The flyer for tonight’s event, which also lives at
Scribd.
Tonight was part one of a planned three-part LGBTQ film festival by and at Congregation Beit Tikvah, and I was one the of the panelists. The fest is free, including refreshments, and is co-sponsored by Interfaith
Fairness Coalition of Maryland, JQ Baltimore and The Faith Communities of Baltimore with PRIDE. The
other two nights are scheduled for December and
February.
Nu, why is this night different from all other nights? It isthe most trans-themed, with the films being the
documentaries “Becoming Ayden” and “Devout”, and my fellow panelists being Tyler Vile, Beth Feigin
Bugnaski, and Rabbi Gila Colman Ruskin; we were
moderated by CBT’s Rabbi Larry Pinsker.
This was my first visit to and connection with CBT. I know their member William Palmer through his work asVice President of IFCMD, Rabbi Ruskin since meeting her at JQ Baltimore’s Pesach (Passover) seder last March, and I knew of Tyler; Beth and Gila are parents of queer young adults. I had heard about both films but hadn’t seen either until after I accepted the invitation to be on the panel -- “Becoming Ayden” is not
available for free, but I researched it otherwise; “Devout” I watched for free on YouTube today.
“Becoming Ayden” is actually very problematic – primary subject Ayden Scheim and his friends make the
best of the bad situation (which unfortunately can’t be said of all of the subjects, including some of the other trans ones), but the film is probably most useful as an example of how not to make films about trans people. While it wasn’t a good choice for the festival, at least not without a lot of framing, it did trigger a discussion
that badly needed to be had, especially about where Beit Tivkah is and is going, in terms of trans issues and a number of other things. Interestingly, this is similar to what happened when the film was originally aired –
as explained here by Ayden’s friend and fellow film subject Evan Smith, and tonight by Rabbi Pinsker, who moved here from Canada recently. Too, things have improved greatly for Ayden over the decade since the
film’s release.
“Devout” is a much better film in many ways, and needs much less introduction, but it does have some of the typical faults of films and other works that are primarily about ‘homosexuality’ but include a trans story; too,
the film gives little if any sense that bisexuality, queerness, etc. exist. But for the most part it does what it
says on its tin: “Devout is a 37-minute documentary film that follows the lives of seven women in New York and New Jersey who are trying to reconcile their alternative sexuality with their commitment to Orthodox Judaism. Their faith has always condemned homosexuality in the harshest terms. Find out how Chani, Pam, Elissa, Hayley, Lina and "Miriam" have dealt with being "unacceptable" while still remaining devoted to their strict faith and community.”
Tonight was definitely a long, strange schlep in at least a few ways, but I think it turned out to be worthwhile for all involved in different ways; and I hope that CBT will continue the conversation and move forward.
