To those of you who came to our first presentation: THANK YOU!!
With a packed, standing-room-only house, an incredibly loving and present audience, tears and laughter, and loud standing ovations for the courage and honesty of our presenters, the first MSP performance took place on 8/17/08 at La Peña Cultural Center in Berkeley! Huge thanks to the amazing participants, and to everyone who came out to support and share - this feels like just the beginning of a broad-reaching and important project which will only become stronger as we go! This performance included 16 men, ages 22-60. Topics addressed included: platonic love between men; struggles with Islam, homophobia and HIV; bisexuality and internalized homophobia; disability and sexuality; testicular cancer and personal wholeness; images of African American masculinity; men's public restroom rituals; one man’s journey from domestic violence perpetration to anti-violence activism; refusal to continue intergenerational patterns of violence; spirituality in San Quentin; transgender identity and gender fluidity; relationships with fathers and other family members; and gratitude to lifelong mentors. Presenters included established local artists and first-time performers. Audience feedback can be seen here.
Presenters
Juan Cuba (SF Women Against Rape), Robert Haaland, Kenny Johnson (This Sacred Space), Michael Katz, L. Abdul-Kenyatta, Leroy F. Moore, Jr. (Sins Invalid), Galen Peterson (Art in Action); Jeff Pollett, Rashad Pridgen (a.k.a. Soul Nubian), Ahmed Salcido, Matt Singh, Jake Tobias; Abe Becker, Matt Blesse, Charles Ekabhumi Ellik, Stephen Meads (Berkeley & Oakland slam poetry championship teams).
