On Sept. 5, the Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room was filled with community members, storytelling students and TriPride members alike to engage with Milbre Burch’s show “Changing Skins.” It was one of many events planned leading up to TriPride on Saturday.
In the show, Burch explores the stories of heroes and heroines who do not conform to herteronormative standards. These folktales range from Scotland, Armenia, Chile, India, the Masaai and Navajo people to Baffin Island.
“By now I have spent 40 years collecting tales of transformation,” Burch said during her performance. “Animal offspring, fox brides, serpent husbands, dragon siblings, heroes and heroines who cross-dressed as they stood just at the edge at the border of becoming their true self.”
Burch drew inspiration for “Changing Skins” from people in her personal life. Specifically, a young boy with a desire to be a pink Power Ranger for Halloween.
“Once I began to think about the lives of dear friends and family members who have to face the kind of prejudice that one did have to face and still have to face in certain places in our world today, how could I not want to stand up and say, ‘Look at this incredible richness that humanity has if we are able to love one another and not make rules to be who we are, instead to support who they are?’” Burch said.
The Willow Tree audience was engaged in Burch’s performance and asked questions in the segment that followed. Attendees enjoyed food and drink at the venue and talked with Burch afterward.
“It’s lovely to be in a community gathering space and see so many people come into that space,” Burch said. “It was humbling and an honor to be asked to do this as part of the TriPride event and have members of the TriPride event committee and members of the community come.”
Burch is thankful for the Johnson City LGBTQ+ community who supported her work and message.
“Thank you for being exactly who you are, and thanks especially to the folks who came out to see the show and who support the work of an ally,” she said.
Although 2019’s TriPride events concluded Sept. 7, learn more about next year’s planned events taking place in Bristol at https://www.tripridetn.org/.
