by cutter slagle –
We’re almost halfway through 2019, and if you’re not currently living loud and proud, the time to start is now! More so though, it’s not just time to live proud… but to live out loud! Recently, The Rage Monthly had the opportunity to chat with David Russo, the founder of Out Loud, the “annual multi-disciplinary art festival designed to uplift the creative voices in the LGBTQ+ community.”
Describing the Out Loud event, Russo said: “We believe that the struggle for equality and understanding must be waged on several fronts. We have chosen to do so by fostering and showcasing the artistic and cultural achievements of the greater LGBTQ+ community. Lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people have historically been leading lights in the arts. Right now, we need all of our skills as a community to stand up against both innocent and willful misunderstanding: the pen, brush, keyboard and stage, as well as our feet, our votes and our voices.”
“Our works hold a mirror to society and connect us to the individual. We use entertainment to educate, motivate and empower.” Simply put, those who attend the event can expect to have fun… a lot of fun! Further, audiences will leave “laughing, crying, feeling connected to one another and to their community.”
This year, Russo shared that there will be a “dance specifically choreographed for the festival by graduate students from CSULB’s Dance Department, a choir that will move and uplift spirits, literature that will remind us of where we have been and where we hope to go as a community, art of all kinds that will provide bold, visual storytelling and music that will speak of experiences. Look, too, for a highlight from Angel Bonilla, the first transgender singer on NBC’s The Voice, a youth essay to touch the hearts of all attendees and so much more!”
This summer’s Out Loud festival centers on the theme of “Queer Futures” and brings to mind such questions as: What does “queer” mean? What do healthy “queer futures” look like? How does queer art and culture benefit all of society and deepen our understanding of being human?
“It’s hard to hate someone when you have heard their story. If Pride celebrates who we are, Out Loud celebrates what we create.”
Out Loud differs from other LGBTQ+ events as it “endeavors to provide a platform, a venue, for both established and newer creatives in our extended queer family.” Russo explained further. “For a population that has often been marginalized, demonized and ignored, it seemed that showing the world not just what we are, but who we are and what we create, could help bridge divides. It is hard to hate people when you can see, hear, and enjoy what they contribute to society. Awareness of others’ life experiences, presented through art, music, dance, theatre and literature can be compelling factors in creating a more compassionate world.”
Russo went on to detail that Out Loud is really just getting started! There are plenty of plans and ideas for the future. “It is our dream to provide a platform for queer artists to showcase their work, and to connect people in the LGBTQ+ communities to each other through a shared love of art. To build bridges between the LGBTQ+ communities, provide community education about the lived experiences of queer folk, and to broaden horizons and foster empathy. It’s hard to hate someone when you have heard their story. If Pride celebrates who we are, Out Loud celebrates what we create.”
He added that “We hope to continue to grow and move forward, continuing to deliver diverse programs for the amazing diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. We intend to keep building our digital platform to showcase LGBTQ+ artists, and we have it in our sights to create a database of queer artists. In the long-term, we simply hope to keep expanding the program and spreading the love.”
Russo noted that all theatre programs offered at the event are free, as he feels strongly that “people should not have to pay to access their own culture.” Out Loud is a not-for-profit organization and relies on the support of the community to keep running.
If the event resonates with community members, they can donate here: fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/out-loud-a-cultural-evolution.
Are you ready to live Out Loud?
Out Loud: A Cultural Evolution takes place Saturday, June 29 at the Art Theatre, 2025 E. 4th Street in Long Beach. For tickets and more information, go to outloudlb.com.