Articles....
A Documentary Exploring
The Coming Out
Experiences of
African
American
Lesbian,
Gay,
Bisexual
and
Transgender
Persons
Director
Jasmyne Cannick
FAMILIAR
STRANGERS: OUR STORY UNTOLD
By Jasmyne Cannick
Barely Breaking Even Productions (BBE Productions), a division of Bamboo Media, has
embarked upon a three-prong project to include a documentary
film, a photography book and a photo-text exhibit. The project
is a collaboration between journalist and publicist Jasmyne Cannick
and long time activist and writer Charlotte M. Young “My personal
goal is to incite the black family to start talking more openly
about sexual orientation and I believe that once we see the
diversity of gay people and hear their stories, this in itself
will help to combat homophobia in the black community and more
specifically in the black church,” comments Young.
The Familiar Stranger—As lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people of African descent, we
claim and are claimed by two communities--the black community
and the gay community. Neither community fully accepts,
appreciates or understands us. We are often seen by the black
community as outsiders, even though we are at every family
gathering and have been part of every struggle. While the LGBT
community is as racially diverse as this country's overall
population, white men and women have always been its most
visible and empowered members. Our issues are often marginalized
with the implication that homosexual issues are "white" issues,
and are therefore not important to the African American
community as a whole. This, of course, could not be farther from
the truth. AIDS has long been categorized by many heterosexual
leaders in the African American community as a gay, white, male
disease. However, AIDS is now infecting heterosexual men, women
and children in the African American community at an alarming
rate. The marginalization of African American LGBT by both the
Black and LGBT communities has resulted in the exclusion of the
most essential voices from a necessary dialogue of voices that
can best articulate the issues of both communities in ways that
non-African American gays and heterosexual Blacks can
understand. As gender roles are frequently used to define the
parameters of sexuality, all forms of sexuality must be
understood in the context of a specific culture.
The Filmmaker: Jasmyne Cannick
Jasmyne’s mission is to create a body of work that brings
about social change within the African American community. This
project endeavors to create a safe place for people to talk
openly about sexual orientation, to educate the black community
about the complexities of sexual identity and to document the
coming out experiences of African-American lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. This is in an effort to
combat homophobia, promote tolerance and increase the
understanding of various sexual orientations through the
exhibition of film, art and creative expression.
Jasmyne is a first time director and filmmaker
who has successfully transitioned from media and public
relations to film. She attended college in California where she
majored in communications with an emphasis in public relations.
Most recently, Ms. Cannick served as the Pan African Film and
Arts Festival Media Relations
Director (2001, 2002) and worked for Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian
Film Festival Outfest (2001). She also assists with a radio show
in Los Angeles, is a freelance writer, and performs public and
media relations for community organizations, films and small
businesses. Jasmyne Cannick is an out lesbian and an
activist in her community for LGBT rights. She attends Unity
Fellowship Church of God in Christ under the direction of
Archbishop Carl Bean, founder of Minority AIDS Project. Jasmyne
and her partner reside in Los Angeles, California where she is
currently working on her documentary.
Participating Organizations:
- Pan African Film and Arts Festival – Los
Angeles, CA
Established in 1992, The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF)
is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the promotion of
cultural and racial tolerance and understanding through the
exhibition of film, art and creative expression. It is PAFF's
goal to present and showcase the broad spectrum of Black
creative works, particularly those that reinforce positive
images and help to destroy negative stereotypes. We believe
film and art can lead to better understanding and foster
communication between peoples of diverse cultures, races, and
lifestyles, while at the same time, serve as a vehicle to
initiate dialogue on the important issues of our times.
www.paff.org.
- Unity Fellowship Church of God & Christ
– Los Angeles, CA
The Unity Fellowship Church Movement was founded,
incorporated and chartered (as a 501(C)(3) non-profit
religious organization) in Los Angeles, California in the year
1985. The "Mother Church", also known as Unity
Fellowship of Christ Church, is located in Los Angeles, CA. at
5818 West Jefferson Blvd.
www.unityfellowship.org.
- IMRU KPFK 90.7 FM – Los Angeles, CA
Originally called "Morning Glory," IMRU evolved into a
regular feature on KPFK in 1975. Completely staffed by
volunteers, IMRU has gone through many changes with its
format, time & day of broadcast, and people involved with it.
At one time there were three shows producing LGBT content on
KPFK: Lesbian Sisters, IMRU, and Radio GLLU (Gay & Lesbian
Latinos Unidos). In 1997, the show evolved into the weekly
radio news format it has today. This format includes feature
segments on a wide variety of topics of concern to the LGBT
community including politics, social issues, health issues,
entertainment and also local and national news.
www.imru.org.
- Outfest Film Festival – Los Angeles, CA
The mission of OUTFEST is to build bridges among
audiences, filmmakers and the
entertainment industry through the exhibition of high-quality
gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender themed films and
videos, highlighted by an annual festival, that enlighten,
educate and entertain the diverse communities of Southern
California. www.outfest.org.
- Arise Magazine – National
A publication dedicated to the lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, and same-genderloving community of people of
African descent. Arise Magazine’s mission is to challenge the
mind, encourage the spirit, and affirm the value of all
sexually diverse people of African descent.
www.arisemag.com
Would You Like to Participate In This
Groundbreaking Documentary?
Barely Breaking Even Productions,
is seeking participants for this full length documentary film exploring coming out stories of
African-American gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
If you would like to participate in this groundbreaking
documentary you can call (310) 775-3153 or email
for a preliminary interview. Participant
selection will begin immediately through March of 2003 with
priority given to those who reply first. All ages are welcome.
BARELY BREAKING EVEN
PRODUCTIONS
A DIVISION OF BAMBOO MEDIA
P.O. BOX 432249
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90043
PHONE (310) 775-3153
EMAIL:
Web:
http://www.geocities.com/familiarstrangerfilm/info.html
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