Hot Sheet: All Those Wonderful People Out There in the Dark

10. EVENT: Judy Shepard, "With Malice Toward None: A Mother's Response to Hate"If you've been wondering about Judy Shepard's take on this upcoming book about the circumstances surrounding her son Matthew's death, it's expected that she will address the matter Monday at Ford's Theatre's in Washington, D.C. Cokie Roberts will interview Shepard in the first of a series of Monday night panels on hate crimes and how to combat them. The panels are part of the theater's multiyear Lincoln Legacy Project and are being held in conjunction with its current production of The Laramie Project, coinciding with the 15th anniversary of Matthew's murder. For info on all the events, see Fords.org. — Michelle Garcia 9. FILM: Out in the Dark Director Michael Mayer’s debut feature film, Out in the Dark, opens today in select theaters across the nation. After premiering at the 2012 Toronto Film Festival, Out in the Dark quickly became a favorite on the festival circuit, receiving seven Audience Awards for Best Picture and a number of additional awards. The film tells the story of Nimr, and ambitious Palestinian student in the West Bank, and Roy, an Israeli lawyer, who meet one night in Tel Aviv and work to overcome the harsh realities of homophobic Palestinian society as a romance between the two men begins to blossom. Watch the official trailer for Out in the Dark below and visit OutInTheDarkTheMovie.com for a full list of theaters screening the film. — Jase Peeples 8. BOOK: Julia Serano, Excluded: Making Feminist and Queer Movements More InclusiveAward-winning transgender, bisexual author, performer, and activist Julia Serano's latest work delves into the unsettlingly exclusionary nature of modern feminist and queer movements. Although both feminists and radical queers claim to value diversity and seek inclusion, the broader feminist and queer movements often leave little space for anyone who doesn't fit a specific narrative. For example, feminism has a long history of excluding lesbians, and the modern queer movement has emerged as a largely white, homogeneous group with a certain aesthetic. Those who don't fit those prescribed narratives are, as Serano notes, excluded. In characteristic thought-provoking and dense text, Serano offers possible solutions to finally reach the egalitarian society each of these equality-minded movements claims to desire. Excluded is available through Seal Press starting Tuesday. — Sunnivie Brydum 7. THEATER: Skylight Salute Honoring Terrence McNallyLos Angeles’s Skylight Theatre Company honors the great gay playwright with a weekend of star-studded events. Tonight there’s a panel discussion, “Does It Take One to Know One?” on writing gay characters and themes, with McNally and other out showbiz figures, scheduled to include Jeffrey Richman, Max Mutchnick, Dan Bucatinsky, Savannah Dooley, and more. Saturday brings a celebrity reading of McNally’s classic comedy It’s Only a Play, set to feature Griffin Dunne, John Fleck, and Lisa Kudrow, among others. Capping it off Sunday is an all-star performance of scenes and songs from McNally works Ragtime, Master Class, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Love! Valour! Compassion! and more; scheduled participants include Jason Alexander, Ed Asner, Tyne Daly, Johnny Galecki, John Benjamin Hickey, Cheyenne Jackson, Sharon Lawrence, Geoffrey Nauffts, Doris Roberts, Steven Weber, and many others. The first two events are at L.A.’s Skylight Theatre, the last at the Saban Theatre. — Trudy Ring 6. FILM: Turtle Hill, BrooklynWill and Mateo are throwing a 30th birthday party for Will at their home in the Turtle Hill section of Brooklyn. When Will's conservative sister stops by unexpectedly, he is forced to come out to her and face the repercussions. From director Ryan Gielen, Turtle Hill, Brooklyn lands on DVD nationwide Tuesday. The film has been an audience favorite at festivals around the country, including NewFest (Audience Award: Best Narrative Feature), ImageOut, the Seattle LGBT Film Festival, Cinema Diverse Palm Springs, Calif., and the Philadelphia QFest, where it was hailed as "a modern-day Boys in the Band" and "intimate and affecting." Watch the trailer for the film below, and for more information visit the official Facebook page. — Jase PeeplesTurtle Hill, Brooklyn (Official HD Trailer) from Ryan Gielen (Believe, LTD) on Vimeo. 5. MUSIC: VenSun, "Love Is Love"French DJ and producer David Vendetta has joined forces with electronic songwriter and vocalist Sylvia Tosun and to form a new artist project called VenSun, whose first endeavor is the LGBT equality anthem "Love Is Love." The house track is bouncy enough for afternoon T, and the video — well, it has notorious homophobes wearing rainbow-colored Hitler 'staches. Definitely worth checking out. The single is out now, is available at SylviaTosun.com, and Vensun's EP will be released in November. — Neal Broverman 4. EVENT: Eden Pacific NorthwestLooking for a fun-filled multiday party with boatloads of other women between now and the Dinah? Then look no further than Seaside, Ore.'s first annual Women's Weekend, October 3-6, which will include a comedy show, a beach bonfire, parties, live music, and a guided hike along the beautiful Oregon coast. EdenPNW.com — Michelle Garcia 3. THEATER: Fun HomeBeloved Dykes to Watch Out For cartoonist Alison Bechdel’s acclaimed graphic memoir — about her family’s funeral business (the “fun home”), her closeted gay father, and her own coming-out as a lesbian — becomes a world premiere musical at New York City’s esteemed Public Theater. Lisa Kron of Five Lesbian Brothers fame provides the adaptation and lyrics to music by Jeanine Tesori (Caroline, or Change), and Sam Gold directs a cast that includes Michael Cerveris and Judy Kuhn. Begins previews Monday and runs through November 3; tickets and info here. — Trudy Ring 2. EVENT: Knights in Shining ArmorRunway shows aren't reserved just for Victoria's Secret models and Kate Moss. Saturday in Los Angeles, 11 designers specializing in butch and masculine women's wear will show off their creations with the help of 30 models and musical performances by Mary Lambert, Jenn-Jenn, and Dra Muzic. Facebook.com/WhatIsButch. — Michelle Garcia1. INTERNET: Art for FreedomAlways dreamed of performing alongside Madonna? Well, you can’t exactly get onstage with her, but you can get your videos, music, and other creative projects on her new Web platform, Art for Freedom, which launched this week with screenings of the short film Secret Project Revolution, starring Madge and directed by Steven Klein. The haunting black-and-white film, a call for freedom of expression, depicts her being jailed for an allegedly indecent performance. She and Klein invite people worldwide to answer the question “What does freedom mean to you?” through videos, music, poetry, and photography submitted for posting on the site. Find out more at ArtForFreedom.com and watch Secret Project Revolution below. — Trudy Ring