New York Show & CD Honor My Late Son
by Gabi ClaytonOn June 26, 1996, almost a year ago, I checked my e-mail and found a letter from a songwriter in Los Angeles, Steve Schalchlin. He had visited my home page on the Internet, and he invited me to visit his. Thus began an incredible friendship.
When I met Steve in that letter, he was coming back from very near death from AIDS. He was taking Crixivan, and as that medicine worked what could be called a miracle, Steve found the energy to write new songs. He wanted to tell his relatives and friends what it is like to live with AIDS.
As Steve's strength came back, the songs flowed from him. His partner, Jim Brochu, then wrote an incredibly powerful book (play) that wraps itself around those songs. The result is The Last Session (or TLS), a brand new musical.
Last December Steve released a CD called "Living in the Bonus Round." He surprised me by dedicating it to the memory of two people—my son Bill, who committed suicide when he was 17 after he was assaulted in a hate crime, and Shawn Decker, a 21 year old straight hemophiliac, HIV+ since he was 11.
The Last Session opened at the Currican Theater in New York May 8, the second anniversary of Bill's suicide. An odd coincidence!
A wonderful friend of Steve's and mine flew me there. It was his surprise to Steve and his gift to me, he wrote, "an expression of my gratitude for your struggle against intolerance and my appreciation for your love and support for Bill. Consider it a Mother's Day present from him."
My son Noel and I flew to New York May 9, the day after The Last Session opened, for a wonderful Mother's Day weekend, one I will never forget.
About his show, Steve wrote this letter to PFLAG Talk, the unofficial cyberspace PFLAG chapter:
I wrote the songs about Christian homophobia and about AIDS. I came from an ultra-conservative background in the south, son of a Baptist preacher, and had to work through a lot of prejudice, self-loathing and guilt before I grew into the person I am today.When I thought I had little time left, I began a web page with an online diary. This opened a new world for me, especially after I found Bill's Story on Gabi Clayton's site. The image of that beautiful child's now-gone face beaming out from her site haunted me for weeks. I'm proud that I helped make his full story available to the world.
In addition, I began a to meet countless young gay kids stuck in fundamentalist homes in fundamentalist towns with fundamentalist preachers kids with blades to their wrists.
I began to really see the horror of many of today's organized religions and the hate they perpetuate on those they pretend to love. I am not a religion basher, but I judge any and all by the way they treat other people, especially children.
I salute all the parents who have had the courage to go against modern hate and inborn prejudices, to see through to the light of love and joyful acceptance of their gay kids. You cannot imagine the thrill that goes through my heart when I see how lovingly devoted you are."
The script is intense, funny and heartbreaking. The five characters express so very much of the passion, pain, joy, fear and hope of this world. Especially hope.
Sitting in the theater next to Noel, listening to Steve's songs, there were times when Noel reached for my hand and we just held on. I found the show to be a powerful statement for love and hope, and against hatred and ignorance.
When Steve dedicated his CD (Living in the Bonus Round) to Bill's memory, I was blown away. Now that I have seen The Last Session, I cannot imagine any way his memory could be more honored.
During the trip home, Noel said, "Mom, you have some pretty amazing friends." " agree!
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