.pacser.org. 7:30 p..m
June 26. Under My Skin / Bajo La Piel. Akabal Theater presents a comedic series of monologues, enhanced with dance, movement and poetry to explore what lives under the skin of transphobia, homophobia and intolerance. Marilyn Monroe Theatre / The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, 7936 Santa Monica Blvd.. Tickets $20. More information at www.facebook.com/events/222682491262849. Performed in Spanish with some English. 8 p.m.
June 27-28. Interface: The Marriage Project. A work titled “I Do” featuing members of the LGBTQ community performing with MXD dancers in two shows that correlate with Marriage Equality Day. Plummer Park Fiesta Hall, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd. Admission free. 8 p.m. on both days.
June 28 – “The Classical Nude and the Making of Queer History” Opening reception for an exhibit organized by the Leslie Lohman Museum for Gay and Lesbian Art and curated by Jonathan David Katz. ONE Archives Gallery & Museum, 626 N Robertson Blvd. Admission is free. 6 to 9 p.m.
June 28. 4th Annual Celebrating All Life & Creation Pow Wow. Red Circle Project’s commemoration of National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day with dancing, singing, drumming and food. Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd. 10 am to 6 pm.
June 30. The Last Bastion: A Conversation on Feminist and Queer Museum Politics. Dr. Amelia Jones and Dr. Jonathan D. Katz examine how art can serve as activism. West Hollywood City Council Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente BlvdAdmission free ($5 suggested donation). 6:30 p.m.
