‘8’ the play: Marriage Equality Fundraiser on 8 June

One-night-only special event to raise funds for Australian Marriage Equality, ‘8’ is an unprecedented account of the US Federal Court trial which stripped gays and lesbians of the fundamental freedom to marry. With a cast including Magda Szubanski, Shane Jacobson, Lisa McCune, Daniel MacPherson, Spencer McLaren, Jay Laga’aia and Julian Shaw, ‘8’ promises to be the theatrical event of the year! Directed by Bruce Myles.

Where: Her Majesty’s Theatre
When: Fri 8 June, 7:30pm
Bookings: www.8theplay.com.au

Upcoming around Melbourne @ 10 May

Here’s a quick overview to some of the queer-friendly events coming up around town, and other items of LGBTIQ interest.

Events:

Naked Boys Singing @ The Malthouse: 1-12 May » Read

‘One Show Only’: 9-13 May » Read

Grouse Party: 11 May » Read

Equal Love Rally: 12 May » Read

The MRB presents Syncopated - a jazz showcase: 13 May » Read

HRAFF: Human Rights Arts & Film Festival: 15-27 May » Read

Laramie Project - 10 years later: 16-26 May » Read

IDAHO Community Forums in Darebin, Hobsons Bay, Brimbank and Wyndham: 17 May » Read

Next Wave Festival: 18-27 May » Read

Peaches and Cream: 18 May » Read

Camp co-op launch: 23 May » Read

Matrix Guild’s 20th Birthday: 27 May » Read

West Hollywood Film Festival - Yarraville: 1-3 Jun » Read

Grouse Gig & Party: 1 Jun » Read

Burlesque Hour meets Pandora’s Box: 7 Jun-1 Jul » Read

‘8’ the play - Marriage Equality fundraiser: 8 Jun » Read

So gay. So what? free training: 3 Jul » Read

Ice Cafe’s Christmas in July with Luke Gallagher: 28 Jul » Read

Submissions:

Send us a video: why you love Carnival » Read

Artists Brief - Taking You Places » Read

Casting call: same-sex models needed » Read

VAC/GMHC seeking community consultation » Read

IDAHO Short Film Competition: by 14 May » Read

banQuet 2013 submissions invited: by 18 May » Read

Laverton Community Hub - tenancy EOI: by 21 May » Read

Carclew Youth Arts 2013 Scholarship submissions (SA): by 13 Jul » Read

STAR SELECTION: urgent trans help needed: PFLAG » Read

Say thanks to Barack Obama

President Barack Obama put aside politics and was brave enough to stand up for what’s right to tell the world he supports marriage equality! This is an historic moment with huge implications globally. Will you sign allout.org’s thank you card to make an example of Obama’s willingness to affirm equal love and show other world leaders that they can change their minds too? This story is going to be told around the world and President Obama - and journalists on every continent – must know that millions are on his side. Sign the thankyou card.

Tell us why you love Carnival and help keep this annual event Free and Fabulous!

Midsumma is looking to raise some much needed funds for our 25th Anniversary and we want you to tell the queer community, local and national business, schools, churches, community groups and individuals of all walks of life why they NEED to donate!

How do we do that!? By making a video of all your lovely smiling faces, telling the world what Midsumma Carnival means to YOU. We are looking for people to send in a short video, (ideally no more than 10 seconds) with you telling the camera one of the following:

• What your first Midsumma Carnival experience was like
• Why you attend Midsumma Carnival
• Why Midsumma Carnival is so great!
• What it means to you to see 120,000 queer and allied persons congregating in the middle of the city
• Why Midsumma Carnival is relevant today
• Your favorite Midsumma Carnival memory

Videos need not be professional quality - an iPhone/ Smart phone camera is perfect! You need not say who you are, just why you LOVE Carnival and why it is important to donate to keep the free event going for the queer and allied communities.

Please send your videos to admin@midsumma.org.au and they will be collated and used as part of the Midsumma 2013 25th Anniversary Fundraising campaign. Make your mark on Midsumma and help us keep Carnival fabulous and free!

Giveaway: Next Wave Festival

Next Wave Festival 2012 brings an exciting group of emerging artists to Melbourne from 19-27 May. See nextwave.org.au for the complete program.

The opening night on Friday, 18 May will be just as exciting, filling every nook and cranny of Footscray Community Arts Centre with art, performance, games, cheap drinks, food and friends, including the opening performance of PHYSICAL FRACTALS, a sensory-saturating dance work by Natalie Abbott. To celebrate, they’re giving away 2 double passes to PHYSICAL FRACTALS for 8pm on Friday, 25 May. To go in the running, send your name and contact number to admin@midsumma.org.au with “Next Wave Festival” as the subject.

Equal Love Rally: Sat 12 May

The two parliamentary marriage equality inquiries currently underway received a large majority of submissions in favour of reform. The Senate inquiry received 44,000 pro-equality submissions, or 60% of the total. The Lower House inquiry received 177,000 pro-equality responses, or 64% of the total. This makes marriage equality the “most popular” legislation the parliament has ever dealt with! But marriage equality is not guaranteed. Surveys suggest the vote on either of the two marriage equality bills currently in front of parliament will be very close. So please go along to the Equal Love Rally and March on Saturday 12 May, 1pm @ State Library, Melbourne. Bring your friends, family, workmates, neighbours and anyone else you can mobilise to show the government that we will tolerate discrimination no longer! Prizes will also be awarded for best placard - so get creative! Speakers on the day include: Adam Bandt (Greens Member for Melbourne), Carl Katter (Australian Marriage Equality and brother of Bob), Ben Convey (Workers Out!), Kerrie Bietzel (PFLAG Victoria), Ali Hogg (Equal Love Convenor) and more. More info: www.equallove.info

IDAHO Community Forums in Darebin, Hobsons Bay, Brimbank & Wyndham

Go along to one of the forums to celebrate International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) 2012. And look out for the many councils flying the rainbow flag on 17 May to acknowledge IDAHO.

Darebin: activities include art installations and entertainment on High Street Northcote, and a community forum at Northcote Town Hall. The community forum will help develop Darebin’s first ever Action Plan on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (GLBTIQ) issues. Dinner will be provided.
Where: West Wing Studio 2, Northcote Town Hall, 189 High St Northcote
When: Thu 17 May, 6-8pm

Brimbank & Hobsons Bay: presentations including: Karen Toohey, Commissioner from the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission; Nick Foa, CEO of Brimbank; Ben Hartung, CEO of Hockey Victoria; and Tony Briffa, Mayor of Hobsons Bay.
Where: Brimbank City Council Offices, 6-18 Alexandra Avenue, Sunshine
When: Thu 17 May, 9-10.30am
RSVP: ellenk@brimbank.vic.gov.au or call 9249 4039

Wyndham: Rainbow flag ceremony and free morning tea.
Where: Wyndham Cultural Centre, 188 Watton St, Werribee
When: Thu 17 May, 9.30-11am
RSVP: lisa.field@wyndham.vic.gov.au or call 9742 0777

West Hollywood Film Festival - Yarraville

The City of Maribyrnong and the Melbourne Queer Film Festival present West Hollywood 2012. A feast of queer film highlights from June 1-3 at The Sun Theatre, Yarraville. This year’s smorgasbord of queer film delights includes MQFF 2012 favourites: Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same, The Green, The Cure, Kawa, Daphne and a free (yes free!) session of Oz Shorts. See www.mqff.com.au for the complete West Hollywood  program, tickets and more info.

‘One Show Only’: 9-13 May

‘One Show Only’, commissioned by Arts House (North Melbourne), is a new work from award-winning dancer, director and choreographer Byron Perry and a collaboration with Frontier Danceland (Singapore) that explores how complex systems and patterns can emerge from a multiplicity of relatively simple interactions. One Show Only spontaneously highlights how tiny rules extrapolate into larger structures, while complex systems can be reduced to a collection of discrete single functions.

Where: Arts House, North Melbourne Town Hall, 521 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne
When: 9-13 May, Wed-Fri 7.30pm; Sat 3pm & 7.30pm; Sun 5pm.
Bookings: www.artshouse.com.au or 03 9322 3713

The MRB presents SYNCOPATED - a jazz showcase

In a one night only performance, SYNCOPATED will transport you from Chapel Off Chapel to the jazz clubs of the prohibition era and the streets of New Orleans. Proudly supported by the City of Stonnington, “SYNCOPATED” is the Melbourne Rainbow Band’s first showcase concert for 2012, and its second outing with new Musical Director, David Wisken. The program will include songs made famous by the big names of the jazz age such as, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington. Classics such as Tuxdo Junction, Birdland, Caravan and Basin Street blues, which are sure to delight a variety of ages.

Where: Chapel Off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel Street, Prahran
When: Sun 13 May, 7pm
Info & Bookings: www.chapeloffchapel.com.au

Camp Co-op launching: Wed 23 May

Camp Co-op is a new opportunity for those of us who run GLBTIQ community organisations to come together in fun and friendship to share, learn, support and mentor one another. Camp Co-op is being created to strengthen our community organisations by providing a series of networking events and access to shared online resources. The launch event for Melbourne Camp Co-op will be held on Wednesday 23 May 2012 at Karstens, 123 Queen Street, Melbourne between 6pm and 8pm, and will be professionally facilitated. The nearby Chaise Lounge in Queen Street have agreed to open from 8pm to 9:30pm for those who would like to “kick along” a little longer. There will be no cost to attend the Camp Co-op event at Karstens (refreshments will be provided), but Chaise Lounge is at each individual’s own expense.

Matrix Guild 20th Birthday: 27 May

The Matrix Guild Of Vic Inc is about to celebrate their 20th Birthday and would like to extend an invitation for you to join them on the day. Light refreshments.

Where: Northcote Town Hall
When: Sunday 27 May, 3-6pm
RSVP: Sue on 0466 480 331 by 20 May

Human Rights Arts & Film Fest: 15-27 May

Art is a powerful means of communication, transcending cultural, ethnic and linguistic differences. In its fifth year, HRAFF continues to provide a shared site whereby artists, human rights organisations and the Australian public are united in their desire to contribute to social change. For eleven days in Melbourne, and then three weeks across the country, HRAFF will exhibit a selection of contemporary cinema, fine art, discussion panels and music, seeking to engage, inspire and entertain… more info.

Joe Berlinger’s Under African Skies opening night film has almost sold out, but The Queen has no crown looks very interesting.