CONGRATS!!!
 UCSC's United Campus Christian Ministry

Student Ecumenical Partnership (Step), a network of college students and campus ministries across the nation, sponsored by the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church(Disciples of Christ) hosts a friendly competition between ministries to generate as many ideas for gathering students on campus. This year the focus related to social justice and campus ministry - how do we engage our students and share with others our passion for justice on campus?

UCSC's United Campus Christian Ministry's (UCCM) very own Sean Tai submitted and won this year's competition! This February they participated in the "Freedom to Marry" events sponsored by the Lionel Cantú GLBTI Resource Center and were proud partners as students witnessed to the inclusive and all encompassing love of Jesus. They presided at "mock marriages", offered communion to interested students and handed out detailed information related to each of our sponsoring denominations. Many students were pleased to take home a roster of reconciling congregations in Santa Cruz. Sean Tai hopes Mock Marriages will provide inspirations for others working for equality. "Personally, I hope people can get an idea of how to work for GLBT rights," he said. "It seems like not a lot of people know how to do it, and hopefully this is a starting point."

 

 Monday
 04.23.07

Dos Patrias 1pm, Riverfront Twin. Director Christian Liffers travels to Cuba to seek reflections on the poems and prose of Cuban author Reinaldo Arenas, writings that describe the desire for love, sexual freedom and the proud and unbending fight against discrimination. Info: http://santacruz.bside.com/?_view=_filmdetails&filmId=16276994.



"Do Ask. Do Tell" Teach In About Military Recruitment 5-6:30pm, C9/10, Namaste Lounge. Come learn about the military's discriminatory "Don't Ask. Don't Tell" policy and about leading counter-recruitment efforts from speakers Mario Ramirez and Robert Babala (UCSC alumus just granted CO status). Info: Wendy Baxter, wbaxter@ucsc.edu.

Lesbian and Gay Men's Mixer 7pm, Morgan's Coffee and Tea, 498 Washington St, Monterey.

PFLAG 7-9:15pm, Diversity Center, 1117 Soquel Ave, SC. Support for parents, other family members, and friends of LGBTIQ. LGBTIQ people looking for support and/or seeking better relationships with their families are also welcome. Info: 831.425.5422 or info@diversitycenter.org.

Closet Free Radio-KZSC 88.1 FM 7-8:30pm. UCSC's queer radio show. Tune in! Info: closetfreeradio@yahoo.com or www.geocities.com/closetfree.

The Network meets today! 9-10:30pm, Cantú Queer Center.

 

 Tuesday
 04.24.07

Women's Tuesday Evening Hike 6pm. Info: Jamyrson, jamyrson@hotmail.com.

Beyond Beats & Rhymes: A Hip-Hop Head Weighs in on Masculinity in Rap Culture 7-8pm, Louden Nelson Center, 301 Center St, SC. Beyond Beats & Rhymes (2006 Sundance) provides a riveting examination of manhood, sexism, and homophobia in hip-hop culture. Director Byron Hurt, former star college quarterback, longtime hip-hop fan, and gender violence prevention educator, conceived the documentary as a "loving critique" of a number of disturbing trends in the world of rap music--challenging the rap music industry to take responsibility for glamorizing destructive, deeply conservative stereotypes of manhood. Info: 831.423.6355 or www.mediaed.org/videos/MediaRaceAndRepresentation/HipHopBeyondBeatsAndRhymes.

QAC Movie Night 8pm, Cantú Queer Center. This month's movie night features a lesbian themed film. Info: 831.459.2468 or queer@ucsc.edu.



Queer Coffee meets today! 6-9pm, Cantú Queer Center.

 

 Wednesday
 04.25.07




DNA for the Rest of Us: A Diversity-Aware Viewing and Discussion of the National DNA Day Webcast 2:30-3:30pm, Bay Tree Conf Rm D. National DNA Day was created for students, teachers, and the public to learn more about genetics and genomics. It commemorates the completion of the Human Genome Project in April 2003 and the discovery of the DNA double helix. Info: Branwyn Stewart Wagman, 831.459.3077, bwagman@soe.ucsc.edu or www.cbse.ucsc.edu.




Gay Men's Volleyball 5:30pm, SC Main Beach. Newcomers and all skill levels are welcome. Our focus is on fun, camaraderie and sportsmanship. Info: Curt, 831.459.7506 or Mark, 831.429.6854.

Womyn's Space 7-10pm, The Crêpe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave, SC. Live music! ALL ages are welcome! Info: 831.429.6994 or www.TheCrepePlace.com .

GLBT Alliance 7pm, Diversity Center, 1117 Soquel Ave, SC. The local progressive queer political group. Info: www.homosexualagenda.org or 831.515.4101.

QLN will not be meeting today.

The Network will not be meeting today.

 

 Thursday
 04.26.07

HIV Testing for Women & Men 3-5pm, Mobile Van, Laundromat at Barson and Bixby, SC. Confidential testing. Info: 831.425.5422 or info@diversitycenter.org.

QQPoC Community Gathering 5-7pm, ERC Lounge, 3rd Floor, Bay Tree Building. Indulge in an evening of community building, food, music and schmoozing! Allies welcome! Info: queer@ucsc.edu or 831.459.2468.

Tribe: Gay and Bi Men's Center HIV Testing 5-8pm, 113 Cooper St, SC. No needles; results in just 20 minutes! Info: 831.427.3900 or info@scapsite.org.

Santa Cruz Poly Meetup 7-9pm, Lyon's Restaurant, 1900 41st Ave, Capitola. A social space for poly & poly-curious adults and friends. All orientations and relationship configurations welcome. Look for the toy armadillo! Info: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/santacruzpolyamory/ or http://polyamory.meetup.com/3/.

Full Spectrum Chorus Seeks Singers 7-9:30pm, First Congregational Church of Santa Cruz, 900 High St, SC. Open rehearsals for a high spirited GLBT chorus; open to all persuasions and musical talents. Info: 831.458.3053 or lawson@redshift.com.

Assembly Member John Laird's Annual Fundraiser 7:30pm, Coconut Grove, SC. Come out and support UCSC alumnus and our district's out gay assembly member. Join the UCSC contingent and show him our pride! Keynote Speaker is Honorable John Chiang, California State Controller. Cost: $125.00 per person. RSVP: Donna Blitzer, 831.459.3938 or dblitzer@ucsc.edu.



FTM Support Group 7:30-9:30pm, Diversity Center, 1117 Soquel Ave, SC. A safe space for individuals on the FTM spectrum for support and networking. Info: Antonia, 831.425.4409 or Lulu, 831.425.5422.

Queerotic meets Burlesque 9:30pm and 11:45pm, El Rio, SF. Women's Choice Clinic Benefit Collective presents a charitable evening for continued access for reproductive healthcare at the Women's Choice Clinic--"Queerotic" floor shows, kissing booths (performer staffed!), a live fetish show, radical reproductive self-health tutorials, raffles, and other burlesque persuasions. Sliding-scale admission $7-$50 (no one turned away for lack of funds), 21+. Info: Dani Drake, 530.515.0242, funkyfemmedyke@hotmail.com , Ethan Scheiblauer, 831.239.2700 or Women's Choice Clinic, wccbenefit@gmail.com.

 

 Friday
 04.27.07

GSCGB Networking Event and After Party 7pm-11pm, UCSC Graduate Student Commons. UCSC Graduate Students and Guests are invited! All sexual orientations are welcome. To protect Teaching Assistant working relationships, Undergraduate Students cannot be admitted. Info: www2.ucsc.edu/gradcommons/speeddating/.

Movie Night 7pm, Diversity Center, 1117 Soquel Ave, SC. Meet others in a friendly, comfortable environment. Info: Mike Johnson, 831.425.5422 or www.diversitycenter.org/movie.

 

 Saturday & Sunday
 04.28.07 & 04.29.07

Lavender Reception Sat, 3:30-5pm, Cantú Queer Center. Come join UCSC alumni at the Lavender Reception during Banana Slug Spring Fair. Alumni have wonderful stories to tell about queer life on campus and enjoy hearing from current students, staff,and faculty. Info: dabbott@ucsc.edu.

QTV--Santa Cruz Queer Television Collective Sat, 10pm, Santa Cruz-channel 27/ Watsonville & Capitola-channel 73. Local queer TV since 1995. Tune in! New, exciting local queer videos wanted. Info: Hilary, scqtv@yahoo.com or 831.459.5405.

TEENPOWER and FULLPOWER Workshops Sun, 10am-2:30pm. Description: A TEENPOWER Introductory Full Force Workshop for Santa Cruz area teens (13-17 years old), and a FULLPOWER Introductory Full Force Workshop for local adults (18+). Learn and practice skills for dealing with verbal attack and harassment as well as assaults from strangers and acquaintances in a supportive and safe environment. Info: Antonie, safety@kidpower.org or 831.426.4407.



GLS Pt Lobos Seal Pup Hike Sun, 10am-2pm. This is the time of year to catch the Harbor Seal pups playing in the waves along the shores of Pt Lobos State Reserve in Monterey. Info: Lynne Formigli, lformigli@sbcglobal.net.

 

 Upcoming...
 

05.01.07 ~ Peace Corps General Information Meeting
6-7:30pm, Charles E. Merrill Lounge - Merrill College. A queer friendly opportunity--www.lgbrpcv.org. Info: Kirsten Roehler, 831.459.4470, peacecor@ucsc.edu or www.peacecorps.gov.

05.03.07 ~ Does God Hate Queers? 7pm, Cantú Queer Center. An evening of discussion with Br. David of the Catholic Newman Center and Rabbi Shalom from SC Hillel. We'll look at controversial biblical passages and lesser known texts to discover the Jewish and Christian approaches to GLBTI issues. Info: Br. David, 831.423.9400.

05.05.07 ~ 2nd Annual UC Berkeley Queer People of Color Summit Registration begins Friday, 03.23.07. Info: Billy Curtis, 510.643.0788, or billyc@berkeley.edu.

05.11.07 ~ Sexualis Scientia 2-5pm, Humanities Building, Rm 210. A queer/ sexuality studies working group colloquium interrogating the interrelated epistemological frameworks of science and sexuality/ queer studies across a range of interdisciplinary and geopolitical sites. Info: ireneg@ucsc.edu.

05.15.07 ~ QAC Defining the A: Asexuality in Actuality 8:30pm, Cantú Queer Center. Join David Jay, founder of the world's largest asexual community, to learn how asexual people live, love and thrive in a society obsessed with sex. Info: Ian, fireflys_cat@yahoo.com.

05.16.07 ~ GALA Art Reception: Industry, Masculinity, and Gender 5-7pm, Cantú Queer Center. Mixed Media and Prints by Ron Reyes. Info: James, jseiling@ucsc.edu.

05.18.07 ~ Lionel Cantú Memorial Graduate Colloquium and Reception Colloquium, 3:30-5pm, Baobab, Merrill College; reception, 5-6pm, Cantú Queer Center. In honor of the late beloved Sociology Professor Lionel Cantú, Angel David Nieves from University of Maryland speaks at this year's colloquium. Keynote will be followed by a brief ceremony announcing the graduate scholar receiving the Cantú Memorial Award award and a lively reception. Info: Deb Abbott, dabbott@ucsc.edu or 831.459.4385.

05.19.07 ~ 10th Annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards 6pm, Harbor High School, SC. Come support our local queer youth and community GLBT ally honorees! Always a powerful, fun, and moving event! Info: www.QYTF.org or 831.427.4004.

05.24.07 ~ The Spotlight Stealerz 7pm, The Attic, 931 Pacific Ave, SC. An LA-based theatre/ comedy troupe bring the superpowers of intersecting identities (Xicana, Tamil-Sri Lankan, Filipina, lesbian, queer, stud, immigrant, mixed race) to a show-stopping, spotlight-stealing, laugh right into revolution performance. Free for UCSC Students FREE; Sliding scale 5-10$. Info: 831.459.2468 or queer@ucsc.edu.

05.24.07 ~ Student Discussion w/ Spotlight Stealerz 1-3pm, Ethnic Resource Center Lounge, The show-stopping trio in person! All welcome. See above event. Info: 831.459.2468 or queer@ucsc.edu.

05.25.07 ~ Theater and Resistance Workshop w/ Spotlight Stealerz 11am-1pm, C9/10 Namaste Lounge. QPOC taking the stage! All welcome. See above events. Info: 831.459.2468 or queer@ucsc.edu.

06.01-02.07 ~ Pride and the Symphony Do you like the Beatles? The Santa Cruz Symphony will be performing with the White Album Ensemble in a benefit concert! Info: 831.425.5422 or www.diversitycenter.org.

06.01.07 ~ QAC Queer Shabbat 6:30pm, Shabbat service; 7:30pm, dinner, Cantú Queer Center. Allies welcome! Food & fellowship for all. Info: shalom@santacruzhillel.org, 831.426.3332.

06.01.07 ~ Lily Tomlin Live! 8pm, 417 Alvarado St, Monterey. A live performance plus Lily Film Fest. Info: 831.372.3800 or www.goldenstatetheatre.com/shows/060107_lilytomlin/060107_lilytomlin.html.



06.14.07 ~ QAC Annual Rainbow Ceremony 3pm, The Attic. Join us in a Santa Cruz County-wide celebration of queer graduates. Entertainment, food, rainbow tassels and certificates! Info/ registration: Ray Tsay, 831.459.1468 or qconnect.ucsc@gmail.com.

 

 QReview!
 One Dead Diva

Author: Phillip Scott

Section: Mystery

Genre: Mystery, Gay, Lesbian

Rating: 6.0

Plot Rundown: Aspiring young opera diva Jennifer Burke leapt off a cliff and plunged to her death at the summit of Dame Norma Clutterbuck's annual house party. But did she leap, or was she pushed?! It's up to a fifty-year-old accident-prone opera aficionado (Marc) and a twenty-two-year-old party-loving ditz (Paul) to find out. Along the way, they accuse everyone they meet, lose all the evidence they find, and run afoul of Paul's dizzying string of ex-boyfriends with monotonous frequency. Ah well. All in a day's work for a true devotee of the opera.

Review: The only things saving this book from complete collapse are the excellent characters and the witty dialogue that flies between them. The plot is ridiculous, the deus ex machina outrageous, and the ending so much of a disappointment that it destroys what was good in the pages before it. The story could have used pruning-there is a random drag show float thrown into the plotline for no understandable reason-and some of the characters should have been taken out in the interest of focusing on the ones that were truly worth exploring. Although this book is not a waste of time to read-owing to the two main characters, whose back-and-forth dialogue and hysterical little quirks make you feel that they deserve better than the story they're stuck in-it is dangerously close to it.

~Ian Sentelik 

 QPost
 Get connected.

Santa Cruz LGBT Pride is looking for volunteers for stage and backstage crews. Info: Natalie, stage@santacruzpride.org.

Jobs for Political Change Grassroots Campaigns, a progressive political consulting firm, is hiring graduating seniors to join their campaign team. Work on the most pressing issues of today. Info: Mari Schimmer, mschimmer@grassrootscampaigns.com or www.grassrootscampaigns.com.

Queer Males Needed!!! UCSC art student in search of queer-identified males for interview and inexplicit photography series relating to male body image and surrounding issues. All ages and body types needed. Info: ronmreyes@gmail.com.

The Survivors Healing Center A therapy group for GLBTI survivors of child sexual abuse starting mid-April. Cost per session is flexible. Info: Maria, 831.423.7601, maria@survivorshealingcenter.org or http://survivorshealingcenter.org.

 

 QStudents!
 Be active.

Queer Coffee House Every Tues, 6-9pm. Relax with friends over coffee and dessert. You can study, check email, play board games or just hang out. Bring a friend or meet a new one. Info: thenetwork.ucsc@gmail.com.

The Network Every Wed, 9-10:30pm. The Network is The Voice of UCSC's queer student populace. Join us in organizing events; help us in our continual effort to restructure queer groups on campus. Get involved. Be a part of change. Info: thenetwork.ucsc@gmail.com.

Queer Geeks 2nd & 4th Thurs, 8-9:30pm. Interested in things considered "geeky"? Queer Geeks is a welcoming place for those who feel that their interests vary from "popular" culture. Info: Ron Reyes, ronmreyes@gmail.com.