Between my Jr and Sr years of HS, I joined 129 other theatre kids at Northwestern for the National High School Institute. It was a formative summer in a lot of ways but nothing was so important to me as the faculty show.
Those in charge of us “cherubs” gave a series of acts: everything from the “Venice” scene from Betrayal, Beckett’s, “Not I”, a pasdedeux between a dancer and a chair, and one teacher—my favorite—who taught us combat/scansion/poetry/Shakespeare and someone I ADORED, who came out in a tight black muscle tee with a pink triangle, sat and delivered a monologue.
He was
@sattafleming and it was the adolescent section of The Night Larry Kramer Kissed me by
@daviddrakeproductions . What followed made both these men heroes of mine.
It was delightful, hilarious and aspirational when it came to my ambition and my desire for love. Since, however, that moment has sat with me as I wrestled with sexuality, masculinity, body image, loneliness, and rejection. There was comfort and community for me in the memory. There was hope init.
It hadn’t occurred to me (due to my privilege it hasn’t HAD to occur to me) how BRAVE Steve was in that moment.
Now a teacher would have to think HARD about performing that piece for teens:just the facts/feelings around growing up gay.
It’s heartbreaking that a teacher couldn’t share it or a student might never hear it due to fear of being smeared with hateful tropes we’re always tasked with disproving, but what sends me into despair is that the MAJORITY of people in current society DON’T support this bigotry andSTILL AREN’T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
Silence in the face of a loud and bigoted minority allows them to triumph sacrificing those most in need of our support, protection and advocacy.
If you’re looking to celebrate PRIDE, do it the way it started. Fight against the tropes and book bans. Support #trans folks who are literally fighting for their LIVES against state violence. Join
@showingupforracialjustice and learn why eradicating white supremacy liberates EVERYONE ESPECIALLY QUEER PEOPLE. Feeling extra proud? Ally yourself with abolitionists; those at
@thestonewallinn sure did. #happypridemonth #porchlightcardoordad
