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Gay rights activist and filmmaker at Fetzer Center

March 13, 2009

KALAMAZOO--Gay rights activist Erin Davies, creator of the documentary "Fagbug," will discuss and present her film in the Fetzer Center's Kirsch Auditorium at Western Michigan University from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 20. The presentation and a reception afterward are open to the public free of charge.

The much-traveled Davies has told her story across the country on university campuses and in interviews with local and national media, including NPR. Davies' presentation at WMU will include screening of an 86-minute preview version of the documentary followed by a question and answer session.

On National Day of Silence in 2007--a day intended to protest hate crimes--Davies was the victim of a hate crime in Albany, N.Y. Presumably because she had a rainbow sticker on her Volkswagen Beetle, her car was vandalized, with the words "fag" and "u r gay" painted on the hood and driver side window.

Rather than remove the offensive words from her car, the 30-year-old Davies took the "fagbug" on a 58-day tour of the United States and Canada, filming her experiences as she traveled. The resulting documentary will officially premiere in April and is being submitted for consideration at several film festivals.

WMU's Office of Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Transgender Student Services is sponsoring Davies' presentation. Write to lbgt-coordinator@wmich.edu for more information.

Media contact: Thom Myers, (269) 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu

WMU News
Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
(269) 387-8400
www.wmich.edu/wmu/news