Gaypril events include picnic, Ithaca premiere of MotherSON

The Cornell lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community has coordinated a broad range of cultural and educational programs throughout "Gaypril," Cornell's way of celebrating LGBT heritage, instilling pride and strengthening solidarity during the academic year. (Gay pride is celebrated nationally in June.)

There is a series of films throughout the month on the LGBT experience sponsored by Cornell Cinema and the LGBT Resource Center (see events section below or the weekly Chronicle calendar under Films).

An Ithaca premiere event during Gaypril will be the performance of MotherSON on Tuesday, April 27, at 8 p.m. in the auditorium of Anabel Taylor Hall. MotherSON is a funny and poignant one-person show by Emmy Award-nominated writer/performer Jeffrey Solomon exploring the relationship between a Jewish mother and her gay son. MotherSON addresses issues such as diversity, sexual orientation, parent-child communication and coming out in an easily accessible and entertaining format. This event is free and open to the public.

Gaypril will round off with the First Annual Gaypril Community Picnic on May 1 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Beebe Beach on campus. In response to the demand for community-building activities on campus, the LGBT Resource Center is beginning a tradition of celebrating Cornell's diverse and powerful LGBT community. Food, frisbees and fun will be the heart of these festivities.

Other Gaypril programs include:

• Today, April 8: Out in the World, the graduate and international LGBT student organization, presents its Gaypril coffeehouse, 8 p.m., Big Red Barn.
• Friday, April 9: The Women's Concert Series presents Suzanne Westenhoefer, lesbian comedienne, at 7:30 p.m. at the Common Ground.
• Sunday, April 11: Gaypril Potluck Brunch for Staff and Faculty, 11 a.m.
• Tuesday, April 13: Gaypril Film Series presents "Boys Night Out," a series of short films on the experiences of gay and bisexual men, 7:30 p.m., Film Forum, CTA.
• Wednesday, April 14: "Live Homosexual Acts on Campus," noon on Ho Plaza.
• Saturday, April 17: Community Gathering for LGBT People of Color, time TBA.
• Tuesday, April 20: Faculty Fireside with Linda Nicholson, professor of biochemistry, molecular and cell biology. Nicholson won two medals in the 1998 Gay Games in Amsterdam, 7 p.m., Willard Straight Hall.
• Tuesday, April 20: Gaypril Film Series presents "Girls Night Out," a series of short films on the experiences of lesbian and bisexual women, 7:30 p.m., Film Forum, CTA.
• Thursday, April 22: Gaypril Film Series presents The Brandon Teena Story, 7 p.m., Willard Straight Hall.
• Wednesday, April 21: Gaypril Rally and Speak Out against Violence on Campus, noon, Ho Plaza.
• Friday, April 30: Student-Professional Mixer for Scientists and Engineers, 7:30 p.m., International Room, Willard Straight Hall.
• Friday, April 30: Gaypril Film Series presents Steam, a Turkish Bath.
• Saturday, May 1: Celebrating Queer Lives: An Interfaith Celebration, time TBA, Beebe Beach.

Also, through April 30, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center will present an exhibit in the main display case of Day Hall featuring the activities and services of the resource center and materials on notable LGBT Cornell alumni.

Several Cornell departments and organizations are sponsoring the above programs. For more information on any of them, contact the LGBT Resource Center at 254-4987 or send e-mail to lgbtrc@cornell.edu.