By Megan Smith
On February 24, LGBTQ and allied youth artists stood side-by-side, center stage at Houston’s MATCH with one declaration: “HEAR ME.” Their voices were shared as part of The T.R.U.T.H. Project’s first-ever installment that incorporated storytelling by LGBTQ youth and allies. Through intimate spoken word, movement, song, and visual art, this next generation of voices addressed and challenged stigma, rose above adversity, and united themselves with the audience for an incredible journey.
Spectrum South had the pleasure of speaking with assistant directors Amaya Coleman (age 17) and Autumn Horn (age 18) and spoken word artist Ava Marshall (age 16) to discuss their motivations behind the performance.
Spectrum South: Is this your first performance? What motivated you to step up and take part in this particular production?
Amaya Coleman: This is not my first performance. However, I was motivated to co-direct this performance because I felt it was important for the youth’s voice to be heard in front of a loving and accepting audience.
Autumn Horn: [For this production], I was an assistant director, but I have done acting performances other places, like at school. I wanted to give the people who can’t stand up for themselves a voice.
Ava Marshall: This was not my first performance, but definitely my first time in this experience. First, it was my friends Amaya, Autumn, and Mya who came to me with the project. Honestly, at first, I didn’t realize how powerful it could be. Being a believer in the power of art and activism and the influence and importance of the two intertwined, I was intrigued in uplifting its message as an ally for the LGBTQ community.
What does “being heard” mean to you?
Amaya Coleman: Being heard isn’t just being listened to. It’s using your words to create, inspire, and justify change.
Autumn Horn: That everyone has a voice and is being heard in whatever social issue that is being discussed in our current society. I believe that all opinions matter and that people should take everyone’s ideas into account.
Ava Marshall: Being heard means not only being listened to, but accepted and allowed to speak my truth—as well as giving a space for others to do the same without compromising that truth. Being allowed to be accepted as you are. That may seem like an easy thing to do, but in so many spaces, it isn’t. As a matter of fact, it’s dangerous. So it’s essential that a space is granted or created for identity to be uplifted in whatever form it comes.
“Being heard isn’t just being listened to. It’s using your words to create, inspire, and justify change.”
-Amaya Coleman, ‘Hear Me’ assistant director. Photo by LeDarion Carter.
Why do you feel it is especially crucial for the voices of LGBTQ youth and allies to be heard at this moment in time?
Amaya Coleman: Many people have the misconception that youth don’t care. However, we do. We are aware of every instance of oppression, unjustification, terror, etc., but some of the youth feel like their voices are not heard by their peers or government. But I believe that, as long as you keep speaking and owning your truth, people are bound to hear you. The youth are the now and the future and can inspire the change we need to see in the world.
Autumn Horn: I believe that everyone should be treated equally no matter who they are, and that the voices of the LGBTQ youth community aren’t being heard. I feel that no person, no matter who they are, no matter their walk of life, should be judged for who they are, and that they should have a say in what’s going on in our current society.
Ava Marshall: Youth are more than the future. We are now. We will no longer be silent or enabling to the polices or ideologies that perpetuate the “-isms” in the society that we have inherited. We will not stop, as we see with the tireless Parkland survivors advocating for gun reform, as well as the kids in Ferguson advocating for police reform. We will not only learn from those who came before them, but we will complete the work they didn’t finish. By owning our truth or journeying to do so, we are furthering that mission. I will never know what it is like to LGBTQ, but I will do everything in my power to be a co-conspirator in ensuring they are heard.
‘Hear Me’ was the senior project of Amaya Coleman, Mya Billingsley, and Autumn Horn. To learn more, visit truthprojecthtx.org.
