Friday February 24, 2006 SGN.org |
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Volume 34 Issue 08 |
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Saturday, Nov 21, 2009
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Tim Miller explores Gay rights issues in Us |
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| Tim Miller explores Gay rights issues in Us | ||
| by E. Joyce Glasgow
- SGN A&E Writer
Tom Miller is angry and rightfully so. He has a beautiful, twelve year relationship with his partner Alistair, an Australian. Alistair has received two work visas in the U.S. to teach writing in California. However, the catch here is that after two work visas, you may only remain in the U.S. with a green card. Alistair would normally have two options for receiving a green card. One would be being sponsored by his employer. The other would be to get married to an American woman and eventually get his green card. (Lately, though, the U.S. government is making it harder to do.) So, being Gay and in love with a man, no matter how long they've been together, no matter how much they contribute creatively to their community, no matter the duration as a couple and their stability as one - even if they marry - Alstair won't be able to get a green card, because they are two men. In that case, they will have to pick up their happy life together in Venice Beach, California, and move to England in order to remain together. This is one of the issues Miller clearly enlightens his audience to in Us, his one man performance art piece, which he recently presented at Consolidated Works in Seattle. Miller also weaves his history growing up and being influenced by Broadway musicals while becoming a Gay adult male with mores and beliefs developed from listening to such classics as the Sound of Music, Oliver, Hair, Godspell, South Pacific and Gypsy. Gypsy put him in the spirit of stripteasing at nine years old for his neighborhood friends, which he really loved doing. He also got naked in front of his audience at the end of his performance. Nudity is so powerful and drove the points that he was making home for his audience. The dilemma: Should he take his Broadway musical albums in his suitcase when he and Alstair are forced to move to England or should he take the American flag? Our country is so slow moving in accepting of Gay relationships and marriage and the immigration impossibility for Alstair. Miller points out a whole new glitch in the difficulty of trying to easily enjoy life in a Gay relationship. You may remember that Miller was one of four artists in 1990 who had their NEA grants snatched away for enraging Jesse Helms. Helms didn't like Miller's nudity or Gay themes. Miller eventually was able to get funded again. Miller is a courageous, fearless, performer who makes his audience really think about things and I'm glad he brought his show to Seattle. Congratulations to Consolidated Works for choosing to present him. I hope that they will continue to present thoughtful and provocative performers like Millier in the future. Miller included ways that the public can help the struggle for marriage equality and Lesbian and Gay binational couples immigration rights. He suggested people call their member of Congress, contact the Lesbian and Gay Immigration Rights Task Force (212-714-2904 or www.immigrationequality.org), or contact Freedom to Marry (212-851-8418 or www.freedomtomarry.org). Lastly, if you have any garadening tips, you may reach Miller at MillerTale@aol.com. |
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