The Men’s Story Project: Building Strength, Creating Peace
Berkeley, CA. 114 min. 2009.
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[item title=’Short Description’]Filmed at La Peña Cultural Center in Berkeley, California with a standing-room-only audience, this film shows the powerful debut of the Men’s Story Project – a raw, innovative performance and dialogue project exploring social ideas about masculinity for the purpose of health and justice.[/item]
[item title=’Cast List’]Presenters include Robert Haaland, the first transgender candidate elected to San Francisco public office; Juan Cuba (San Francisco Women Against Rape); Leroy Moore (Sins Invalid); and members of the Berkeley and San Francisco slam poetry championship teams. Directed by Josie Lehrer, Sc.D.[/item]
[item title=’Long Description’]Described by audience members as “groundbreaking,” “transformative,” “a gift” and “something that needs to keep happening,” this film highlights a diverse group of 16 Bay Area artists, activists, and first-time presenters, ages 22-60, boldly sharing stories about their lives through slam poetry, monologues, music and dance.The stories address expression of platonic love between men; impacts of homophobia on heterosexual men’s relationships with each other; struggles with religion, homophobia and HIV/AIDS; coming out to one’s parents; intersections of race, disability and sexuality; testicular cancer and personal wholeness; images of African American masculinity; a journey from perpetrating domestic violence to becoming an anti-violence activist; men’s public restroom rituals; spirituality and transformation inside San Quentin prison; transgender identity and gender fluidity; challenging a father’s racism; being raised without male role models; desire to be in a committed relationship; gratitude to lifelong mentors; and other subjects.Presenters include Robert Haaland, the first transgender candidate elected to San Francisco public office; Juan Cuba (San Francisco Women Against Rape); Leroy Moore (Sins Invalid); Galen Peterson (United Roots); and members of the Berkeley and San Francisco slam poetry championship teams.[/item]
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