“Love, Simon” and “Fellow Travelers”

Hi, All,

I wanted to share my gay cultural weekend with you! On Friday, we went to the Chicago showing of “Fellow Travelers,” the gay opera based on the novel of the same name and about the Lavender Scare of the 1950s. Then today, we headed out to see the movie “Love, Simon.” I found both experiences incredibly powerful and moving.

It was revolutionary to sit through a contemporary opera about a event in American history that felt so personal. The singing was absolutely incredible – a first rate story, a solid adaptation of the original book, and a moving tragedy. It proved to be a thought provoking opera, as only opera can deliver – my only regret is that it has such a limited run in Chicago that we can’t go see it again.

As for “Love, Simon,” it, too, moved me in a powerful way. Who would have thought, even a decade ago, that we would arrive at a moment when a mainstream movie with a solid budget would deliver such a matter of fact portrayal of coming out? I say matter of fact because it does not involve a right-wing hate filled attack or angst, and the people surrounding Simon are accepting of it. Yet it reminds us all that, even when more typical than ever before in 2018, it remains a profound moment for the person coming out. The emotion was powerful, the acting superb, and the story well told.

With apologies for being that uncle at the family reunion: who would have thought in the early 1990s as I was coming out that we would arrive at this moment? A gay opera and major movie all in one weekend, all prompting us to think about being gay in America and what it means to be out and proud. Now more than ever, it is important that we take these reminders and moments to reflect on the past and forge ahead in the future, to maintain the power of the continued struggle toward equality.

It made the release of The Vampire’s Angel this week a little sweeter, to maybe play even a small part in this cultural force. Thanks for reading, Damian

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