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Employing lesbian actresses to depict lesbian roles is a critical aspect of our overall mission," says Sonya M. Hemphill, the 28-year-old, Harlem-born founder of the New York City African-American lesbian theater company, Think It's Not When It Iz, Inc. (TINWII). While still in college, Hemphill took courage from Audre Lorde's Zami, which reminded her that she "wasn't the only black woman writing lesbian material." Since then, Hemphill has written and directed three plays at TINWII: Choices, a humorous lesbian lifestyle soap opera; Moving Forward, a children's play addressing the impact of drugs and homelessness on young people; and Sensuality, a sexuality-awakening story. The play opened in San Francisco in July, and will open in Detroit in September and Iowa in October. Says Hemphill, "The violence, depression and oppression that many lesbians and gays experience can be decreased by exposing the world to positive lesbian and gay role models. If I can prevent one teen suicide or cause on woman in the world to feel confident about herself and her choices, I will be pleased."
For more information about TINWII, call (718) 949-3864.
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