I am attending Sex::Tech 2011 conference today and tomorrow. What is the Sex::Tech conference? Well, according to their site it is:
Sex::Tech 2011 is a two-day annual conference hosted by ISIS, Inc. that brings health and technology professionals together with youth, parents and community leaders to advance the sexual health of youth in the U.S. and abroad. Sex::Tech is the only conference event that showcases high-tech educational content (mobile, social media, Internet) developed by professionals, highlights national and local program successes, and puts youth leadership at the forefront.
This year, like each year, they open with youth voices – the people that are actually living their lives online in the digital age. This year their first panel session features three incredible young women, Treviny, Angelica, and Angileece, who each won a Scenarios USA screenwriting contest with a script about the meaning of masculinity today. The diverse screenplays cover difficult topics such as family, sexual orientation, and aspirations as they affect young men of color coming of age. Each young woman will have 10 minutes to pitch her film, after which a round table of youth experts will give ideas and advice on how to use social media to advance each film’s social cause.
The films are stories that need to be told. These young women are amazing. I’d love for you to learn more about each of these films and the filmmakers behind them. I hope that after you read this post and watch these very powerful trailers that you will also choose to support them. I have provided links to each of the film’s Facebook pages and you can also support them by following via Tumblr here.
A Man Made Early
A Man Made Early was written by Angelica Hernandez from from Weslaco, Texas at Weslaco East High School. It is a film about High school senior, Tony Rodriguez, struggles with the decision of attending a college close to home or accepting a scholarship from a university in another state. Tony will have to confront peer pressure, cultural limitations, and family expectations to make his own decision.
You can find A Man Made Early here on Facebook.
Here is the preview of the film:
Life’s Poison
Life’s Poison was written by Angileece Williams from Cleveland, Ohio at Saint Martin De Porres High School. What is this film about? At 18, Eliyah Howard thinks he knows what it means to be a real man. He learned nearly everything from his abusive father. But family, love, and tragedy test the lessons he inherited. Is it too late for Eliyah to re-define what a man really is?
You can find Life’s Poison here on Facebook.
Here is the preview of the film:
Man In The Mirror
Man in the Mirror was written by Treviny Marie Colon from The Bronx, New York at The High School of Fashion Industries in Manhattan. Man in the Mirror examines stereotypes, sexual identity, homophobia and bullying. Jason Gutierrez is a Puerto Rican from New York City and the quintessential all-American guy. Status comes at a price as rumors spread that Jason is gay. With his identity questioned, Jason is pushed to understand who he is and prove how far he will go to prove that he’s just “one of the boys.”
You can find Man in the Mirror here on Facebook.
Here is the preview of the film:
Were you touched by one or all of these stories? Did any of these stories hit close to home? Did any of the characters remind you of someone you know? Do you think that these films tell important stores? DITTO…on all accounts!
Please go spread the word about these films via Twitter, Facebook and any other venue you have access to…use your influence for good…I dare you!
