For Immediate Release
Monday, February 14, 2005
Contact: David Weintraub, Equality Loudoun: 540.822.4814, or
Vincent Worthington, Trumpet Vine Theatre Company: 703.642.1997
Equality Loudoun is delighted to announce that Trumpet Vine Theatre Company has agreed to perform the inaugural project of their new Arlington Outreach educational program, The Wrestling Season, for the Loudoun community.
Event details:
Saturday, March 5
7:30 pm
Unitarian Universalists of Sterling
22135 Davis Drive, Sterling VA
Arlington Outreach is “designed to engage the community, to open minds and hearts to the need for acceptance of GLBT individuals in the schools, in churches, in work places and in the community at large,” says Artistic Director Vincent Worthington. “Most people don’t understand what it is like for GLBT kids. Every day they hear classmates and even staff and faculty repeatedly using expressions such as ‘faggot,’ ‘dyke’ and ‘that’s so gay.’ Reports by GLSEN, Human Rights Watch and other organizations show GLBT youth are almost twice as likely as their non-gay peers to be threatened with or injured by a weapon at school, are four times as likely to skip school out of fear and are four times as likely to attempt suicide.”
Worthington, a teacher, believes the best way to create change is to educate. “Schools should be safe for all kids. Administrators, teachers, parents and students need to take the lead in confronting this problem. We hope they will come out and see the reading and then support the effort to bring it to their local schools.”
“It is clear from the recent controversy over the student written and directed play “Offsides” that we need to address this issue,” said David Weintraub, president of Equality Loudoun. “There are adults in our community who actually believe that by prohibiting the discussion of topics that make them uncomfortable, they can prevent their children from thinking about them. These kids are smart, no matter what they think of sexual diversity, and they deserve more respect than that. The students have told us, loud and clear, that this is an issue for them and they are going to address it.”
Unitarian Universalists of Sterling is generously hosting this event.
Play Confronts Homophobia and Youth Violence
The Wrestling Season, a play that addresses the effects of homophobia and gender stereotyping on young people, will be presented by Trumpet Vine Theatre Company on March 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Unitarian Universalists of Sterling, 22135 Davis Drive, Sterling VA. Written by acclaimed playwright Laurie Brooks, The Wrestling Season follows eight high school seniors as they grapple with difficult situations and issues that are common in schools today. A rumor spread by a rival that two top wrestlers are gay lovers leads to violence, broken friendships and a series of unfortunate choices. Brooks developed the piece as a result of work she did with high school students in the early 1990s, and says “I worked with young people to devise scenes that showed conflicts they dealt with every day.” The play ends with an interactive forum in which the characters engage the audience in discussion. The event is free and open to the public. For more information call 703.431.0882 or visit www.equalityloudoun.org