Tells the story of creative gay voices, young and old, black and white, shy and loud.  The film centers on a showcase event of some 15 bright young gay and

lesbian poets, musicians, DJs, dancers, performance artists and filmmakers – all performing

in the course of September 9, 2006.

Through auditions, interviews and rehearsals Rise Up And Shout! looks at unique gay voices:  where they came from and where they want to go, who helps bring them out, what gets in their way, who’s listening and what’s being heard on and off the stage.  Rise Up And Shout! asks the young performers: Are they out?  Are they celebrated, taunted, ignored?  Does being gay affect their art?  Is it their art? 

Some of the young artists featured in the film include:

-Hip-hop dancers from GLASS, a social service agency working with gay and lesbian foster youth.  These young men and women come from backgrounds where often they have been abused or thrown out of their parent’s homes for coming out. Brought together by common struggles, they choreographed, composed and rehearsed for a year to present three unique dance pieces.

-John Quale, (28) a classically trained opera singer who created a drag, rock opera character, Prince Poppycock to “show the world that life is both meaningless and magical.”

-A 21 year-old poet who is also HIV-positive, Justin Miles, was once a prostitute and drug addict who now lives with his Mormon parents.  Justin writes, he states, as a way to process and move through life’s challenges.  Currently he is attending community college and hopes to be a music journalist.   

-A poet and filmmaker, Steven Liang (18) began his coming out process at the age of 14 and became an activist as a sophomore when he petitioned to run for prom queen at San Gabriel High School.