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I'm Patrick Scully,
dancer, and performance artist
Cabaret.
here in South Minneapolis.
as they develop new work.
accessible, friendly space
for local artists to work in.
reached out to other GLBT
*** identified artists,
as well as artists of color
and people with disabilities.
that Patrick's Cabaret
celebrated its 25th anniversary.
a piece that looks back
starting with the day
that I found out
that I'm *** positive.
the highs and lows as I look
and global affairs.
We're able to see how much
society has changed
and how far
we still have to go.
that you're about to see,
we look at the heady
first days in this space
in 1999.
1999 was a very good year.
We got this building in 1999.
I felt like I won the lottery.
Through the generosity
of the fairy godmother,
for a dollar a month.
One of the first things I did
was find somebody
and put up a rainbow flag.
For the first time in my life,
in flying a flag,
right next door to the police.
And our flag was bigger
and taller than theirs.
In this case, size did matter.
the first thing we did
a world-class dance floor.
I remember looking
at the beauty of the bare wood
after it had been sanded--
it was so sensuous.
The hues were the same
as the color of my skin.
and videotaped me
of the room to the other.
One last dance of my naked flesh
and the bare wood
the floor with polyurethane.
you know it's progress.
(Patrick)
for interesting neighbors.
department of my youth.
you would not have been able
to open a gay theater
next door to the police.
You'd have had city inspectors
on the hour
down your establishment.
Fortunately, society and the
police department have evolved.
As Dr. King said,
of the moral universe is long,
but it bends toward justice.
We even had a lesbian precinct
commander in charge next door.
Lead to a classic confrontation
between lesbian law and order
fairy freedom of speech,
and the First Amendment won.
But I digress.
a great deal of pride
being able to establish this
as a gay cultural landmark
in South Minneapolis.
On Friday night, in May of 1999,
we held our first performance
in this space.
The room was packed with people.
surviving, we were thriving!
And Saturday morning,
I got in the car
and drove up to Brainerd
to my father's funeral.
I learned something important
that weekend,
of the human heart.
Its ability to hold
that much sorrow
and that much joy
all at the same time.
(man) Said the progress
begins with you.
piano & flute play softly