Maplewood Rainbow Youth Alliance To Host Film Screening, Panel For The Public

MAPLEWOOD, NJ —During a year in which hate crimes were on the rise against members of the LGBTQ+ community, 16-year-old Joseph Geoghan of Maplewood founded Rainbow Youth Alliance SOMA to bring together Maplewood, South Orange, and neighboring communities in celebration of LGBTQ youth and to encourage allyship.

For this Tuesday, the group has invited the public to a screening and reception of the award-winning documentary film CURED at the Village at SOPAC at 6 p.m., featuring filmmakers Bennett Singer and Mridu Chandra, with special guest, actor Patrick Wilson.

The ticketed event benefits the Rainbow Youth Alliance and is sponsored by Cinema Lab, PFLAG National, and the Township of Maplewood.

“It’s really great to live in a place like South Orange-Maplewood, where being an out LGBTQ+ person is supported and we have school groups and community groups," Joseph said. "But even here, kids can sometimes have trouble feeling like they belong."

He noted, "The Rainbow Youth Alliance would like to see being LGBTQ+ normalized and visible so that it’s less traumatic to come out and easier to feel included. When you watch 'Cured,' it hits you that it was really not long ago that being gay was considered an actual disease but the film also highlights how far we’ve come as a society. And that we can do better.”

“I was absolutely thrilled when Joseph reached out about using 'Cured' as a way to bring together community members for an intergenerational event,” said Bennett Singer, who spent five years producing and directing the film.

He noted, “Now is a great time to learn about the history behind some of what we’re seeing today, and how people with good intentions and science on their side successfully challenged myths and prejudices about being LGBTQ+.”

The public is welcome to attend. There will be a reception at 6 p.m., followed by a screening and Q&A starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 for those 21 and over, and $10 for those under 21

The description of 'Cured' is as follows: " 'Cured' illuminates a pivotal chapter in the struggle for LGBTQ equality: the campaign to remove homosexuality from the American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental illnesses. Before this momentous 1973 decision, the medical establishment viewed every gay and lesbian person as diseased and in need of a cure. Business and government used the mental-illness classification to justify discrimination and bigotry."

'Cured' was featured on the PBS series Independent Lens.

Note that according to the organizers, the film "may contain discussion and imagery that some children, particularly those under 12, may find difficult."

Find out more at https://rainbowyouthscreening.eventbrite.com

Rainbow Youth Alliance SOMA supports local LGBTQIA+ youth, their families and allies through education, community building and awareness raising. In 2022, planned programming for the South Orange Maplewood community includes guest speaker events, discussion groups, socials, and outings. Reach out to RainbowYouthSOMA@gmail.com or Instagram (@rainbowyouthalliance) to volunteer, donate, or get further information.

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