SEAN DORSEY IN DUBLIN!
Lou Sullivan (1951-1991) changed my life.
So I’m thrilled to share that I’m part of two special events honoring Lou Sullivan in Dublin, Ireland this month!
Like many of my Trans-cestors, I never met Lou Sullivan (1951-1991), but he has been a huge part of my artistic life, my activism, and the person I am today. You can learn more about Lou below.
MARCH 29:
I 💙 LOU – CELEBRATING LOU SULLIVAN
Presented by Small Trans Library Dublin, this mixed media event features archival video interviews with Lou Sullivan, Sean Dorsey sharing video excerpts of his 2009 dance “Lou,” based on the lifelong diaries of Lou Sullivan, readings from Lou’s diaries, and readings from contemporary Irish transmasculine and non-binary writers.
INFO/TICKETS
APRIL 2:
SCREENING OF SEAN DORSEY DANCE’S “LOU” from ‘Uncovered: The Diary Project’
Presented by Presented by Small Trans Library Dublin and Lighthouse Cinema, this is a very special opportunity to see Sean Dorsey Dance’s 2009 suite of dances “Lou” on the big screen! Followed by a Q&A with Sean Dorsey, moderated by programmer James Hudson (GAZE LGBTQIA+ International Film Festival, Small Trans Film Club).
INFO/TICKETS
ABOUT LOU SULLIVAN
Lou Sullivan (1951-1991) was a transsexual/transgender gay man who lived and died in San Francisco. He was an incredibly trailblazing activist, historian, researcher and advocate. He founded some of the first-ever support groups for trans folks, educated the medical community when there was zero info or training around trans identity, published groundbreaking writing, and was a friend and inspiration to literally thousands of people around the world.
When Lou – a tireless activist – knew he was dying from AIDS complications, he worked diligently to get his papers, research and lifelong diaries archived.
Before his death, Sullivan bequeathed 30 years of his diaries, letters and papers to San Francisco’s GLBT Historical Society in order to leave a companion for other transsexual and transgender people, to educate and open minds, and to ensure that the progress he had struggled a lifetime for would not be lost.
ABOUT SEAN DORSEY DANCE’S ‘LOU’
To create the 45-minute suite of dances ‘Lou’, (part of my full-evening show called “Uncovered: The Diary Project” 2009), I spent a year reading and researching the Lou Sullivan archival collection, hand-transcribed hundreds of Lou’s diary entries, distilled and narrated (in my own voice) 30 years of Sullivan’s journal writings into an original soundscore, and choreographed a suite of dances based on Sullivan’s remarkable journey.
I am so proud of this 2009 work, which has a very deep and special place in my heart. I plan on remounting sections of “Lou” at Sean Dorsey Dance’s 20th Anniversary Home Season (September 20-22, 2024 at Z Space, San Francisco). I hope to connect with many of you then.
If you’d like to learn more about Lou, you can also check out the (finally!) beautifully-published excerpts of his lifelong journals and diaries – called We Both Laughed In Pleasure.
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Thinking of our many named and un-named Trans-cestors:
may we honor them in our lives, our activism, our artistry
and our loving work toward our collective liberation.
We remember you, Lou.