A&E in brief: Tegan & Sara, Anderson Cooper, gay soccer fans and more

Tickets are $40 for Friday, $65 for Saturday, or $90 for both days if purchased before Aug. 1. Other performers include Jane’s Addiction, Cake, Drivin N Cryin, Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Black Lips and more. For the complete lineup, visit www.musicmidtown.com.

Atlanta Silverbacks host June 22 LGBT fan night

The Atlanta Silverbacks, Atlanta’s professional team in the North American Soccer League, has announced its first-ever LGBT fan night as well as a new campaign to support Athlete Ally, an organization founded in 2011 to combat homophobia and transphobia in sport.

“As a global sport, soccer knows no boundaries,” Silverbacks General Manager Andy Smith said via a media release. “No matter your race, sex, religion, or sexuality, soccer is and always should be open to everyone.”

The Silverbacks’ “LGBT Pride Night” is scheduled for June 22 when the Tampa Bay Rowdies come to town.

“Soccer is a sport for everyone, and Athlete Ally does a great job of proving that,” former U.S. Men’s National Team player and Atlanta Silverbacks Technical Director Eric Wynalda added. “I’m all for supporting this cause, and I’m glad our organization is taking a stand.”

The Atlanta Braves also sponsored a LGBT fan night this month, on June 18, that benefitted the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation.

For more information on the Silverbacks or to purchase tickets, visit www.atlantasilverbacksfc.com. For information on Athlete Ally, visit www.athleteally.org.

Gay writer named runner-up for Ga. Author of the Year

Out of 20 nominees, gay Atlanta author Collin Kelley’s “Remain in Light” was named finalist (second place) for fiction in the 49th Georgia Author of the Year Awards — dubbed “GAYA,” appropriately enough. The awards were announced June 15.

“Remain in Light” is the second book in Kelley’s Venus trilogy, which began with “Conquering Venus.” Featuring gay characters, the series blends mystery, suspense and romance and was praised as a “wickedly fun read” by Lambda Literary Review.

Joining Hearts drinks up to get ready for July pool party

Joining Hearts, the nonprofit famous in Atlanta for its namesake pool party at Piedmont Park, hosts a Beer Bust on June 29 to help fans gear up for the main event. DJ Pat Scott spins for the $10, all-you-can drink event, set for 1-5 p.m. at Joe’s on Juniper.

Joining Hearts is dedicated to raising funds to help provide housing for people with HIV, tallying almost $1.6 million in donations to AID Atlanta and Jerusalem House over 25 years.

The organization’s biggest annual event, the Joining Hearts pool party, is set for July 20 from 4-11 p.m., featuring DJ Joe Gauthreaux and an opening set by DJ Luis Perez. Tickets ($95 for general admission; $175 VIP) are on sale now at www.joininghearts.org.

Out CNN anchor Anderson Cooper gets comic book bio

Like your superheroes gay, smart and silver-haired? Then check out “Political Power: Anderson Cooper,” an illustrated biography of the gay CNN anchor released June 19 by Bluewater Productions.

“Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, the silver fox chose to follow his passion journalism with a vengeance,” authors said in a press release.

The quirky comic biography series has also featured RuPaul, Jon Stewart, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Laura Ingraham, Glenn Beck and other contemporary figures.

The Cooper bio retails for $3.99; it is available in print at Comic Flea Market and online on Wowio, ITunes, Kindle, Nook, Kobo and more. For more information, check out www.bluewaterprod.com.

Show your ‘True Colors’ with celebrity Pride shirts

Just in time for National LGBT Pride Month, singer and ally Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund has announced a line of t-shirts designed by gay and gay-friendly celebrities.

The limited edition effort includes shirts from Alan Cumming, Chelsea Handler Jane Lynch and Lauper.

Slogans range from sweet (Lynch’s “We Are Family” shirt with a lesbian stick figure moms and daughter) to sexy (Handler’s “Love, Equality and Penetration for All.”

All proceeds from the $21.99 shirts benefit the “We Give a Damn” campaign thanks to support from Van Gogh Vodka. Check them out at http://bit.ly/KdUDmr

Who is performing at Prides around the nation?

Atlanta Pride isn’t until October, and the fest hasn’t yet announced its 2013 entertainers. Curious about who headlined some of the nation’s biggest Pride festivals, most of which are held in June?

Deborah Cox, who headlined Atlanta Pride in 2011, was scheduled to play June LGBT fests in New York City and Chicago.

Here is a glimpse of some of the performers who were scheduled to appear at Pride festivals this month:

New York City: Cher and Deborah Cox (Pier Dance)
San Francisco: Peaches & Herb, Kimberly Caldwell, Love Charisse, Xavier Toscano
Los Angeles: Uh Huh Her, Luciana, Ciara, Kerli, The Pointer Sisters
Seattle: Kristine W, God-Dess & She, Mary Lambert
Boston: Karmin, Kwanza Jones, Rachael Sage
Chicago: Aubrey O’Day, Deborah Cox, Ultra Nate, Inaya Day
Washington, DC: Emeli Sande, Icona Pop, Cher Lloyd

 

Top photo: Tegan & Sara (Publicity photo by Lindsey Byrnes)