2023 Special Events
LGBTQ+ and Friends Pride on the Belle
Wednesday, July 12, 2023
Join us in celebrating Pride while we cruise around the lake on the Chautauqua Belle on July 12, 2023. Your Pride cruise departs from the Miller Bell Tower at 6:15PM and returns at approximately 8:30PM. Please arrive by 6:00PM for an on-time departure. Tickets are $70 per person and include appetizers. Drinks are available for purchase. Everyone is welcome but tickets are limited so please purchase tickets early.
Left: Mhari Shaw/The Chautauquan Daily
Drag Lecture: Why is Drag so Controversial Today?
Wednesday, August 16, 2023 - 12:15pm-1:15pm
Smith Wilkes Hall
Ms. Gloria Swansong will once again grace Chautauqua with a lecture entitled, “Why is Drag so Controversial Today?”. Ms. Swansong is a professional Drag Queen and acclaimed Judy Garland impersonator as well as the reigning Miss Hell’s Kitchen performer and recipient of the prestigious Pierre Cardin Award for the Princess Grace Foundation. Additionally, Ms. Swansong is a renowned costume designer, winning numerous awards and teaches at NYC’s Tisch School for the Arts. She holds an MFA in Costume Design from Carnegie Mellon University.
Our MC for this event is none other than the fabulous Mama Shirley Naytch. Last year, Mama Shirley Naytch was crowned Drag Queen of Chautauqua at the Norton Hall performance of, “From Mama With Love,” which she produced and performed in, along with several other queens and one king, all of whom dazzled and entertained a sold-out crowd.. Ms. Naytch is a professional Drag Queen from D.C. who performs regularly at Drag Shows, Drag Dinners and even Drag Bingo on the grounds of Chautauqua.
This event is free to everyone at Chautauqua as we hope to further the understanding of the controversial issues surrounding Drag, gender identity, and gender expression.
LGBTQ+ and Friends is an all-volunteer community group and we appreciate your donations to help us offset the cost of our programming.
Understanding Gender: Medical and personal perspectives on Identity, Expression, & Transitioning
Wednesday, August 2, 2023 - 12:15pm-1:15pm
Smith Wilkes Hall
What does it mean to be transgender? Are non-binary people transgender? Are transgender people gay? Is someone transgender if they don’t transition? And what about pronouns?
If you’re confused, you’re not alone, and we hope this panel discussion will clear up some of that confusion.
It is our hope that we can come together to discuss and understand gender identity and gender expression so, together, we can foster an atmosphere of safety and security that honors the dignity of all humans.
HANDOUTS
Facts About Trans Youth
Genderbread Person
List of Terms
Understanding Gender: Medical Perspective - Presentation by Alejandro Diaz, M.D.
Transgender in pediatrics: a narrative review by Alejandro Diaz and Veronica Figueredo
The poem MJ read is from the book, "DARING ADVENTURES Helping Gender-diverse Kids and Their families Thrive"
Panelists
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Michelle "MJ" Johnston
MJ is a non-binary spiritual director and life coach for the queer community and a member/resident of the Chautauqua community. They combine their love of learning, spirituality, and helping others into a unique coaching experience that draws on their training in coaching, spiritual direction, clinical pastoral education, IFS, and The Compassion Practice. Compassion, inclusion, and joy are three of their most important values.
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Dr. Alejandro Diaz, MD
Dr. Alejandro Diaz graduated from La Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia and was trained in general pediatrics at Miami Children's Hospital. He completed his specialization in Pediatric Endocrinology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College where he was faculty for 2 years. He joined Miami/Nicklaus Children's Hospital as a pediatric endocrinologist in 2009. Currently, he is the chief of the pediatric endocrinology division, director of the thyroid cancer program, and he was the leader of the gender program until it was closed in early 2023. Dr. Diaz has a special interest on the management of disorders of sex development and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
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Makayla Watson
Makayla is a trans woman that recently moved to Jamestown from Central Florida. She holds a BS in Public Relations and Mass Communications as well as an MBA with a focus in Marketing. She has a passion for education and helping people grow, and spends the bulk of her free time sharing lived experiences to help people gain a base understanding of the transgender experience.
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Laura Currie
Laura is a Chautauqua County native, and a life-long Chautauquan who resides in Nashville, TN in the offseason. Laura and her husband, Brad, are proud parents of two married adult children, a cisgendered daughter and a trans femme daughter.
See Chautauqua Theater Company’s world premiere of tiny father on Friday, August 4, 4:00pm with LGBTQ+ and Friends Reception to follow (cast, crew, and conservatory invited)
Buy your own ticket(s) to CTC’s production of tiny father (order tickets online or call 716-357-6250); single ticket pricing: $55, $45).
Immediately after the 90-minute show (around 6:00 pm), we’ll all gather at Intermezzo in the St. Elmo for appetizers and drinks. Cash bar. No RSVP needed. For questions, email terry.horner@mac.com.
PLAY DETAILS
Daniel is a single, uninsured freelancer accustomed to a carefree lifestyle, until a casual relationship results in a dangerously premature baby. tiny father reveals both the joys and fears of parenthood, with humor and brutal honesty.