Corynn Egreczky wants your stories. She needs them for the film she’s making about our high school education as queer people. And I’m not talking about the education we get in Social Studies or in Math or English – I’m talking about what we learn about our own identities, the messages we are sent about being gay. Her project is about coming out, the importance of accurate representation and advice from our older community members to our younger ones needs your voice, face and words. While the film aims to bring conversations about our lives to younger generations, it also looks to raise awareness and funds for Live Through Love.
http://vimeo.com/61428670
Live Through Love is a new scholarship foundation for those high schoolers who are out as LGBT. Their mission:
To bring awareness to the many struggles and battles people have with discrimination and to reward open LGBT High School Seniors who live life fearlessly, follow their dreams and exude our core motto and name, with scholarships. We’re here to make sure all humans are treated equally.
Egreczky and her production company, Rock Bridge Productions, have joined forces with Live Through Love to make this short film. She’s going to be using three talking points as a place to start:
+ Share a beautiful experience you’ve had as a gay person/queer person.
+ Share a difficult experience you’ve had as a gay person/queer person.
+ What’s your advice for someone who’s still in the closet and thinking about coming out, but is too afraid?
If you’re within striking distance of New York City, come talk about these things and more at The Duplex on April 4th, from 2-5 pm.
Filming Live Through Love at the Duplex
61 Christopher Street, New York City
April 4th, 2-5 pm
RSVP here!
If you can’t make it or you live too far away and would still like to contribute, contact Corynn through her production company’s facebook page for other ways to submit your story. And if you or anyone you know is an out high school senior, point them in the direction of the Live Through Love scholarship application, deadline April 1st.
having one of those moments where i feel like the universe is telling me that i should maybe exit the giant closet ive created for myself
This just makes me so sad. I feel like I have nothing good to say about being gay. I wish I did. The best I can do is be neutral. I was taught all the way through school that there was nothing worse than being a ‘lezzer’. I didn’t even figure out I was gay until I’d been through years of just lying underneath guys thinking how wrong it was and wishing it would be over so they wouldn’t see me cry. I was raped for being gay. I can’t change who I am but if I could, I think I might.
I wish I could hug you (if you’re into accepting hugs). Of course, I definitely do not want to patronize you with the implication that my hugs, or any hugs for that matter, would magically make you feel 100% positive and ok about your sexual identity. Just know that you are not alone, and there are countless times when I’ve felt similar and wished I could change who I am (and I’d venture a guess others folks around here have too). It’s hard to overcome years of social conditioning that your particular personhood is inherently against nature/god/your family’s wishes/the government/respectable society and every other thing they throw your way. But the thing is, you are lovely and wonderful, just like you are, and all the other lovely, wonderful people will be sure to tell you so.
Why yes, I am a high school senior hunting for college funds! Apparently this is what happens when I go through my daily Internet routine instead of starting work like I planned.
Totally – I feel like I’ve been blessed for wasting time that should have been spent working on scholarships. Yay Internet!