Frameline is thrilled to partner with guest bloggers from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire during this year's festival! We've invited students from the LGBTQA Studies: San Francisco Travel Seminar at UWEC to share their experiences of Frameline and their thoughts on San Francisco's queer community.
Kim Acheson
Age 35
Journalism Major
I want to change the world. One voice, one story, one film, one person can make the difference and be that change; so I want to get their story... Why can't my neighbor just be my neighbor? Why can't I or anyone just love and respect people for who they are? This is my dream and this is my time to roll up my sleeves and work for that dream.
Elizabeth Albert
Age 22
Creative Writing Major, Anthropology Minor
My own journey has been fueled by compassion for humanity and the power of the human experience. As a writer, I strive to show the truth to the world. Every life path and experience is different, but the walk of the life is something we all share. It all starts with an open hand, a hand I am happy to give, using this class as the perfect opportunity.
Kelly Brill
Age 21
Psychology Major, Sociology Minor
I took this course because as an ally I felt I could learn so much more from being immersed in the San Francisco culture than I could anywhere else. Seeing and experiencing new things here and feeling accepted and welcomed is giving me a great outlook on what I can bring back to Eau Claire in order to help create acceptance and equality across our city and state.
Katie Chaplin
Age 22
Psychology Major, Sociology Minor
I am a senior at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire with a passion for the deaf and hard of hearing community. In taking this course I want to raise awareness and bring the voices of the deaf community into a light for people who don’t realize or are unaware of their every day challenges.
Megan Chilman
Age 20
Public Relations & Film Production Major
Growing up in a small rural town in southern Minnesota, I was not exposed to the LGBTQ community or many minorities. Growing up in a family that was constantly involved with volunteer work and the community, I gained a passion for understanding the human experience. Also, through being bullied, I gained a desire for personal acceptance as well as universal acceptance for others.
By taking this course, I am able to enact my passion for standing up for the rights and stories of others as well as take part in filmmaking, which has been my dream since I was 15. I am very excited to become immersed in the LGBTQ community in San Francisco, encounter the eye-opening stories at Frameline, and to take part in creating a documentary that I have many personal ties to.
Katy Cobb
Age 21
Sociology & Latin American Studies Major, Spanish Minor
I am a fun-loving individual who is having a hard time writing this bio! I am really enjoying myself thus far in San Francisco, experiencing new things and finding a community to which I can relate. Of course, the Frameline Film Festival has been a big part of my experience and I am truly grateful to have the opportunity to be in this class and see these films that are incredibly real and personal to me.
Brenna Ehster
Age 21
Multimedia Communications Major
This is my second year traveling to San Francisco to experience Pride, and the Frameline film festival. I had the wonderful opportunity to travel with students last summer to make a short documentary about Proposition 8. My film was shown in the Eau Queer Film Festival, which I am now the director of. I am extremely passionate about cinema, and I am so happy to be back in the Castro to be a mentor my fellow students.
Bryton Fredrick
Age 19
Sociology Major; Minority Health Minor
I am a junior at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire and I am pursing an emphasis in HIV/AIDS research and community involvement. I’m taking this course because I have a strong interest in GLBT issues and want to be a strong activist in any way possible. So far, this course has done an incredible job of helping me understand myself better, and has shaped me to help my community in a more positive way. I’m excited to be in San Francisco because it is a great city that is accepting and full of culture.
Michael Jacobs
Age 23
Liberal Studies Major in Multimedia Communications
This course is an exciting opportunity for me as a mentor focusing on the creative process. As the technology coordinator my job is to empower the group with creative mediums for documentation and personal expression. I am interested in learning how to teach film making from a deeply personal and humane perspective, and doing so as an LGBTQ Ally in San Francisco is the best opportunity I could imagine. I believe strongly in the growing power of media convergence - and our responsibility to empower others through our mics and lenses. I am deeply grateful to help guide such a responsible and socially active group of my peers as they come together to find and fight for their beliefs - to help realize our future.
Katie Johnson
Age 20
Psychology and Women’s Studies Major
Hello, name's Katie and I am a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. I am taking the LGBTQA Studies immersion course this summer because I knew that if I let this opportunity pass by me I would hate myself for it. It’s not every day that courses like this come across my path. Why would someone not want to go to San Francisco after all? This trip is full of firsts. First plane ride, first pride, first film festival, first time away from home, and most importantly the first time I feel completely comfortable being myself.
Lindsay Miklya
Age 21
Photography/Psychology/Communications Major
Photography and travel have always been my passion. While everything else surrounding me was uncontrollable, photography has always been constant. The recent tragedy of losing my father has given me an extra push to aspire for the things that truly make me happy. Life is short, immerse yourself in every culture.
Brianna Mueller
Age 21
Theater Education Major, English Education Minor
I am passionate about human rights and social justice. I have been an LGBTQ ally since high school and have always wanted equal voices and opportunities for everyone I love. In this first Frameline experience my eyes are opening even more to the variety of differences within this community and hear their stories.
Tatjana Trommershauser
Age 24
Social Work Major, LGBT Certificate, Women’s Studies Certificate
I’m a super carefree person who takes things as they come and absolutely feels uncomfortable to write this bio because there is just too much to say about me. I took this course not only because of the awesome, amazing experience, but because I absolutely love watching films, especially independent films.
Brooke Verwiel
Age 21
Psychology Major, Sociology Minor
A lifetime as an older sister and mentor has given me a sense of empathy and a desire for understanding that is set deep in my heart. I strive to be an activist for human rights not only through participation in organizations but through the conversations I have. My life would be made perfect by being able to change people’s lives to help achieve equality. I am seeing people caring about each other and loving how compassionate San Francisco is!
Kim Acheson
Age 35
Journalism Major
I want to change the world. One voice, one story, one film, one person can make the difference and be that change; so I want to get their story... Why can't my neighbor just be my neighbor? Why can't I or anyone just love and respect people for who they are? This is my dream and this is my time to roll up my sleeves and work for that dream.
Elizabeth Albert
Age 22
Creative Writing Major, Anthropology Minor
My own journey has been fueled by compassion for humanity and the power of the human experience. As a writer, I strive to show the truth to the world. Every life path and experience is different, but the walk of the life is something we all share. It all starts with an open hand, a hand I am happy to give, using this class as the perfect opportunity.
Kelly Brill
Age 21
Psychology Major, Sociology Minor
I took this course because as an ally I felt I could learn so much more from being immersed in the San Francisco culture than I could anywhere else. Seeing and experiencing new things here and feeling accepted and welcomed is giving me a great outlook on what I can bring back to Eau Claire in order to help create acceptance and equality across our city and state.
Katie Chaplin
Age 22
Psychology Major, Sociology Minor
I am a senior at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire with a passion for the deaf and hard of hearing community. In taking this course I want to raise awareness and bring the voices of the deaf community into a light for people who don’t realize or are unaware of their every day challenges.
Megan Chilman
Age 20
Public Relations & Film Production Major
Growing up in a small rural town in southern Minnesota, I was not exposed to the LGBTQ community or many minorities. Growing up in a family that was constantly involved with volunteer work and the community, I gained a passion for understanding the human experience. Also, through being bullied, I gained a desire for personal acceptance as well as universal acceptance for others.
By taking this course, I am able to enact my passion for standing up for the rights and stories of others as well as take part in filmmaking, which has been my dream since I was 15. I am very excited to become immersed in the LGBTQ community in San Francisco, encounter the eye-opening stories at Frameline, and to take part in creating a documentary that I have many personal ties to.
Katy Cobb
Age 21
Sociology & Latin American Studies Major, Spanish Minor
I am a fun-loving individual who is having a hard time writing this bio! I am really enjoying myself thus far in San Francisco, experiencing new things and finding a community to which I can relate. Of course, the Frameline Film Festival has been a big part of my experience and I am truly grateful to have the opportunity to be in this class and see these films that are incredibly real and personal to me.
Brenna Ehster
Age 21
Multimedia Communications Major
This is my second year traveling to San Francisco to experience Pride, and the Frameline film festival. I had the wonderful opportunity to travel with students last summer to make a short documentary about Proposition 8. My film was shown in the Eau Queer Film Festival, which I am now the director of. I am extremely passionate about cinema, and I am so happy to be back in the Castro to be a mentor my fellow students.
Bryton Fredrick
Age 19
Sociology Major; Minority Health Minor
I am a junior at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire and I am pursing an emphasis in HIV/AIDS research and community involvement. I’m taking this course because I have a strong interest in GLBT issues and want to be a strong activist in any way possible. So far, this course has done an incredible job of helping me understand myself better, and has shaped me to help my community in a more positive way. I’m excited to be in San Francisco because it is a great city that is accepting and full of culture.
Michael Jacobs
Age 23
Liberal Studies Major in Multimedia Communications
This course is an exciting opportunity for me as a mentor focusing on the creative process. As the technology coordinator my job is to empower the group with creative mediums for documentation and personal expression. I am interested in learning how to teach film making from a deeply personal and humane perspective, and doing so as an LGBTQ Ally in San Francisco is the best opportunity I could imagine. I believe strongly in the growing power of media convergence - and our responsibility to empower others through our mics and lenses. I am deeply grateful to help guide such a responsible and socially active group of my peers as they come together to find and fight for their beliefs - to help realize our future.
Katie Johnson
Age 20
Psychology and Women’s Studies Major
Hello, name's Katie and I am a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. I am taking the LGBTQA Studies immersion course this summer because I knew that if I let this opportunity pass by me I would hate myself for it. It’s not every day that courses like this come across my path. Why would someone not want to go to San Francisco after all? This trip is full of firsts. First plane ride, first pride, first film festival, first time away from home, and most importantly the first time I feel completely comfortable being myself.
Lindsay Miklya
Age 21
Photography/Psychology/Communications Major
Photography and travel have always been my passion. While everything else surrounding me was uncontrollable, photography has always been constant. The recent tragedy of losing my father has given me an extra push to aspire for the things that truly make me happy. Life is short, immerse yourself in every culture.
Brianna Mueller
Age 21
Theater Education Major, English Education Minor
I am passionate about human rights and social justice. I have been an LGBTQ ally since high school and have always wanted equal voices and opportunities for everyone I love. In this first Frameline experience my eyes are opening even more to the variety of differences within this community and hear their stories.
Tatjana Trommershauser
Age 24
Social Work Major, LGBT Certificate, Women’s Studies Certificate
I’m a super carefree person who takes things as they come and absolutely feels uncomfortable to write this bio because there is just too much to say about me. I took this course not only because of the awesome, amazing experience, but because I absolutely love watching films, especially independent films.
Brooke Verwiel
Age 21
Psychology Major, Sociology Minor
A lifetime as an older sister and mentor has given me a sense of empathy and a desire for understanding that is set deep in my heart. I strive to be an activist for human rights not only through participation in organizations but through the conversations I have. My life would be made perfect by being able to change people’s lives to help achieve equality. I am seeing people caring about each other and loving how compassionate San Francisco is!