Film and discussion series begins today on issues facing gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex young people
By: Courtney Gross
Nowhere can discrimination and stereotypes be more cruel than within the schoolhouse walls and several Princeton area groups have geared up to combat those instances.
Princeton High School’s Gay Straight Alliance, the Princeton Public Library and the Central New Jersey Chapter of the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network have joined forces to sponsor a film and discussion series focusing on issues facing gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex youth.
Starting at the library today, the festival, titled the "GLBTQI Equal Rights Film and Lecture Series," will consist of five film screenings and five discussions throughout the weekend. The intent, the series’ organizers said, is to raise awareness on GLBTQI issues and answer to the importance of diversity.
To Liz, the co-president of the Gay Straight Alliance at PHS, who asked that her last name not be used, adolescents don’t often realize their own language can be discriminatory and hurt others.
"In Princeton High School, if you walk down the hallways its not rare that you hear a comment like, ‘that’s so gay,’" Liz said.
Whether it’s an aside in the hallway or an intentional insult, students and adults should realize, accept and understand the differences among people, she said. That diversity, she added, is personified in the common symbol of the rainbow.
Although the festival targets all ages, co-sponsor Carol Watchler, co-chair of the Central New Jersey Chapter of the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network, said it is important for all students to respect one another and understand sexuality identity issues.
"It’s really an education opportunity and a chance to raise issues that don’t get discussed in lots of places," Ms. Watchler said of the festival.
The festival is free and open to the public, which Ms. Watchler said will provide an open and inviting venue for anyone to come in and discuss GLBTQI issues.
Today’s events include:
A reception and opening remarks at 4:30 p.m.
A 5 p.m. screening of "Jim in Bold" a film telling the tale of 19-year-old Jim Wheeler who committed suicide after being teased about his sexuality in school.
A 6:30 p.m. post-screening discussion with Shawn Burke, founder of Gay Straight Alliance Network International, and the film’s executive producer, Malcom Lazin.
Saturday’s events are as follows:
1 p.m. screening of "Boys Don’t Cry," the true story of Teena Renae Brandon a female that is identified as a male.
A 3 p.m. discussion with Father Louis Braxton, founder of Carmen’s Place, a shelter for transgender youth in Queens, N.Y.
A screening of "Gender Trouble," the stories of four intersex women, at 4 p.m.
An interactive workshop at 4:30 p.m. focuses on intersexuality, where an individual has characteristics defined as neither male or female.
A 7 p.m. screening of "Fire" a tale of a woman stuck in an arranged marriage who falls in love with her sister-in-law.
A 9 p.m. presentation by Amnesty International’s OUTfront, that will discuss current human rights violations to the homosexual and transgender community in various countries.
Sunday’s events are as follows:
A 4 p.m. screening of "Do I Look Fat?" a dissection of the gay community’s perception of being overweight.
A 5 p.m. discussion on how the media effects the community’s views of GLBTQI community and how that community views itself.

