Winona State University will be hosting a Gay-Lesbian-Bisexual-Transgender-Ally film series from March 21 – 31. All events are free and open to the public. The following descriptions of the films come from the press release.
March 21st: Itty Bitty Titty Committee
When: 7:00 PM (87 minutes)
Where: Somsen Auditorium
This latest fabulous movie from Jamie (But I’m a Cheerleader) Babbit is a dynamic, romantic, frequently funny and politically astute movie with a smart script, rocking soundtrack and terrific ensemble cast that includes sexy young Melonie Diaz as the new dyke on the block who falls in with a great gang of Feminist troublemakers called Clits in Action (CiA), and then falls in love with leader of the pack, Nicole Vicius. Unfortunately, Nicole has a girlfriend Melanie Mayron and, as they say, drama ensues.
March 22nd: It Doesn’t Define Us
When: 7:00 PM (80 minutes)
Where: Science Lab 120
It Doesn’t Define Us is a feature length documentary about gay rights and many of the issues the GLBT community is facing not only in the state of Minnesota but also nationwide. The film introduces same-sex couples who decide to start a family, discusses coming out of the closet, looks into the politics working both for and against the GLBT community, and also touches on media portrayals. Over a year and a half, filmmakers Bruce Meyers and Gordy Severson conducted over 40 interviews featuring FOX 9’s Robyne Robinson, KARE-11’s Jana Shortal, Minnesota State Senator Scott Dibble and well-known gay activist Mandy Carter. Co-Director Gordon Severson will introduce the film and answer questions at the end.
March 24th: Brother to Brother
When: 7:00 PM
Where: Science Lab 120
Brother to Brother is the story of Perry, a young black artist kicked out of his family home for being gay. Trapped between the worlds of the black community and the gay community, Perry searches for a connection in the real world and embarks on a literal and metaphorical journey to the creative center for the younger, rebellious generation of the Harlem Renaissance. Brother to Brother is a moving testimony to the transformative powers of history, art and storytelling.
March 25th: Out in the Silence
When 7:00 PM (56 minutes)
Where: Science Lab 120
Following the story of a small American town confronting a firestorm of controversy ignited by a same-sex wedding announcement in the local newspaper, this gripping documentary illustrates the challenges of being an outsider in a conservative rural community and the change that is possible when courageous people break the silence and search for common ground.
March 26th: Beautiful Boxer
When: 7:00 PM (118 minutes)
Where: Science Lab 120
Based on the true story of Thailand’s famed transgender kickboxer, Beautiful Boxer is a poignant action drama that punches straight into the heart and mind of a boy who fights like a man so he can become a woman. Believing he’s a girl trapped in a boy’s body since childhood, Parinya Charoenphol (affectionately known as Nong Toom in Thailand) sets out to master the most masculine and lethal sport of Muay Thai (Thai boxing) to earn a living and to achieve his ultimate goal of total femininity.
March 28th: Forever’s Gonna Start Tonight
When: 7:50 PM (54 minutes)
Where: Stark Hall 103
Forever’s Gonna Start Tonight tells the astounding life story of San Francisco living legend Vicki Marlane, still strutting it onstage at 75. Vicki takes us on the ride of her life — from cross-dressed rollerskating in her youth to working the carnival sideshows circuit in the 1950s, from the wild years of San Francisco in the 1970s, to survival in the 1980s and her legendary performances at Aunt Charlie’s, where she continues to perform today.
March 29th: Bi the Way
When: 7:00 PM (85 minutes)
Where: Somsen Auditorium
The iron curtain between gay and straight is crumbling. The Bible belt is being unbuckled. Recent studies suggest that bisexuality is drastically more widespread than we ever thought. And for young people, dating a girl one week and a guy the next is no big deal. Journeying through the changing sexual landscape of America, the directors of Bi the Way investigate the latest scientific reports and social opinions on bisexuality, while following five members of the emerging “whatever” generation—teens and twenty-somethings who seem to be ushering in a whole new sexual revolution.
March 30th: Boy I am
When: 7:00 PM (72 minutes)
Where: Stark Hall 103
While female-to-male transgender visibility has recently exploded in this country, conversations about trans issues in the lesbian community often run into resistance from the many queer women who view transitioning as a “trend” or as an anti-feminist act that taps into male privilege. Boy I Am is a feature-length documentary that begins to break down that barrier and promote dialogue about trans issues through a look at the experiences of three young transitioning FTMs in New York City—Nicco, Norie and Keegan—as they go through major junctures in their transitions, as well as through the voices of lesbians, activists and theorists who raise and address the questions that many people have but few openly discuss.
March 31st: Two Spirits
When: 7:00 PM (60 minutes)
Where: Somsen Auditorium
Two Spirits interweaves the tragic story of a mother’s loss of her son with a revealing look at a time when the world wasn’t simply divided into male and female and many Native American cultures held places of honor for people of integrated genders. Fred Martinez was nádleehí, a male-bodied person with a feminine nature, a special gift according to his ancient Navajo culture. But the place where two discriminations meet is a dangerous place to live, and Fred became one of the youngest hate-crime victims in modern history when he was brutally murdered at sixteen. Between tradition and controversy, sex and spirit, and freedom and fear, lives the truth—the bravest choice you can make is to be yourself. A brief reception will be held following the final film screening.
The film series is curated by Dr. Andrea Wood of the WSU English Department and is sponsored by the WSU Foundation, Office of Inclusion and Diversity, GLBTA Faculty Committee, English Department, Women’s and Gender Studies, Mass Communications Department, History Department, Social Work, and GLBTA Partnership. Any questions about these events can be sent to Dr. Wood at [email protected].