Written by Thunder Bay District Health Unit on 01 March 2011
Exploring Identities and Celebrating Diversity
THUNDER BAY, ON – With violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) people continuing and members of the community fighting for equal human rights, a new film festival strives to challenge attitudes while at the same time celebrate the community’s diversity.
The University Centre Theatre at Lakehead University will play host to the inaugural Northern Exposure: Pride in the North Film Festival this Sunday, March 6th. The event is sponsored by Pride Central and the Gender Issues Centre (GIC) in collaboration with the Sexuality and Gender Equity (SAGE) working group.
According to Emily Lauzon, Pride Central’s director, there was no shortage of films to consider. “Our committee reviewed films from around the world. We had to make some difficult decisions as we could not show them all. The films selected will explore issues related to sexual orientation and gender expression, gender transition, aging and the queer community, as well as two-spirit traditions.”
The festival’s films include:
1:00 pm : She’s a Boy I Knew is a Canadian film which explores issues related to gender expression and chronicles the filmmaker’s transitional journey as Steven becomes his true self, Gwen.
2:30 pm : Two-spirits is the story of Fred Martinez, a young Native American, who was murdered at the age of 16 because he lived his life as a two-spirited person in the world between male and female.
4:00 pm : Gen Silent highlights a disturbing trend where LGBTQ seniors are forced back into the closet in order to find a place to live when they need health care and support in their later years.
7:00 pm : Straightlaced features American teens candidly discussing the impacts of stereotypes and gender roles. Their stories highlight how increasingly complex and challenging the world can be for today’s youth. This screening will be followed by a panel discussion.
MORE INFO
The theatre is located across from the security office in the University Centre.
Festival passes are $6.00 in advance and $8.00 at the door.
Ticket Locations:
The Bean Fiend (Algoma/Bay)
SUCCI office (Confederation College – Shuniah Building)
The Study Coffee House (LU University Centre)
Pride Central (343-8813)
Gender Issues Centre offices (343-8879).
The festival pass includes a light refreshment break in The Study before the evening film.
Parking is free on the weekend and the lots behind the library are just a short distance from the University Centre.
Tags: equal human rights, equality, equality for homosexuals, Gay community, human rights, lake superior newspaper, Lakehead University, Lesbian community, LGBTQ, Northern Exposure, Northern Exposure: Pride in the North Film Festival, northern film festival, northern ontario, northern ontario daily, northern ontario daily newspaper, northern ontario newspaper, northshore daily news, northshore daily newspaper, northshore news, Northshore newspaper, northwestern ontario daily news, Northwestern Ontario News, northwestern ontario newspaper, ontario daily newspaper, Thunder Bay Film Festival, Thunder Bay news, Unviersity Theatre
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