Saving Our History
with “Brother Outsider”
Co-director Bennett Singer will lead a seminar on the importance of finding, saving, and incorporating archival material into film and film archives, using the making of the film he co-directed with Nancy Kates, “Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin” as a real-world example of saving African American LGBT history. The seminar will appropriately be taking place on Pride of the Ocean’s, “Selma, Seneca Falls and Stonewall: Films That Made a Difference” cruise June 1-8, 2014 from New York to Bermuda, “Brother Outsider” being a film that made and continues to make a difference.
Long before Martin Luther King, Jr. became a national figure, Bayard Rustin routinely put his body and his life on the line as a crusader for racial justice. He was openly gay during the fiercely homophobic era of the 40s and 50s; as a result, he was frequently shunned by the very civil rights movement he helped create.
Though he had to overcome the stereotypes associated with being an illegitimate son, an African American, a gay man and a one-time member of the Communist Party, Rustin the ultimate outsider eventually became a public figure and respected political insider. He not only shaped civil rights movement strategy as a longtime advisor to Martin Luther King, Jr., but was known and respected by numerous U.S. Presidents and foreign leaders.
Your joining this cruise helps support filmmakers maintain their work by creating works that save LGBT history, including the precious archival materials that make up our LGBT African American experience. Click here to book your cabin on Pride of the Ocean.
The Right Reverend Gene Robinson, recently retired Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire, is widely known as the first priest in an openly gay relationship to be consecrated a bishop in a major Christian denomination. His consecration paved the way for acceptance of other LGBT clergy in the Episcopal Church, but not without its share of controversy and conflict, including threats on his life and threats to the unity of the Episcopal church.
Starting off our programming on spirituality will be a screening of Daniel Karslake’s film, “For the Bible Tells Me So” which profiles Bishop Gene Robinson as one of its subjects. Bishop Robinson will subsequently be leading a panel discussion entitled, “LGBT Spirituality & Activism Since Stonewall: How have different faith traditions depicted on film and in reality helped or hindered LGBT acceptance since 1969?” Invited to join Robinson on the panel discussion is Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, named one of the 50 most influential rabbis in America by Newsweek for six years (2007-2012).
Only a Few Cabins Remain on the only LGBT Film Festival at Sea
“Our cruise has leaped in size every year,” states Pollin, “and this year we knew we would see another burst of interest for our first West Coast departure.”
No one knows the importance of the shore excursion like your fellow passenger, award-winning writer Randall Shirley, one of North America’s busiest freelance travel journalists! Over the next few weeks, travel to Randall’s blog and read his recommendations on shore excursions that will apply to many Alaska cruises. A Vancouver native who honeymooned in Alaska, he certainly knows the territory.
Randall has been in the journalism field for 20 years, including roles as editor and travel editor of three national Canadian gay magazines, and appearing on TV and radio as an expert in gay travel, cruise travel, and theatre travel. He frequently writes for publications such as Travel+Leisure, The Boston Globe, The Dallas Morning News, Canada’s Calgary Herald and Up! inflight magazine.
