Briefs

by James F. Mills

Fire In The Sky

Pride 2009 may be behind us, but there’s still time to boogie down and celebrate Independence Day with a special IndepenDANCE. “This is a great party, dancing and good times. We’ve been doing it for 11 years,” explains promoter Will Gorges. “This year, it’s just a one-day event, but it will be an event. DJ Dawna Montel will spin all the current dance hits. And you’ll even be able to see the Laguna Beach fireworks from the roof.” IndepenDANCE is Saturday, July 4 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at 7 Degrees, a high-tech indoor/outdoor event space on Laguna Canyon Road near the Sawdust Art Festival.

Return To Oz

Local personality Barbara Venezia will portray Dorothy in the Wicked to Oz concert put on by Men Alive, Orange County’s gay men’s chorus. “The whole concept is that Dorothy has come back to visit Oz,” explains Venezia. “There’s a celebration of Dorothy Gale Day in honor of her return. I come on stage with the Wizard and they sit me down and start singing all these songs. It’s a spectacular show!” Men Alive Artistic Director Rich Cook says of Venezia’s casting, “Barbara is a ‘Dorothy’—bright, energetic, and can bring some fun and camp into the part. When she read for the part, there was little coaching needed. She’s just a natural.” The Wicked to Oz concert performs Friday, July 17 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, July 18 at 3 and 8 p.m. at the Irvine Barclay Theatre on the UC Irvine campus.

Buh-Bye Darling

The Friends of Dorothy Guild of AIDS Services Foundation Orange County raised $46,000 during its second annual fashion show, Macy’s Impulse for Spring Fashion, held on June 11 at Macy’s South Coast Plaza. “The fashion show this year was bigger and better than last year. Over 300 people came out. Men Alive performed; their voices made the show. The fashion show was just incredible. It was just an amazing evening of fashion and fellowship,” Guild founder Barbara Venezia commented. The Friends of Dorothy Guild was founded in 2007 and to date has contributed almost $250,000 to ASF.

O.C. Trans Support

The Center O.C., which just moved to its new home in Santa Ana, hosts free monthly support groups for transgender individuals. A male-to-female group, “Being Me,” meets on the first and third Fridays of the month starting at 7:30 p.m. A female-to-male group meets on the fourth Sunday of each month starting at 5 p.m. “Anyone is welcome to come, both trans people and their supporters,” says Cheryl Miller who facilitates the MTF group. Pat Magee, facilitator of the FTM group, adds, “These are not therapy groups, but rather support and social groups where we connect with other transgenders in the area.”

the details

AIDS Services Foundation Orange County
ocasf.org

IndepenDANCE
July 4, 7 p.m.-1 a.m.
willgorges.com/independance

Men Alive’s Wicked to Oz
July 17, 8 p.m. & July 18, 3 and 8 p.m.
menalivechorus.org

The Center Orange County Monthly Trans Support Groups
MTF group—first and third Fridays FTM group—fourth Sunday
octcca.org