IHRAM History

A growing international story written in the heartsong of

beauty, sincerity, vulnerability and diversity!

PROLOGUE TO PROGRESS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE           CULTURE PROJECT

October 15, 2017 at St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church, Brooklyn, NY

Banned by His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan from performing as planned at St. Mary's Catholic Church

Press from after the banning:

New York Times: Festival Moves Event After Church Objects to Gay-Themed Content

"I think it’s absolutely, completely wrong," Ms. Kathleen Turner said. Deciding who should be heard and who silenced, she said, "is very much against the teaching of Christianity."

Crain's NY Business: Arts festival scrambling for space after archdiocese nixes LGBT performances

"The New York City arts community does not take kindly to censorship, especially now under the current political situation," Producer Tom Block said.

Broadway World: Catholic Church Refuses to Host International Human Rights Art Festival Event Featuring Kathleen Turner

The International Human Rights Art Festival is based in inclusion, honesty and sincerity - and brings together artists who will stand proudly before an audience and open their hearts, exposing their struggle in whatever arena they feel most challenged. "The idea that some of us would go forward while others were rejected is antithetical to our mission, our belief and frankly, our faith - respect does not stop at the doorway to one or another segment of the population," said Producer Tom Block

Gay City News: Catholic Church Anti-LGBTQ Guns Still Firing on All Cylinders

Father Bernárd Lynch, an out gay Catholic priest persecuted by the Archdiocese of New York for his gay rights and AIDS work in the 1970s and ‘80s, wrote in an email from Ireland: "The news regarding Cardinal Dolan’s rejection of this most recent event with Kathleen Turner and others over LGBTQ content is no different. They still hate us. They hate who we are and how we love. Living or dying, my Church simply cannot accept us as co-equals in God’s image. What a disgrace. Thirty years later, we have marriage both here, in the land of my birth, and in New York, the land of my spiritual birth. The Church institutionally still spells death to us. What kind of God do they believe in?"

Episcopal Cafe: Arts festival too hot for Catholics moves to Episcopal church

Playbill: Update: Festival Finds New Venue After Catholic Church Dropped Support Over LGBTQ Content

“I feel fortunate in that I am not beholden to a spiritual structure that tells me who is worthy of a voice and protection, and who is not,” the producer commented. “We believe that all people share this right—we will not pick and choose among our acts or our issues, allowing some while rejecting others.“

NewNowNext: Human Rights Performance Forced To Move After Catholic Church Complains About Gay Content

Patheos: LGBTQ-Friendly Festival Changes Venues After Catholic Church Objects to Content

Broadway World: Photo Flash: Kathleen Turner Headlines International Human Rights Art Festival

Pink News, U.K.: Catholic Church banishes human rights festival over LGBT performance

Christian Post: NY Church Nixes Human Rights Art Festival Over LGBT Content

Press from before the banning:

Broadway World: Kathleen Turner Headlines 2017 International Human Rights Art Festival at Culture Project; Lineup Announced!                                                                                                                                 
Broadway World: Kathleen Turner to Headline International Human Rights Art Festival This Fall

Broadway.com: Kathleen Turner Will Headline Culture Project's International Human Rights Art Festival

Playbill: Kathleen Turner to Headline October 15 Arts Festival for International Human Rights in NYC 

NBC Live! Catching Up with Kathleen Turner