The Jewelle Gomez stories as told to Amanda Kovattana

J. Gomez, A. Kovattana

Fiction and the performing arts are powerful tools for cultural activism. As Jewelle Gomez tells the story of how her black lesbian vampire novel, The Gilda Stories, was brought to the stage, it becomes clear that many people who would not otherwise seek out such stories are exposed to the stories of minorities via plays. Part of this retelling illustrates how arts funding is controlled by politics. Jewelle Gomez also demonstrates her activism by teaching lesbians how their money can be used in powerful ways to encourage the changes they would like to see in the world.