Sassafras Lowrey

On Friday I was one of the speakers at the NYC Day of Silence/Vigil for Lawrence King that was held at the very packed Christopher Street Park. It was a truly incredible experience to be surrounded by so many youth and adults who are committed to making the world a better place for queer folks, and especially youth. There was not a person in attendance who had not been touched by the tragic death of Lawrence King. His death has rekindled the spirits of students and activists working to end the unique bullying culture which has been permitted to continue within American classrooms. The thing that first stuck out to me when I heard of the murder of Lawrence King, and wht has continued to haunt me is that he lived in a group home for abused and neglected children. Lawrence was part of the estimated 40% of homeless youth in the United States who are LGBTQ identified. Despite the broad attention Lawrence’s death has received (particularly in light of Day of Silence being dedicated to his memory this year) there has continued to be a media and community silence about Lawrence’s homelessness, this is what I spoke about on Friday evening, and the need for this death to be seen as a community call to action to end the epidemic of queer youth homelessness. A few moments after I spoke a pastor was brought to the stage, and the park became awash with the light from glowsticks. I am sure that the choice to use glowsticks was brought on by a lack of ability to get a permit for candles, and yet it seemed somehow fitting. <br><br>

A video of me speaking can be viewed here

or at youtube.com

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CKdu5kf_b7M

No Comments »

Break the Silence! Community Vigil in Memory of Lawrence King and other LGBTQ Youth Victims of Violence

Christopher Street Park (Manhattan)

Friday April 25

6pm-8pm

I am thrilled and honored that I have been invited to be one of the speakers at the NYC break the silence rally/memorial for Lawrence King this Friday. I was forced to leave home at 17 because I am queer, and now as an adult and the editor of the Kicked Out anthology I believe that one of the most important things to remember about Lawrence’s tragic death was that like so many of the youngest members of our community he had been forced to leave home and that as a part of him not dying in vain will be for on a community level to reform the ways in which we think about homeless LGBTQ youth.

The National Day of Silence brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. This year’s event will be held in memory of Lawrence King, a California 8th-grader who was shot and killed Feb. 12 by a classmate because of his sexual orientation and gender expression. Hundreds of thousands of students will come together on April 25 to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBT behavior.

The NYC event at Christopher Street Park is being organized and supported by Safe Horizon, the New York City Anti-Violence Project, GLSEN, the New York Civil Liberties Union, SCO Family of Services, the Ali Forney Center, Hispanic AIDS Forum, the LGBT Community Center, the Hetrick-Martin Institute and others.

No Comments »

Next appearing:

Monday, July 14, 2008, at 8:00 p.m.

ONE NIGHT ONLY!!!

Appearing as part of HOT! The 17th Annual Celebration of Queer Culture

Dixon Place

258 Bowery, Second Floor, New York, NY

Tickets - $15 general / $12 students and seniors

Tickets available at the door or at dixonplace.org

Kestryl and Sassafras are a queer couple that, despite their best efforts, pass as straight more often than they like to admit. Perforating privilege and complicating queerness, Traitors without (T)reason explores the betrayal, invisibility, sacrifice, subversion, and loss that are inextricably tied into public passing. Are you with us or are you against us?

Monday, July 14, 2008, at 8:00 p.m.

ONE NIGHT ONLY!!!

Appearing as part of HOT! The 17th Annual Celebration of Queer Culture

Dixon Place

258 Bowery, Second Floor, New York, NY

Tickets - $15 general / $12 students and seniors

Tickets available at the door or at dixonplace.org

No Comments »