September 16-18 the QFilm Festival will will be showing over twenty films made this year by some of the top independent LGBT filmmakers. Every year is unique and 2011 promises to be another excellent event and even more special with its international block of films.

QFilms has invited Popo Fan, a twenty-six year old Chinese filmmaker to screen “Be A Woman,” a documentary about drag queens who live in Nanning China. Popo follows them from their glittery stage performances in nightclubs to their dressing rooms as they put on and take off their pancake makeup (there is even a catfight!). “Be A Woman” gives an honest and often sad look at queer men in a gender variant subculture and gives voice to their untold and difficult lives. Marginalized by society, disowned by their parents and shunned from family they live for the nights they are able to perform and make the best of their circumstances with resilience, wit and humor.

In 2004 Popo began making films while studying at the Beijing Film Academy. “I went into filmmaking because I was bad at math. They didn’t have the requirements other universities had so I took a class.” He was often around homophobic students and one colleague in particular, a young man, would often make disparaging comments about gays during class. His studies became even more uncomfortable when they later became roommates at the Academy. Popo being true to himself did not hide his sexuality and would openly watch gay films in their room. Eventually his colleague began watching them too and they became best friends. “It was at that time I knew films could change the world!”

Popo initially had no interest in documentaries and instead concentrated on writing for TV. He changed his mind when he went to a gay pride parade in Taipei for a film project. “It was so exciting to be around other gay people. I knew then it (documentaries) was what I wanted to do.”

Later during a sightseeing tour he found himself in Nanning where he met his first drag queens. “I found them beautiful, interesting and very hardworking performers. They had great spirit and opened me up to different ideas about gender and sexuality.”

After leaving school in 2007 he wrote a legal and mainstream published book on LGBT films. It sold over 10,000 copies and instantly gained him respect and notoriety among many in the LGBT community.

Funding is difficult enough for any filmmaker but LGBTQ films made in Mainland China face even greater challengers. In 2008 Popo was awarded a $4,500 grant from the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice and began production of “Be A Woman.” It took him three years to complete.

Be A Woman is special not only for its rare insights but also for the fact that in the era of Chinese censorship, it is practically a miracle that this movie was even made. LGBTQ films are censored by the Chinese government and cannot be screened in mainstream theaters. They find their way to their audiences in living rooms, private venues and LGBTQ centers in cities like Beijing and Hangzhou and in some cases now make their way into universities.

Fortunately Be A Woman has now made it overseas to the QFilm Festival and is being screened Saturday the 17th at 3:00pm. Tickets can be purchased by going to the QFilms website or can be purchased at the door. A special question and answer period will take place after the movie.

COMPLETE SCHEDULE OF 2011 QFILM FESTIVAL & RELATED EVENTS:

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th
5:00PM FIT at the Art Theatre
7:15pm TOMBOY at the Art
8:00-10:30pm Opening Night Party at The Center Long Beach
9:15pm JUDAS KISS at the Art, followed by Q&A with the filmmakers and cast members.
11:30pm After Party at Paradise Bar & Grill

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17th
12:30pm INSPIRED: THE VOICES AGAINST PROP 8 at the Art, followed by Q&A with the filmmakers and available subjects who appear in the film.
1:00pm I AM at The Center
2:45pm WOMEN IN SHORTS program at the Art, followed by Q&A with available filmmakers and cast members.
3:00pm BE A WOMAN at The Center
5:15pm MEN IN BRIEFS program at the Art, followed by Q & A with available filmmakers and cast members.
7:30pm CHO DEPENDENT at the Art
8:00-10:30pm Saturday Night Party at The Center
9:15pm LEAVE IT ON THE FLOOR, followed by Q & A with the filmmakers and cast members.
11:30pm After Party at Paradise Bar & Grill

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18th
10:30am Brunch at Café Ambrosia
12:00pm PHOTOS OF ANGIE at the Art, preceded by short film CHARLOTTE and followed by Q & A with the filmmakers.
12:45pm BISEXUAL REVOLUTION at The Center, followed by discussion.
1:45pm WE WERE HERE at the Art, preceded by world premiere short film UB2.
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4:00pm LONGHORNS at the Art, preceded by short film COUPLES THERAPY and followed by Q & A
with available filmmakers and cast members.
6:15pm WISH ME AWAY at the Art
7:00-9:30pm Closing Night Party at The Center
8:00pm HOLLYWOOD TO DOLLYWOOD at the Art

Tickets sell fast so advanced purchase is suggested. Tickets may be obtained at Moxi Roller Skate Shop at  2132 E. 4th Street,Long Beach CA, (562) 439-6694 at the Daily Grind (Big Donut) on 7th Street and on-line at LongBeachRollerDerby.com/tickets. Prices are $20 for Grand Stand Seating and $15 for General Admission which now includes some elevated standing space. Also added for this bout is a special VIP section for $25 .

Photo By: Z.Karnopp

The first 60 VIP ticket holders also have the option to take the Big Red Bus to and from the game for an additional $5. The bus will pick up and drop off at the Tilted Kilt near 2nd St. and PCH.  The VIP section is limited to 100 seats total and are available only on-line at LongBeachRollerDerby.com/tickets.  This is an all ages event with alcohol available with ID. In addition to exciting Roller Derby action there will also be a live band, fire dancing by Sirena Serpentina and food vendors.

Who: Long Beach Roller Derby
What: Banked Track Bout Bixby Rollerettes vs Terminal Island Tootsies
Where: Queen Mary Dome (Derby Dome)
When: Friday August 19th  Doors open at 7pm game at 8:30

The White House announced late Friday afternoon that the repeal of DADT was formally certified by President Obama, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen.

“Today, we have taken the final major step toward ending the discriminatory ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ law that undermines our military readiness and violates American principles of fairness and equality,” Obama said in a statement.

The President, as well as the Defense Secretary and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, were required by a law passed late last year to officially sign off on the repeal. The certification will be followed by a 60 day waiting period, set to end on September 20^th.

During the 2008 campaign, President Obama pledged to end the controversial policy barring gays from serving in the military. The march towards its repeal included a survey issued last year asking servicemembers the best way to wind-down the policy and Congressional authorization last December.

Following the President’s stateemnt, a briefing was held at the Pentagon with the Repeal Implementation Team and the Department’s General Counsel, Jeh Johnson. The following was announced:

-Benefits will largely be untouched by the change, since DOMA and other laws restrict the military from recognizing same sex partners. The Department won’t be giving service pay for those honorably discharged for being gay.

-Sexual orientation will not affect where soldiers are deployed.

-Prior to the certification, the Service Chiefs and Secretaries were consulted. A Defense official says they “unanimously” reported that their services were ready for the repeal.

-1.79 million servicemembers have gone through training in preparation for the repeal. Under the law passed in December, training does not need to be 100 percent complete prior to the repeal.

-Commanders will be prohibited from physically segregating gay servicemembers.

-Those who were discharged solely for being gay can re-enlist on September 20^th.

8800 Irvine Spectrum Drive, Irvine, California, USA
August, 13, 2011 Noon to 10pm

OC Pride’s Velvet Lounge Main Stage will include performances by Stacey Q, Speaker Junkies, Transkontinental, Corday and The Cougars, Soul Sisters and many more. Comedian, Ryan Hill and Momma will MC throughout the afternoon. Pride’s Sponsor, AMP FM Radio, will open the Main Stage.
The Club Lucky Dance Tent will include DJ’s Mike Orion, Saratonin, Hazmat, John Joseph, Zach Moos, and Ahmed.
Families with young ones can enter the Kids’ Club where a bounce house, balloon animals, face painting, entertainment, and games may be enjoyed from noon – 6pm.
This year’s OC Pride festival is introducing Rainbow Symposium, a lecture series for those interested in hearing expert speakers discuss topics such as “Transgender Transition”, “Smashing Homophobia 101”, “Lube U”, “How To Answer the Religious Right in their own words….” and others.
Pride also invites non-profit and for-profit booths to sell products, advertise, educate and meet one another. Food and beverages, including alcohol, may be purchased and enjoyed in this park-like setting (across from The Spectrum and next to Verizon Amphitheater).
Tickets are only $10 and can be purchased at the event or at www.prideoc.com. We have limited VIP Tickets for $75- which include hosted food by Border Grill (menu includes a winning recipe from Top Chef Masters) and beverages hosted by Barefoot Wine. Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of this exclusive area. VIP tickets may ONLY be purchased at www.prideoc.com.
Become Pride’s friend on Facebook www.facebook.com/orangecountypride for the latest updates.
This is the last summer Pride Festival in Southern California. Don’t miss it!
Orange County Equality Coalition (OCEC) is the host of Pride and formed after the Passage of Proposition 8. The mission of OCEC is equality and respect for all people in a progressive Orange County. This is the third year OCEC has hosted Pride in Orange County.

Rosanne Faul, Executive Committee Member, 949/275-6377, rfaul@defendingyou.net, 5405 Alton Pkwy Ste. A-250, Irvine, CA 92604
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The circuitous route to legalizing gay marriage overcame another road block when Chief U.S. District Judge James Ware ruled that former Chief Judge Vaughn Walker’s ruling to overturn Proposition 8 should not be vacated on conflict of interest grounds.

ProjectMarriage.com had filed the challenge to Judge Walker’s ruling back in April claiming the Judge was partial in his decision because he himself was in a same sex relationship and stood to benefit from the legalization of gay marriage in California.

In his written decision Judge Ware stated “The sole fact that a federal judge shares the same circumstances or personal characteristics with other members of the general public, and that the judge could be affected by the outcome of a proceeding in the same way that other members of the general public would be affected, is not a basis for either recusal or disqualification.”

Judge Ware publicly acknowledged his 10 year relationship with another man following his retirement from the bench in February but the speculation that he was gay began years before the Proposition 8 appeal came before his court.

There have been numerous occasions where appeals have been filed to disqualify women judges from sexual harassment cases and minority judges from discrimination cases but this is the first attempt to vacate a decision based on a judge’s sexual orientation.

Judge Ware’s decision that no intrinsic bias existed simply because Judge Walker is a gay man advances the effort to repeal prop 8 to the 9^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals where that court will consider the efficacy of Walker’s finding that denying gays and lesbians the right to marry is a violation of their constitutional rights.

For over 30 years, The Center of Long Beach has been a central force and cultural hub for the LGBTIQ community in Southern California. As part of its current renaissance, The Center of Long Beach continues this tradition with “QSpeak” a lecture series that features university scholars, activists, artists, and public figures in the LGBTIQ community once a month throughout 2011. “QSpeak” will host academic talks, interviews and ethnographies on queer studies, art, culture, social justice, and history and become a venue for open discussion to a broad and diverse audience in Southern California. “QSpeak” seeks to inspire, educate, challenge, and entertain its audience and aspires to re-energize the collective consciousness of the LGBTIQ community and their allies so that we may envision a future where there are spaces for everyone to exist and thrive.

Academic Speakers
June 26 – Dr. Marie Cartier
Artist, Lecturer, and Author, Dr. Cartier will present “Baby You are My Religion: Butch Femme/Gay Women’s Bar Culture 1940s to 1980s,” where she will include the tales, testimonies, and photos of pre-Stonewall gay women and men who considered the bar space as an alternative church. Dr. Cartier conducted over 100 interviews for this presentation, many with local women from the Long Beach community.

July 30th – Dr. Judith Halberstam
Dr. Halberstam a professor of English and Gender Studies at USC will present “Pregnant Men, Pregnant Men, Heteroflexible Women, and the End of Gender as We Know It.” She discusses how in the early years of the 21st Century, the press thrilled to the images and testimony of the world’s “first pregnant man.” At the same time, the US acknowledged a huge decrease in marriages and a rise in divorces. This talk is going to offer a map to the new terrain of gender, sexuality and pleasure in a post-marriage, post-heterosexual, post-gay, post-post world. post-heterosexual, post-gay, post-post world.

The 28th annual Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride celebration is this weekend. It will be full of vendors and entertainment. But just in case you want to venture outside of the festivities, we’ve prepared a guide. Know that you can walk into any Gay bar in Long Beach and you’ll be sure to find a party. Here are some fun spots to hit before, during, and after Pride. Cheers!

THURSDAY

Laugh Til You Tinkle- Laugh Factory – 151 S Pine Ave Long Beach  – 7:45pm, Tickets $20.00 (cash) with a 2 Drink Minimum. Purchase your tickets at the door.  LBLGP Inc. Presents “Laugh Til You Tinkle” a comedy event starring host Carlease!

District Pride- Bliss 525 on 525 Broadway from 6pm to 10pm. Enjoy a night of Art, Fashion, Fine Dining, Full non host bar and Live Jazz! All proceeds from the ticket sales will be donated to the following organizations: The Center of Long Beach, Care Program of Long Beach, and the East Village Association. Each $25.00 ticket gets you entry into the event, appetizers included, 3 tickets in our District Pride Giveaway (featuring exciting prizes) and of course the satisfaction of supporting your local community organizations.

FRIDAY

The Pink Party – Kicking off Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride weekend, the DLBA will host the 4th Annual Pink Party benefiting the Center Long Beach’s Mentoring Youth Through Empowerment (MYTE) Program on the outdoor lawn at The Pike (Pine Avenue & Shoreline Drive).  $10 entry fee

SATURDAY

Long Beach Pride-Long Beach Gay & Lesbian Pride Festival kicks off.  11:00 am – 10:00 pm Shoreline Drive in Long Beach.  The Festival Celebration includes 7 large dance areas, food booths and vendors.   Main stage lineup for Saturday is Vicky Tafoya, Sonsoles, Dian Katz, Sunny Daye, Sophie B. Hawkins, Abraham Macdonald, and Monica. To get your tickets early visit longbeachpride.org.

Wanda Sykes -  Sat, May 21, 2011 · 8:05 pm   Venue: Terrace Theatre at Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, CA   Tickets starting at $30 on Ticketmaster.

SUNDAY

Long Beach Pride Parade – Early arrivers who show their pride could receive FREE ADMISSION to the 2011 Long Beach Pride Festival, exclusive Long Beach Pride merchandise and more! The parade hot spot kicks off an hour early at 9:30 a.m. located on Cherry Ave. and Ocean Blvd. at Bixby Park, the location provides plenty of shade and a community gathering spot for anyone watching the parade.

Long Beach Pride Festival – Long Beach Gay & Lesbian Pride Festival second day.  11:00 am – 10:00 pm Shoreline Drive in Long Beach.  The Festival Celebration includes 7 large dance areas, food booths and vendors.   Main stage lineup for Sunday includes HitPLAY, Kim Yarbrough, Marvin Matthews, Edward Moss, Maxine Nightingale, Jennifer Holliday, Thelma Houston, and Taylor Dayne.   To get your tickets early visit longbeachpride.org.

And of course…if the above events aren’t enough for you there will be parties going on all weekend long at your favorite Long Beach bars and Clubs!

THE BAR SCENE

Club Ripples

5101 East Ocean Blvd. Long Beach

Pride 2011

May 19 – May 22

http://www.clubripples.com/pridepromo.htm

The Executive Suite

3428 East PCH Long Beach

Pistons

2020 E Artesia Blvd  Long Beach

Paradise

1800 E Broadway Long Beach

From May 16 to May 22, Paradise Presents: “Burlesque Pride”

http://www.paradisepianobar.com/#!__paradise-2011/calendar/vstc5=pride-week

Broadway Cocktail Lounge

1100 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90802

Sweetwater Saloon

1201 E Broadway, Long Beach

The Falcon

1435 East Broadway Long Beach

The Mineshaft

1720 East Broadway Long Beach

The Britt

1744 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90802

Hamburger Mary’s

740 East Broadway Long Beach

The Crest

5935 Cherry Ave. Long Beach

The Silver Fox

411 Redondo Ave Long Beach

Saturday Main Stage Entertainers

Vicky Tafoya

3:05 – 3:35

Hailed as “The Rhythm and Blues Queen of Southern California”, Vicky Tafoya will kick off the Main Stage festivities with her blast from the past DooWop styled voice that’ll leave you “RockABeatin Boogie”- ing into the evening.

Sonsoles

3:55 – 4:40

With a fresh spin on Modern Latin Rock, Los Angeles formed band, Sonsoles energy infusing music will definitely be heating up the crowds this year at Pride, come and “Escapar” to their sound.

Dian Katz

5:00 – 5:45

Entertainment Editor, Published Author, and Badass Drummer….just to name a few of her accomplishments, Dian Katz will be rocking the stage with her head banging beats.

Sunny Daye

6:05 – 6:50

Sunny has shared the mic and stage with  greats like Stevie wonder, Michael Bolton, Julio Iglesias, Pastor Shirley Ceaser, Andre Crouch, Montell Williams, Hal Ketchum, and many others! When she sings, she connects with her audience from her heart with sass and power that has made many hip hop, r&b & rap lovers into fans of Sunny Daye’s country music! This is only her second time on the main stage at Pride. “I am so grateful to be with such incredible artist’s this year and can’t wait to ROCK IT Saturday night!”

Sophie B. Hawkins

7:10 – 7:55

Sophie B. Hawkins, a free spirited artist known for her gutsy honest lyrics. She is the creator of the hit songs, “Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover” and “As I Lay Me Down”.

Abraham McDonald

8:05 – 8:50

On a mission to bring “Love Music” back to our hearts, crooner Abraham McDonald, winner of Oprah Winfrey’s 2009 Karaoke Challenge, travels to Pride with his new released hit single, “Miracle” and heartwarming R&B sounds.

Monica

9:00 – 10:00

Monica is headlining the Saturday Main Stage. A Grammy Award-winner with over 10 million records sold, she has been entertaining us with her raw natural voice since 1995. Here are some of her well known hits, “Don’t take it Personal (Just One of Dem Days)”, “The Boy is Mine” duet with Brandy, Space Jam soundtrack that featured, “For You I Will” and “Angel of Mine”.

Sunday Main Stage Entertainers

HitPLAY

3:15 – 4:00

Making music to move the soul, seasoned producers/artists John Hogue and Sean Peterson are the dynamic duo, HitPLAY.

Kim Yarbrough

4:10 – 4:40

“Jennifer Hudson meets Chaka Khan”, quadruple threat (vocalist, actor, dancer, and instrumentalist) Kim Yarbrough will be at Pride putting down some sweet sultry sounds to groove too.

Marvin Matthews

5:10 – 5:55

Concert artist and natural born entertainer, Marvin Matthews uses his soulful voice to inspire the people of today with the timeless message of Love for their fellow men.

Edward Moss

6:05 – 6:50

Edward Moss actor and impersonator of the late singer, Michael Jackson, will pay homage with his world renowned act as the “King of Pop”.

Maxine Nightingale

6:55 – 7:30

Maxine Nightingale, Disco Diva, known for her top hits, “Right Back Where We Started From”, “Lead Me On”, and “Turn to Me”.

Thelma Houston

7:35 – 8:10

A Motown Legend with over 43 years of success in the music world, soulful songstress Thelma Houston will perform at Pride.

Taylor Dayne

8:10 – 8:55

Multi platinum recording artist, Taylor Dayne, most famous for her 1980s and ‘90s hits “Tell it to My Heart” and “Love Will Lead You Back”.

Long Beach Roller Derby will host its second game of the season Friday, May 13th at the Queen Mary Dome.  Following an exciting first win the currently undefeated 4th Street Retro Rollers are back to face the defending champions from the 2010 season, the Bixby Rollerettes. This will be yet another fast paced competition on the league’s new banked track.  The banked track accelerates the speed of play making the sport even more thrilling for fans. With fun campy names like Evil Dawn Under and Percy Cute, Long Beach Roller Derby brings to the stage high production value and an athletic competition that never fails to entertain. The bout on April 22nd kicked off the season with over 2,000 fans in attendance.

These women are athletes playing the competitive sport of modern roller derby; there is no choreography or predetermined outcomes. As Long Beach Roller Derby says, “Our game is real and our girls are local!”

On Friday the 13th, in addition the main attraction, fans will find a vendor village for shopping, a local band for the half time show, several food trucks, and a full bar with ID. This all ages event sells out so buy your tickets in advance. Grandstand Seats are available for $25 pre-sale and $30 at the door. They can be purchased online at LongBeachRollerDerby.com/tickets or at Moxi Roller Skate Shop, 2132 E. 4th Street, Long Beach CA, (562)439-6694.