Press Release:
Contact Melanie Nathan: [email protected]
Dated: September 05, 2013.
https://www.facebook.com/events/433652160084761/
Tomorrow night, Friday, September 6 at 7:00 pm, the coalition, including members of Gays Without Borders, BoycottRussianVodka.com and PCI-Justice, will stage an informational vigil, outside the San Francisco Opera’s gala opening night at the War Memorial Opera House, located at Van Ness and Grove.
Opera stars Beth Clayton, left and Patricia Racette, right.
Today, a coalition of LGBT activists received a personal statement of support from openly lesbian opera mega-couple, Patricia Racette and Beth Clayton, in support of a letter of solidarity for Russia’s LGBT community as well as a vigil to be held at the opening of the San Francisco Opera’s MEFISTOFELE, starring Ms. Racette.
The couple has agreed to lend their prestigious names to a letter which appears hereunder.
The written statement was received by Melanie Nathan, on behalf the coalition:
Dear Melanie and Coaltion–
Thank you for reaching out to Patricia. I am her partner, Beth Clayton, and we have indeed received your messages via Patricia’s management at Opus 3 Artists. Patricia and I would be most happy for you to add both of our names to your cause in protest to Russia’s stance on LGBT boycott.
Of course we make this statement as private citizens and not as any affiliation with San Francisco Opera, although she will obviously be singing at War Memorial Opera House on Friday night in the season opening of MEFISTOFELE. Operatic singing is a sport in itself really, and I can’t imagine Patricia or myself being ‘boycotted’ from performing in any country for any reason based on our sexual orientation! We wish this peaceful but meaningful protest all success and will be following closely the progress to rectify this mistake in social justice.
Fortitude be yours!
Beth Clayton and Patricia Racette
Tomorrow night, Friday, September 6 at 7:00 pm, the coalition, including members of Gays Without Borders, BoycottRussianVodka.com and PCI-Justice, will stage an informational vigil, outside the San Francisco Opera’s gala opening night at the War Memorial Opera House, located at Van Ness and Grove.
The activists contacted the San Francisco Opera company requesting that the performance of “Mephistophelese,” opening night, be dedicated to expressing solidarity with LGBT people in Russia. Among the performers is the openly out lesbian soprano Patricia Racette.
As patrons are entering the Opera House, activists will distribute flyers expressing solidarity and raising awareness about supporting the Russian LGBT community through its fight for the repeal of the country’s ‘anti-gay propaganda’ laws.
While the San Francisco Opera Company is unable dedicate the performance to the cause, the management has been fully supportive and contacted the coalition to offer assistance to ensure that the vigil receives accommodations at the theater.
The Letter of Solidarity which will carry the signatures, amongst others, of opera stars Patricial Racette and her partner Beth Clayton states:-
DRAFT LETTER OF SOLIDARITY FOR SIGNATURE:
We, the undersigned, stand in solidarity with Russia’s LGBT community at this time, due to the rise in violence against them, resulting from the Russian government’s recent enactment of anti-gay propaganda laws, and the government’s oppression of human rights defenders and activists.
Tonight, Friday, September 6, 2013, the opening night of the San Francisco Opera company’s season, we add our voices to the growing international chorus deploring the anti-gay propaganda laws and escalating attacks.
We are a diverse group of individuals from many backgrounds, countries and stations in life. Some of us are singers and performers, patrons and promoters of the arts, political activists, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender people, straight allies and citizens of the world.
Together we believe it is of the utmost importance to dedicate ourselves, our performances, our hopes and prayers and wishes for a Russia that respects the human rights of all its peoples, especially the LGBT community members.
Signatories:
===============================================
Video from Ms. Clayton and Ms. Racette – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQfl79kLuDo
![speaker mel nathan](http://oblogdeeoblogda.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/africanhrc.png?w=300"%20alt="africanhrc"%20width="300"%20height="300"%20/></a>)
PoochParkWear customizes hoodies and t-shirts, the good, the naughty, the in between, whether proud or quirky let them be seen. We also offer biker jackets, croc or pleather collars, a variety of collar charms, and our special Zinja beaded collars made by a co-op of HIV-positive South African women, the Sisonke women who weave the beads onto the collars.
This is excellent.