is about to bring gay movie lovers another breakthrough: the first gay video store on the Internet. PlanetOut is the Internet's leading gay and lesbian media company.
The "Popcorn Q" Video Shop will be the first full-service online video store of its kind where film buffs can purchase videos of favorite flicks from a comprehensive catalog of mainstream and independent, gay and straight titles. "Popcorn Q" is PlanetOut's hugely popular movie area, with reviews, profiles, and gossip about the silver screen.
Through an arrangement with the Philadelphia-based home video distribution company TLA \Video, customers from anywhere in the world will be able to pay for PopcornQ video transactions with all major credit cards.
"Gay people enjoy all kinds of movies, whether it's Robin Williams in The Birdcage or the latest Disney release," said site producer Jenni Olson. "Our customers can find whatever they're looking for right here and support a gay-owned business instead of their local Blockbuster." The video store will live on the Web at http://www.planetout.com/shop.
PlanetOut is a worldwide community of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. PlanetOut has the widest distribution of any queer Internet service, with an audience of 320,000 unique monthly visitors, available on four distribution channels: the World Wide Web, America Online, Yahoo! and Netscape.
NEC Features
RuPaul Snapshot
A recent advertisement for Packard Bell NEC, Inc. features drag supermodel RuPaul celebrating "versatility."
The theme of the ad campaign, "versatile notebooks for versatile people" has RuPaul pushing the company's Versa 2600 notebooks.
According to the March 25 PC Week, NEC has received some complaints, but Kerry Zeida, vice president of corporate communications said," for every one, we've gotten another one saying this is a very gutsy, very sophisticated approach. I wasn't concerned so much that people would be turned off by [RuPaul] as I was concerned that people wouldn't know him."
The ad has appeared in computer magazines, and such mainstream venues as Rolling Stone.
"This isn't meant to be provocative for the sake of being provocative, said Zeida. "This is really trying to find celebrities that match the characteristics of the ad itself." While it is impressive that NEC would choose an openly gay drag queen as a spokesmodel, what makes the ad so remarkable is that RuPaul was chosen because NEC wanted to celebrate versatility as it is embodied by someone who plays with both gender and sexual norms in our society.
Please commend NEC (Kerry Zeida, VP of Corporate Communications, NEC USA, Inc., e-mail: webmaster@nec.com) for their bold and inclusive choice in advertising [GLAAD]
Internet Advocates Bring out Hits
to
Dr. Demento
The Dr. Demento Show, a nation
ally syndicated novelty music
radio program, has begun increased play of lesbian-, gay- and bisexual-themed songs after a concerted effort by members of OUTVOICE!!, an Internet discussion group and newsletter dedicated to "queer music/queer culture."
During the broadcast for the week of April 6, the playlist included "Monster" by Fred Schneider & The Snake Society, GLAAD Media Award winner "I Kissed A Girl" by Jill Sobule and "Some of My Best Friends Are Straight" by Romanovsky & Phillips.
Since OUTVOICE!! Editor Daniel Jenkins started the campaign, he said, "there has been an obvious increase in queer music played on the show." He noted that he was now trying to get "Sweet Maiden" by Jamie Anderson and "Newt" from the original cast recording of When Pigs Fly on in weeks to come.
Considering the large number of humorous songs by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender artists, from Meg Christian's "Ode To A Gym Teacher," to songs by Phranc, the Flirtations and queercore/grrls bands, Dr. Demento's increased inclusion of gay novelty tunes is only appropriate.
Suggest your favorite funny song to Dr. Demento and thank him for increasing our ranks in his playlist. Contact: Dr. Demento, The Dr. Demento Show, request line: 562.633.8863, Web request: http://www.csci.csusb.ecu/kmaijala/request.html; Daniel Jenkins, editor, OUTVOICE!! E-mail: djoutvoice@queernet.org. [GLAAD]
Celebration '97
The 17th Annual Southeastern
Gay & Lesbian Conference will
be held Fri., June 6 thru Sun., June 8 at the Marriott Hotel. For that weekend, New Orleans will be tres gai with concerts, national speakers, workshops, a gay & lesbian film festival and much more.
The chart-topping diva with the unforgettable voice (Walk Away, Hush, Zimbabwae), Toni Childs, will appear in concert. Ms. Childs' music can also be found on the acclaimed Women's Work CD as well as the soundracks of Thelma & Louis and Boys on the Side. Called "sapphic sisters, soft-porn kittens and the wild ones of rock-n-roll," Fem2Fem, a raunchy lesbian band, who often perform topless ("a mesmerizing cross between Annie Lennox, Madonna and U2, will also appear in concert.
Among the speakers at the conference will be Roberta Achtenberg whose story of her groundbreaking appointment to President Clinton's administration is sure to be inspiring; Claudia Brenner, author of Eight Bullets: One Woman's Story of Surviving Anti-gay Violence; and, Paul Kawata, a dynamic, witty speaker who is a leader in the fight against AIDS.
There will also be workshops on: Relationship Contracts, Advances in HIV and AIDS Treatments, Self Hypnosis, Friends of Gays and Lesbians, and much more, plus parties, dances, an auction and lots of fun!! For more information, call 504.488.3700 or 1.800.615.8506.
FRIENDS UNITED
Kicks Off 3rd Annual Red Ribbon Day
To Benefit Acadiana C.A.R.E.S
FRIENDS UNITED hosts the third annual RED RIBBON DAY benefit for Acadiana C.A.R.E.S. to be held Saturday, May 10, 1997 at Girard Park. RED RIBBON DAY will consist of a 5K Run/Walk and wacky Jamboree Games.
FRIENDS UNITED was established in April 1995 by a group of individuals representing various area organizations to raise funds for our local HIV/AIDS services agency, Acadiana C.A.R.E.S.
C.A.R.E.S. (Concern for AIDS Relief, Education & Support) is a non-profit agency offering HlV/AIDS information and services throughout Acadiana.
Monies from RED RIBBON DAY will help ensure the continuation and expansion of direct client service programs provided by Acadiana C.A.R.E.S.
Pre-registration is encouraged. Registration forms can be picked up at KSMB-FM Radio Station on 202 Galbert Road.
Race day registration: 5K Run/Walk - 7:30 am - 8:00 am; Wacky Jamboree Games: 9:15 am -9:45 am. Wacky Jamboree Games: Tug of War, Obstacle Course Relay, Timber Relay, Balloon Toss and more...
The Wacky Jamboree events will be executed by teams consisting of six members.
Entry Fees: Run/Walk - $15 ($20 to qualify for an official Red Ribbon Day T-shirt); Wacky Jamboree Games: $120 ($150 to qualify for an official Red Ribbon Day T-shirt).
Concessions will be sold throughout the day and there will be live band performances.
FRIENDS UNITED is encouraging local businesses to register for the Wacky Jamboree Games and to challenge other area businesses as well.
Bring the whole family out to enjoy a day filled with fun, great food, and music - all benefitting a worthwhile cause.
The general public is invited to attend as participants and/or spectators.
HIV Testing and Counseling
Acadiana C.A.R.E.S. (Concern for AIDS Relief, Education & Support) offers free and anonymous HIV Testing and Counseling on Mondays from 6:30 pm - 9 pm at the UMC East Clinic and on Tuesdays from 12 noon - 3:00 pm at the C.A.R.E.S. office located at 1405 W. Pinhook, Suite 108. Call 318.233.2437 for more information.
14th International
AIDS Candlelight Memorial
And Mobilization May 4
The 14th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial and Mobilization will be observed worldwide on Sunday, May 4, 1997. The event, which began in San Francisco in 1983, honors the memory of those who have died of AIDS, demonstrates support for people living with HIV and AIUDS and mobilizes community based responses to HIV/AIDS. In May of 1996 the annual mobilization was observed in over 300 cities in 43 nations, making it the world's largewst annual community-based AIDS event.
The theme for 1997 is "Illuminate The Truth: Honor Every Death, Value Every Life. Global Solidarity for Access To Health Care, Dignity and Life."
In Lafayette, Acadiana C.A.R.E.S. will host the event which will take place on May 4, 1997 at 7 pm near the pond-side in Girard Park.
In New Orleans, the 14th Annual New Orleans AIDS Candlelight Memorial and Silent March will commence Sunday, May 4, 7 pm, at St. Mary's Church, 1116 Chartres St., corner of Ursulines and Chartres and is sponsored by the New Orleans AIDS Candlelight Memorial and Silent March Committee.
