David Watters, a graduate of Trinity College of Music, London and the Institute of Education, University of London, has worked internationally as a singer, director and teacher for more than 20 years and has taught drama and music within socially and culturally diverse settings.
He is a personal and professional development associate with The Pacific Institute (www.pacificinstitute.co.uk), personal tutor, freelance writer and founding member of NBI Associates and Tech Queens.
David, who regularly writes for www.ambiente.us, One Nation and Polari, has been championed by Stuart Milk, nephew of Harvey Milk and Equality Advocate, who has said: “I love your work, which is vital to show the richness of embracing and celebrating our wonderful diversity. As Harvey would say, you’re bringing medicine into the world that the world needs! Thank you!”
His background in arts and education, combined with a solid understanding of CBT, and his passion for Equality Advocacy drive every aspect of his work as a personal development facilitator and a writer.
David is currently finalizing his book, Never Blend In: The Legacy of Harvey Milk which supports and is supported by The Trevor Project.
The book sets out to highlight and challenge social perceptions of the LGBT community; to understand the causes of low self-esteem and suicide ideation felt by many LGBT individuals and, through a unique collection of inspirational interviews with well known and everyday people, to inspire and encourage the younger generation, or anyone questioning their validity, to lead a balanced, fulfilling and dignified life.
Role models from education, entertainment, law enforcement, medical and emergency services, politics, religion and sports have participated in this accessible and much needed discourse to illuminate the reader’s journey of self-discovery and self- efficacy.
Openly LGBT and successful role model figures can play an enormous part in highlighting the wealth of possibilities available to young people. These people, who are successfully modelling admirable qualities and character traits such as determination, diligence, vision and consistent effort, can only serve to inspire and encourage the younger generation, or anyone questioning their validity, to lead a balanced, fulfilling and dignified life.
Notable voices in the book are Harvey’s colleagues, Anne Kronenberg and Danny Nicoletta; actors Stephen Fry and Alan Cumming; musician Darren Hayes (Savage Garden); Sordid Lives writer Del Shores; Michael Musto; filmmaker, Parvez Sharma; Calpernia Addams; NBA star John Amaechi and authors Lesléa Newman and Tom Rob Smith.
We, as a community, are under or misrepresented in the media and this impacts upon how individuals are perceived and treated by society. Positive, inspirational role models from the LGBT community can have an enormous impact on addressing this and can give hope to individuals who feel less valid and disenfranchised from society.
Most inspiring have been the “regular” people (the Scottish fireman, the Canadian concert pianist, the American professor, the South African artist or the student in Cardiff) who live with authenticity and, perhaps without realizing, are role models and inspirational figures to those whose lives they touch.
The “community” if such a thing exists is diverse but too many live in the shadows. My point, with this book, is that self worth determines our potential and that blending in is a direct result of feeling “less than”, feeling ashamed of how God (whatever that means to you) made you”.
Harvey Milk’s legacy, for this author, is the growing number of proud LGBT individuals who refuse to live lives limited by the judgment of others.
We can be part of society without blending in. To me it means living with 100% authenticity (as Dr Phil or Oprah might say!). We shouldn’t compromise our identity to be accepted and everyone regardless of sexuality or gender identity has a right to fully live.
Life need not be a self-fulfilling prophecy and by recognizing that our “truth” has been shaped through our relationships, our environment and our experiences, we can begin to change our perceptions, heighten our self-esteem and move toward our personal and professional goals with clear vision and purpose….
For young people coming to terms with their sexuality it’s really important that they have positive, high achieving role models as a way of boosting their self esteem and confidence. This kind of book shares the experience of a very diverse group of LGBT people. Individual and collective experience offers the inspiration and motivation for LGBT people to do something worthwhile with their lives and live their dream.
Peter Tatchell
It’s no shame to get help and inspiration from others, which is why David Watters ‘Never Blend In’, is so timely.
Trisha Goddard
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON DAVID WATTERS AND NEVER BLEND IN:
PRE- PUBLICITY
AMBIENTE.US, NEVER BLEND IN ARTICLES: http://www.ambiente.us/05509JohnAmaechi.html
http://www.ambiente.us/08009ChrisMason.html AND http://www.ambiente.us/04510JackMackenroth.html
POLARI ON SPRINGS ARTICLE: http://www.polarimagazine.com/?p=794
PIRATE CAT RADIO (INTERVIEW WITH CONTRIBUTOR SIMONE CAMPBELL, MARCH 2010): http://www.piratecatradio.com/
MANCHESTER MOUTH (INTERVIEW APRIL 2010): http://www.manchestermouth.co.uk/index.php?action=content&content_id=27
10thousand Couples LLC (ARTICLE MAY 2010): http://10thousandcouples.com/issue/may-2010/article/never-blend-in
INTERVIEW WITH KIERAN PROUT, ’Reporting to you from outside of the closet’: http://www.mediafire.com/?lghmymnbgan
NEVER BLEND IN IS CITED, BY ANTOINE SPITERI PhD, AS BEING LITERATURE THAT GAVE BIRTH TO GAY EXILES: http://www.antoinespiteri.com/exile.htm
BLOGS:
WORDPRESS: http://neverblendin.wordpress.com/
MILK.COM: http://harvey.milk.com/forum/topics/prop-8-equality-and-other
BLOG.HOLLYWOODPORTRAITARTIST.COM (James Michael McCracken): http://blog.hollywoodportraitartist.com/2009/04/11/interview-with-mr-david-watters-londonengland.aspx
SOCIAL NETWORKS:
FACEBOOK PAGE: http://www.facebook.com/?sk=messages&tid=1351055150278#!/profile.php?ref=profile&id=524934327
FACEBOOK GROUP: http://www.facebook.com/?sk=messages&tid=1351055150278#!/group.php?gid=106980051654&ref=mf
MYSPACE: www.myspace.com/n_b_i
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/NEVER_BLEND_IN
