Note: this article comes out in tomorrow's local paper. I am so proud of these young people! We'll have our Moderator and others there - and we'll head over right after worship, too.
'B Who U R' film showcasing LGBTQ teens, premieres
Sunday
Posted:
08/03/2013 12:10:37 AM EDT | Updated: about 18 hours ago
Members of the Pittsfield-based Live Out Loud Youth Project
promote their new documentary film, ‘B Who U R,’ made by and for young people
who identify as LGBTQ -- lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer -- as
well as their straight allies. (Jenn Smith / Berkshire Eagle Staff)
PITTSFIELD
On Sunday, Berkshire County lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender, queer youths and their allies will get 20 minutes
of fame on the big screen at the Beacon Cinema.
The movie theater is hosting the
premiere screening of "B Who U R," a documentary film made by members
of the Live Out Loud Youth Project (LOLYP). The program, offered by Affirmative
Counseling, provides safe spaces, social activities and support for Berkshire
youths who identify as LGBTQ, may be questioning their identity or consider
themselves an ally.
"B Who U R" is the third
public media and education project produced by LOLYP. It's designed to inform
and support young people, as well as others, to "express their creativity,
build on their strengths, find joy in their uniqueness, and to fully and
proudly be who they are."
Last year's project, "Digital
Stories," was a film project revealing the lives of local transgender
youth. "B Who U R," represents the broader Berkshire LGBTQ youth
community.
"We studied gay people in my
psychology class, but the films we watched were about adults and people I
didn't know. The idea with this is you might know the faces of people in it,
and they're from your community," said Karolina Kolodziej, 18, of
Pittsfield. "It makes it more
relatable. This film shows people just talking about how it is," said
21-year-old Ian Sullivan of Lenox. He said the film can provide education and
awareness for anyone, but he and his fellow Live Out Loud members wanted to
specifically reach out to middle school-aged students.
"Coming out or questioning is
hard for anyone, but it's even worse in middle school. At that age, you're just
discovering who you are and you're so unsure of yourself, and it's harder to
have confidence in yourself," said 18-year-old Marley Mitchell of Becket. Though
there are skeptics about talking to youths about orientation and sex at an
early age, statistics reported by Berkshire United Way indicate a need. In
2011, more than 70 percent of teens in Berkshire County, regardless of
orientation, admitted to being sexually active.
Stopbullying.gov,
a federal government website managed by the U.S. Department of Health &
Human Services, has published research stating that LGBTQ youth, or youth who
are perceived to be, are prone to being teased and bullied by their peers.
Bullied LGBTQ youth are more likely to skip school, smoke, use alcohol or
drugs, and are twice as likely than their typical peers to be depressed and
think about or attempt suicide.
The documentary provides contact
information for support services in Berkshire County, and talks about
definitions and perceptions of the LGBTQ community. "We also try to debunk
some of the biggest myths about sexuality," said Jesse Coe, 21, of Pittsfield,
who is bisexual. "There's an assumption that all people who are bisexual
just want to sleep with everybody, whether they're a boy or a girl. Though I
have a preference of guys, I could fall in love with a girl if she were the
right person and someone I cared about," he said. "I want to be seen
as a person, not a gay person. We should all just be accepted as normal."
The film also includes the
perspectives of parents of LGBTQ youths, and even members of the First Church
of Christ Congregational of Pittsfield, which decided to become an open and
affirming church."If [a church] is not safe for some, it's not safe for
anyone," the Rev. James Lumsden, pastor of the church, says in the film.
Sara Shuff and Kelly Heck, both
licensed social workers who work for Affirmative Counseling and supervise the
Live Out Loud youth group, said in addition to Sunday's screening, the film
will be put online for anyone to access for education and support. "What
these youth have done is amazing. Our entire community can learn from
this," Heck said.
If you go
What: "B Who U R," a 20-minute documentary film made by
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth of Berkshire County as part of the
Live Out Loud Youth Project. A reception with refreshments will follow at
Thistle & Mirth, 44 West St., Pittsfield.
When: Sunday. Doors open at 10:30 a.m., with live music from the
regional band Matchstick Architects. The film premiere takes place at 11 a.m.
Where: Beacon Cinema, 57 North St., Pittsfield.
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