Arts

Survivor of ex-gay therapy performs one-man show on his experience

BRATTLEBORO — Peterson Toscano, survivor of 17 years of ex-gay therapy, will perform his one-man show Transfigurations: Transgressing Gender in the Bible, about gender non-conforming Bible characters.

The performance will be held at the New England Youth Theater on Tuesday, June 26, at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30. Admission is on a sliding scale from $4 to $10.

Toscano is a theatrical performance activist using comedy and storytelling to address social justice concerns. He spent 17 years and more than $30,000 on three continents attempting (and failing) to change his same-sex orientation. He is the author of several one-person comedies documenting the experience.

Drawing on inspiration from interviews with transgender and “genderqueer” individuals, he weaves their experiences into the stories of transgender and gender-variant people from the Hebrew and Christian scriptures.

Toscano's one-person play uses humor and pathos to deepen understanding of well-known (and lesser-known) Bible stories as he presents an array of characters with an array of genders. The performance is part of a month-long celebration of gay pride, brought to the community by Crossroads, the Men's Program, This Show is So Gay, Homo Promo and Brattleboro Pride.

For more information about the show or the other gay pride events, go to www.mensprogram.org or call 802-254-4444.

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