VideoOut, a NYC-based nonprofit created to amplify the voices of LGBTQ people by sharing coming-out stories and building community, and Strangewaze, a Chicago-based film production company, will host Chicago Story Collection Day Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017 at Center on Halsted 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Chicago Story Collection Day will be a day-long effort to engage local filmmakers and members of the LGBTQ community to film coming-out and ally stories as a way of building community and amplifying the voices of LGBTQ people.
Everyone is invited to participate. The event hopes to collect stories from any member of the LGBTQ community and its allies regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, language or age.
VideoOut is building the largest library of coming-out stories in hopes that everyone will come out and, as Harvey Milk said, destroy the lies and distortions that surround the LGBTQ community. It also hopes to affirm the work of generations past by highlighting the stories of LGBTQ elders. Lastly, the stories will live forever in VideoOut's library to serve as a resource for LGBTQ youth and a bridge of empathy between the LGBTQ community and everyone else. Here's a trailer of some of the stories they have collected: www.youtube.com/watch .
As seen on Twitter, some of Chicago's Drag Queen royalty, Gia Gunn and Monica Beverly Hillz, are confirmed to share their stories at the event. While other participants haven't been named, VideoOut founder Jordan Reeves says, "People from every discipline are coming out—politicians, teachers, entertainers, artists, allies—every story matters, and it's all of them together that make our community so wonderful!"
Anyone interested in sharing a story should reserve a ( free ) time: www.videoout.org/chicago/ .
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact local event organizer and Strangewaze Executive Director, Amy Guth at 773-317-7001 or amy@strangewaze.com or VideoOut Founder, Jordan Reeves at ( 929 ) 399-LGBT or jordan@videoout.org .
Visit videoout.org and strangewaze.com to learn more about each organization.
