I was fortunate enough to get to inteview one of the invited artists, Lisa Marie Thalhammer, at Manifest Equality, a temporary exhibition that represents the artistic community’s response to Proposition 8 and how the struggle for equality fits in to the greater civil rights movement.

Manifest Equality, a five-day benefit to raise funds for The Courage Campaign, was a refreshing progression in the history of issue-based exhibitions.And while it was obvious from the diverse work presented that no cohesive exhibit could be mounted from the cacophony of artists’ voices represented, a few cogent themes emerged.

Outside the community of artists and S&M enthusiasts, few Angelenos are aware that a site of international queer significance lies tucked away on a hilltop in Echo Park. But the Tom of Finland house quietly promotes its mission to preserve and promote Tom’s art and work by other erotic artists.

To say that Proposition 8 has galvanized the queer and artistic community would be an understatement. Yosi Sergant has taken that to heart by organizing Manifest Equality, an exhibition of art that promotes the message of equality, justice, respect, unity, love, and civil rights.

Los Angeles’s museums, perhaps feeling overlooked by younger locals, have made a concerted (pun?) effort to attract the hipster set by staging concert series in the evenings, featuring indie bands, DJs, booze, art, and lectures. Not only do these shows offer a great opportunity to explore Southland museums, but they also expose you to new music in an incomparably unique venue. After all, what can match Kid Sister playing next to a giant African elephant, or a T. Rex? This ain’t the Hollywood Bowl, and the exhibition halls were not designed for acoustics or sightlines. But still, these concert series are one of the most fun and inexpensive things to do in LA.

Toppled, artist Jessica Vaughn’s latest exhibition, will be running at the Stamp Gallery at the University of Maryland from October 14th – December 18th, 2009. This Friday, celebrate the exhibit with an opening reception and artist talk.

Guest writer Jason Hanasik writes that there is something awry in the world of men at artist Luke Butler’s first solo exhibition at Silverman Gallery in San Francisco.

Hot off the heels of the Folsom Street Fair, San Francisco looks to wrap up the summer street fair season with both the LovEvolution Parade and the Castro Street Fair. In between the two events, there’s a wide spectrum of activities to keep you busy for the weekend.

Yes, yes. It’s Folsom Street Fair this weekend, this Sunday, September 27, to be exact. Cue the eye-rolling… But regardless of whether you go to the fair or not (and I suspect some of you do want to check it out even if you don’t want to admit it), there’s plenty going on around the fair to keep you busy. Check out the San Francisco Leather Week calendar for a complete listing of Folsom-sponsored events. For everything else, you can read it here. On The New Gay blog, whoo-hoo!

He Opened Up Somewhere Along The Eastern Shore is on view from September 10 to October 10 at +Kris Graves Projects in Brooklyn, NY.