Community Calendar

Voices of Love, Loss and Unity

The Astoria Symphony and the Empire City Men's Chorus

8:00 PM Saturday, May 17, 2008
Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew, 263 West 86th Street at West End Avenue, in Manhattan

Tickets $25 advanced, $30 at the door
For tickets and information call (212) 362-3179.

3:00 PM Sunday, May 18, 2008
LaGuardia College Performing Arts Center, 31-10 Thomson Avenue, in Long Island City, Queens

Tickets $18 at the door, $12 students and seniors. Adults save $5 on advance tickets online at www.astoriamusic.org.

For tickets and information call (718) 204-9034

May 17 and 18, the Astoria Symphony and the Empire City Men's Chorus present "Voices of Love, Loss and Unity." Included on the program will be "Last Letter Home," by Lee Hoiby. "Last Letter Home" is the setting to music of a letter by US Army tank crewman, Jesse Givens, who had been in Iraq for just a month when, on May 1, 2003, his tank crashed and fell into a canal off the Euphrates River. The rest of the crew escaped through a hatch, but Givens perished trapped inside the tank. In the letter, written days before he deployed to Iraq, Givens asks his wife to read it only if he does not come home. "Please put it away and, hopefully, you will never have to read it." Mrs. Givens shared the letter with NPR's Jeff Brady a year later in an interview which can be heard at www.npr.org.

Also on the program are "Queer Hosannas," for male chorus and piano-four hands by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer DAVID DEL TREDICI (world premiere); "David and Jonathan," by STEFAN WEISMAN, based on Old Testament scripture it tells the story of the love between David and Jonathan; "Last Words of David," one of the classic choral works of the twentieth century, by RANDALL THOMPSON; "A Survivor from Warsaw" and "Five Pieces for Orchestra" by ARNOLD SCHOENBERG; BRAHMS' Alto Rhapsody; "Laut Verkunde Unser Freude" ("Masonic cantata") of MOZART.

Each concert is in a separate location. Tickets are sold separately for each location. Map and directions to the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew can be found at www.spsanyc.org/location. Map and directions to the LaGuardia College Performing Arts Center can be found at www.lagcc.cuny.edu/visit.

Tea Dance for Singles and Couples

3:00 - 7:00 PM Sunday, May 18, 2008

Sheraton Hotel
Eatontown, NJ

$40 per person (reservations only)

This is Feminine Connection's last dance until the Fall. Hot buffet, dessert, coffee, tea, soda. DJ JeanMarie. For reservations call 201-337-6943 or send email to feminineconnection@aol.com. Mail checks to Feminine Connection, PO Box 855, Oakland, NJ 07436.

Black and Latino Gay Pride

Saturday, June 21, 2008

River Front

Albany, NY

Mark your calendars. We'll add more details when we get them. For more information, go to inourownvoices.org.

Looking For

Women's Softball Players Needed

New Paltz Women's Softball Association is looking for players and/or teams for upcoming games. Season is underway yet new players are always welcome.

Contact: Kim Gessner at www.newpaltzwomenssoftballassociation.com

On-Going Events

Old Lesbians Organizing for Change (OLOC)

1st Friday of the Month
6:30 - 9:00 PM
LGBTQ Center - First Floor

OLOC--Old Lesbians Organizing for Change--through social, emotional, spiritual, & political activities, recognizes, empowers, and facilitates safe, supportive connections between Lesbians of every sort 60 years and older. Connecting coast-to-coast through an organization celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2008, OLOC organizes local chapters, each determine their own agenda, plan their own actions & activities, congruent with OLOC's mission and procedures, using consciousness-raising & consensus.

We invite you to be a part of the brand new Hudson Valley chapter of OLOC which meets on the First Friday of each month starting with a Potluck at 6:30 PM at the LGBTQ Community Center in Kingston, NY. Come join us and bring a dish to share.

Info: Local: 845 679-7586 & 845 626-7925, or email: Alix@Oloc.org
National: www.oloc.org

12-step Meetings in the Center

AA

Every Wednesday
6:00 - 7:00 PM

Beginning May 30th, this meeting moves to
Every Friday
7:00 - 8:00 PM

We are pleased to announce the first AA meeting at the Center, “Serenity at the Center.” Beginning May 30th, this meeting will be every Friday evening from 7:00 - 8:00 PM. Serenity at the Center offers a Big Book discussion every other week and a speaker and discussion on the other weeks. Any alcoholic is welcome. 2nd Floor Conference Room.

12-step Meetings in the Center

Al-Anon

Every Wednesday
6:00 - 7:00 PM

We are pleased to announce the first Al-Anon meeting at the Center, "The Rainbow Promise Group." Meeting every Wednesday evening from 6:00 - 7:00 PM, "The Rainbow Promise Group" is an Al-Anon meeting that offers a discussion based on readings from Al-Anon literature. All friends and family members of alcoholics are welcome. 2nd Floor Library Conference Room.

PFLAG

4th Tuesday of the Month

6:30 - 8:30 PM
LGBTQ Center

PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through support, education, and advocacy. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity. PFLAG welcomes the participation and support of all who share in, and hope to realize this vision.

Meetings held at the Center. 300 Wall Street. Kingston. More info: Fran Divine at 845-853-5798 or frandivine@gmail.com.

My Pride, My Soul.

Weekly group for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer
Teens and their Friends! Ages 14-18. Middletown, NY.

For more info: www.orangepride.org/youthgroup.html.

Rainbow Connection

Fridays

2:00pm - 4:00pm

A weekly discussion and support group for gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender people striving for optimal mental health. Continuous enrollment. Mental Health Association in Ulster County. 300 Aaron Court. Kingston. For more info: 845 339-9090, ext. 115

Gay Night at Aroma Thyme Bistro

1st Wednesday of the month

7:00 PM

Planned Parenthood Mid-Hudson Valley. Weekly social groups for LGBTQ teens and allies, ages 14-18.Poughkeepsie, New Paltz, Newburgh. For more info: call 845-256-5441.

LGBT social activity group that meets monthly to engage in activities such as hiking, biking, dining, dancing.... Membership is $25.00 a year. For more info: visit www.hvoutandabout.com.

OrangePride LGBT Parents Support Group

Last Sunday of the month