Actor and singer CLAYBOURNE ELDER has come along way since he swapped the landlocked state of UTAH in the mountainous West to try his luck on Broadway. The Mormons loss was very much our gain. In the 20 years since then he has starred on Broadway several times .
And then we asked him to retell a particular anecdote of how the sheer generosity of a perfect stranger completely changed his life on so many levels. You’ll need to watch the video to hear the details of this wonderful heart touching story
Stephen Soucy’s new documentary MERCHANT IVORY is one of those rare films that actually surpasses all the hype and the anticipation that preceded it. This affectionate profile on the legendary queer film pioneers makes for such joyous viewing. Especially if you are of a certain age (!) and grew up on the splendor of such films as Room With a View. Even more so if you are a gay history buff, as you will want to pay respect to this fearless couple and their impact on gay cinema.
Filmmaker KIMBERLY REED talks about ‘I’M YOUR VENUS’ the story of the life and legacy of VENUS XTRAVAGENZA who was murdered during the making of the now classic drag ballroom film PARIS IS BURNING in 1990.
Reed links up with Venus’s three familial brothers from New Jersey. plus members of the Xtravagenza family to find answers about the unsolved murder and some official recognition of both her live and legacy. This is a story about family on so many levels, and respect, and gratitude for the role that Venus played in her life time that was such an inherent part of the drag ball community.
‘I’m Your Venus’ had its World Premiere at Tribeca on 6/6/24. . You can read QUEERGURU’s Full Review HERE
Jamie Diaz is a 65-year-old trans woman and artist who has spent nearly 30 years in a men’s prison in Texas. Using the limited paint supplies available to her and brushes she fashions from her own hair, Jamie creates bold and graphic paintings awash in color and symbolism.
In 2013, Gabriel Joffe came across an elaborately illustrated letter from Jamie while volunteering at an organization that supports LGBTQ+ people who are incarcerated. Gabriel, who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, was moved to personally respond. What unfolded over the next decade would profoundly change both of their lives.
Karla Murphy’s documentary takes us into the heart of this remarkable touching story that strikes a chord about how this tender relationship blossomed despite the physical restraints. And how two perfect strangers became the closest of friends enriching both their lives : no spoilers but even with a happy end in sight you will still be reaching for a tissue or two
Back in 2015 we started Queerguru aiming high as one of the very first exclusive interviews we filmed was with Hollywood star and matinee idol Tab Hunter. He was so totally charming and generous , and he exceeded every expectation we had of him. One of the surprises of his career that we discussed was how he stepped away from playing squeaky clean jocks in 1981 to co star in POLYESTER a John Waters movie alongside the great Divine. A Waters movie could be described in many ways but certainly not squeaky or clean.
Also in that movie was a John Waters regular and favorite ….Mink Stole …. who in fact has starred in all of Waters feature films. So we jumped at the chance of an interview with Mink when we found out she was heading to PTown … our home town … and also summer home of John Waters too. She is coming as the Special Guest at a Fundraising Banquet for Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival a major cultural institution especially as Williams had both resided here for some years but also wrote some of his best work here too.
It was an opportunity to good to waste, and though we didn’t throw ‘shade’ I did learn a great deal including the fact that although she and John both live in Baltimore the actually met here some 60 years ago in front of Provincetown Town Hall. She miss remembered that the benches there are locally known as the ‘meet’ rack NOT by their real title, the ‘meat rack!
So we got to talk about Mr Waters of course, her own experiences acting in two Tennesse Plays, her rather fabulous music album, and gaining queer icon status for playing Aunt Helen in the whole Eating OUT queer film franchise AND how John wants to make one more film.
The Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival announces its Annual Performance Gala
on June 1 at the Gifford House in Provincetown.
Author queerguruPosted on Categories queerguru.tv
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