After a Successful Debut, Queer Lounge Poised for a Triumphant Return to Park City

Last years Park City sleeper hit, the Queer Lounge, will make its triumphant return to the city this January during the Sundance and Slamdance film festivals, January 21st -- 29th in downtown Park City just off Main Street at the Gateway Center. As the hub for festival-goers, Queer Lounge has a reputation for being a uniquely accessible environment for everyone -- gay or straight.

West Hollywood, CA (PRWEB) January 4, 2005 -- Last years Park City sleeper hit, the Queer Lounge, will make its triumphant return to the city this January during the Sundance and Slamdance film festivals, January 21st -- 29th in downtown Park City just off Main Street at the Gateway Center.

Queer Lounge became a phenomenon in its freshmen year as a hospitality suite and destination venue that held impressive parties, press conferences and discussion panels. As the hub for festival-goers, Queer Lounge has a reputation for being an accessible environment for everyone -- gay or straight.

I've run into so many people who said they were at the Queer Lounge last year and had a great time," explains Queer Lounge founder Ellen Huang. Surveys taken after last years event show that one in three people visiting the Queer Lounge last year were straight. "While most venues in Park City have exclusive VIP lists, the Queer Lounge was created to be all-inclusive. Anyone who's friendly is welcome."

With strong support from the Park City community and corporate donors, the Queer Lounge has expanded their festivities for 2005 to include music with a live performance from Sony Records recording artist Cake at Club Suede. There will also be parties for the Sundance official selection film The Education of Shelby Knox", TLA Releasing and others, as well as film discussion panels featuring directors and cast members from films in the concurrent film festival.

This year's sponsors of the Queer Lounge include Presenting Media Sponsors: here!, Planet Out, the Advocate; and other major sponsors: Q Television Network, Absolut Vodka, TLA Releasing, All Seasons Resorts, Tylenol PM, Turning Leaf Wines, Coors, B.W. Bastian Foundation and Stella Artois.

Even though the Queer Lounge is not affiliated with Sundance or Slamdance, the festivals have been welcoming to the hub. Slamdance is thrilled that Queer Lounge is back for a second year," says Slamdance Director Kathleen McInnis. We love sharing Main Street with such a dynamic organization. The Queer Lounge transcends definition and offers a home for everybody and were excited to share our home."

A bit of history: The Queer Lounge is the first space created for film festival visitors (gay and straight) to learn more about the gay and lesbian filmmakers and films with gay content that are screening as part of the January dance" film festival frenzy. Last year, over 4,000 people visited the hub to relax, attend panel discussions or celebrate at one of the five hit parties held at the venue, including a party for Sundance official selection, "Harry and Max," the TLA Releasing party and a revival of the legendary Homos Away From Home" party with John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) spinning.

The obvious fear of many in the 'straight crowd, myself included," explains film journalist Chris Perry, is that the Queer Lounge is somewhere they wouldnt be welcome, or fit in. I had the same thoughts, but I have to say that it was my experience that this was perhaps the most accepting, comfortable, clique-free place in Park City."

Last year, the Queer Lounge made local and national headlines during the film festivals when a Salt Lake City theater cancelled a theatrical engagement of the film Latter Days", a movie about a gay Mormon missionary. TLA Releasing held an emergency press conference at the Queer Lounge where representatives from GLAAD, Equality Utah and Outfest vocalized their support of the film, which eventually found a theater for the film to exhibit.

About the Queer Lounge:
Queer Lounge (http://www.queerlounge.org) promotes the visibility of people, films and issues through events, education and information. The result of these activities is to foster professional achievement, industry recognition and public understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) people and their creative works.

Queer Lounge will be located in downtown Park City at the Gateway Center, 136 Heber Avenue, Ste. 101 and 102, (corner of Swede Alley and Heber Avenue) next door to the Sundance Film Festival Box Office and Festival Store and across from Renees Bar and Grill.

The Queer Lounge is not affiliated with the Sundance, Slamdance or any other Park City film festivals.

Queer Lounge 2005 Sponsors:
Other sponsors include: Wolfe Releasing, Elizabeth H. Solomon, Cahoots, Picture This! Entertainment, GayWebMonkey.com, Outfest, Frameline, Cybersocket, Passport Magazine, Xodus Magazine, BMI, ASCAP, Girlfriends Magazine, HX, Pink Magazine, Power UP, Newfest, Ron Bukovitch and Scott Jaffa, Coffee Garden, the GLBT Community Center of Utah, and Out in Television and Film.

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