Lively Lectures and Workshops
by Peterson Toscano
Peterson Toscano offers a variety of engaging "lively lectures," workshops and presentations:
Here is a list of the current offerings
Homo No Mo?!? Orientation, Gender & the Ex-Gay Movement
Wired for Activism--Using Technology & New Media to Change the World
Hidden in the Text--Gender non-conformity in the Bible
Slow Dancing with the Enemy--Effective Strategies for Engaging your Opponent
Waking Up from a Biblically Induced Coma--Discussing the effects of & recovery from Religious Abuse
Sex & Spirit--A Fearless Look at the Intersections of Body, Soul, Spirit & Sexual Relationships
Homo No Mo?!?
Orientation, Gender & the Ex-Gay Movement
A Lively Lecture with Performance
"Gay to Straight" theories and treatments offer the vague and deceptive promise that Change is Possible. Having spent 17 years and over $30,000 on three different continents attempting to change and suppress his gay orientation and gender differences, Peterson Toscano presents a lively and informed lecture about the ex-gay movement and the often-tragic outcomes of pursuing such a change.
Interjecting scenes from his one-person comedy Doin' Time in the Homo No Mo Halfway House—How I Survived the Ex-Gay Movement, along with video clips, personal narrative, and the most current information about the ex-gay movement, Peterson's interactive and interesting academic presentation leaves his audience enlightened and better equipped to address false claims of the Ex-Gay Movement. As the co-founder of www.beyondexgay.com, Peterson reveals the damage that often comes to people who attempt to alter their orientation while also highlighting the creative ways ex-gay survivors have reclaimed their lives. He expertly applies gender theory as he explores the workings of power and privilege along with the other societal factors that influence individuals to pursue ex-gay treatment.
(90-120 minutes which includes time for discussion and Q&A)
Watch a video sample of Peterson using humor, creative storytelling and thoughtful insight to reveal some of what happens in a residential Ex-Gay program.
In 12 years of teaching, I’ve never seen such a powerful single class period - ever. I am not kidding. It was the highlight of my semester – and that of my students.
-Christine M. Robinson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Sociology & Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies, James Madison University
Toscano spent time with both of my Women's Studies classes today talking generally about gender and sexuality. What a wonderful break from academic doldrum! He was able to remain witty and engaging, while also noting the complex interactions between many overlapping identities, such as race, class, ability, etc. This is no easy task! It was a change to hear my students laugh while learning and Toscano was a gentle and entertaining teacher. I highly recommend him for campus and classroom visits.-Deric Shannon, Instructor of Sociology and Women's Studies, University of Connecticut
Peterson was amazing. I went to the event with four of my friends, and all five of us are straight. The experience was not only revealing about others' problems, but also reflected our own struggles with social norms and pressure created by society. Peterson, thanks for making the event a safe and comforting environment for everyone.
-Marilyn Retzler, student Towson State University
Peterson has presented this talk in several venues including the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Sarah Lawrence College, University of Cambridge (UK), Lambeth Conference 2008 at University of Kent, American University, Warren Wilson College, Williams College, James Madison University, Trinity College, Towson State University and many more.
What happens in this presentation? Read an article by a Trinity College student about Peterson's Lively Lecture.
Wired for Activism
Using Technology & New Media to Change the World
With the explosion of social networking sites, video streaming and quick and inexpensive access to electronic media that can get a message out to millions within a day, young activists have begun to develop effective global strategies for harnessing technology while still keeping their work grassroots. Peterson Toscano will share case studies of some of these effective actions that merge technology, art, storytelling and new media. Learn how you can expand your reach, build your base and stir up a lot of delicious trouble even from your own bed!
(75 minutes. "Smart" classroom/lecture hall required with access to Internet)
Hidden in the Text
Gender non-conformity in the Bible
Peterson Toscano is quickly emerging as a recognized expert on gender non-conformists and the Bible. Based on the research that led to play Transfiguratations--Transgressing Gender in the Bible, Peterson offers a lecture about those individuals in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures who trangress and transcend gender roles and presentations and serve as some of the most important people in the most important Bible narratives. Well-researched, grounded in scholarship, and thoroughly engaging, Peterson presents original material that has Bible scholars taking a fresh new look at ancient stories.
(60-75 minutes inluding time for Q&A)
Praise for Transfigurations & Peterson' scholarship:
Bible-lovers, gender-transgressors of all sorts, people who love justice! Make haste to see Peterson Toscano's play Transfigurations as soon as possible! His biblical exegesis is insightful and accurate, and you will glean a whole new perspective painlessly because of his charming performance.
-Dr. Virginia Ramey Mollenkott, author of Omnigender, co-author of Transgender Journeys.
I attended a workshop with Peterson in which he announced that he was doing a show on the transgender people in the Bible. I thought to myself, Hey, I'm a biblical scholar, and I don't know any transgender folks in the Bible! Now I know! I applaud Peterson for bringing to the fore in this play a new way of looking at the Bible! Bravo! No, bravissimo! I had to look at my own sexual stereotypes and how I bring them to biblical interpretation!
-Michael Willett Newheart, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament Language and Literature, Howard University School of Divinity
"Transfigurations" is one of the most beautiful, moving, and sensitively researched and portrayed explorations of trans lives in the Bible that I have ever experienced. As an actor myself, I was struck by the quality of Peterson's research - both Biblically and in terms of his lengthy process of conversation with various people in the trans communities to inform his piece. I was also struck by the care and sensitivity with which he presented trans stories, whilst still acknowledging his own identity and places of privilege.
-Rev. Kerri Mesner, Vancouver, BC
Slow Dancing with the Enemy
Effective Strategies for Engaging Your Opponent
In this interactive workshop, Peterson Toscano blends storytelling, small and large group activities, and hands-on instruction designed to explore effective strategies for engaging one's perceived or actual opponent. Example of questions that can be answered include: How do I have discourse with an anti-gay Conservative? How can we discover unspoken needs and shared values? How can opponents become allies?
This workshop has proved engaging and essential for anyone who desires to get past dead end debates into useful dialog and deeper understanding.
(120 minutes which includes time for discussion and Q&A)
Had I not attended this, I would not have known that the first thing Peterson would do was to deconstruct the language of war/violence we use when we talk about dialoguing with others of different perspectives/beliefs. The entire presentation was devoted to how we engage one another, human to human, on difficult issues such as sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, and religion, to promote understanding and compassion. It was wonderful.
-Christine M. Robinson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Sociology & Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies, James Madison University
Waking Up From a Biblically Induced Coma
Discussing the effects of & recovery from Religious Abuse
Drawing on his long personal conflict between his Christian faith and his gay orientation, Peterson Toscano offers this talk about faith issues, orientation and the healthy integration of the self.
Peterson's journey out of the closet had been long and complicated. As a Conservative Evangelical Christian, he felt he had no other choice than to rid himself of his same-sex attractions. Eventually he came to a place where he understood the nature of his struggle more keenly and discovered how to be authentic as a Christian, as a gay man, as an artist, as himself. Performing excerpts from his original one-person comedies, he shares both his journey and the key steps needed to emerge as an integrated person.
(75 minutes which includes time for discussion and Q&A)
I have had the chance to see Peterson Toscano perform several times in Sweden. His work makes a big impact on me every time I see it. He has an ability as an actor to entertain, and at the same time, he gets the audience to really reflect on complicated issues. He then invokes the desire to make a change. His writing is very political, but at the same time very personal as he manages to weave the two things together to bring his audience to knowledge that matters to everyone.
-Alex Resare, Umeå, Sweden
Sex & Spirit
A Fearless Look at the Intersections of Body, Soul, Spirit & Sexual Relationships
Does God forbid sex before marriage? What does the Bible say about polyamory? What are the effects of positive and healthy spiritual encounters and how do they mirror the effects of positive healthy sexual encounters? What are the negative effects? How do we develop a personal sexual ethic in a society that so often separates body and spirit, sexuality and spirituality? What models exist that affirm both the spiritual and the sexual self? How can we talk about these issues in fresh new ways? In a frank, thoughtful presentation, Peterson addresses these questions and many more. Using storytelling, humor and skilled facilitation, Peterson creates a thoughtful space where participants can reflect on the intersection of sexuality and spirituality without fear and shame.
(presentation can be offered as a talk or an intreactive workshop. 45-90 minutes depending on format)