THE LAVENDER EFFECT® Documenting Testimonies of Survivors, Allies & Advocates from the Early Days of the AIDS Epidemic.

PROJECT SUMMARY:

THE LAVENDER EFFECT® is a Southern California nonprofit, formed by members of the LGBTQ and Allied community, to teach and celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Heritage and Culture. Though our community has made enormous strides over the past half-century, homophobia still exists, and the epidemic of suicides by LGBTQ teens continues. There is an urgent need to demystify the existence of LGBTQ persons, to educate both our own young people and the population-at-large of the enormous impact we have had, and continue to have, on civilization.

To commemorate World AIDS Day, on Monday, December 1, 2014, THE LAVENDER EFFECT® launched a campaign entitled The Oral History Project AIDS Testimonies. Funds raised during the month of December will be used to record video testimonies from LGBTQ and allied citizens who were integral participants in the AIDS/HIV epidemic from the mid 1980s to present day.

WHAT WE NEED & WHO BENEFITS:

$15,000 will provide enough funding to research, document, transcribe, edit, and share over 6-hours of critical testimonials. These will range from AIDS survivors to Pioneering Activists that helped to save lives and change medical history. Hearing these profound personal accounts will educate current and future generations that may not understand the devastation and lasting social impact of AIDS/HIV.

Utilizing guidelines developed by Steven Spielberg's Shoah Holocaust documentation project, these videos will be utilized for educational purposes through classroom presentations, educational workshops, and interactive exhibits.

THE HOLLYWOOD TEAM:

The OHP is being researched and produced by an experienced and professional team. Andy Sacher, Founding Executive and Creative Director, is leading this effort and has worked for leaders in the entertainment industry including Disney, Steven Spielberg, and Jerry Bruckheimer. Team Lavender is partnering with Evolution Media, LGBTQ historians, and community advisors to interview people that shaped the life and freedom LGBTQ people enjoy today. Digital testimonies will be utilized for educational programs and interactive exhibits. They will also be available to Archives, Libraries, Researchers and Filmmakers with the goal of reaching the broadest audience possible.

THE CAMPAIGN VIDEO:

THE LAVENDER EFFECT® assembled a notable group of AIDS/HIV survivors and advocates to appear in this Indiegogo campaign including; early AIDS activist and actress Alison Arngrim (Little House on the Prairie’s Nellie Oleson) who became one of the most visible AIDS advocates in Hollywood when her beloved Television husband, actor Steve Tracy, was diagnosed with AIDS in 1984; Robert Schoonover, former Director of the AIDS Hotline in Los Angeles from 1984 - 1993; longtime survivor/advocate Steve Pieters, former Metropolitan Community Church AIDS Ministry Global Field Director; and survivor/advocate Jack Inman, emotional support facilitator for the Life Group, Los Angeles. The OHP AIDS Testimonies Campaign Video was Produced by Consulting Advisor David Sperber and Edited by James Roman.

With your help these heroes are just a small sample of the testimonies our Oral History Project AIDS Testimonies is planning to document.

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