We’ve all seen the movie. We’ve all heard the story. Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man elected into office.
Patricia Loughrey’s Dear Harvey aims at depicting Milk’s life and achievements by weaving together different narratives. Drawing from his own personal and political writings, as well as the lives of people around him, Dear Harvey is a tribute to Milk and further one for the people he inspired.
Dear Harvey puts a twist on the traditional narrative biography and breathes life into history. The performance incorporates letters and videos from the Georgetown community, knitting together the oft-examined historical with the deep and personal.
The production this Saturday will feature professional actors from D.C. alongside Georgetown students, faculty, and alumni.
A member of the Dear Harvey cast, Kaley Beins (COL ‘14), talked about her own experience on the production. Beins says that ostracization of LGBTQ individuals is “not necessarily limited to outside the front gates.” For her, staging Dear Harvey at Georgetown shows it is possible for Catholic identity and support of LGBTQ rights to coexist and thrive in the same space.
This is the second time the play is being staged on campus. The first reading was four years ago, at a time when only five states and the District of Columbia recognized same-sex marriage. Today, that number has more than doubled. Even on campus, there is markedly more advocacy for the LGBTQ community. Last spring, the LGBTQ Resource Center celebrated its five year anniversary and earlier this school year GU Pride introduced their first trans* representative.
While Dear Harvey is centered on Milk’s life from decades ago, the play has continued the conversation of acceptance in a way that everyone can participate in.
The reading is co-sponsored by the LGBTQ Resource Center, the Tagliabue Initiative for LGBTQ Life, Health Education Services, and is directed by Professor Susan Lynskey.
Dear Harvey
Saturday, Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m.
Gonda Theatre
Free
