‘The Prophets’ review: Love story sheds light on enslaved gay men

Contents:

• REVIEW: ROBERT JON JR. SHEDS LIGHT ON LIV OF ENSLAVED GAY MEN ‘THE PROPHETS’
• WRG GAY HISTORY
• GAY SLAV TASTE THE SWEET FREEDOM OF LOVE “SUGAR OUR WOUNDS”DONJA R. LOVE’S HISTORIL DRAMA MAK S WORLD PREMIERE {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY BRANDON VOSSJUNE 28, 2018/11:32 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:1365PX;WIDTH:2048PX;}JOAN MARCBY BRANDON VOSSJUNE 28, 2018 / 11:32 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"GAY SLAV TASTE THE SWEET FREEDOM OF LOVE “SUGAR OUR WOUNDS”","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2018-06-28T15:32:20.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2018-06-28T15:32:20.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"BRANDON VOSS","KEYWORDS":"THEATER","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WE’VE ALL HEARD THE MORS ABOUT ABRAHAM LLN, THE GREAT EMANCIPATOR, BUT HAS HOMOSEXUALY AMONG SLAV BEEN HET-WASHED OM HISTORY?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN DONJA R. LOVE’S OFF-BROADWAY PLAY SUGAR OUR WOUNDS, PART OF A TRILOGY EXPLORG THE QUEER BLACK EXPERIENCE, SHELDON BT AND CHAZA UCHE STAR AS JAM AND HENRY, SOUTHERN PLANTATN SLAV LIBERATED BY FORBIDN ROMANCE DURG THE CIVIL WAR. THE NEW DRAMA EARNED LOVE THE PRTIG LRENTS/HATCHER FOUNDATN AWARD, THE FIRST MAJOR PLAYWRG GRANT NAMED HONOR OF A GAY UPLE: ARTHUR LRENTS AND TOM {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CO-FOUNR OF THE EACH-OTHER PROJECT, AN ARTS AND ADVOCY ANIZATN FOR LGBTQ PEOPLE OF LOR, LOVE EXPLAS WHY ’S HIS EP-ROOTED RPONSIBILY TO REVIVE HIS FOTTEN QUEER ANCTORS.JENNY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHAT SPIRED YOU TO EXPLORE A GAY LOVE STORY ABOUT TWO SLAV?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO I WAS READG TARELL ALV MCCRANEY’S MARC; OR THE SECRET OF SWEET, AND THERE'S A PASSAGE WHERE A CHARACTER RELLS HEARG WHAT SLAVEOWNERS DID TO MALE SLAV WHO HAD BEEN TIMATE WH EACH OTHER. IT BLEW MY MD, BEE I NEVER IMAGED ANYONE LIKE ME EXISTG DURG THAT TIME—AS IF WE JT POPPED UP DURG STONEWALL. I ED TO TELL MYSELF I’D NEVER WRE A PLAY ABOUT SLAVERY, BEE I WAS TERTED CURRENT BLACK AMERIN NARRATIV, BUT THAT WAS BEFORE I ULD ENVISN TWO MEN LOVG EACH OTHER THE TIME OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IS THERE HISTORIL EVINCE THAT THERE WERE SAME-SEX RELATNSHIPS AMONG SLAV?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}Y, MY REARCH I ENUNTERED VAR STORI ABOUT MEN OF ENSLAVEMENT HAVG LOVE FOR EACH OTHER THAT WAS BEYOND IENDSHIP, FATHER-SON, BROTHER-BROTHER. IT WAS A VERY LIBERATG AND AFFIRMG DISVERY. THAT’S WHY I WANTED TO TELL THIS STORY, SO PEOPLE ULD SEE THEMSELV REFLECTED A WAY THEY NEVER IMAGED BEFORE. IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WE’VE ALWAYS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHOUT WORDS LIKE “GAY” OR “HOMOSEXUAL," HOW WERE THE RELATNSHIPS SCRIBED WRGS OM THE PERD?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE WAS SO MUCH D LANGUAGE. ONE WORD I REALIZED WAS AN DITOR FOR A RELATNSHIP BETWEEN MEN WAS “LOATHSOME,” SIAR TO HOW “ABOMATN” WOULD BE ED TODAY A RELIG NTEXT. MY DIRECTOR, SAHEEM ALI, KEPT G ACROSS THE WORD “BUGGERY.”JOAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF AMERIN SLAVERY. WHY DID YOU SET THE PLAY 1862?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SETTG 1862, RIGHT BEFORE THE EMANCIPATN PROCLAMATN WAS SIGNED, WAS ABOUT HOPE. I THOUGHT ABOUT THE TWO MEN WAKG UP EVERY DAY, KNOWG THE END OF THE DAY IS NOT PROMISED, AND I KNEW THEY NEED SOME HOPE TO MAKE THROUGH. THE HOPE OF EEDOM HELPED ACTIVATE ME AS A WRER AND MOVE THE PLOT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SUFFICE TO SAY THE ROMANCE IS ILL-FATED. WAS THERE EVER A VERSN OF THE PLAY WHICH THE MEN LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AFTER I GOT THE FIRST DRAFT OUT, I WONRED IF THEY ULD N OFF TOGETHER TO THE SUNSET. BUT I FELT LIKE I’D BE DOG THE STORY AND OUR ANCTORS A DISSERVICE BY NOT LEANG TO THE TTH OF THE TIME PERD. Y, THE TWO MEN LOVE EACH OTHER, BUT WE N’T FET WHAT WAS AT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HOW DID HOMOPHOBIA WH TODAY’S BLACK MUNY RM THE PLAY?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I TRIED NOT TO THK ABOUT THAT TOO MUCH, BUT NATURALLY, JT BY ME EXISTG THE WORLD, WAS GOG TO SEEP . I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW ARDUO BEG BLACK AND GAY N BE 2018, AND HOW THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WHO THK HOMOSEXUALY IS SOME NEW THG. SO I SAW THIS PLAY AS A CHANCE TO CHALLENGE PEOPL’ PRENCEIVED NOTNS G SOME LANGUAGE THAT MAY FEEL A B {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALTHOUGH THE SLAV THE PLAY AREN’T RELATED, THEY’VE CREATED A MAKHIFT FAY THAT ULTIMATELY SUPPORTS THE SAME-SEX RELATNSHIP. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO SHOW THAT ACCEPTANCE STEAD OF DISAPPROVAL?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}EVEN NOW, WE MT SOMETIM CREATE OUR OWN FAI TO FD THAT SUPPORT. THERE’S A SCENE WHERE AUNT MAMA SHOWS ENURAGEMENT WHEN JAM FALLY SHAR HIS TTH, AND I WAS TOLD FELT TOO NTEMPORARY TO HAVE HER WELE HIM WH OPEN ARMS. BUT I FOUND MY REARCH THAT THERE WERE TRIB AI, PRR TO BEG ENSLAVED, WHERE MEN MARRIED MEN, WOMEN MARRIED WOMEN. AUNT MAMA HAS A EP NNECTN TO THE ANCTORS AND THE PAST, SO FELT RIGHT FOR HER TO OFFER THAT LOVE.JOAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SUGAR OUR WOUNDS IS PART OF A TRILOGY LLED THE LOVE* PLAYS, WHICH ALSO CLUS FIREFLI AND IN THE MIDDLE. WHAT DO THE ASTERISK MEAN?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE ASTERISK DIT A FOC SPECIFILLY ON QUEER LOVE DURG PIVOTAL MOMENTS BLACK HISTORY. BEE MY LAST NAME HAPPENS TO BE LOVE, SOME PEOPLE THK ’S AN EGO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}YOU INTIFY AS AN “AO-QUEER” PLAYWRIGHT. DO YOU FEEL A RPONSIBILY TO WRE ABOUT THE BLACK QUEER EXPERIENCE?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}Y, 100%. JAM BALDW ONCE DID AN TERVIEW WHERE HE WAS ASKED IF BEG POOR, BLACK, AND GAY HAD MA HIM FEEL DISADVANTAGED AS A YOUNG WRER, BUT HE SAID HE FELT HE HAD “H THE JACKPOT.” I FEEL LIKE I WAS GIVEN THE INTI FOR A SPECIFIC REASON, SO I’M PROUD TO TELL STORI OM AN UNAPOLOGETILLY BLACK AND QUEER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS ON KANYE WT’S RECENT MENTS THAT SLAVERY WAS A CHOICE?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LORD HAVE MERCY. I WAS EXTREMELY DISHEARTENED, BEE SEEMS LIKE HE’S NAVIGATG SOME SORT OF MENTAL ILLNS. AS MUCH AS I LOVE KANYE, AND AS MUCH AS HIS MIC STILL SPIR ME, I ALSO THK HE HAS A LOT OF LEARNG AND RELEARNG TO DO. WE KNOW ENSLAVEMENT WAS NOT A CHOICE— JT TOOK A WHILE TO GET OUT OF . WE’RE STILL GETTG OUT OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SUGAR OUR WOUNDS NS THROUGH JULY 15 AT MTC’S STUD AT STAGE II NEW {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• GAY MEN UNR THE NAZI REGIME

REVIEW: ROBERT JON JR. SHEDS LIGHT ON LIV OF ENSLAVED GAY MEN ‘THE PROPHETS’

It is important to note that there existed lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr dividuals, muni, and relatnships long before the terms beme monplace. Gay and lbian relatnships existed ancient Rome and Greece muni and are shown a variety of art om that time.

WRG GAY HISTORY

Gay – 1955 – the term gay was ed throughout Europe earlier, but this is the year most agree that gay me to mean same-sex relatnships between men. 1896 – Magn Hirschfeld, a Jewish German physician and sexologist issued a pamphlet, Sappho and Socrat, on homosexual love (unr the psdonym Th.

1907 – Hirschfeld, a Jewish German physician and sexologist, ttified at a trial Germany about a gay relatnship and stated, “homosexualy was part of the plan of nature and creatn jt like normal love.

” Some of the lbian, gay or bisexual people of this movement clud wrers and poets such as Langston Hugh, Countee Cullen and Zora Neale Hurston; Profsor Ala Locke; mic cric and photographer Carl Van Vechten, and entertaers Ma Raey, Bsie Smh, Ethel Waters and Gladys Bentley. 1924 – The Society for Human Rights, the first gay rights anizatn, was found by Henry Gerber Chigo who had emigrated om Germany. 1933 – 1945 – Nearly 100, 000 German homosexual men were round up and placed ncentratn mps along wh Jewish people.

GAY SLAV TASTE THE SWEET FREEDOM OF LOVE “SUGAR OUR WOUNDS”DONJA R. LOVE’S HISTORIL DRAMA MAK S WORLD PREMIERE {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY BRANDON VOSSJUNE 28, 2018/11:32 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:1365PX;WIDTH:2048PX;}JOAN MARCBY BRANDON VOSSJUNE 28, 2018 / 11:32 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"GAY SLAV TASTE THE SWEET FREEDOM OF LOVE “SUGAR OUR WOUNDS”","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2018-06-28T15:32:20.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2018-06-28T15:32:20.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"BRANDON VOSS","KEYWORDS":"THEATER","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WE’VE ALL HEARD THE MORS ABOUT ABRAHAM LLN, THE GREAT EMANCIPATOR, BUT HAS HOMOSEXUALY AMONG SLAV BEEN HET-WASHED OM HISTORY?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN DONJA R. LOVE’S OFF-BROADWAY PLAY SUGAR OUR WOUNDS, PART OF A TRILOGY EXPLORG THE QUEER BLACK EXPERIENCE, SHELDON BT AND CHAZA UCHE STAR AS JAM AND HENRY, SOUTHERN PLANTATN SLAV LIBERATED BY FORBIDN ROMANCE DURG THE CIVIL WAR. THE NEW DRAMA EARNED LOVE THE PRTIG LRENTS/HATCHER FOUNDATN AWARD, THE FIRST MAJOR PLAYWRG GRANT NAMED HONOR OF A GAY UPLE: ARTHUR LRENTS AND TOM {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CO-FOUNR OF THE EACH-OTHER PROJECT, AN ARTS AND ADVOCY ANIZATN FOR LGBTQ PEOPLE OF LOR, LOVE EXPLAS WHY ’S HIS EP-ROOTED RPONSIBILY TO REVIVE HIS FOTTEN QUEER ANCTORS.JENNY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHAT SPIRED YOU TO EXPLORE A GAY LOVE STORY ABOUT TWO SLAV?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO I WAS READG TARELL ALV MCCRANEY’S MARC; OR THE SECRET OF SWEET, AND THERE'S A PASSAGE WHERE A CHARACTER RELLS HEARG WHAT SLAVEOWNERS DID TO MALE SLAV WHO HAD BEEN TIMATE WH EACH OTHER. IT BLEW MY MD, BEE I NEVER IMAGED ANYONE LIKE ME EXISTG DURG THAT TIME—AS IF WE JT POPPED UP DURG STONEWALL. I ED TO TELL MYSELF I’D NEVER WRE A PLAY ABOUT SLAVERY, BEE I WAS TERTED CURRENT BLACK AMERIN NARRATIV, BUT THAT WAS BEFORE I ULD ENVISN TWO MEN LOVG EACH OTHER THE TIME OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IS THERE HISTORIL EVINCE THAT THERE WERE SAME-SEX RELATNSHIPS AMONG SLAV?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}Y, MY REARCH I ENUNTERED VAR STORI ABOUT MEN OF ENSLAVEMENT HAVG LOVE FOR EACH OTHER THAT WAS BEYOND IENDSHIP, FATHER-SON, BROTHER-BROTHER. IT WAS A VERY LIBERATG AND AFFIRMG DISVERY. THAT’S WHY I WANTED TO TELL THIS STORY, SO PEOPLE ULD SEE THEMSELV REFLECTED A WAY THEY NEVER IMAGED BEFORE. IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WE’VE ALWAYS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHOUT WORDS LIKE “GAY” OR “HOMOSEXUAL," HOW WERE THE RELATNSHIPS SCRIBED WRGS OM THE PERD?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE WAS SO MUCH D LANGUAGE. ONE WORD I REALIZED WAS AN DITOR FOR A RELATNSHIP BETWEEN MEN WAS “LOATHSOME,” SIAR TO HOW “ABOMATN” WOULD BE ED TODAY A RELIG NTEXT. MY DIRECTOR, SAHEEM ALI, KEPT G ACROSS THE WORD “BUGGERY.”JOAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF AMERIN SLAVERY. WHY DID YOU SET THE PLAY 1862?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SETTG 1862, RIGHT BEFORE THE EMANCIPATN PROCLAMATN WAS SIGNED, WAS ABOUT HOPE. I THOUGHT ABOUT THE TWO MEN WAKG UP EVERY DAY, KNOWG THE END OF THE DAY IS NOT PROMISED, AND I KNEW THEY NEED SOME HOPE TO MAKE THROUGH. THE HOPE OF EEDOM HELPED ACTIVATE ME AS A WRER AND MOVE THE PLOT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SUFFICE TO SAY THE ROMANCE IS ILL-FATED. WAS THERE EVER A VERSN OF THE PLAY WHICH THE MEN LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AFTER I GOT THE FIRST DRAFT OUT, I WONRED IF THEY ULD N OFF TOGETHER TO THE SUNSET. BUT I FELT LIKE I’D BE DOG THE STORY AND OUR ANCTORS A DISSERVICE BY NOT LEANG TO THE TTH OF THE TIME PERD. Y, THE TWO MEN LOVE EACH OTHER, BUT WE N’T FET WHAT WAS AT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HOW DID HOMOPHOBIA WH TODAY’S BLACK MUNY RM THE PLAY?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I TRIED NOT TO THK ABOUT THAT TOO MUCH, BUT NATURALLY, JT BY ME EXISTG THE WORLD, WAS GOG TO SEEP . I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW ARDUO BEG BLACK AND GAY N BE 2018, AND HOW THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WHO THK HOMOSEXUALY IS SOME NEW THG. SO I SAW THIS PLAY AS A CHANCE TO CHALLENGE PEOPL’ PRENCEIVED NOTNS G SOME LANGUAGE THAT MAY FEEL A B {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALTHOUGH THE SLAV THE PLAY AREN’T RELATED, THEY’VE CREATED A MAKHIFT FAY THAT ULTIMATELY SUPPORTS THE SAME-SEX RELATNSHIP. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO SHOW THAT ACCEPTANCE STEAD OF DISAPPROVAL?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}EVEN NOW, WE MT SOMETIM CREATE OUR OWN FAI TO FD THAT SUPPORT. THERE’S A SCENE WHERE AUNT MAMA SHOWS ENURAGEMENT WHEN JAM FALLY SHAR HIS TTH, AND I WAS TOLD FELT TOO NTEMPORARY TO HAVE HER WELE HIM WH OPEN ARMS. BUT I FOUND MY REARCH THAT THERE WERE TRIB AI, PRR TO BEG ENSLAVED, WHERE MEN MARRIED MEN, WOMEN MARRIED WOMEN. AUNT MAMA HAS A EP NNECTN TO THE ANCTORS AND THE PAST, SO FELT RIGHT FOR HER TO OFFER THAT LOVE.JOAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SUGAR OUR WOUNDS IS PART OF A TRILOGY LLED THE LOVE* PLAYS, WHICH ALSO CLUS FIREFLI AND IN THE MIDDLE. WHAT DO THE ASTERISK MEAN?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE ASTERISK DIT A FOC SPECIFILLY ON QUEER LOVE DURG PIVOTAL MOMENTS BLACK HISTORY. BEE MY LAST NAME HAPPENS TO BE LOVE, SOME PEOPLE THK ’S AN EGO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}YOU INTIFY AS AN “AO-QUEER” PLAYWRIGHT. DO YOU FEEL A RPONSIBILY TO WRE ABOUT THE BLACK QUEER EXPERIENCE?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}Y, 100%. JAM BALDW ONCE DID AN TERVIEW WHERE HE WAS ASKED IF BEG POOR, BLACK, AND GAY HAD MA HIM FEEL DISADVANTAGED AS A YOUNG WRER, BUT HE SAID HE FELT HE HAD “H THE JACKPOT.” I FEEL LIKE I WAS GIVEN THE INTI FOR A SPECIFIC REASON, SO I’M PROUD TO TELL STORI OM AN UNAPOLOGETILLY BLACK AND QUEER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS ON KANYE WT’S RECENT MENTS THAT SLAVERY WAS A CHOICE?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LORD HAVE MERCY. I WAS EXTREMELY DISHEARTENED, BEE SEEMS LIKE HE’S NAVIGATG SOME SORT OF MENTAL ILLNS. AS MUCH AS I LOVE KANYE, AND AS MUCH AS HIS MIC STILL SPIR ME, I ALSO THK HE HAS A LOT OF LEARNG AND RELEARNG TO DO. WE KNOW ENSLAVEMENT WAS NOT A CHOICE— JT TOOK A WHILE TO GET OUT OF . WE’RE STILL GETTG OUT OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SUGAR OUR WOUNDS NS THROUGH JULY 15 AT MTC’S STUD AT STAGE II NEW {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

Gay and lbian people joed as well – men the ary livg same-sex dorms, and women as part of the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) and factori on the home ont found themselv same-sex surroundgs as well.

GAY MEN UNR THE NAZI REGIME

1945 – German Homosexual men, signated by a pk triangle on their clothg, were the last group to be released om the Nazi ncentratn mps after liberatn by the Allied forc bee Paragraph 175 of the German Crimal Co stated that homosexual relatns between mal to be illegal.

1948 – Aled Ksey, an Amerin blogist and sexologist at Indiana Universy issu the first report, Sexual Behavr of the Human Male, was published and discsed male homosexualy (Also known as the Ksey report). Congrs issu the report entled “Employment of Homosexuals and Other Sex Perverts Government” is distributed to members of Congrs after the feral ernment had vertly vtigated employe’ sexual orientatn. 1950 – The Mattache Society formed Los Angel, California by activist Harry Hay and is one of the first staed gay rights groups the Uned Stat.