Grand Marshal Male

SCOTT TURNER SCHOFIELD

Scott Turner Schofield is a writer, performer and educator creating theatre about gender and sexuality in the Deep South. He is also a man who was a woman, a lesbian turned straight guy who is often called a fag. Not surprisingly, his work centers on contradictions and comedy. Schofield’s three solo shows have toured to nationwide acclaim since 2001. His activist art has received several honors and a “Fruity” for his Off-Broadway success as part of New York City’s Fresh Fruit Festival. His autobiographical monologues challenge fundamental gender assumptions with stories of searching, embarrassment, pride, and the joy of finding yourself on your own terms.

In 2007, Schofield became the first openly trans artist commissioned by the National Performance Network for his third solo show “Becoming a Man in 127 EASY Steps.” One of only two works to be triple-commissioned by NPN in 2007, this piece is the last installment of an autobiographical performance trilogy, a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure combining aerial acrobatics and multimedia storytelling for a perpetually changing evening of gender exploration.

The youngest-ever recipient of a 2004 Tanne Foundation Award, Schofield enjoys incredible nationwide grassroots support, and was honored with a 2007 Princess Grace Foundation Fellowship in Acting, which he serves as an Artistic Associate at 7 Stages in Atlanta.

Schofield’s first book, Two Truths and a Lie, was published in 2008 by HomoFactus Press. A memoir passing as three solo plays, the book brings readers inside the often hilarious moments of Schofield’s young life on the Homecoming Court and Debutante Ball circuit. A signature facet of Schofield’s work, this drama warmly invites readers to explore gender, sex, sexuality, and self in their own first person.

To learn more about Scott Turner Schofield, visit his website at www.undergroundtransit.com.

Grand Marshal Female

SHONIA BROWN

Shonia Brown lives in Atlanta, Georgia, as one of the few remaining natives. She is an entrepreneur who founded and maintains an arts and entertainment, technology company designed to market and promote emerging artists. In addition, her latest entrepreneurial endeavors have led her to create an artifacts preservation and research assistance online portal for lesbian women of color.

As a former paraprofessional in the Atlanta public library system, artifacts preservation and research assistance is in her blood. Being a black lesbian and utilizing online networking communities in her own personal endeavors made her realize just how important the new site, Lesbian 411.info is. Similar to the vision of Nghosi Online and Nghosi Books, Lesbian 411.info will provide an online resource that brings artists together with the communities that they support.

In addition to her title as Publisher, she is also a writer. Her first novel, A Deeper Love was published in 2002. Her fiction has also appeared in the anthology, Ma-Ka Diasporic Juks: Contemporary Writing by Queers of African Descent. In the midst of the various projects and community services that she performs, Shonia is currently working on her second novel, The Minister’s Wife and a bi-anthology, I Love You to Death: Black Lesbian Diaries, which will premiere in late 2009.

Shonia has also been actively involved with other LGBTQ organizations in their pursuit of bridging the gap between ALL communities. She was co-creator of the annual “Rock, Rhythm, and Rhyme Artist Explosion” that has taken place during the Atlanta Pride Festival for the last four years. Shonia and co-creator, Betty Couvertier, celebrate their 5th year with the Atlanta Pride Festival by showcasing some of the area’s most talented straight and gay emerging artists. In 2005, she was recognized for her community service with the honor of the Community Builder Award from the Atlanta Pride Committee. Recently, she has received recognition from the National Black Justice Coalition through their annual Black LGBTQ History Month campaign as a shining example of an accomplished Black LGBTQ individual.