Awakenings / Lambda LitFest LA 2018

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"Awakenings: Weaving Our Stories Through the Threads of Time" is an official selection for Lambda Literary LitFest LA 2018, weaving together the stories of people’s lives and events which have contributed to LGBTQ social and spiritual awakenings. 

The program is presented in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of Metropolitan Community Churches by Rev. Troy Perry (October 6, 1968) and the 20th anniversary of the death of Matthew Shepard (October 12, 1998), and the 40th anniversary of the death of Harvey Milk (November 27, 1978).

Hosted by Author, Actor, Producer
​James Brandon 

James Brandon is author of his Young Adult novel which debuts next year with Penguin Random House.​

Director, Producer, Writer, Editor
Scott Bloom​

​Check out Scott Bloom's latest film "Raceland"
​HERE

Readings from diverse literary works reflect upon the social unrest and oppression of the late 1960’s, which led the young Troy Perry into spiritual activism and birthed the first spiritual home for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.  

Out of the struggles for equal rights and the anguish of the AIDS epidemic, the writings bring to life personal and collective awakenings in the midst of overwhelming challenges.

As we recount the creation of the rainbow flag 40 years ago, as a vibrant fabric binding the community together, we recall how the deaths of Harvey Milk and Matthew Shepard led to awakenings, endurance, and the expansion of a global compassionate movement.  

The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles performs works from the concert-length composition "Considering Matthew Shepard."

6pm - 7pm 
Reception / Light Food & Drinks in the Courtyard
Hosted by Founders MCC

7pm - 8:15
Awakenings Part 1
Official Lambda LitFest Presentation

8:15 - 8:30
Intermission / Refreshments
Hosted by Founders MCC

8:30 - 9:45
Awakenings Part 2
Filmmaker Scott Bloom presents clips from the documentary "Call Me Troy,"
​along with Q&A with special guests.

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20 YEARS

OUR PRIDE Video Fest invites youth and college students to tell the stories of the lives of LGBTQ+ people.  

20 years ago, on the evening of October 6, 1998, Matthew Shepard, a young, gay student at the University of Wyoming in Laramie was kidnapped, severely beaten, tied to a fence and left to die in a lonely field under a blanket of stars. Six days later, when Matt passed away, the world was watching. Approaching the eve of the 20th anniversary, composer Craig Hella Johnson responded with his first concert-length work, Considering Matthew Shepard.  The video featured here is his work entitled ​"We Tell Each Other Stories."

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Listen closely to the lyrics and consider
why we tell our stories

In Tribute to Matthew Shepard
We invite you to tell the stories of the Matthew Shepards in your life - the stories of those who have struggled in the face of hatred.

The horrific events that took place shortly after midnight on October 7, 1998 would become one of the most notorious anti-gay hate crimes in American history and spawned an activist movement that, more than a decade later, would result in passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, a federal law against bias crimes directed at lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people.