Options For Sexual Health’s “Support Opt-Nakusp” team has been busy working toward community educational initiatives through a grant received by the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK).
“We wanted to find ways to create connections within our diverse community in an educational way, specifically toward our society members who often are mislabelled and misunderstood,” said Teresa Weatherhead, certified sexual health educator, & Opt volunteer.
“Our LGBTQ+ community is everywhere, encompasses all age groups, and we wanted to make sure that somehow we could find ways to bridge gaps that help to foster an inclusive society, everyone seen and accepted as themselves. Education is the greatest tool toward eliminating misconceptions and to build the much needed empathy and compassion toward sex-positive attitudes around sexuality, gender diversity and humanity”
Support Opt-Nakusp is excited to be presenting Nakusp’s very first OutFest-Nakusp Film Festival on June 16 at 7 p.m. at the Arrow Lakes Theatre.
Admission will be by donation. All profit will go to support the Rainbow Crosswalk Initiative.
The ideas around creating an OutFest – Nakusp 2017 is about promoting equality by creating, sharing & protecting diversity through arts and stories.
The date for this event coincides with the Nakusp Secondary School’s student-led Gay/Straight Alliance’s (GSA) newly implemented Pride Week starting on June 12.
The GSA has been in action, creating awareness and gathering allies since spring of last year, and one student member, Emma Orr, also sits on the Support Opt-Nakusp team.
“When Opt’s member Jane Merkley had the initial idea to create a film Festival, and both Opt and the GSA were already partnering on the Rainbow Crosswalk Initiative,” said Weatherhead. “The collaboration grew into some very exciting projects that Festival goers will find enlightening.”
This line-up of films were carefully chosen and created to give the audience an experience — one they can take with them when they leave the theatre.
The first main feature, Two Spirits, by filmmaker Lydia Nibley, has received several prestigious filmmaker and film festival awards all across North America and abroad. A true story about a Navajo boy who was also a girl growing up in an era that has lost sight of the once revered status of Two-Spirit people.
The second main feature is a Canadian film, My Prairie Home, a musical documentary following the journey of transgender male Canadian Indie Musician, Rae Spoon. The journey takes the audience through the Prairie provinces, and Rae’s own small-town life.
There will be a special surprise, short feature, produced by our very own Rhys Mcleod, a graduating film production student from Nakusp Secondary School, along with other mini-films that will undoubtedly open the audience’s hearts and minds.
This is a great event for audiences of all ages and genders.
Due to the nature of the topic and some mature content, PG 13 is recommended.
