Outreach & Audience Engagement

An ambitious Outreach and Engagement Campaign is amplifying the reach and impact of CURED in communities and classrooms around the U.S. We are partnering with LGBTQ groups, mental health associations, hospital systems, social justice organizations, and educators to host virtual and in-person screenings around the country, including Q&A sessions with the filmmakers, LGBTQ activists, and mental health professionals. With support from our presenting sponsor – the American Psychiatric Association Foundation – along with additional assistance provided by AARP, The Better Angels Society, Gilead Sciences, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and the National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation, the campaign focuses on three key areas:
  • Educating healthcare professionals about this turning point in LGBTQ history
  • Sparking intergenerational dialogue between socially conscious youth and elders
  • Highlighting efforts to end conversion therapy — a discredited practice that aims to change or “cure” a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity and remains legal in 30 states.

“CURED is not just a brilliantly told story, it is a call to honor our legacy of activism and empowerment by continuing the fight to end conversion therapy once and for all.” —Mathew Shurka, Co-Founder & Chief Strategist, Born Perfect

We have participated in more than 125 outreach screenings and panel discussions. Hosts during the past year have included OutRight International, History UnErased, SAGE, The LGBT Congressional Staff Association, AARP, Santa Fe Pride, UCLA’s Open Mind Series, Wisconsin Psychiatric Association, Children’s Health Council, National Action Network, and the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). Prior screening hosts have included The National LGBTQ Task Force, PFLAG, The Trevor Project, Born Perfect, The Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition, New York City Health + Hospitals, The Southeast Idaho Area Health Education Center, and Hispanic Heritage Foundation. We will continue to use the film as a centerpiece to engage in discussions about anti-LGBTQ legislation around the country.

In recent months, American diplomats presented the film at the U.S. embassy in Beijing and at several consulates throughout China. These screenings, which were free and open to the public, are among many that have taken place outside the United States over the past two years. It has been heartening to us that CURED is connecting with international audiences in addition to viewers in the U.S. Co-directors Patrick Sammon and Bennett Singer have also traveled to participate in many in-person events around the world. So far, in-person events have been held in London, England; Zurich, Switzerland; Florence, Italy; Vancouver, BC; Bedford, NY; Pelham, NY; Tucson, AZ; Santa Fe, NM; Seattle, WA; Washington, DC; and other cities.

The following elements are part of the Outreach & Engagement Campaign:

  • Virtual and in-person community screenings with LGBTQ organizations around the country, including Q&A sessions with filmmakers and mental-health professionals
  • Partnerships to spark intergenerational dialogue between LGBTQ elders and younger activists
  • Medical school screenings, including Q&As with filmmakers and mental-health professionals
  • Screenings for mental-health providers and hospital employees
  • Screenings and conversations with filmmakers at conferences and meetings of mental-health providers
  • Creation of a curriculum guide, web materials, and an educational version of CURED for use in high school classrooms
  • Expanded features and interactive content on our project website