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Tyler Perry and His Atlanta Studio Plan To Help Homeless LGBTQ Youth

Ash Griffith | October 21, 2019

Topics: allyship, LGBTQ youth homelessness, Madea, Tyler Perry, Tyler Perry Studios

Despite a history of homophobic jokes, director Tyler Perry is showing himself to be an LGBTQ ally with the plans for his new studio.

Tyler Perry is having a pretty great week — and he’s going out of his way to ensure that others are having one, too.

Perry, who is famous for his Madea series of films, has had a pretty complicated history with the LGBTQ community. In 2013, Gerren Keith Gaynor wrote an essay for Ebony.com criticizing Perry’s portrayal of his gay male protagonist in The Haves And Have-Nots as self-loathing, predatory, and vengeful — all negative stereotypes frequently applied to gay men in decades past. Other examples include problematic portrayals of lesbians — see Keshia Knight Pulliam’s character in Madea Goes To Jail — and jokes based around the idea that it’s deeply shameful to be gay — see the gay-stripper scene in Why Did I Get Married Too?

Watch any film that Perry has had a hand in, and you can see the jokes against the community. No matter how small or unintentional they may seem, they’re still there. So imagine our surprise to wake up to learn that Perry is creating a space for homeless LGBTQ youth to sleep and be safe, and at his Atlanta Studio, no less.

This is growth, y’all. Get some.

According to The Advocate, Perry gave reporter Gayle King a tour and showed her where the sanctuary will specifically be built. These won’t be random bunk beds, either. Perry says there will be nice apartments and a daycare, among other things.

“You know, the studio’s gonna be what it is,” said Perry, according to the Advocate. “I’ll tell you what I’m most excited about next is pulling this next phase off, is building a compound for trafficked women, girls, homeless women, LGBTQ youth who are put out and displaced… somewhere on these 330 acres, where they’re trained in the business and they become self-sufficient.”

This isn’t that surprising, though. The director who has gone on to be one of the highest-paid directors in Hollywood was not only homeless when he first moved to Atlanta, but also the survivor of child abuse. He’s ensuring that he does what he can to help others who have similar tales.

“This entire journey of telling stories was born out of pain, born out of heartache, born out of being an abused kid who could go inside of his head and create a world and imagination,” said Perry.

This is how you make the world better for our youth, especially those different than you, and this is sure as hell how you ally. Thanks, Tyler. Now, if you can just cut back on the gay jokes in future movies…

Additional reporting by Marilyn Drew Necci. Photos via Tyler Perry/Facebook

The Angular Anger of Large Margin

Alexander Rudenshiold | July 18, 2019

Topics: allyship, Chris Carreon, Chris Compton, James O'Neill, Large Margin, noise rock, Slimehole, strange matter, Zach Walsh

Richmond’s Large Margin go beyond the obvious frustrating aspects of American society in 2019 in order to critically examine their role within that society. They also rock really hard.

Any active listener to indie rock in the last half-decade will have noticed the uptick in  “angular rock,” a term partially lifted from jazz criticism used to describe odd musical phrasings (or, to use theoretical terminology, large harmonic jumps). This buzzword has been posthumously applied to such 90s-era groups as Fugazi and Drive Like Jehu, both of whom are big influences of Richmond’s own angular champions, Large Margin.

Though Large Margin only started in 2017, all of its members – singer/guitarist Chris Compton, guitarist Chris Carreon, bassist Zach Wish, and drummer James O’Neill – had known each other and appreciated each other’s music for over a decade, according to Compton. “Since these friendships were already established, we all kind of understood musically where the other was coming from,” he said.

This cohesion is evident when listening to the band’s self-titled debut album, released last fall – not only is the musicianship tight, but the songs themselves sound composed by a band of scene veterans; they’re layered and complex, but are not gaudy, or trying to prove something. That said, they clearly know what they want to sound like. “I’ve always been drawn to powerful melodic voices in aggressive music,” said Compton, crediting not only the aforementioned Drive Like Jehu and Fugazi but also less predictable groups like Nine Inch Nails and Killing Joke as core influences.

In another veteran move, the band completed a full album of original material within a year of their formation. Compton credits the band’s creative speed, in part, to a time-crunch created by Chris Carreon’s impending move to Philadelphia at the time of the band’s formation.

“I’ve always been the type to dwell on every detail, and that rush to create allowed me to not second-guess my instincts,” said Compton. “We had the music for the record written by the time Chris had left, which for me is lightspeed. It did take me awhile to finish the lyrics, but I’m very proud of what we created in such a short amount of time.”

Chris Compton. Photo by Adam Stokes

Large Margin’s music isn’t just sonically cohesive, though; lyrically, it’s united by an intense frustration with the current social and socio-economic landscape. But for Compton, it goes beyond that.

“I felt that the frustration of a white cis-het male towards a system ultimately set up to work for them was hardly something that needed to be exclaimed,” he explained. “I instead chose to look inward and analyze my own role as an ally. A lot of the frustration and disappointment heard [in the lyrics] are more directed at my own insecurities and failures to help those that are truly marginalized by those in power. Beyond the surface aggression heard in the music, this ended up being a very personal record.” 

Compton had good things to say about Richmond’s music scene and the people in it – crediting Mark Osborne of Slimehole and Shannon Cleary at WRIR as promoters who are consistently supportive. “Though we’re all still grieving the loss of Strange Matter,” Compton said, echoing a sentiment which continues to resound throughout Richmond’s music scene even eight months after the club’s closure, “it’s been great to see other venues around town pick up the slack, as well as a wealth of DIY venues putting up touring acts.”

James O’Neill. Photo by Adam Stokes

Despite their first record having only been out for a year, and a member living multiple states away, Large Margin has begun to write new material. “Writing with a member long distance is something we’re learning to navigate,” says Compton. “I don’t imagine it being as quick to come together as our previous release, but our goal with this band is to enjoy the process of writing and playing as much as we can.”

He also says that the band doesn’t have plans to tour. “Booking tours and marketing our music is not something that brings us much joy,” he said. “We’re just trying to have a good time.”

Top Photo by Craig Zirpolo

Music Sponsored By Graduate Richmond

Pastor Ericksen Shows The Right Way To Be An Ally

Ash Griffith | June 25, 2019

Topics: allyship, Clackamas United Church of Christ, Pastor Adam Ericksen, Pride Month

At Oregon’s Clackamas United Church of Christ, Pastor Adam Ericksen preaches inclusion, courage, and love — an example for allies everywhere.

Pride Month is traditionally supposed to be a very happy, powerful, celebratory time across the nation for members of the LGBTQ community. Despite that news continues to race across our television screens and phones about more deaths, restrictions, and injustice plaguing our community in various ways. That’s why once in awhile it is nice to have even a small reminder that we are not alone in the world, and that we are supported by people who aren’t part of our community. 

Pastor Adam Ericksen in Milwaukie, Oregon wants you to know: he is that guy. Not only is he that guy, but he will do everything in his power to be the loudest possible version of that guy in a crowded room of people that want you gone. He will be that guy and he will clap back with a quote from Notorious G-O-D to back it up.

If you’re driving through Milwaukie, Oregon, it’s hard to miss the church signs from Clackamas United Church of Christ, who proudly wear their brand of politics on their sleeves. The periodically-changing statements on the sign out front have ranged from innocuous statements like “This church loves everyone including our LGBTQ siblings,” to straightforward, to the point statements of support: “Our Transgender Siblings Have Heartbeats.” 

Another personal favorite of mine, “‘Welcome immigrants, but only if they speak English, – Said the Bible Never.” 

Nice shade there, Pastor.

Considering that Oregon is overall fairly progressive with its politics and social views, it isn’t but so surprising that Pastor Ericksen has not received much push back on the signs. Regardless it is comforting that a majority of people in the area have supported the signs, even if the main complaint they do receive is that the church is being too political. 

“Jesus preached the kingdom of God, and this was a politically loaded message,” Ericksen told LGBTQ Nation. “His harshest message was for religious leaders who marginalized people.”

As Pride marches on and debates spark about less intense discussions, such as rainbow capitalism and what it means to be an ally, one thing is sure: it’s good to have some support. It’s better than the alternative. However, if you’re going to be an ally, follow Pastor Ericksen’s example: be open and forthright about your support — even if it leads to the occasional uncomfortable conversation. It’s the only way things will ever improve.

Photos via Clackamas United Church of Christ/Facebook

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