(SAN FRANCISCO, CA - October 10, 2007) Center Women Present, a Community Initiative of The San Francisco LGBT Community Center (The Center), is set to host a public screening of director Catherine Crouch's film, The Gendercator as part of their Girls on Film event series. After being pulled from screening at Frameline31 earlier this year, many community members expressed a strong desire to initiate a dialogue centered on the issues surrounding this film. The Center has worked alongside community members for the past several months to develop this crucial event. This free public screening and panel discussion will take place on Friday, October 26th , 2007 at 6:30 p.m. in the Rainbow Room of The SF LGBT Community Center.
"The community felt it was important for folks to be able to participate in a constructive dialogue in a transparent, moderated setting about the issues this film has raised," said Ondine Kilker, volunteer co-chair of Center Women Present. "We are appreciative of this opportunity to help facilitate a screening and dialogue as well as to help create contextualization of this film and the issues that it has re-ignited within our LGBTQI Bay Area community."
The evening will consist of a screening of the 15 minute film, introduction of panelists and a moderated question and answer session. Panelists for the evening include:
• Catherine Crouch, director of The Gendercator
• Elana Dykewoman
• Fresh! Encounter
• Jamison Green
• Mary Guzmán
• Susan Stryker
• Yavanté Thomas-Guess
Three moderators will also be present: Pam Hogan, natoyiniinastumiik (Holy Old Man Bull, formerly known as Marcus de Maria Arana) and Mariah Sparks.
"I am profoundly against censorship," said Jamison Green, author, educator, internationally-known transgender activist, and a panelist for the evening. "This discussion could be a way to air some deep-seated feelings that haunt both Lesbians and FTMs," Green added.
The hope of the event's organizers is for this screening and question and answer session to spark an ongoing dialogue. A public follow-up discussion is scheduled to take place on November 11th . Finalized information on this discussion will be available at the October 26 th screening.
"One of our goals at The Center is to help address divides that exist within the larger LGBT community and build bridges between them," said Rebecca Rolfe, Interim Executive Director of The Center. " The Gendercator has been a source of contention and high emotions within our community; we believe it is important to provide a space where a frank and honest dialogue can begin."
On October 26th , The Center will provide the community with an opportunity to view this film and engage with panelists in a question and answer session.
ABOUT CENTER WOMEN PRESENT
Center Women Present is a queer women's initiative started at the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, serving all self-identified women, including lesbians, queer, bisexual, and transgender community members. The program intends to address women's community issues through volunteer-led projects and is shaped primarily by input of community members, with assistance of The Center's staff.
ABOUT THE SAN FRANCISCO LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER
The San Francisco LGBT Community Center is the nexus of the LGBT community in the Bay Area. The Center provides San Francisco with a vast array of programs and services for LGBT people, their friends and families. Additionally, The Center is home to a dynamic range of organizations and activities that support individual LGBT people of every race, gender, age and socio-economic status in their efforts to achieve a positive sense of identity, purpose, social support and well-being. Each month, The Center serves over 9,000 visitors and hosts more than 400 events. The Center is located at 1800 Market Street in San Francisco. Visit The Center at www.sfcenter.org to learn more. |
