What Are You Doing for National Coming Out Day?

In the wake of the Bishop Eddie Long scandal and recent gay suicides, author Dale Madison releases his second book, Sissy Sammy in the Land of WEHO 90069. The story, an illustrated fairytale tackling the coming out of the closet experience, follows Sammy, an effeminate boy from Compton who ends up in West Hollywood after a bullying experience trying to find his way back home. The Wizard of Oz inspired story addresses homophobia, gay bashing, suicidal thoughts, name-calling and the history of the gay rights movement.

 

As part of National Coming Out Day, Dale Madison, will hold a staged reading of Sissy Sammy for In The Meantime Men’s Group, a Los Angeles community service organization that enriches, empowers, and extends the lives of inter-generational black men, respectful of sexual orientation, through social, educational, health and wellness programs and services. 

• Tragically, LGBT youth are taunted, harassed, bullied and even worse. One in four becomes homeless after coming out to their parents.
• The risks to LGBT youth during their adolescent years are greater than heterosexual youth because of the need to please parents can also involve suppressing same-sex desires and behaviors triggering negative emotional responses. This triggers isolation when combined with peer pressure, suicide seems like the easy way out.

 

Dale Madison has always given himself permission to be out the closet. He explains that in detail in his memoir, Dreamboy: My Life as a QVC Host & Other Greatest Hits. Madison is currently in a Masters in Education program at Antioch University. His thesis tackles the use of arts as a way to make an impact on LGBTQ youth at risk of suicide and bullying 

“This book is my first step at trying to make an impact on these kids. I have been working on this project for two years, but I could never have imagined the number of suicides to come out of the last month. I feel like something is about to change in the horizon for LGBT people.” says Madison. “In a strange way, I almost have to thank Eddie Long. Out of this horrible scandal, maybe the Black church will start dealing with homosexuality differently, but most importantly people will begin to understand why we cannot stay in a closet.”

He references pop culture musical lyrics and gay figures quotes come from Audre Lorde, Christine Jorgenson, Bayard Rustin, and James Baldwin. Madison offers vocabulary words and discussion questions as a foundation of a lesson plan.

“I read the story to a group of youth at LifeWorks, a gay mentoring program in the LA Gay & Lesbian Center.” Madison adds,” I wanted their take on the stereotypes. Many of them identified with the characters as real people in their lives. One kid raised his hand and asked what rough trade was. I answered think rent boy and he got it. I laughed to myself:

Oh my God, I think we have a gay generation gap here!”

WHO: author Dale Madison

WHAT: FREE staged reading of Sissy Sammy in the Land of WEHO 90069

WHEN: 7:30 PM Tuesday: October 12, 2010

WHERE: In The Meantime Men’s Group 4067 W. Pico Blvd. LA CA 90019

For more info: 323-733-4868 or 323-758-1337 info@damngoodman.com or inthemeantimemen@aol.com