Minors Allowed to Attend "Hidden: A Gender"

Hidden: A Gender

On June 1, 2, and 3, the First Universalist Church of Auburn (ME), presented the radical transsexual/transgender play "Hidden: A Gender."  The play was written by the real-life transgendered Kate Bornstein, formerly Al Bornstein.  Bornstein is a self-described "Buddhist, male-to-female transsexual performance artist, and gender educator."  He authored the book "Gender Outlaw."

The play was recently described this way: "Through transgressively gendered performances, eight actors converge on the battlefield called gender and bring to life the struggles of Herculine Barbin, an eighteenth century woman with ambiguous [physical characteristics] later forced to assume a male role in society, and Herman Amberstone, a present-day male-to-female transsexual who's life experiences are remarkably similar to those of the author.

Mr. Al Bornstein

Mr. Al "Kate" Bornstein

After three failed marriages and many years as a Scientology spokesman, Al Bornstein decided to become Kate.  Bornstein eventually decided that he was neither male nor female, but a separate gender of his own.  In his book , Bornstein writes, "I know that I'm not a man...and I've come to the conclusion that I'm probably not a woman, either..."

The play's cast included many members of the church congregation, including Charlotte Lehmann playing the play's "Doc Grinder" character.  It was sponsored by the church's Social Justice Committee, whose mission is to educate the church and wider community about Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered issues.  The First Universalist Church of Auburn's minister is the Reverend Doctor Jodi Cohen Hayashida.  She spoke recently to local Lewiston/Auburn's CNN 1240 AM radio news director Scott Garrett to promote the play.

Hayashida said a panel discussion followed each of the three performances, to address questions and concerns raised by the church's transgendering play.  The panel discussions were led by members of the radical homosexual group, EqualityMaine, according to Hayashida.

UU-Auburn Rev. Jodi Cohen Hayashida

Perhaps more disturbing than either the trannsexual nature of the play itself or the play being performed in a church by church members is who was encouraged to attend the play: minor children.  When the same play was performed in 2006 at the Nordica Audiotorum on the homosexual-friendly University of Maine at Farmington campus, there was a prominent disclaimer attached to the promotional advertisement.  The ad for the play's warning read: " Extreme Adult Content! Not Suitable for Children!"  The play's director for both the First Universalist Church of Auburn performance and the UMF Nordica Auditorium performance was the same: Araminta (Mina) Matthews, who recently graduated from UMF.

The church's performance of the transsexual play, published in the Lewiston Sun Journal, only issued the subdued statement: "Due to the adult content of this play, no one under 16 will be admitted without a parent or guardian present."  The church further encouraged minors to attend by offering a $2 discount for students to purchase tickets for the play.

The First Universalist Church of Auburn (ME) can be reached at 169 Pleasant Street, Auburn, ME 04210, (207) 783-0461, and by email at uuauburn@verizon.net.  The Rev. Dr. Jodi Cohen Hayashida can be reached at (207) 777-3196 and by email at jodihaya@gmail.com.

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