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Transforming Community event starts the conversation
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This Wednesday, June 24—two days before San Francisco’s official Pride Weekend—Rocco Kayiatos, aka Katastrophe, will be the curator for the fifth annual Transforming Community, as he’s been for the last several years. This two-hour event is split into two parts: multimedia performance by artists exploring the idea of what community looks like, how to make that idea a reality, and also explores the friction at the intersection of contemporary trans and queer communities. The second half is an intensive question and answer between the audience and the artists. “It feels important that an event about community truly be about building and creating community, and it feels effective with a discussion after” Kayiatos stated..jpg)
Transforming Community was created five years ago by Kayiatos and his partner at the time, Michelle Tea—another well known and loved local queer artist. “I was in the process of transitioning. It was a very alienating and confusing time for the both of us. I ended up spending a lot of time wondering where I belonged and how to make sense of it all. Michelle decided it would be interesting to take our daily conversations about community and identity and how the two meet to the community. I thought it would be cool to invite not just performers, but the audience to participate in this discussion.” Transforming Community is an event that gives voice to important topics going on in the trans and queer communityies. This includes the issues that arise when non-trans queers share cultural space with transpeople and genderqueers? With distinctly different needs and identities, what needs to be worked out between the transsexual and genderqueer and queer communities? It is one of the rare events that unites multiple communities and allows each one a chance to talk.
When asked what makes this event worth attending Kayiatos answered “it has the power to make us all better allies to ourselves and other members of our community. Every year I am struck by how deeply people bare their souls and how vulnerable everyone is. I have been moved to tears and learned something each time. I always leave with more compassion for the struggle of others and myself.” Transforming Community is the only event of its kind—where the audience has an equal part in the performance. Transgender history is both taught and created in these two hours. Kayiatos also believes the audience will leave “feeling like there truly is a way to set aside differences and fear and create true community and have love for your friends, family and allies.”
This year’s lineup consists of singer/dancer Josh Klipp, Renata J. Razza, activist Yoseñio V. Lewis, Jayna Ponder, Mila Ponder, Alexander Crumbsnatcher, Jess Katz and Compton Cafeteria rioter Felicia Elizondo! “Conversations between queer and trans communities have changed dramatically in the last few years and this powerful evening of performance and discussion captures the innovation and tension of this evolving conversation.”
Kayiatos has been performing for the past 12 years. He began rapping and making beats in 2002. Since then he’s been awarded Producer of the Year by Out Music Awards for his debute album “Let's Fuck, Then Talk About My Problems.” His music has appeared on the soundtracks for several short films and Showtime’s The L Word. While this is his only contribution to the National Queer Arts Festival this year, his latest CD “Worst Amazing” will be released on October 6 with 307 Knox Records out of Durham, North Carolina. Follow Katastrophe at www.katastropherap.com.
Transforming Community June 24 at the LGBT Center-Rainbow Room, 7pm. Buy tickets at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/66007
For more information about this event visit: http://www.queerculturalcenter.org/Pages/QFest09/TrsFormC.html
Also, don’t forget that this Friday, June 29 is the Trans March at Dolores Park from 3-7. The “largest trans event in the world!”
http://www.transmarch.org/
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