At the intersection of Theater and Life

My latest theatrical project has me living at the intersection of theater and social work.  Pregones Theater, whom I am incredibly grateful to, is launching an Anti-Violence Theater Marathon by premiering Inside Out, an interactive forum theater play that raises awareness about violence and bullying against LGBT teens, and makes us think critically about the safe haven we create or destroy for each other. 

I recently read an Elie Wiesel quote: “I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation.  We must always take sides.  Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”  I realized that in avoiding confrontation and possible retaliation I have been neutral and silent for way too long.  In trying to see all possible sides of a situation, my inaction has been empowering the oppressor, prolonging and validating behaviors that keep social progress stagnant. Now, using theater, the medium that I love and have been working through for so long, I have the chance to stand up to educate others on how to prevent bullying by identifying precursors to violence.

Some bullies are obvious. They’re abrasive, domineering, brash, threatening and loud. Others use comedy and charm to win over the general population while making disparaging remarks (in the form of jokes) that eventually create a group bias against someone that is obviously different than the rest.  Sometimes it’s tough because the one making the jokes is your friend and on a daily basis you see all the good qualities that he or she has and from your perspective there is nothing wrong with what they say cause ‘that’s just their sense of humor and didn’t mean anything by it.’ In reality, by not calling your friend out, you are being neutral and encouraging the tormentor.  Sometimes these people just need to hear how big of an idiot they sound like with the things that they say.

I’m glad that using theater I now get the chance to expose kids to the arts and to make them think critically about the way we relate to one another. 

Here’s a couple of random thoughts and facts:

• Some school principals and teachers are still hesitant to deal with the subject of violence against LGBT teens.  It’s ridiculous that with the amount of suicides that have been recorded in the recent past, there would still be such a resistance on behalf of adults to talk about this.
• Physical abuse is not the beginning of domestic violence.  Men get physical with women when the verbal and emotional abuse has reached its climax and the women make a move to leave.
• In promoting that marriages don’t break up, churches are not only of little help in DV cases, but they often recommend the victim stays in potentially harmful situations and submits to her husband. (Jesus is not proud of this!)
• HIV infection rates among Black and Latino gay teens are as high as they were in the 80’s. YIKES!!
• DADT was the epitome of silence empowering the oppressor.  Instead of calling out the victimizers, the government made the victims shut up.
• Senior citizens are victims of violence and abuse on behalf of their own families and are often ignored about it.
• The reason gay marriage passed in New York and is being advocated for is not only a social nor a moral issue but a legal one, and protects some heterosexual couples as well.  Family Court protects only those that are married by law and intervene in any case where abuse is reported. Anyone who is not married by law, though, has to report their cases of domestic or partner abuse in Criminal Court, which means that they have to wait until a crime is committed to get judicial protection.  IN other words, unless you are physically harmed, even though you’ve been in danger for a long time, the system can’t protect you.  If we are indeed as a nation setting out to “establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity” then we need to ensure that all citizens are protected.

Anyway, this blog entry is a bit soap-boxy and I don’t care.  I’m glad I get to use the passion of music and drama to provide options to create a better world for others.  At times I have questioned what it is that I stand for and why it is that I do it all for.  Well, now you know.  Commercial and intellectual art is great and I really enjoy it…I enjoy even more that it allows me to do art that changes and touches lives.

This is Tony…and that’s what’s going on!