tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58534739566365815682024-03-13T13:54:50.340-07:00Rights of PassageEd and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-44922191495874272432014-06-14T10:55:00.000-07:002014-06-14T10:55:02.121-07:00Don't Allow Anti-Gay Diplomat to represent UN!<a href="http://www.zimbio.com/member/sfwave"> <img alt="My Zimbio" border="0" src="http://www.zimbio.com/images/badges/badgeBlue.png?u=sfwave" title="My Zimbio" /></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #281b21; font-family: sl-ApresRegular; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px;">In a controversial move on Wednesday, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously elected Uganda’s foreign minister Sam Kutesa as the president for its 69</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #281b21; font-family: sl-ApresRegular; font-size: 11px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #281b21; font-family: sl-ApresRegular; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px;">session, which will begin in September. According to the Associated Press, the position is “</span><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/controversial-ugandan-assembly-head-24094975" style="background-color: white; color: #660033; font-family: sl-ApresBold; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">largely ceremonial but prestigious</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #281b21; font-family: sl-ApresRegular; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px;">” and “rotates annually by region”; Kutesa garnered the uncontested nomination of his region’s African Union Executive Council after Cameroonian Foreign Minister </span><a href="http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/643128-au-endorses-kutesa-for-un-presidency.html" style="background-color: white; color: #660033; font-family: sl-ApresBold; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Pierre Moukoko was withdrawn as a candidate</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #281b21; font-family: sl-ApresRegular; font-size: 15px; line-height: 27px;">. Critics of the choice, including many LGBTQ and human rights activists, are concerned that honoring Kutesa and, by extension, Uganada in such a way will send the wrong message with regard to the country’s recently imposed anti-gay legislation.</span>Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-53838285299787601372013-07-25T09:42:00.000-07:002013-07-25T09:47:07.703-07:00Right of Passage Published - Available on Amazon!<a href="http://www.zimbio.com/member/sfwave"> </a><br />
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At this time last year we were deep into production for the world premiere of <i>Rights of Passage</i> at the New Conservatory Theatre Center in San Francisco. We are now happy to announce that the script has been published. The play is <b>available directly from AMAZON</b> by using the link below. <b>Kindle users please note:</b> the electronic version of the script is being specially formatted and should be available shortly. We will keep you posted. <br />
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During the rest of the summer we will be working with our agent at
International Creative Management in New York to circulate the script to
theatres around the globe. Do let us know if we should send a copy to a
theatre near you by contacting us at <a href="http://mailto:ednctc@gmail.com/" target="_blank">ednctc@gmail.com</a> . Our mission is for the play to be performed on stages world-wide and to give voice to LGBT human rights.<br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1480259780/ref=cm_sw_em_r_am_it_am_us?ie=UTF8" target="_blank"><b>Rights of Passage: Sometimes it takes a world of courage to just be who you are. (Volume 1)</b></a></span></span>
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Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-48159825508519724262013-04-17T14:38:00.000-07:002013-04-17T14:38:05.393-07:00Return from Radio Silence<br />
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<b>Apologies to all for the long silence.</b> Worldwide events march on and we've been distracted. Our promise is to do better in the days ahead and keep the blog current on behalf of your Queer and Allied friends around the globe. <br />
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Even though serious human rights violations continue especially across Africa, Central Europe and the Middle East there has been <b>progress in other parts of the world.</b> For example, The United States Agency for International Development announced recently that it is providing 11 million dollars to fund a new initiative to promote LGBT rights in developing countries. This is a public-private partnership between USAID and San Francisco-based <a href="http://www.olivia.com/" target="_top">Olivia Cruises</a>, UCLA’s <a href="http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/" target="_top">Williams Institute</a>, the <a href="http://www.astraeafoundation.org/" target="_top">Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice</a>, the <a href="http://www.victoryinstitute.org/home" target="_top">Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute</a> and the <a href="http://www.sida.se/English/" target="_top">Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency</a>. The initiative will work with local LGBT groups to provide leadership
training, research and other help, lending the imprimatur of the U.S.
government to people who in many countries are outcast and vulnerable.
The first work will take place in Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala and
Colombia. Officials said there has been a spike in violence against
transgendered persons in Honduras since a 2009 coup in the country.<br />
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<b>On the marriage equality front</b> both Uruguay and New Zealand recently passed legislation legalizing same sex marriages. This brings the total to 13 Countries with gay marriage laws on the books.<br />
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<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/17/maurice-williamson-new-zealand-gay-marriage-_n_3100714.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices">WATCH: New Zealand MP Delivers EPIC Gay Marriage Speech That Will Literally Have You Cheering</a></h4>
Lastly in this post we are happy to announce that our play <i>Rights of Passage </i>is finally headed for publication in May 2013. This process took far longer than we thought but we are quite pleased with finally getting the play positioned for wider release. For now you can view the trailer, reviews, and other production related info at: <a href="http://www.nctcsf.org/">http://www.nctcsf.org/press_room/rights_of_passage_post.htm </a>Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-83569881843418651802012-10-04T10:47:00.003-07:002012-10-04T11:05:36.426-07:00Rights of Passage to be Published<br />
After it's successful (thanks to all of you!) San Francisco World Premiere at the New Conservatory Theatre Center, <i>Rights of Passage</i> is being readied for publishing and world-wide production licensing. <a href="http://www.nctcsf.org/press_room/rights_of_passage_post.htm">Click here </a>to browse our trailer, reviews, features, production photos, licensing information and a short script sample. Please have a look and feel free to share with all of your pals.<br />
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We promise to keep you posted on where the play goes from here.<br />
Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-88058192709263207272012-07-24T10:54:00.002-07:002012-10-04T11:01:46.868-07:00Hate in the Ukraine<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ukrainian lawmaker Pavlo Ungurian is sponsoring a bill that calls for banning the "propaganda of homosexuality" in Kiev. He is joined by nationalists who believe that their campaign of "love against homosexuality" will prevent pedophilia. Although homosexuality was decriminalized in Ukraine and neighboring Russia after the fall of communism, animosity toward gays remains high across the former Soviet sphere. Human rights activists condemn the bill as discriminatory.</span></div>
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Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-34663226360774885092012-07-16T08:54:00.001-07:002012-07-16T08:56:32.031-07:00Scenic Design Unveiled<a href="http://www.zimbio.com/member/sfwave"> <img alt="My Zimbio" title="My Zimbio" src="http://www.zimbio.com/images/badges/badgeBlue.png?u=sfwave" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="margin-top:2px; display:block; font-size:11px; padding-left:10px; color:#244366;" href="http://www.zimbio.com/"> Top Stories</a><br /><div style="color:#444;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:17px;line-height:23px;margin-bottom:17px;word-wrap:break-word;padding-top:1px"><p>Recently, Kuo-Hao Lo , NCTC's award winning resident designer unveiled the <i>Rights of Passage </i>set model. His open floor plan will allow for the seamless shifts of locale around the globe and provide a variety of playing levels for the storytelling. The stage right and left canvas surfaces stretched across bamboo frames will support digital media projections throughout the play. Against the far back wall is the cyclorama which will take light in many atmospheric ways. </p><div><img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/9ddf9wh3bhymj46/ROPSETMODEL2.jpg" /></div></div> <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/754412214/rights-of-passage/posts/267674?ref=email&show_token=8740d09bef9476d5" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank"> <img alt="Media - Image" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/ksr/projects/129823/posts/267674/image-137127-full.jpg?1342380977" style="border:0;vertical-align:bottom" /> </a>Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-2061456905093004702012-07-02T10:54:00.001-07:002012-07-02T10:56:14.918-07:00The Show Will Go On<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Thanks to all of our amazing supporters we are happy to report that not only did we reach our <i>Kickstarter </i>campaign goal we exceeded it! We have jumped right into rehearsals with the greatest of joy in our hearts. Hope to see you at the world premiere.</span></div><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WyNkf9zIO6I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-12002670053834735132012-06-28T15:03:00.003-07:002012-06-28T15:10:41.208-07:00Break the BankHello again everyone!<br /><br />We're in the final days of the <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/754412214/rights-of-passage">Kickstarter Campaign</a>, and we have only $2,600 left to raise for <span style="font-style: italic;">Rights of Passage</span>!<br /><br />We have just under 70 hours to go; check out this video of Robert after he learned the deadline was fast approaching!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1nVnsa4RP2M" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe><br /><br />Please support our <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/754412214/rights-of-passage">Kickstarter campaign </a>and share <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/754412214/rights-of-passage">this link </a>as widely as possible. Any gift, large or small, will help push us over the top!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-J8LLK6cNR_5jAansLzg0GlrbiuqnyP9cfXvWwz4oddLAixV_lSR5g7E6UU13Bzp0QFgbEU4ql2Ha_r9ztFGwIgSpUVbU9HvsgW9UHp-MXjHtdNujyvfAZYgiFyKg2t8Lu80Z5NcQBKY/s1600/544795_10150929833262866_35847162865_9843040_1671065452_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 211px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-J8LLK6cNR_5jAansLzg0GlrbiuqnyP9cfXvWwz4oddLAixV_lSR5g7E6UU13Bzp0QFgbEU4ql2Ha_r9ztFGwIgSpUVbU9HvsgW9UHp-MXjHtdNujyvfAZYgiFyKg2t8Lu80Z5NcQBKY/s400/544795_10150929833262866_35847162865_9843040_1671065452_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5759213406703835122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div>Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-67138198474811239632012-06-25T11:36:00.008-07:002012-06-25T12:14:23.788-07:00Hi Folks,<br /><br />With Robert on video camera and me with flyers in hand, we work the Pride Sunday crowd at Civic Center in SF:<br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid1247.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fgg621%2Fednctc%2Fphotobucket-5226-1340605765628.mp4" height="361" width="600"></embed><br /><br />We've only one week left to meet our <span style="font-style: italic;">Rights of Passage</span><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/754412214/rights-of-passage"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Kickstarter Campaign</span></a> $30K goal. We've got $22,810 pledged - so only $7,190 to raise.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> We must do it this week or we lose it all</span> - please help and urge your pals to jump in with you!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">It's the final week! Please support our <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/754412214/rights-of-passage">Kickstarter campaign</a> and <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/754412214/rights-of-passage"><span style="font-weight: bold;">share this link</span></a> as widely as possible.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/754412214/rights-of-passage"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 211px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrti9ErnPzNjU6sxS-ZeefDbPwUJKJMJu28uWWcTzNc-TLm01Thn6rJWlvBq4N0Fguce9d2-EItWR_XfXi2SvHV6EBsqnq3iVTp7XQzdh1RTRiCCSr6YQF5ERw_un66aO_gs7l86tlS0/s400/544795_10150929833262866_35847162865_9843040_1671065452_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5758048105457042114" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /></div>Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-24872294164666024022012-06-24T11:44:00.005-07:002012-06-24T12:03:36.911-07:00Down to the Wire<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGRJXnNw069V4ub14QEne8kiNBYR24SAzxdc8vof5WwKx2C1M4yGjjgIWrKoZtKwTrNpg-EjAUtivQYngHUHopxXbVoSeaxj4o0u58QltFTGLS9Jqeq0Iv5e7qlgrBMBTrFSeJPSuGVc/s1600/Manontightrope1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 227px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGRJXnNw069V4ub14QEne8kiNBYR24SAzxdc8vof5WwKx2C1M4yGjjgIWrKoZtKwTrNpg-EjAUtivQYngHUHopxXbVoSeaxj4o0u58QltFTGLS9Jqeq0Iv5e7qlgrBMBTrFSeJPSuGVc/s400/Manontightrope1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5757676659190141090" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.zimbio.com/member/sfwave"> <img alt="My Zimbio" title="My Zimbio" src="http://www.zimbio.com/images/badges/badgeBlue.png?u=sfwave" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="margin-top:2px; display:block; font-size:11px; padding-left:10px; color:#244366;" href="http://www.zimbio.com/"> Top Stories </a><br /><br />It's a balancing act as we enter the final days of our Kickstarter Campaign. We have until July 1 at 3pm to raise the remaining 8K balance of our 30K goal to produce the world premiere of <span style="font-style:italic;">Rights of Passage.</span> If we fall short then game over.<br /><br />Please click on the <span style="font-weight:bold;">Down to the Wire </span>title above to make your pledge. No amount is to small or large. If you can spare an extra moment to write a quick note and share the link with your social network that would be awesome.Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-70826829859447956062012-06-10T13:40:00.011-07:002012-06-10T14:09:44.155-07:00Kickstarting Rights of Passage<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WVBDy10ntILUWRCxQvotrs7ZBmWtrESCM4g6ISswRTDWNuZbvhjfvF7wSX4SkWBcJQEUyKgQgdXH5KEsj2H4ww7r4bsDVKQR9VbkaPbT5dpLcRMoegX0vM92MeYprwoSlGqdXtLvseQ/s1600/jpegNew+Rights+of+Passage+Image.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WVBDy10ntILUWRCxQvotrs7ZBmWtrESCM4g6ISswRTDWNuZbvhjfvF7wSX4SkWBcJQEUyKgQgdXH5KEsj2H4ww7r4bsDVKQR9VbkaPbT5dpLcRMoegX0vM92MeYprwoSlGqdXtLvseQ/s400/jpegNew+Rights+of+Passage+Image.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5752518073002901010" /></a>
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<br /></a><div><span >The activity around <i>Rights of Passage</i> is heating up. Production meetings are in full swing and casting is all but complete. Costumes, puppets, music and sets are in the minds and hands of an extraordinary creative team. </span></div><div><span >
<br /></span></div><div><span >And there’s one more thing—fundraising, the necessary ingredient to make all the magic happen. About a week ago we launched an online Kickstarter campaign to help fund the production. We are aiming to raise $30,000 by July 1st at 3pm. Kickstarter is an all or nothing proposition, so if we don’t raise the entire $30,000 in 30 days you’re off the hook.</span></div><div><span >
<br /></span></div><div><span >If you think this is a worthwhile project we hope you will support it. Donations are welcome at all levels and there are some great rewards as well, including tickets to the play, meetings with the cast and playwrights and lots more. In the first 10 days we’ve raised $3,250, so we still have a ways to go. To get the whole story, please click on the link below and please pass it along to your friends. Thanks!</span></div><div><span >
<br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#3333FF; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/754412214/rights-of-passage" target="_blank">Check out the <i>Rights of Passage</i> Kickstarter Campaign! </a></span></b></div><div>
<br /></div>Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-9137180250097668852012-05-13T14:37:00.001-07:002012-05-13T14:37:57.393-07:00A beaming visage seen by thousands<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsBswGc-jneRkl4RJ9Mf_V7RE-rK9Y53ZIyT4fmatnVitPPoHQW4jhQ9Jcy3EaU3MOjnfeJtfBJM3e5DeRvJhODBs_zhwszS1EnjhVutNVc-ypRpplxqKXoLS6TZsipMI29eJbIIFnAA/s1600/P1010070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsBswGc-jneRkl4RJ9Mf_V7RE-rK9Y53ZIyT4fmatnVitPPoHQW4jhQ9Jcy3EaU3MOjnfeJtfBJM3e5DeRvJhODBs_zhwszS1EnjhVutNVc-ypRpplxqKXoLS6TZsipMI29eJbIIFnAA/s200/P1010070.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVz1ak4ZVa69m4IiRQVGg5eK1blLDmBnLxX1o17LLBjVYJGx2uzjw7FG06RsGdyiGhpuKGkHKQhWw1CmV4JIhlBGoszVZS0EVpp6rlxxqW-GSW5aiWDmnc1M29C7oD9uGyD4LKg_BAszw/s1600/P1010067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVz1ak4ZVa69m4IiRQVGg5eK1blLDmBnLxX1o17LLBjVYJGx2uzjw7FG06RsGdyiGhpuKGkHKQhWw1CmV4JIhlBGoszVZS0EVpp6rlxxqW-GSW5aiWDmnc1M29C7oD9uGyD4LKg_BAszw/s1600/P1010067.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It’s now common knowledge that as a teenager Mitt Romney took the lead in attacking a fellow student, holding him down, and cutting off his long hair. Common knowledge to everyone except Mitt that is. In the course of his weak, cardboard cutout apology he claimed to not remember the incident. If true (and that’s a big if), this is a disturbing piece of news because it can only mean one of two things. Serious memory loss when you consider that this was a direct physical attack. Or, Mitt was involved in so many escapades of a similar nature that they have all blurred together in his mind. Neither scenario bodes well for the man who would be president. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On a happier note, gay marriage seems to be all the rage these days thanks to the recent announcement from our current, and one would hope, future president. And let’s not forget the earlier words of support from the VP. The fortunes of the LGBT community in the US are rising like a shining star. Now if only those pesky right wing conservatives would develop some form of collective amnesia about their hateful homophobia and move forward with a new agenda that espouses love and inclusiveness this would truly be a much better country. Call me crazy, but it could happen. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And on a final note, our recent trip to Indonesia began with a visit to a dear friend, Didik Nini Thowok. Didik is a transgender performer well known and respected throughout Indonesia for his live and televised appearances that run the gamut from comedy to sensitive and nuanced dance performances that draw on Topeng (mask), Sundanese, Cirebon, Balinese, and Central Javanese traditions. During the visit, he took us to the workshop where an eight foot high mask of his most well-known comic character was being made to hang on the building that houses his office and dance workshop in central Jogjakarta. It is exciting to think that his courageous and talented visage will beam down on the crowded streets of the city that is considered the cultural capital of Indonesia.</span><br />
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<br /></div>Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-44644777950704640832012-04-21T11:06:00.000-07:002012-04-21T11:06:25.462-07:00A Slow Spin<a href="http://www.zimbio.com/member/sfwave"> <img alt="My Zimbio" border="0" src="http://www.zimbio.com/images/badges/badgeBlue.png?u=sfwave" title="My Zimbio" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.zimbio.com/" style="color: #244366; display: block; font-size: 11px; margin-top: 2px; padding-left: 10px;"> Top Stories </a>
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In a recent interview with Christiane Amanpour the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, maintains that although homosexuality is illegal there is no discrimination against gays in his country. Rather, there is only concern about public displays of affection and the possibility that children will be recruited into "that lifestyle". Furthermore, he asserts that Ugandan gay activist David Cato was not beaten to death last year because he was gay but as a result of personal quarrels he had with his “partners.” Right.<br />
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Having just returned from Indonesia, I am reminded that in Muslim dominated countries, far to many LGBT citizens live deep in the closet for fear of reprisal from rabid religious fundamentalists. Many of those who engage in same sex intimacy, particularly men, see this behavior devoid of homosexuality and simply as an urge that needs to be satisfied.<br />
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Speaking of charades, how about that wacky Vatican? Let’s silence those “nuns gone wild” immediately! They should spend less time fighting for the rights of the poor because anti-abortion and promoting hatred of gays is far more pressing.<br />
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How about some encouraging news? Although 76 out of the 192 United Nations Member Countries still outlaw homosexuality, the UN Human Rights Council is at least talking about LGBT equality. In Latin American, citizens continue to defy the Catholic Church and provide equal protection for all of their people. In the United States we fight on against against bullying and teen suicide. (Check out <a href="mailto:ayayale@tix.com">ayayale@tix.com</a>) While in the EU, Canada, and the UK they are passing laws to help LGBT refugees who are fleeing countries who persecute them. A few hopeful signs. Still, it’s a slow spin towards equality.Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-30138084761781562992012-03-11T16:50:00.003-07:002012-03-11T16:59:32.234-07:00It Takes a World of Courage to Just Be Who You Are<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoKsLaCdfC96XE1l0fH-UGC6Qt0T-afP-TKnkhZqnXFvYvaOZ_lY5RFs55SOmhdab3qeiJXndJkqZyaDJ3LgBY6aiQmDKoYtmJM6_oBdRfzxpKQD7xb9VvQNdp4nmsB3j8a58Wx8DBIw/s1600/2012-03-04_13-53-48_106.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoKsLaCdfC96XE1l0fH-UGC6Qt0T-afP-TKnkhZqnXFvYvaOZ_lY5RFs55SOmhdab3qeiJXndJkqZyaDJ3LgBY6aiQmDKoYtmJM6_oBdRfzxpKQD7xb9VvQNdp4nmsB3j8a58Wx8DBIw/s320/2012-03-04_13-53-48_106.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718792655353598914" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.zimbio.com/member/sfwave"> <img alt="My Zimbio" title="My Zimbio" src="http://www.zimbio.com/images/badges/badgeBlue.png?u=sfwave" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="margin-top:2px; display:block; font-size:11px; padding-left:10px; color:#244366;" href="http://www.zimbio.com"> Top Stories </a><br /><br />Last weekend was a watershed moment for <em>Rights of Passage</em>. We had a brainstorming meeting that included talented designers and technicians who have signed on to bring the play to life. These professionals will lead the way in determining the look, feel, sound and soul of the play under the able direction of Arturo Catricala. To help set the mood, we pulled out what we had in the way of Balinese artifacts: shadow puppets, textiles, masks, books and photographs, then settled in, with a little wine and food, for a very interesting discussion that helped us all to see the play in a different light. Illuminated as it was by the vision of a host of theatre professionals exercising their creativity. It was a glimpse into the future and it was thrilling. <br /><br />Beyond the lights, the costumes and the physical reality of the play, there is another big challenge as we move into a wider promotional phase. How do we capture the interest and emotions of the public, and potential donors? Up until now we've been talking in terms of "a play about LGBT human rights" -- accurate, but not exciting. It sounds like you're buying a ticket to an earnest, well-meaning production that will result in glazed eyes before the end of act one, a thirst for something alcoholic and the determination to avoid, at all costs, the second act. <br /><br />This is a problem. And one that we have to solve if the play is to succeed. <em>Rights of Passage</em> tells a story, multiple stories, about people who want to be themselves and the courage that takes in an often hostile world. That's the thread that runs through this play and once we figure out the best way to convey that, you'll be the first to know. In the meantime, try this on for size: "It takes a world of courage to just be who you are: <em>Rights of Passage</em>."<br /><br /><em>Photo: Rights of Passage production brainstorming meeting, 3/4/12.</em>Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-78259311394353643112012-01-08T11:56:00.000-08:002012-01-09T07:49:51.131-08:00A Jolting Walk Down Memory Lane<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DVCMAP6Wqd-nqcfA8YUdwWy-5g7pUjPArIv3FNsYAuPzTkQ0syjVGpHRu6Y3wTEDeY6rxjd52P7kHz-H2HdYCNK7B5zz_2Kb-kjNi55T9NWfZJampT53YCXk_VWbKn0Og51t5zMCGWY/s1600/Leave_It_To_Beaver.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DVCMAP6Wqd-nqcfA8YUdwWy-5g7pUjPArIv3FNsYAuPzTkQ0syjVGpHRu6Y3wTEDeY6rxjd52P7kHz-H2HdYCNK7B5zz_2Kb-kjNi55T9NWfZJampT53YCXk_VWbKn0Og51t5zMCGWY/s320/Leave_It_To_Beaver.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695352848017070914" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.zimbio.com/member/sfwave"> <img alt="My Zimbio" title="My Zimbio" src="http://www.zimbio.com/images/badges/badgeBlue.png?u=sfwave" border="0" /></a><br /> <a style="margin-top:2px; display:block; font-size:11px; padding-left:10px; color:#244366;" href="http://www.zimbio.com"> Top Stories </a><br /><br />The winter holidays have come to an exhausted close and 2012 is upon us. The last of the Christmas cookies have been eaten and dried out spruce trees line the sidewalks waiting to be carted off. And now the attention shifts in earnest from retail frenzy to the US presidential election. Or rather who will run against Barack Obama in November. Maureen Dowd summed it up pretty well in a recent NY Times OP-Ed piece entitled The Grating Santorum, "But the whole Republican field seems ensconced in a black-and-white ’50s diorama. It’s like they’re running for president of Leave It to Beaverland."<br /><br />A clever turn-of-phrase Maureen, but what if were to happen? Santorum may be the worst of the lot with his religious and family values infused anti-gay, anti-feminist, anti-black remarks but Perry, Gingrich and Romney are not far behind. If any one of them were to become president, it's not hard to imagine that many hard won victories such as the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell and the strides being made in marriage equality could be wiped away or severely curtailed. And that would be just the beginning.<br /> <br />With high levels of economic, social, and political turmoil in evidence, the world is in need of some near-at-hand scapegoats. A minority group already feared and despised by many for their sexual practices, demands for equal rights and indifference to televised team sports, is the perfect choice, as it has often been in the past. A homophobic president, along with a few well-placed religious bodies, could make things tougher than they already are for gay people, not only in the US but around the world. It's not a pretty thought but one that must be considered. <br /><br />Leave It to Beaverland may inhabit a warm and fuzzy spot in many people's memories, but I for one have no desire to journey back there in real life. And if you feel the same way, get out there and take some action to ensure that the 1950's and all its moral, social and political baggage stays where it belongs, in the past.Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-2928461294453795862011-11-25T11:47:00.000-08:002011-11-25T11:50:54.269-08:00Close to Home<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBY0jwekjLwF3_y6oAn9t6bQbyCOUwmco-6lJXM_LNgVeEpbZOsJHMAwmsxYUB8IY6SHJjLIILH62GI_5NOmdsLpTuBvY_D-6NcW9hBac3YQZIzg8gTlsPtTX8kUrFG6gS_drAc8VZa8k/s1600/bullyinghallway.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 220px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBY0jwekjLwF3_y6oAn9t6bQbyCOUwmco-6lJXM_LNgVeEpbZOsJHMAwmsxYUB8IY6SHJjLIILH62GI_5NOmdsLpTuBvY_D-6NcW9hBac3YQZIzg8gTlsPtTX8kUrFG6gS_drAc8VZa8k/s320/bullyinghallway.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679023179434180674" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.zimbio.com/member/sfwave"> <img alt="My Zimbio" title="My Zimbio" src="http://www.zimbio.com/images/badges/badgeBlue.png?u=sfwave" border="0" /></a><br /> <a style="margin-top:2px; display:block; font-size:11px; padding-left:10px; color:#244366;" href="http://www.zimbio.com"> Top Stories </a><br /><br />We held our fifth (and likely final) public reading of <em>Rights of Passage </em>a few weeks ago. As per usual, our ensemble of 8 actors led by director Arturo Catricala were stunning. The packed house shared their views pro and con. Always so interesting to hear what resonates with one person and not the other. The true nature of art – subjective. Now it really is time to finish tinkering with the script, jump into pre-production mode and raise the money for the world premiere at NCTC next August. Only 50K more needed! <br /><br />Our intense focus on stories of global LGBT equality for the play also serves as a reminder for us to keep an eye on things closer to home. Recently, I joined our YouthAware troupe to watch them perform <em>OUTSPOKEN</em> for about 400 teens and their teachers at Johansen High School in Modesto, CA. The play has been touring Northern California for several years to give voice to stories about adolescents grappling with identity, homophobia, religion, family, class, culture, politics and raging hormones. All that in 40 minutes followed by a 20 minute interaction with cast. The facile young actors in our troupe led by director Sara Staley delivered the goods with abundant talent and truth - the students in the audience were riveted.<br /><br />Modesto is located in the Central Valley of California only about 90 minutes or so from San Francisco. Yet, fear and stigma around the differences among us reigns supreme in this region. Not just sexual orientation (although that’s a big elephant in the room) but pretty much anything that makes a person distinctive. <br /><br />As I sat among the teens in the audience, it occurred to me it’s the same the world over. The questions that wrestle with understanding human nature are essentially the same and have been so for centuries. Makes you wonder if we’ll ever simply accept that we are all a part of the whole. You shouldn’t ever have to venture far from home to understand something so obvious.Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-1996478998273468502011-10-11T12:24:00.000-07:002011-10-11T12:30:15.216-07:00Honoring Paula Ettelbrick<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-K19RvEkR8ZRDO_WmjZxRnGxdn0lGGfI6MJBq75bNABnXHlP6SVZ_ECgcn9mZYCXGWcqmbvFPJQDRlemeZIq2MIdkwaTETMDcwjSbsPqz0HR2Vb-goFqrvAvw1yFJfvLQTcEgYHOWasw/s1600/PCPaula120054.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-K19RvEkR8ZRDO_WmjZxRnGxdn0lGGfI6MJBq75bNABnXHlP6SVZ_ECgcn9mZYCXGWcqmbvFPJQDRlemeZIq2MIdkwaTETMDcwjSbsPqz0HR2Vb-goFqrvAvw1yFJfvLQTcEgYHOWasw/s320/PCPaula120054.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662318724307730258" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.zimbio.com/member/sfwave"> <img alt="My Zimbio" title="My Zimbio" src="http://www.zimbio.com/images/badges/badgeBlue.png?u=sfwave" border="0" /></a><br /> <a style="margin-top:2px; display:block; font-size:11px; padding-left:10px; color:#244366;" href="http://www.zimbio.com"> Top Stories </a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Photo: Paula Ettelbrick and Ed Decker at IGLHRC headquarters in New York.</span><br /><br />Paula Ettelbrick, a courageous leader in the queer civil rights movement, passed away on October 7, 2011 in New York at the age of 56 from cancer. I met Paula when she was the director of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission as we began our research for Rights of Passage in 2008. Paula was an amazing force of nature whose tireless work on behalf of global human rights was inspirational. Many of the stories in our play are based upon people from around the world that Paula introduced us to. We are eternally grateful for her support in helping us bring the struggles and triumphs of queer and allied activists to the stage. We dedicate our final reading of the play in San Francisco on October 23, 2011 at the New Conservatory Theatre Center to her. There is no doubt in our minds that Paula is still guiding us towards the world premiere of Rights of Passage planned for August 2012. <br /><br />Thank you Paula Ettelbrick for making our world a better place. Safe journey.Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-18052937589357703922011-09-17T19:11:00.000-07:002011-09-17T19:20:33.476-07:00Melvin Dwork is a Very Desirable Man<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHdeouwZJ_0F7BZWvbkxTuSsme6teVYa-QZfaxIIKTnax_fnm96o2CQQC0q6k8KKhvQ9bjsRTfKQx9gt6RXah8KAqfONYwf9e6dVLzXht7d3Qo52PO9cYIAOmRNBktTd7CW4UNqLb2t8/s1600/imagesCA2TSTW8.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 208px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHdeouwZJ_0F7BZWvbkxTuSsme6teVYa-QZfaxIIKTnax_fnm96o2CQQC0q6k8KKhvQ9bjsRTfKQx9gt6RXah8KAqfONYwf9e6dVLzXht7d3Qo52PO9cYIAOmRNBktTd7CW4UNqLb2t8/s320/imagesCA2TSTW8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653518268006588722" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.zimbio.com/member/sfwave"> <img alt="My Zimbio" title="My Zimbio" src="http://www.zimbio.com/images/badges/badgeBlue.png?u=sfwave" border="0" /></a><br /> <a style="margin-top:2px; display:block; font-size:11px; padding-left:10px; color:#244366;" href="http://www.zimbio.com"> Top Stories </a><br /><br />Don't Ask Don't Tell is within a hair's breadth of being flushed down the toilet of bad compromises. I can almost hear the gurgling water as I type this. Apparently, there are still some who walk among us, such as Senator John McCain of Arizona, who believe that an insufficient number of careers, lives and families have thus far been ruined or damaged for a policy that makes no sense. More they rumble, throw more bodies on the fire. Our military men and women of the heterosexual persuasion must be spared the corrosive gaze of their gay brothers and sisters in the mess hall, on the battlefield and of course in the shower. But this is well worn ground. The arguments, the counter arguments, the statistics, the evidence, both domestic and foreign, have been sliced and diced time and again. <br /><br />On a more personal level, a recent story has surfaced that brings to light the courage and perseverance of a man who wasn't going to have his life ruined by injustice. It's been almost 70 years since Melvin Dwork was discharged from the US Navy, at the height of World War II, for being gay and was given a discharge of 'undesirable'. “I resented that word ‘undesirable,’” said Dwork. "That word really stuck in my craw. To me it was a terrible insult. It had to be righted. It’s really worse than ‘dishonorable.’ I think it was the worst word they could have used.” <br /><br />Because of the nature of that discharge Dwork, now 89 years old and a successful interior designer, was denied medical care and GI benefits. According to Aaron Belkin, an expert on gays in the U.S. military at UCLA, about 100,000 troops were discharged between World War II and 1993 for being gay and lost their benefits as a result. But Dwork fought this injustice for decades and it finally brought results. Last month the Navy, in its wisdom, notified the former corpsman that his discharge will be changed to 'honorable' and his benefits will be reinstated. "In the interest of justice," they said. And not only that, the Board for Corrections of Naval Records said it would reinstate Dwork’s benefits retroactively. <br /><br />But this silver lining does have its down side. Once Dwork's records were unsealed he was able to determine who it was that turned him in all those years ago; his boyfriend at the time. To be officially labeled undesirable and outed by your own boyfriend, it doesn't get much worse than that. But to turn the situation around, move on with your life and ultimately succeed? Now that makes Melvin Dwork a very desirable man!<br /><br /><em>Thanks to an article by Steve Benen in the Washington Monthly for information on Melvin Dwork.</em><br /><br /><em>Photographer: Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images</em>Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-23336114783497353082011-07-24T16:49:00.000-07:002011-07-24T18:25:00.270-07:00Roosters, martinis and nibbling fish<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrttto9RMIs8TsjKMhw_nu1CTOphkGYIDPOUB5KisnxP6B71-gH342A3NAKty91_Is0gczjF-40TMD8kb5uBBW3j9th0xtlZsKl6v1o2Uj4eQmxhenCX6OD_-AjcEW_mUyQAp5T2jrP0/s1600/2011-07-06_13-30-00_319.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrttto9RMIs8TsjKMhw_nu1CTOphkGYIDPOUB5KisnxP6B71-gH342A3NAKty91_Is0gczjF-40TMD8kb5uBBW3j9th0xtlZsKl6v1o2Uj4eQmxhenCX6OD_-AjcEW_mUyQAp5T2jrP0/s320/2011-07-06_13-30-00_319.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633070800805059618" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.zimbio.com/member/sfwave"> <img alt="My Zimbio" title="My Zimbio" src="http://www.zimbio.com/images/badges/badgeBlue.png?u=sfwave" border="0" /></a><br /> <a style="margin-top:2px; display:block; font-size:11px; padding-left:10px; color:#244366;" href="http://www.zimbio.com"> Top Stories </a><br /><br /><em>Mosque and Hindu Temple at Lake Bratan, Bali</em><br /><br />Each morning the crowing roosters and the delicate chiming of temple bells meant only one thing; we weren't in San Francisco, but 10,000 miles away on the tiny island of Bali. The smells of incense and frangipani merge with the fragrance of stale garbage; mangy dogs lap up the rice from tiny offerings laid at almost every doorway. Hindu deities share the diminutive volcano dotted landscape with mosques where the call to prayer is broadcast daily and hordes of Australian tourists visit spas where for a small fee tiny fish nibble the dead skin from their feet. <br /><br />It was all a delicious distraction and the perfect place to put together what we are optimistically calling the close-to-final draft of <em>Rights of Passage</em>. Sharp words, at times, floated in the perfumed air but by the end of the day, martini in hand, things would always look up. I recently read a quote by the late playwright Romulus Linney: "Human beings have three basic drives, my dear: eating, sex and rewriting other people's plays. Stick to your guns." Good advice, but sometimes, I've learned, my guns aren't worth sticking to and something better can be made.<br /><br />We also had the great luck to spend time with our dear friend Susan who lives in Phnom Penh. She joined us in Bali for a few days of spa treatments, hiking and shopping. We took a day off from writing for a day trip to Lake Bratan to see the iconic temple built out into the lake. It was a big religious holiday and the place was filled with happy families enjoying the beautiful weather and the lake breezes. <br /><br />So now we're back to reality, such as it is, and planning for another staged reading of the play in October.Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-35971507531918488932011-07-15T13:26:00.000-07:002011-07-15T13:38:15.401-07:00Interviewing Human Rights Activist Peter Tatchell in London<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6OfI_g5DOp2y8Cdyx5b91XeUWVaV5O78Dz47h-UpzShRK6qO8SOeqdmNTdZWWrFuPbKS0SmZnI5cSBY3BAJ3OeRuQgRHBsRKR_EcLRkgUSS32FHVf2b3FLJZtDhF8FLM_P23K_FLMmk/s1600/Tatchell.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 112px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6OfI_g5DOp2y8Cdyx5b91XeUWVaV5O78Dz47h-UpzShRK6qO8SOeqdmNTdZWWrFuPbKS0SmZnI5cSBY3BAJ3OeRuQgRHBsRKR_EcLRkgUSS32FHVf2b3FLJZtDhF8FLM_P23K_FLMmk/s320/Tatchell.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629679243698546514" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.zimbio.com/member/sfwave"> <img alt="My Zimbio" title="My Zimbio" src="http://www.zimbio.com/images/badges/badgeBlue.png?u=sfwave" border="0" /></a><br /> <a style="margin-top:2px; display:block; font-size:11px; padding-left:10px; color:#244366;" href="http://www.zimbio.com"> Top Stories </a><br /><br />The way to fast forward a memorable interview is to spill tea all over your guest. That is a sure way to sear the event into memory and a very good way to stain clothing. Human rights activist Peter Tatchell managed great composure as he ran for a towel to dry himself off with me trailing behind offering profuse apologies. Thankfully, he did not flee the scene all together and we were able to spend the better part of an afternoon talking.<br /><br />I’ve long wanted to meet this amazing man who for decades has fought for equality around the globe <a href="http://www.petertatchell.net">www.petertatchell.net</a> often at great peril to himself. It is widely known that he has suffered more than his share of harassment and physical assaults as a result of his work.<br /><br />The purpose of this interview was to not only hear his first hand accounts but also to assist me in finding the voice of the “activist” character in our play. I felt that our conversation might just shed a light of authenticity to that part of our story.<br /><br />As we talked about the play and Peter’s extensive human right’s work , I was most struck by his soft spoken and patient nature. This was a man with vast knowledge whose persistence was powerful but not overbearing. I could understand his staying power and commitment to a movement that had journeyed far but still had miles to go. Peter is pressing ever forward with lessons from the past using them as levers to ignite change ahead.<br /><br />Regions around the planet find themselves at different places on the path towards equality. Success depends upon geography, economics, customs, and politics. All of this is driven by those with the courage and imagination to lead. People like Peter. People like us. People all over the world who understand who they are and are willing to stand proud.<br /><br />It is an honor to know Peter Tatchell and the many others whose stories we tell in <span style="font-style:italic;">Rights of Passage</span>.Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-75354151543387725002011-05-16T11:16:00.000-07:002011-05-16T11:31:47.508-07:00Anti-Gay Bill Off The Table For Now!<a href="http://www.zimbio.com/member/sfwave"> <img alt="My Zimbio" title="My Zimbio" src="http://www.zimbio.com/images/badges/badgeBlue.png?u=sfwave" border="0" /></a><br /> <a style="margin-top:2px; display:block; font-size:11px; padding-left:10px; color:#244366;" href="http://www.zimbio.com"> Top Stories </a><br /><br />The media has reported that Uganda's parliament adjourned without debating a controversial bill which includes the death penalty for some homosexual acts.<br />First introduced in 2009, the bill could still be brought up when the new parliament meets later this year. The basics are: Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda but the bill would increase the penalty for those convicted to life in prison. Those found guilty of "aggravated homosexuality" - defined as when one of the participants is a minor, HIV-positive, disabled or a "serial offender" - would face the death penalty. Anyone failing to report to the authorities a person they knew to be homosexual would also be liable to prosecution. (Excerpted from <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk">www.bbc.co.uk</a>)Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-90036098728669643812011-05-10T08:27:00.000-07:002011-05-10T08:40:29.650-07:00Vote to Save Gay Lives<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVU9bXTXwxGA44pFU0Qrbu0BXqB5bCVofMjKA-V86bEfG3i5-TdGdUjKI4aZ4tj_8Xena4qJN7RCUcO126FZb0TGpKjhM-ysammKi88Uh7vfNOIxxUS9vi0_PC9CsrsJkTDxyzr2qPSDs/s1600/david_kato.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 249px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVU9bXTXwxGA44pFU0Qrbu0BXqB5bCVofMjKA-V86bEfG3i5-TdGdUjKI4aZ4tj_8Xena4qJN7RCUcO126FZb0TGpKjhM-ysammKi88Uh7vfNOIxxUS9vi0_PC9CsrsJkTDxyzr2qPSDs/s320/david_kato.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605112665871833618" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.zimbio.com/member/sfwave"> <img alt="My Zimbio" title="My Zimbio" src="http://www.zimbio.com/images/badges/badgeBlue.png?u=sfwave" border="0" /></a><br /> <a style="margin-top:2px; display:block; font-size:11px; padding-left:10px; color:#244366;" href="http://www.zimbio.com"> Top Stories </a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />David Kato, Ugandan LGBT activist who was brutally murdered earlier this year. Photo by Projo.com.</span><br /><br />We have less than 48 hours to help save thousands of gay Ugandans from possible execution. On Wednesday, the Ugandan Parliament could pass a law that imposes the death penalty for homosexuality. An international outcry shelved this bill last year -- if we can ramp up the pressure again and keep the gay death penalty law from reaching a vote this week, it will die when Parliament closes in two days. Let President Museveni, members of the parliament review committee and donor governments know how you feel. Click below to sign the petition, then forward to everyone you know. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/uganda_stop_homophobia_petition/?vl ">http://www.avaaz.org/en/uganda_stop_homophobia_petition/?vl</a>Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-11836986621745335772011-04-10T16:55:00.000-07:002011-04-10T17:03:29.187-07:00Rights of Passage: Play in Progress<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg888Vau15fmdAIpn0fBD1qwfWbbOOvYfnN2AJqvgxNFvQlxl5maMio3BeXUoaVl2cU51UVRr91Ww8mEJPFz77DAGeXyM0O1jKgswhl_sT5vBc4xOHeRa0mEI08m4pf6djkAoY2SyPkzh0/s1600/300x200xaudience-theatre_jpg_pagespeed_ic_ZjZcrkhvDQ.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg888Vau15fmdAIpn0fBD1qwfWbbOOvYfnN2AJqvgxNFvQlxl5maMio3BeXUoaVl2cU51UVRr91Ww8mEJPFz77DAGeXyM0O1jKgswhl_sT5vBc4xOHeRa0mEI08m4pf6djkAoY2SyPkzh0/s320/300x200xaudience-theatre_jpg_pagespeed_ic_ZjZcrkhvDQ.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594109821295270674" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.zimbio.com/member/sfwave"> <img alt="My Zimbio" title="My Zimbio" src="http://www.zimbio.com/images/badges/badgeBlue.png?u=sfwave" border="0" /></a><br /> <a style="margin-top:2px; display:block; font-size:11px; padding-left:10px; color:#244366;" href="http://www.zimbio.com"> Top Stories </a><br /><br /><br />On Sunday April 3, 2011 we held our third public reading of <em>Rights of Passage</em>. We are happy to report, and our invited audiences agree, the play has taken another huge leap forward. One of the greatest challenges is sharpening the structure of the storytelling in a manner that allows for global LGBT human rights perspectives to unfold with clarity and compassion.<br /><br />The two-act play continues to be anchored by the life of its central character, a gay Hindu named Wayan. From time to time, his narrative his suspended so that stories from around the world may filter in. The journeys in the play, unfold in three key “rites” of passage - childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. We continue to work on the inspiring nuances of our characters who are based on the many LGBT citizens we’ve met, interviewed and/or researched since we began working on <em>Rights of Passage </em>in 2008. The next and final public reading is coming up this summer. After that, we prepare the production draft which will have it’s world premiere at the New Conservatory Theatre Center in August 2012. <br /><br /><br /><strong>Direct from Java!</strong><br />As previously reported on this blog, our guest from Java, Didik Nini Thowok arrives in the US shortly for his performances of Gender Mystic April 21-24, 2011. His solo dance and mask work is heralded the world over and we’ll have him with us for four shows. For tickets and more detailed info hop on to <a href="http://www.nctcsf.org">www.nctcsf.org</a>. This event is produced in association with the Asian Art Museum <a href="http://www.asianart.org ">www.asianart.org </a>which by the way has a breathtaking Bali exhibit that is a must see. Plus, Didik will be doing a special lecture/demonstration event there on Saturday afternoon April 23, 2011 at 1pm. It’s all happening this month!Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-34803614045347332172011-03-10T11:21:00.000-08:002011-03-10T11:25:42.471-08:00Continuing the SF & Indonesia Connection<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWE9txXIn1l1diGuq0NYDX-457LXcXVN1DPU0qy975QtaoZNkwhOGNkslLs4a739r9CSunfA4mk_j7-R_AMCNGPXjMIiPo7P8NBdDG4ghfpJmRO0e1zMChnKl4ZZsasV1jhHEj0RnIA4/s1600/Didik+Close+Up.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWE9txXIn1l1diGuq0NYDX-457LXcXVN1DPU0qy975QtaoZNkwhOGNkslLs4a739r9CSunfA4mk_j7-R_AMCNGPXjMIiPo7P8NBdDG4ghfpJmRO0e1zMChnKl4ZZsasV1jhHEj0RnIA4/s320/Didik+Close+Up.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582534402706492226" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.zimbio.com/member/sfwave"> <img alt="My Zimbio" title="My Zimbio" src="http://www.zimbio.com/images/badges/badgeBlue.png?u=sfwave" border="0" /></a><br /> <a style="margin-top:2px; display:block; font-size:11px; padding-left:10px; color:#244366;" href="http://www.zimbio.com"> Top Stories </a><br /><br />The rumors are true. The next draft of our play <span style="font-style:italic;">Rights of Passage</span> will be read at NCTC on April 3, 2011 at 2pm.<br /><br />In other breaking news...We just received word from the US Office of Homeland Security that NCTC will indeed be permitted to host 4 performances of Gender Mystic next month featuring our friend and highly regarded international artist Didik Nini Thowok. Didik uses masks and dance forms from different Asian traditions to embody different characters, moods and contemporary ideas with comic strength. Didik is one of the few remaining artists who explores transgender culture and its cultural connection with mystical practices in Indonesia.<br /><br />Gender Mystic is being presented in association with the SF Asian Art Museum who will also be hosting a lecture demonstration event during his visit. Didik’s limited engagement in San Francisco will benefit <span style="font-style:italic;">Rights of Passage</span> which will have its world premiere in August of 2012.<br /><br />Please visit our website at <a href="http://www.nctcsf.org">www.nctcsf.org</a> to join us for the April 3, 2011 <span style="font-style:italic;">Rights of Passage</span> staged reading, book your tickets for Gender Mystic April 21-24, 2011 or to visit us at the Asian Art Museum on April 23, 2011.<br /><br />It’s a hive of activity next month!Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853473956636581568.post-21802513967933673962011-02-16T09:43:00.000-08:002011-02-16T09:45:35.590-08:00Watchful Eye on Egypt<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmeZOQJUGIqrgWmLf-RE0le-2hzUYacXa2YEW5PQvgWjYpEmqlUPNVuOVzEp_1IWxp2BRN2PGln_SgS1hhbNL91wjiSzXaQ3TSw9Ka2Jhyphenhyphenq8ZeGtN636OhFkWvay88wW9IDBcixubCL0/s1600/money-6b.PICT.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmeZOQJUGIqrgWmLf-RE0le-2hzUYacXa2YEW5PQvgWjYpEmqlUPNVuOVzEp_1IWxp2BRN2PGln_SgS1hhbNL91wjiSzXaQ3TSw9Ka2Jhyphenhyphenq8ZeGtN636OhFkWvay88wW9IDBcixubCL0/s320/money-6b.PICT.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574344909759674642" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.zimbio.com/member/sfwave"> <img alt="My Zimbio" title="My Zimbio" src="http://www.zimbio.com/images/badges/badgeBlue.png?u=sfwave" border="0" /></a><br /> <a style="margin-top:2px; display:block; font-size:11px; padding-left:10px; color:#244366;" href="http://www.zimbio.com"> Top Stories </a><br /><br />Last week the world was watching as the tri-decade rule of dictator Hosni Mubarak ended. Even more miraculous was that there was limited violence and bloodshed. Peaceful activism was the rule not the exception and thankfully government forces exercised restraint.<br /><br />Still, it is no secret that LGBT citizens in Egypt and throughout much of the Arab world are not officially recognized by ruling political parties, opposition movements or even the general public. Homosexuality and cross-dressing continue to be severely stigmatized in these countries. Interviewing LGBT individuals from the middle east for our play Rights of Passage, has consistently verified that protecting traditional Islamic values and "public morality" remain fundamental social weapons against homosexuals. This reality continues to stimulate isolation, fear, persecution and incarceration based on sexual orientation.<br /><br />So it is with a watchful eye that we observe progress towards democracy in the region. While there is much to accomplish in the way of forming a new government and addressing the many needs of its citizens we can only hope that basic human rights for all will be a significant part of the conversation.Ed and Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05793425276713018534noreply@blogger.com0