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Can LGBT professionals be “out and proud” in technical theatre?


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Bluntly; If your best idea for a project is so peripherally relevant to a Stage Management degree will it really add to your understanding of the industry, should you really have found a topic that could be much more generally applied. By persisting with a topic which has taken three good posts here to devalue to zero, would you do better for your final mark to find a relevant and apposite topic.

 

IMO this choice of topic shows clearly that you haven't understood the industry in which you intend to be a manager.

 

I think the posts that you seem to think devalue my project are prime examples of one of the reasons why I'm interested in doing this project. The sweeping generalisations claiming that the entire technical part of the industry has absolutely no incidents of homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia show one of two things - either 1) it's true, technical theatre is a utopia for LGBT professionals, yippee, wonderful, or 2) there is a perception that it is a utopia which, if actually false, means there is a worrying blindness to problems.

 

I truly do hope you're all right, I really hope that 1) ends up being the conclusion of my project - but even if that happens, that does not mean the project wasn't worth something. If you read my post, I want to interview people. As a secondary outcome, that means I will be networking, which is an important part of getting somewhere in my career. Before that though, the wider purpose is that even if technical theatre is a utopia, we don't just live in the industry, we are members of society, so we are not excused from talking about a topic that is most definitely an issue in many other industries. I engage in conversation about the wider experiences of LGBT people, but am currently ignorant of what it's like for those in my own industry.

 

It also has personal purpose. My SM degree is not just any SM degree, it is my SM degree, the field of study essentially being my career in SM, and it is entirely relevant to my field of study to research whether or not being LGBT will affect my experience of stage management. Rather than asking one person what they think it will be like, using just one set of experiences (or three, as you seem to think is sufficient, but really isn't) I want to answer the question thoroughly, so I know what I'll be getting as I continue my career.

 

My choice of topic is an attempt to understand the industry from a certain perspective that my experience working and studying in it so far has not provided; it is also part of a bigger conversation about the state of attitudes in this country.

 

Thanks to everyone who's been replying; does anyone want to have a chat over the phone or Skype about this topic?

 

Cheers,

Georgina

 

Theatre is far from a utopia, however I would say that given the time scales you're usually working to on a production, if you have time to assess someone's sexuality, colour, religion or creed and react to it then you're not pulling your weight! :-) joking aside I think for many a year as far back as I can remember, theatre has always been a mix of sexualities, genders, colours, etc. That is not to say that you will not encounter some kind of discrimination somewhere, on the whole though in 20+ years of working in theatre I can honestly say I have never seen the kind of reactions I see in other professions.

 

In my humble opinion if in working in the industry so far, you haven't had your perspective validated, then surely therein lies your answer? Have you witnessed anything that leads you to think its a problem?

 

 

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It's fine to study what you want - but isn't the idea of education to further your knowledge and skills, and probably employability by getting an edge on the others? This may well be fascinating to you, but about as much use job wise as adding flower arranging. In fact, any mention of this on the CV automatically labels you negatively. Flower arranging could even be considered a more useful skill to have! As a purely academic study subject, like Ken, I don't see the problem - but it does a good job informing others of your personal slant on life. A bit like Ken and his strong socialist philosophy on life. Not something that matters on the BR, but in some topics we don't need a poll to predict responses from the membership. We've got plenty of members with strong personal beliefs and viewpoints on everything. I have very close friends with similar very overt stances, and with your friends, you know them well enough to make sensible decisions on any work you give them. With strangers it's far more tricky. One of my friends is very pro unions, rules, agreements and other things important to him. Little point offering him work where I know the 'rules' he requires cannot happen. Simple stuff like breaks, extra pay, job demarcation etc - some jobs would cause him too much stress because everything would be wrong.

 

If I sensed a LGBT sticker on the forehead, then being honest, I'm not sure I would want them on a team. Not the LGBT people, but somebody proactively working with this category in their mind. Frankly, it's a shock when you meet Marcia for the first time after fifteen years of Mark, but it's serious stuff for them, and normal service was restored very quickly. The general feeling (behind their backs) not one of mirth, but a kind of admiration they'd had the guts. Again, behind their back a talking point for maybe half an hour, then people moved on. The idiot with the stupid tattoo and another with a weird piercing got far more attention.

 

I just find it very strange that such a subject is deemed worthy of study for a Stage Manager?

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Thank you all for your replies so far. I appreciate people giving me their opinions on the nature of my project, and am grateful that they want to help me in my education. For the moment, I will be continuing my project as it currently is.

I look forward to reading further opinions on the question "Can LGBT professionals 'be out and proud' in technical theatre?" and anyone who wants to talk about it with me over coffee, or via Skype or a phone call, please let me know.

Georgina

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I think the posts that you seem to think devalue my project are prime examples of one of the reasons why I'm interested in doing this project. The sweeping generalisations claiming that the entire technical part of the industry has absolutely no incidents of homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia show one of two things - either 1) it's true, technical theatre is a utopia for LGBT professionals, yippee, wonderful, or 2) there is a perception that it is a utopia which, if actually false, means there is a worrying blindness to problems.

 

<snip>

 

 

Is the industry perfect? I'm sure not. Have I seen even a single incident of prejudice against anyone due to their sexual preferences in the 40 years I was actively working? No.

 

For the record, my university days were in the early 1970s, long before LBGT issues were openly talked about as they are today. Even then, however, the Drama Department at my university was a place where staff and students were open about their sexual orientation. This came as a shock to me, a hetero 18 year old fresh out of high school but things were SO open that it didn't take me long to get to know the people involved and totally forget about any differences. I recall that once, when an Engineering student made an unpleasant comment I was shocked because, frankly, I'd totally forgotten about any issues.

 

I think what concerns most of the people here who have made negative comments are thinking is that the time you spend researching your dissertation will not in any way contribute to your ability to do a technical job. It strikes many of us as being more suitable for a sociology course than one in technical theatre.

 

In answer to your question about "out an pround" my answer would be a definite "yes" with one caveat. Pushing ANY viewpoint, be it sexual orientation (hetero or LBGT), religion, political views or whatever is inappropriate in the working environment. Pushing ANY agenda when you should be rigging for that night's show is not going to be popular.

 

In any case, good luck with your dissertation and your future career.

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An equally valid question is "Should professionals be out and proud about their sexuality/gender specificity etc in technical theatre?"

 

We usually tolerate our daily colleagues whatever their orientation, but do I want my face pushed into their way of life -no thank you.

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An equally valid question is "Should professionals be out and proud about their sexuality/gender specificity etc in technical theatre?"

We usually tolerate our daily colleagues whatever their orientation, but do I want my face pushed into their way of life -no thank you.

 

That's interesting. Would you be able to define the line you would draw to say that someone is being too in your face about it? Is it a more sensitive issue, or is it on par with any other topic that people might be too passionate about?

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An equally valid question is "Should professionals be out and proud about their sexuality/gender specificity etc in technical theatre?"

We usually tolerate our daily colleagues whatever their orientation, but do I want my face pushed into their way of life -no thank you.

 

That's interesting. Would you be able to define the line you would draw to say that someone is being too in your face about it? Is it a more sensitive issue, or is it on par with any other topic that people might be too passionate about?

 

I'm sure Jivemaster will come up with his own reply but my take on the situation is simply to suggest that you reverse the roles to see if something is "too much".

 

If a heterosexual technician spends too much time describing to workmates his bedroom antics with his partner, that's probably over the top. For the most part, sexual topics just don't come up at work--you know in passing that somebody has a spouse or partner but it's not (and shouldn't be) a big issue. At my last job before retirement, Phil knew that I was married and had a female partner...and I knew that Phil had a male partner named Geoff (I left the UK before gay marriage was legal--they've gone onto a civil partnership and will likely marry). However it simply wasn't a major topic of conversation--we were far more likely to gossip about a certain manager we didn't like much. That, I think, is the mark of real acceptance: your life isn't dominated by sexual orientation issues.

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If they come up naturally in conversation, of course, no problem. The only issue is when ANYONE starts to preach too much on any topic--and I'm very specifically not singling out LBGT issues here. Just another anecdote, years ago one of our colleagues at work was a card-carrying member of the Conservative Party. He became quite pushy about advocating the Tory agenda and expressing his virtual worship for Margaret Thatcher (if that dates this). This quickly became tiresome and he was subject to quite a few "oh, not again" or "yeah, yeah, you told us last week and the week before" comments. I daresay the same would have happened if he'd been a Labour or BNP supporter or a train spotter or an Eddie Stobart spotterT--or became too much of a "one trick pony" on LBGT issues.

 

Nothing banned but too much of anything becomes tiresome.

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I understand keeping explicitly sexual topics out of conversation, but what how talking about LGBT rights? Like discussing the same-sex marriage bill, or having gone to Pride at the weekend?

"I went to Pride at the weekend" "what's that?" "It was a rally to stand up for the rights of gay people" "you mean a demonstration?" "not really, but..." - this is just normal conversation that two people might have when rigging an LX bar together. They could just as well be talking about a football match.

however...

"I went to Pride at the weekend" "what's that?" "It was a rally to stand up for the rights of gay people" "you mean a demonstration?" "not really, but I would love you to come with me next time" - this is starting to get in your face if you say you are not interested and they go on about it or raise it again later on. Exactly as if they said they went to see Spurs, why don't you come next time? "No thanks I can't stand football" "oh but you must ..." this is getting in your face in exactly the same way. Your colleague might run an e-bay shop in his/her spare time. You can talk about it and they can mention things in the store which might be of interest but if you say "no thanks" that should be the end of it. This is just common sense and how people have conversations all the time which might touch parts of a person's private life.

 

I can't see many people wanting to talk about parliamentary bills while working "what do you think of the Computer Misuse Act 1990?" "I'll get back to you after I've hanged myself"! However, if between friends - rather than casual acquaintances so you know they are gay - then high level discussion is fine "I see that the government is thinking about allowing gay marriage" "really, I have been too busy to listen to the news" "you know my partner Charlie, we are thinking of getting married if it is possible". "congratulations". Once again this is just conversation - but if you don't know the other person, it can start to get in your face because you don't know where this is leading.

 

I still think this is a non-issue. In my theatre there is at least one gay couple both of whom are members of the company. In a school I worked at, my head of department was a lesbian. I am friends with all of them. Who cares, unless they start to cross the boundaries just as if I tried to "reform" them or talk them into converting to some religion or other or participate in something that was my passion which they can't stand (I once worked with a guy who talked about canoeing non-stop which I had absolutely no interest in and said so several times)?

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If they come up naturally in conversation, of course, no problem. The only issue is when ANYONE starts to preach too much on any topic--and I'm very specifically not singling out LBGT issues here. Just another anecdote, years ago one of our colleagues at work was a card-carrying member of the Conservative Party. He became quite pushy about advocating the Tory agenda and expressing his virtual worship for Margaret Thatcher (if that dates this). This quickly became tiresome and he was subject to quite a few "oh, not again" or "yeah, yeah, you told us last week and the week before" comments. I daresay the same would have happened if he'd been a Labour or BNP supporter or a train spotter or an Eddie Stobart spotterT--or became too much of a "one trick pony" on LBGT issues.

 

Nothing banned but too much of anything becomes tiresome.

 

Exactly - that's what I meant by someone creating an issue. Talking in passing is different to "forcing the issue, as your examples illustrate.

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OK some of the dirt, from my real experience.

 

1/ I work in a uniform All my colleagues male and female wear the same uniform -trousers and shirt with epaulettes for rank. Another person joined us -spoke the best stage German I've ever heard -could have been a U-boat captain. Butch and muscular he wants to be called Doris which is close to the name his mother gave him. OK we have a butch German squadie called Doris -no he makes no attempt to look feminine or move like a woman. Then he decides to wear a skirt so short that his "pre-op" status was fully apparent. FAR too far. Unpleasant in a public facing role. At this point his refusal to wear uniform and his technical incompetence was the reason he was fired.

 

2/ Very minor performer, Male, father of several by two wives, decides to adopt a female persona, goes to some work bookings in the other persona and gosh the work dries up -agents don't like that they can't rely on him, nor do direct clients.

 

3/ Female colleague, decided to separate from husband and father to their child and live with a girlfriend, with the child. Child is extremely unhappy -he was never consulted or considered- and has been brought back from most corners of the London bus free child fare zone by police or social services. ALL the agencies are involved with the child's (lack of) parental attention -things could go very badly.

 

On the other hand I have a gay manager. He's gay in the old fashioned sense too he's a great guy he does the job WELL.

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1/ I work in a uniform All my colleagues male and female wear the same uniform -trousers and shirt with epaulettes for rank. Another person joined us -spoke the best stage German I've ever heard -could have been a U-boat captain. Butch and muscular he wants to be called Doris which is close to the name his mother gave him. OK we have a butch German squadie called Doris -no he makes no attempt to look feminine or move like a woman. Then he decides to wear a skirt so short that his "pre-op" status was fully apparent. FAR too far. Unpleasant in a public facing role. At this point his refusal to wear uniform and his technical incompetence was the reason he was fired.

 

 

That sounds an unfortunate situation, not least for those who got an eyeful! Did you feel at all uncomfortable calling a bloke Doris? And would it have been the same had he worn less impractical and more typically male clothes that were still outside the uniform regs?

 

In your opinion, could you speculate about this hypothetical - Had he Doris, been good at his job, and worn the uniform, and moved in the same masculine way, but, say, asked for feminine pronouns and wore some make-up, what do you reckon the reaction would have been, and would it have been different if he had talked about it or somehow tried to explain?

 

Cheers!

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Golly, I'm full of anecdotes on this topic.

 

Years ago...in the late 1970s...I was working at ITN. One of the studio camera operators decided to change his gender from male to female.

 

The way he handled it seemed to work. He remained in male clothes and, for all intents and purposes remained outwardly male, until the time came for the major operations. At that point he took the necessary sick leave for the surgery and the recovery (a couple of months by memory but it was long ago) and, at that point, came back seemingly fully female in terms of name, dress and general demeanour. Management had gathered us together and let us know what was happening in advance of her return. I'm assuming that there were probably some preparations going on before the main ops and probably some other treatments going on afterwards--but making the change definite rather than leaving people confused seemed to work.

 

(I'll add that, male or female, there were no problems with this person's work. That would have added a different dimension.)

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