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Local Film Screening to Address Marriage Equality in African American Community

Jen Lemen

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Contact: Deborah Tudor, Associate Dean, SIU College of Mass Communications and Media Arts, (618) 453-4308, dtudor@siu.edu

Local Film Screening to Address Marriage Equality in African American Community

Final Community Cinema Film is Saturday, May 31

Carbondale, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University’s College of Mass Communications and Media Arts (MCMA), WSIU Public Broadcasting, and the Carbondale Public Library will end the 2013-2014 season of Community Cinema this month with a free screening and discussion of the film The New Black on Saturday, May 31 at 2:30pm at the library, 405 West Main in Carbondale.

Derrick Williams, Assistant Director of SIU Carbondale’s Center for Inclusive Excellence, will lead a discussion after the film. Refreshments will be provided.

The New Black explores how the African American community is grappling with the gay rights issue in light of the marriage equality movement and the fight over civil rights. The film documents both sides of the campaign to legalize gay marriage in Maryland, where the battle for the hearts and minds of black voters -- almost a third of the electorate -- is fought from the pulpit. Through the stories of activists, families, and clergy on both sides of the debate, the film charts the evolution of this divisive issue within the black community. Additional details can be found online at http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/new-black.

The SIU College of Mass Communications and Media Arts, WSIU Public Broadcasting, and the Carbondale Public Library plan to host another season of Community Cinema in the fall. Stay tuned for details as they become available.

About Community Cinema

Community Cinema is a groundbreaking civic engagement initiative from the Independent Television Service (ITVS) that brings to light unforgettable stories about unique individuals, underrepresented communities, or pivotal moments in history. The film screenings and discussions are designed to bring together leading organizations, community members, and public television stations to discuss and get involved in key social issues of our time. Community Cinema is a service of Independent Television Services (ITVS) and is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

About WSIU Public Broadcasting

WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a website, and an education and community outreach department.

WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more and get the latest station news online at wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook and Twitter pages.

WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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