By Stephen Hammoor

“Who cares if a faggot dies?”

Larry Kramer’s piercing, repetitive realization inspires an analogous question: Who cares what a faggot did? These questions demand exhaustive responses because they engender the absolute disgust for some held by many in America today. Answers to these questions cannot go unvoiced.

These questions are violent; they rip me open and leave me raw. Paradoxically, they concurrently inspire and invigorate me — I hope they elicit a response in you as well. It is out of this rage and simultaneous passion, which is mirrored most times I read the news, I want to share an exciting exploration happening at Indiana University this fall. With your help, we are working to: inspire action, demand answers, explore theory and enliven a population — I am elated to have the opportunity to write about it.

Abraham Lincoln’s Big, Gay Dance Party

The project grows out of my direction of Aaron Loeb’s new play, Abraham Lincoln’s Big, Gay Dance Party. The play, which opened to rave reviews at the San Francisco Playhouse, is a cutting, satirical, burlesque of a show. The plot follows the “trial of the century” in which a schoolteacher in Menard County, Illinois is tried for teaching her grade school students some uncomfortable truths of American history. The story that ensues involves this trial and the mixing of rural, social and political spaces through an ensemble cast of seven dancing Lincolns (as well as the slew of other characters these same actors and actresses play). Drawing on my concept for this production, I am looking to explore the broader implications of gay and queer American history through a number of events; I am working with an entire creative team to expand this play’s themes into challenging and creative academic, social and political discourse. This project will function to allow you to explore gay and queer identities, American history and modern LGBTQ rights through a number of different mediums over the course of a weekend in Bloomington, Indiana.

Queer pedagogy

The project begins on Friday, October 21 at 4.30p in the historic, John Waldron Auditorium with an academic panel discussion titled (with a nod to Sarah Palin): Queer History in ‘real America’; Subjugated knowledge in 21^st century education. This frank and penetrating discussion will engage Dr. Mary L. Gray, Dr. Sylvester A. Johnson, Dr. Gustave Weltsek, and Dr. Rachel Mattson in an analysis of queer history and the role it can play in a number of mediums in the lives of American youth who live outside upper-class urban areas. It will look to explore this history as a pedagogical tool and seek to encounter its role in the formation of identity for these individuals. The panel will last an hour with a 30 minute open Q&A immediately following. The panel will be followed by a break for dinner after which, the Bloomington premiere of ALBGDP will take place at 8.00p.

Theatre as a rehearsal for revolution

The following day, October 22, all are invited to Rachael’s Café at noon for a Forum Theatre session, which will be used to explore the actual impact of oppression, in many forms, that manifests itself against the LGBTQ population. The Forum will specially focus on the most recent events in the population (personally, locally and nationally) and is open to everyone to come and explore these systems of power through the Theatre of the Oppressed tradition. This part of the project is working to engage a diverse community in issues that are on the ground. We will use contentious issues such as debates over gay and queer history, identity and the fight for equal rights as jumping off points for our theatrical discussion.

Queer youth in the classroom

Later that afternoon, Rachel Mattson (Assistant Professor, SUNY New Paltz) will lead a workshop for educators as well as soon-to-be educators on practical investigations into the possibilities, the purpose, and the practice of teaching queer histories. This workshop will be based on the educational work Dr. Mattson has been engaged in developing to accompany the Pop-Up Museum of Queer History. Dr. Mattson’s contribution to the educational discourse of the weekend will offer an interactive, on-the-ground perspective of the academic panel’s discussion only an evening prior. Her work in our project speaks to its forward drive into communities and schools as individuals work to combat a number of queer youth histories.

Sunday morning, October 23, will begin at 11.00a with a brunch talkback with the cast and creative team of ALBGDP and the weekend will be capped off by one last performance at 2.00p.

Engaging the Arts

Throughout the week of October 14-23, look for an installation of the Pop-Up Museum of Queer History which most recently popped up in SoHo and will make an appearance in Bloomington for the project. The Museum will feature works of art from around the country as well as some that were made in Indiana and even by local Bloomington artists. In addition to these great pieces, artifacts and art pieces from the famed Kinsey Institute (which will be opening a gallery of work by Len Prince this weekend as well) will be featured at the Pop-Up along with contributions from the Monroe County Historical Society.

Get fired up

Who does care what a faggot did? I am here to say that I do. I am passionate about bringing to life gay and queer history and its undeniable role in our present. I am passionate about offering a variety of mediums that people can use to explore these important and often subjugated issues. I am passionate about empowering every faggot, queer, dyke, trannie and any other individual relegated to being identified by a slur. I am also passionate about the LGBTQ population getting, as John Waters put it, “our humor back.” “Let’s be outlaws again!” he challenged in a recent Advocate interview. That’s exactly what we’re doing this fall in Bloomington. Come for a day, come for the weekend come for one event — bring your rage, bring your joy, bring yourself to our big, queer dance party.

This project, and all of its events, is completely free and open to the public as are all works produced by the Indiana University Players. The weekend will be highlighted by the engagement of our sponsors such as Indiana Equality, the IU GLBT Center, the IU GLBT Alumni Association, FARMbloomington, and a number of other organizations. Be sure to swing by FARM that weekend, or anytime in October, for a delicious  ‘Shot in the Dark’ or another specialized item FARM as created for our project. Don’t forget to also look for other ways to support local businesses and organizations that are becoming involved in helping to bring this project to our statewide audience. Check our Facebook page for deals on hotels as you plan your weekend.

As we continue to work toward our large monetary and participative goals for this exciting project, we would love for you to be engaged in our work in any way that is possible. For more information about donating or volunteering for the weekend of October 21-23 or just for more information about the project, please e-mail biggayabe@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow us online for the latest news and details!