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BACKGROUND Since 1998 when I founded The Trevor Project (the only national 24/7 suicide prevention and crisis intervention lifeline for LGBT and Questioning youth), I’ve been fortunate to be on the front lines as several generations of young people came of age. Often the kids I spoke with were in crisis, but regardless of their current circumstances or frame of mind, it’s been clear to me that their greatest struggle has been navigating between the rules of the world, which they’ve been forced to accept, and the world they envision for us all. I’m aware that young people still have plenty to figure out, but I also know firsthand that they have much to offer. This current generation of queer teenagers seems especially equipped to deal with the challenges ahead and they have a lot to teach us about what it means to be fully human – if only we would listen. This past year I’ve been traveling around the country performing my solo show, The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey. I’ve had the opportunity to not only perform for thousands of young people in major cities like Philadelphia and San Diego, but also to visit their local schools and talk with them about their lives. These
visits have been illuminating, and they have convinced me that there is a need to create safe spaces for these kids within our communities, opportunities for these kids to feel not only safe, but also seen and celebrated. Over the course of this year my visits have naturally evolved to include storytelling, theater games and songwriting. In October, singer-songwriter, Ryan Amador, joined me. Together Ryan and I have brought these workshops to Performing Arts High Schools, Community Centers and local GSA’s (Gay Straight Alliance), giving LGBT and Questioning young people from coast to coast, and providing them with the tools to express their unique selves through song and story. The results have been noting short of astounding. It seems the world is never quite ready to know what a younger generation sees or feels, but nothing changes until that generation ages up and starts to make it happen. The Future Perfect Project is providing this new next generation of LGBT and Questioning young people with the tools to tell us what they know, what they feel and what they see – a future in which every person is perfectly and fully themselves. —James Lecesne, co-founder, The Future Perfect Project
This current generation of queer teenagers have a lot to teach us about what it means to be fully human – if only we would listen.
The Future Perfect Project is an ongoing series of workshops, designed to provide LGBTQ high school students and student allies with songwriting & storytelling techniques and the opportunity to express their unique vision to their community. The workshops take place at various schools and community centers across the U.S. and are facilitated by performance artists James Lecesne & Ryan Amador. For many queer youth, finding a safe space is an ordeal. Even in today’s seemingly progressive world, these kids are often dismissed, bullied, and cornered into making a life for themselves on the sidelines. Giving them the space to fully be themselves is an essential first step in the process. The workshop provides the students with specific prompts and assignments to further their reflection on LGBTQ life or on topics they want to address head-on. Throughout the process students are offered the tools to transform their reflections into performance, and ultimately, into a collaborative songwriting exercise. The culmination of the workshop is a performance of some kind, either for themselves or presented to the school, depending on what the school can accommodate. The workshop succeeds in creating pathways for self-discovery, not only within the individual students, but also within the larger system in which the individual functions. By creating safe spaces for young LGBTQ students to speak out, we extend the limits of those safe spaces until they include the entire school and community. It is only by telling our stories that we come to accept one another for who we are, understand who we might become, and realize that we are one. Each workshop is tailored to fit the time allotted by the school or sponsoring organization. We prefer to spend 3-5 consecutive days with the same group of students. While we can work with any size group, larger groups allow for varying perspectives and a full spectrum of experiences.
By creating safe spaces for young LGBTQ students to speak out, we extend the limits of those safe spaces until they include the entire school and community.
Ryan and James with students from the Creative Academy of Performing Arts in Philadelphia, PA.
BIOS JAMES LECESNE wrote the short film TREVOR, which won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short and inspired the founding of The Trevor Project, the only nationwide 24-hour suicide prevention and crisis intervention Lifeline for LGBT and Questioning youth. He has written three novels for young adults, and created The Letter Q, a collection of letters by Queer writers written to their younger selves. Lecesne was the executive producer of After The Storm, a documentary film that tells the story of 12 young people living in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. And his Off Broadway solo show (The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey) continues to tour the country. jameslecesne.com
RYAN AMADOR is a singer, songwriter, and theatermaker with two full length albums and five EP’s of original music. He is best known for his queer-related music videos “Define Me” & “Spectrum”, as well as his hit song “Instead” with over 3 million listens on Spotify. Most recently, Ryan directed premieres of live theatrical work in Cincinnati and New Orleans, and is currently in development on several music and theater projects. ryanamador.com
INTERACTIVE PRESS LINKS Making It Better: What I’ve Learned From Talking With Young Queer People Across The U.S. by James Lecesne
“Define Me” by Ryan Amador “Spectrum” by Ryan Amador
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A future in which every person is perfectly and fully themselves. PROJECT
CONTACT: james@jameslecesne.com