September

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Out in Akron to begin with two kinds of 'queer shorts'

by Tom Beck

Akron--The Out in Akron weekend celebration will begin at Akron's Highland Theater, 826 West Market Street in Highland Square, on Friday, October 8 with Queer Shorts, starting at 8 pm.

Queer Shorts is a one night film fest of GLBT-themed short films. Admission is free. To add to the theme of the Queer Shorts Film Festival, another kind of queer shorts will be on sale in the lobby of the Highland Theater during the evening of the festival.

"These queer shorts

are boxer shorts in a variety of sizes," said Sandra Kurt, co-chair of Out in Akron. "They'll sell for $10 each and will be black with a pink 'Out in Akron' logo and lettering."

All but one of the Out

member. "Our goal is to include as much diversity as possible," she added.

A committee of Out in Akron volunteers screened the films, selected their favorites based on quality, theme and diversity criteria and then reported their recommendations and rankings to the Out in Akron steering committee. Members of the steering committee will select the final list of films to be presented during the Queer Shorts Film Festival.

"We're going to ask the audience to vote by applause for their favorite Queer Short at the end of the festival," said Matt Frericks, Out in Akron treasurer.

Outin Akron

in Akron events are free. Out in Akron is a non-profit organization, and the proceeds of the queer shorts sale during the Queer Shorts Festival and during the rest of the weekend will benefit the Out in Akron event.

"We're going to have some fun with this," said Chris Hixson, co-chair of Out in Akron. "We sent out a call for entries from GLBT film producers, and 87 have been received from the U.S., Canada and even as far away as New Zealand."

Entries include some experimental films and some with more traditional themes, including comedies and dramas from three minutes to 30 minutes in length.

"All of the film themes address gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender issues," said Susie Davis, an Out in Akron committee

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"The winner of the Out in Akron Queer Shorts Film Festival will receive a framed pair of Out in Akron queer shorts, proclaiming the winning film as the outstanding selection of the evening," he added.

"Selecting a winner may not be as easy as it sounds," said Chris Hixson. "Several of these films have already won awards as outstanding GLBT short features."

Other Out in Akron events

The Queer Shorts Film Eestival is only one of several events that will take place at the Highland Theater as a part of the Out in Akron weekend.

Stonewall Akron plans to host a rally at noon outside the Highland Theater on Saturday, October 9.

Saturday afternoon at 2 pm will feature a free movie matinee at the Highland Theater including Torch Song Trilogy starring Harvey

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The Out in

Fierstein, Anne Bancroft and Matthew Broderick.

Headlining the 1999 Out in Akron fesival will be a live stage performance by Harvey Fierstein on Saturday, October 9 at 8 pm. Fierstein will present a comedy and musical revue titled "An Evening With Harvey Fierstein: This is Not Going to Be Pretty!" Tickets are $20 each.

Sunday afternoon includes the Out in Akron Forum featuring "A Conversation With Chastity Bono" at the Highland Theater at 1 pm.

Bono will speak on issues surrounding the coming out process and what to do as the next step. The Out in Akron Forum events are free and open to the public.

Bono's presentation will be followed by "It's Okay. Mom Knows: Taking the Next

Community Groups

The "Community Groups" columns on these pages are published by the Gay People's Chronicle free of charge, as a public service. They are written by members or officers of each non-profit organization, reflecting the views of their group.

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OUT IN AKRON

Step in Coming Out," a panel discussion with Bono and members of the community. Marshall McPeek from WKYC-TV 3 will be the moderator.

Following the forum, Bono will sign copies of her book Family Outing in the theater lobby. Angie's Books will sponsor the signing and copies of the book will be available for purchase.

Sunday at 7:30 pm will see the return of Cabaret Q. This free event features local talent performing live on the stage of the Highland Theater.

Tickets for the Harvey Fierstein show are now available. All service charges are included in the $20 price for tickets, which can be purchased at the Highland Theater or through gay-owned Box Office Tickets at 800-494-8497. The TDD number at Box Office Tickets, also toll free, is 877-833-8497.

The Highland Theater, at 826 West Market Street in Akron's Highland Square, has served as the Out in Akron Cultural Festival location for the past two years. The Highland Theater is handicapped accessible. All Out in Akron Cultural Festival events, with the exception of the films, will include American Sign Language interpretation.

"The Out in Akron Queer Cultural Festival is a GLBT event, but our goal is to provide an educational experience for everybody, including GLBT people and members of the population in general," said Chris Hixson. "Our mission statement encourages participation by everybody."

More information about Out in Akron is available on line at www.rainbowakron.com/oia.

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