Queer Theater Magic 2008

author : Finn Cottom topic : Stonewall Youth | LGBTIQQ

by Finn Cottom

Stonewall Youth is a queer organization in Olympia that serves Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, Queer and Questioning youth that are under 21. Stonewall Youth is named after the famous Stonewall Riots in New York City in 1969 in which mainly Black and Latino drag queens resisted a police raid at the Stonewall Inn. The Stonewall Rebellion is seen as a turning point in history marking the visibility and power of queers combating homophobia.

Stonewall has been performing a drag show for nearly 10 years and it has become an Olympia cult classic. Hundreds of people have gathered to watch this queer talent show. Starting last year it was transformed into a theater showcase filled with different acts centered on a major theme and plot. Under the directorship of multi-talented Nomy Lamm, the youth contributed to the script and brought their amazing dancing, singing, acting, and spoken word to the stage. The audience was filled with laughter and tears as we watched this wonderful moment in time as the seats were filled in a kaleidoscope of genders while we all created a space of transformation. Homo4 news and Box news showed us their differing ideas about homosexuality. And of course a surprising love story was woven in along with organizations such as Oasis from Tacoma and Seattle Young People?s Project showing off their stellar performance skills.

When I was asked to think about co-directing the drag show, I knew I couldn?t pass up an opportunity to be part of a homegrown community event that is always glorious. I grew up in a small town in Ohio where, as a queer youth, I was given no help or assistance in surviving the extreme homophobia that I experienced. Seeing the drag show made visible the kind of environment I?d always wanted. It is an honor to be part of youth having resources while homophobia, ageism and the other oppressions they deal with are alive and well.

As we work on developing a dance routine the youth are laughing and throwing out dance move suggestions. Katrina, our dance coach and Stonewall Staff, helps us all stay on track while we shimmy like fish and flap like birds. Although some of us think these moves are overly campy Mykey, my co-director exclaims, ?We?re all about camp! This is campy! And that?s great!?

It was just another of those moments when we all are trying to not take this project too seriously. It can be hard considering we?ve been working for three months on developing a performance that touches on a myriad of tough issues. We hear about the situations youth return to each night. Along with making it to rehearsals and shining their creative light in developing the script, acting out scenes, working on dance numbers, and developing their own individual acts, the youth are also coping with their own lives. Some youth are homeless, are not out to their parents, or are struggling with addiction.

I, as a queer adult, am often frustrated that we cannot offer a complete sanctuary from the difficult injustices the youth experience. They can have queer space here, even just for a few nights a week. Behind the scenes of that theater magic we strive for, we are building community, memories and laughter. It is not often that a space in which your young, queer, gorgeous dreams can become reality in front of hundreds of people. Our performance will be about two hours long. For one night only. It?s clearly not just about the end product, because before we know it, we know each other well. We can each find our unique voices and opinions and when the curtain is opened the shame we?re made to carry will be shed. We are told to hide in the backstage forever, amongst the abandoned dusty costumes and chipping black paint. This is not to be our fate when so much glitter, mustaches and singing await us. When dance routines and spoken word are to be composed of our hopes in the wind. When the tenacity of human relationships have so much wisdom to offer us as we make our way through navigating a world that would rather have us silenced.

The performance that we have developed this year is about an isolated queer youth who is hiding hir sexuality and is harassed at school. We follow hir through a high school day with Political Science addressing the upcoming presidential election, Sex Ed courtesy of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a locker room scene, a lunchroom dance off between different cliques and detention. There are a variety of dances, songs, and spoken word. Part of the plot is the appearance of Super Queeroes, who are gay super heroes that magically confront homophobia. The main character ends up finding queer community where ze can feel at home, but not without a struggle, or without glitter. We hope the young queers in the audience see Stonewall as a place they can go and that we can do some consciousness raising around issues affecting the LGBTIQQ community.

The youth have taken initiative in producing this theater piece. These queer youth show guts on stage to bring their own lives and ideas to the spotlight. They claim their own truth and offer a gift to us in getting to witness such deep expression.

We have also been interacting with many members of the queer community and allies that have graciously helped us with different aspects of this huge project. It has certainly made us aware of the network that is available and powerful in what we can do together.

Even if you miss the performance this year, stay aware for next year because queer youth hold the truth of these strange times we?re living in. We as adults need to show up in the ways youth request because honestly, we need each other. Homophobia is life threatening, as the statistics of suicide, drug use, and smoking show us. And don?t forget physical and sexual assault that are so often silenced. If you, like me, grew up in silence, shame, and fighting back when you could, we can now be part of lifting that load the way it should?ve been lifted for us

If you are a youth, come to Stonewall if you can. These days Stonewall offers a book club, a Wednesday night support group, art therapy, and the Speaker?s Bureau, in which youth speak out against homophobia at schools and other public places. Stonewall also has a gay camp retreat every winter and starting last year, a summer camp focused on training for activism. We have fundraisers such as the auction at the Eagle?s Hall in the fall and the Bowl-a-thon coming up in the spring. Everything is free for youth! We are looking for volunteers and board members too. Visit www.stonewallyouth.org for more details. Call (360) 705-2738 or e-mail stonewallyouth@qwest.net. Snail mail goes to P.O. Box 7383 Olympia, WA 98507.

Finn Cottom is a local musician, activist, spoken word artist, and zine writer. Finn works at Bread and Roses Advocacy Center. Finn is an Evergreen student and looks forward to building more Queer People of Color, Jewish, and Romani community and traveling the world. For zines, music, or sharing interests contact originalfinn@gmail.com.

Community guide for LGBTIQQ Youth

Oasis is an awesome drop in center in Tacoma for LGBTIQQ youth ages 14-24. More information is available at www.oasisyouthcenter.org.

The Seattle Young People?s Project is a youth led adult supported organization that empowers youth and is up to all sorts of great projects. More information at www.sypp.org.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are a Seattle-based abbey of queer nuns taking down the system of guilt and shame and promoting safe sex. You got to see it to really appreciate it. See for yourself at www.theabbey.org.

Queer: A contested term in our community, reclaimed by some of us starting in the 1980?s to define ourselves outside of any attempt at a box and defy it as a homophobic insult.

Homophobia: discrimination based on the fact or perceived idea that someone is homosexual.

Classism: discrimination based on a working class or poor person?s economic status.

Ableism: discrimination against people with disabilities.

Transphobia: discrimination against people who are transgender, transsexual, Intersex, or gender queer.

Visit http://www.gendertalk.com/info/resource/index.shtml for more information regarding people who are affected by transphobia.

This drawing was composed by Finn Cottom and Mykey Arthrell. Photo by Mykey Arthrell.