Playwright on HIV Med Strike / NYTW Responds

[macbeth]

Posted: 3/4/24 at 8:18am

Just read:

https://www.nytw.org/a-letter-from-patricia-mcgregor/

Which I think is a response to:

https://www.vulture.com/article/victor-i-cazares-new-york-theatre-workshop-gaza-ceasefire.html

 

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 3/4/24 at 9:12am

What does killing yourself over what a regional theater think of a war accomplish? Even if they did give into Victor's demands, it won't change what's happening overseas. NYTW would rather protect their wealthy donors than throw that away for a statement (even if necessary...)

Also, Victor noted themselves that they were fired by NYTW before the med strike started. I'll find a link to that to share.

 

1. https://www.instagram.com/p/CzuQhOEPZzV/

2. https://www.instagram.com/p/CzuVfgtPj_P/

3. https://www.instagram.com/p/CzxFLCVvUyi/

Updated On: 3/4/24 at 09:12 AM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/4/24 at 9:21am

It's a toothless statement by NYTW, but a statement that never had to be made in the first place.

I hope the playwright is able to get some serious mental health treatment.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 3/4/24 at 9:31am

Isn't that Tennessee Williams speech in the NYTW statement from James Grissom's book? By which I mean completely made up?

[BJR]

Posted: 3/4/24 at 9:56am

Folks need some lessons in civics. Call your senator.

And I think references to wealthy donors on this specific issue and thread more than whiffs of antisemitism. The fact is support for Israel (even now, surprisingly) is very high in the US. This issue isn't black and white. And while it's certainly one's right to want those they work with to be politically aligned with their own views, it's not only not required, but shouldn't be in a democracy.

[joevitus]

Posted: 3/4/24 at 10:12am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "It's a toothless statement by NYTW, but a statement that never had to be made in the first place.

I hope the playwright is able to get some serious mental health treatment."

Agreed. And as someone who had posting privileges revoked for a short time because I hypothesized that a famous person might have mental health issues, I hope you don't face similar repercussions. 

Updated On: 3/4/24 at 10:12 AM

[jv92]

Posted: 3/4/24 at 2:57pm

I mean, I think it's insulting to the scores of (marginalized) people who died, fought, or fought and died, just so you could have these medications and lead a long, productive life with HIV, but I suppose that doesn't matter to the lunatics trying to run the asylum now. Good luck with the slow suicide, and I hope Larry Kramer doesn't meet you and the pearly gates, because he'll have some things to say. 

 

 

[OhHiii]

Posted: 3/4/24 at 3:08pm

Comments saluting bravery on this artist's posts are so troubling. There is nothing brave about this, no matter where you fall on what's going on in the middle east. To have access to live saving medication only to deny it for the sake of posturing on social media (which, in practice, is quite literally the only thing that would result from this) is truly a testament to how warped our civic discourse has become.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/4/24 at 3:43pm

Leave it to a marginal theatre artist to find a way to make a devastating humanitarian crisis wholly about themself.

Updated On: 3/4/24 at 03:43 PM

[OhHiii]

Posted: 3/4/24 at 3:51pm

Thank you for articulating what I've struggled to put my finger on with all of this, Kad. In these instances, the headlines aren't actually about Gaza and the genocide, but they're about the artist. That's not martyrdom, it's narcissism. 

[Kad]

Posted: 3/4/24 at 4:10pm

OhHiii said: "Thank you for articulating what I've struggled to put my finger on with all of this, Kad. In these instances, the headlines aren't actually about Gaza and the genocide, but they're about the artist. That's not martyrdom, it's narcissism."

They're not even really calling for any action from the US, or Israel, or any international leaders or organizations.

They're demanding a call for ceasefire from a theatre they once had a working relationship with. Even their social media presence filters the whole thing through the lens of how they are affected- they've even said on their Twitter they expected NYTW to cave in a few weeks. It's just... incredibly self-absorbed and narrow sighted.

[Dreamboy3]

Posted: 3/6/24 at 8:52am

The least he could do is give his HIV medication to one of the many many people who can’t afford it rather than  burying it. 

[SeanD2]

Posted: 3/6/24 at 12:53pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "It's a toothless statement by NYTW, but a statement that never had to be made in the first place.

I hope the playwright is able to get some serious mental health treatment."

A lot of organizations / companies are now realizing that they probably shouldn't have taken institutional stances on other issues because it created an expectation of stances on future issues. It's the same reason a lot of corporations are already eliminating their DEI teams.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/6/24 at 2:12pm

I just don't understand what people like him and the people behind the "uncommitted" effort think they are going to accomplish. You don't just call for a cease fire and it happens. There are a lot of negotiations involved. Even after Biden said that a cease fire is in the works and was confident it would happen soon, they evidently still were not happy as they were at the polls voting uncommitted and asking others to do so. Sometimes you need to have patience. Something a lot of people don't seem to have these days. JMO

Updated On: 3/7/24 at 02:12 PM

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 3/6/24 at 2:29pm

I don't know the playwright but I do think their request/demand seems reasonable enough when theaters are trampling all over each other to win the reparations olympics when it comes to Land Acknowledgements, correct pronoun use and DEI. But no love for Gaza and the nearly 30,000 civilians who have been massacred with US weapons? I'm not talking about Hamas leadership who are scum but the millions of civilians who are currently starving to death. 

Updated On: 3/6/24 at 02:29 PM

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 3/6/24 at 3:25pm

This makes me angry for so many reasons.

There are countless people who died waiting for these drugs, nearly an entire generation of gay men. And so many within that community, and beyond, fought like hell to get these life saving drugs into circulation. This "strike" feels like a spit in their faces. This medication is a game changer.

The drugs are also incredibly expensive if you don't have the right insurance. So the least they could do would be to donate them to some kid who can't afford their next refill. Rather than make self indulgent social media videos.

Plus they were fired from NYTW. So you're asking your EX employer to make a ceasefire statement? And I hate to break it to you, but in the grand scheme of things, a statement from some off-broadway theater company means NOTHING in terms of shifting actual events in this war, or public sentiment around it. Why would you *literally* choose to die on this hill? Why not call your senator? Why not help one of the many other larger public action orgs stage a formal protest or march? OR...why not use your actual talent and skill as a playwright to WRITE about it and ensure that this horrifying time in history has a voice and is remembered for all time? This person is choosing the LEAST helpful route, and is in the process making it all about themselves. UGH.

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 3/6/24 at 3:35pm

MayAudraBlessYou2 said: "And I hate to break it to you, but in the grand scheme of things, a statement from some off-broadway theater company means NOTHING in terms of shifting actual events in this war, or public sentiment around it. "

Oh, I can assure that if it meant "NOTHING" as in the ubiquitous Land Acknowledgements, NYTW would do it in an instant.

 

[Ke3]

Posted: 3/6/24 at 3:49pm

jv92 said: "I mean, I think it's insulting to the scores of (marginalized) peoplewho died, fought, or fought and died, just so you could have these medications and lead a long, productive life with HIV, but I suppose that doesn't matter to the lunatics trying to runthe asylum now.Good luck with the slow suicide, and I hope Larry Kramer doesn't meet you and the pearly gates, because he'll have some things to say.



"

I don't mean this as a statement of support but med strikes have a very long history in the AIDS crisis. He did not stumble upon some groundbreaking new form of protest even if he's under the impression he did.

 

[Impeach2017]

Posted: 3/6/24 at 4:24pm

Does the strike also insist on the return of all hostages and an accounting of those who were killed?  No?  I didn't think so.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/6/24 at 4:34pm

Impeach2017 said: "Does the strike also insist on the return of all hostages and an accounting of those who were killed? No? I didn't think so."

I don't think this situation needs somebody trying to pull a 'gotcha' on this person. They're already got.

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 3/7/24 at 2:17pm

Good for this playwright and others who are raising their voices about the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. President Biden, it seems, is not only finally listening but taking action to lessen it.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/7/24 at 2:52pm

There are countless people who died waiting for these drugs, nearly an entire generation of gay men. And so many within that community, and beyond, fought like hell to get these life saving drugs into circulation. This "strike" feels like a spit in their faces. This medication is a game changer.

It absolutely is and it has saved so many lives and will continue to do so. And I ask this genuinely as someone who is not part of the rainbow community: Does this person need to take their medication because of men who fought and died for him to so? Isn't it his right to make his own health care decisions? Just honestly curious here. 

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 3/7/24 at 3:08pm

Of course no one NEEDS to do anything. To take or not take the medication that will literally save and sustain his life is 100% his choice. 

That doesn't mean his choice doesn't have an impact with people. It does, and it is unavoidable that the choice will garner very strong reactions from those of us who know people who have died of AIDS as well as people currently living on this (or similar) medication. To me, this strike feels like a slap in the face to those who came before. And to those who are still dealing with the stigma HIV carries to this day. The playwrights actions are their own, and its a free country where they can make them. But I cannot help the way it makes me feel, the emotions and memories it stirs in me. Our actions have resonance in the world in terms of how we are perceived.

[jv92]

Posted: 3/7/24 at 5:45pm

Ke3 said: "jv92 said: "I mean, I think it's insulting to the scores of (marginalized) peoplewho died, fought, or fought and died, just so you could have these medications and lead a long, productive life with HIV, but I suppose that doesn't matter to the lunatics trying to runthe asylum now.Good luck with the slow suicide, and I hope Larry Kramer doesn't meet you and the pearly gates, because he'll have some things to say.



"

I don't mean this as a statement of support but med strikes have a very long history in the AIDS crisis. He did not stumble upon some groundbreaking new form of protest even if he's under the impression he did.

"
 

Yes, of course. And obviously, the meds of the 80s were not what they are now. I certainly meant no disrespect. But without Kramer and ACT UP, this fellow would not be in the fortuitous circumstance he’s in, that too, too many were not— and never could be. 
 

The whole thing is ugly and infuriating. And shameful. 

 

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 3/7/24 at 7:26pm

jv92 said: "Ke3 said: "jv92 said: "But without Kramer and ACT UP, this fellow would not be in the fortuitous circumstance he’s in, that too, too many were not— and never could be.

Kramer was the public face of ACT UP and certainly important to its founding and growth but ACT UP was a collective enterprise and a child of left culture. The same culture that today is advocating for the same demands that Victor I. Cazares is advocating for.

Don't take my word for it, read any history of ACT UP including Sarah Schulman's comprehensive Let the Record Show.

Updated On: 3/7/24 at 07:26 PM