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| 10572 S. Emerald Avenue, Yuma, Arizona 85365-7161 ~ Telephone: 928-246-4856 | |
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Home Open Yuma Cases States/International Amancio Documentary Previous Victims Original Project Site |
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THE DOCUMENTARY
Special Guests Included the Corrales Family, The Director of the Documentary Mr. Tom Murray, the protagonist and founder of The Amancio Project, Mr. Michael H. Baughman, AZ Senator Amanda Aguirre and the then President of the newly formed Yuma High School Gay Straight Alliance (YHS GSA), Douglas O. Sanchez.
The Sunday afternoon program, emceed by
Baughman, included an introduction by Mr. Bill Butler of The Yuma Film Commission, Senator
Aguirre speaking about "The Value of Non-Discrimination," Sanchez talking on
"National Coming Out Day," and an introduction to the film by directory
Murray. Approximately 300 people attended.
Director: Tom Murray -- Producer: Bruce Presley,
Downtown Loft Studio in Florida
Background Information: http://www.TheAmancioProject.org (original site) |
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THE CLEAVER FILM MAKERS |
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Tom Murray, Director Tom Murray openly admits to getting a late start in life with filmmaking. Having studied filmmaking in his college years, and long term fan of documentary films, it was only in his “50+” years that he tackled his first feature length work. Inspired by his upbringing on a dairy farm in northern Illinois, “FARM FAMILY...in search of Gay life in rural America” was voted Best Feature Length Documentary at the Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in 2004 and has been acquired by Viacom as part of the initial acquisitions for LOGO TV, the new Gay and Lesbian cable channel. Now a resident of the Gulf coast of Florida, in 2005 Tom completed his second feature, “FISH CAN‘T FLY” which takes a look at the way in which Gay people of faith go about putting their spirituality and sexuality in harmony. In early 2007, Tom released the DVD for his third feature documentary titled “ALMOST MYSELF” which takes a look into the world of transgender individuals. The film was inspired after meeting a transgender woman who twenty years after having surgery and living as a woman, is considering a return to life as a man again. The film received several honors including the jury award for "Best Documentary" at the Tampa Intl. Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, and also the audience award for "Favorite Documentary' at the Southwest Film Gay & Lesbian Film Festival in Albuquerque, NM. |
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Bruce Presley, Producer Bruce Presley graduated from Yale University with a degree in engineering and did graduate work under Science Foundation grants at Yale, Princeton, and Rutgers. For twenty four years he taught physics and computer science at The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey. In 1972 he received a grant from the Ford Foundation to develop curricular materials for a computer course he was teaching. The grant resulted in his writing a textbook and then subsequently founding Lawrenceville Press, a publisher of computer programming and applications texts for high schools and colleges. After more than thirty years as a textbook publisher Bruce sold Lawrenceville Press in 2007 and founded Downtown Loft Studio, Inc. to produce documentary videos. Based on his experience as a teacher, Bruce has supported organizations that work to reduce bullying in schools and violence against gays. It is this interest that has resulted in his producing the documentary AMANCIO...Two Faces on a Tombstone. His hope is to continue producing documentaries on similar topics. Bruce has served on the boards of numerous organizations including Safe Schools South Florida, Gay American Heroes, Saint Andrews School, Liberty Education Forum, Michael Palm Center, and the Victory Fund. |
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Lincoln Pirkle, Marketing Director Lincoln Pirkle, Executive Vice President Downtown Loft Studio & Marketing Director for AMANCIO...Two Faces on a Tombstone. Pirkle holds a degree in Advertising Communications from Washington State University and attended New York University Film School. Pirkle started his career working to produce print, radio and television ads for major advertising agencies. He has since produced and directed a number of specialty short movies. Originally from Seattle, Washington Pirkle currently lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. |
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OUR GRATITUDE TO THE PRODUCTION SPONSORS |
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Compass,
Inc. |
Downtown Loft Studio Downtown
Loft Studio (DTLS) was established in 2007 by Bruce Presley after the sale
of his successful, 30-year old publishing business, Lawrenceville Press. DTLS
has a two-fold mission: to support young photographers with marketing and
artistic assistance; and to produce video documentaries, usually in
collaboration with non-profit organizations. DTLS’ first film AMANCIO...Two
faces on a Tombstone is scheduled for release in 2009 and is being jointly
produced by DLTS and Compass, Inc., the Palm Beach County (FL) gay and
lesbian community center. DTLS has offices in New York and Fort Lauderdale
and headquarters in Lantana, Florida. |
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THE PROTAGONIST'S STORY Michael, Birth of an Activist |
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I was born in the wee hours early in January on
the Mojave Desert literally. My father, after being injured on the job as an
engineer for the Southern Pacific Railroad was in a hospital in San
Francisco. My grandmother, who was visiting and awaiting my arrival, helped
to deliver me under a snow covered Joshua tree. I weighted eight pounds
eleven ounces, the largest of my mom’s children (I have an older brother and
two older sisters; one is now deceased as are my parents). After they
finally arrived at the hospital, my mom telephoned my dad to tell him of the
happy news and asked what name he would like. Mom told him if he did not
come up with a name by the evening, she would name me Michael, after the
arch-angel in the Bible. He never called. My early childhood was energetic. Living in a small town on the desert and being from a railroad family had its rewards. There was ample free space to roam and explore and as I got older I road my pony, Nache, everywhere with my trusty black mutt of a dog Tootles running alongside; even to school which was one room with one teacher who taught all twelve grades. It was a gracious time when kids who were part of the close-knit railroad community could ride on any train to anywhere for free (conductors and porters all knew us and kept us safe). It was not uncommon for some of my friends and I to hop on the Starlight Express Streamliner which passed through Mojave and go as far as Bakersfield, California, then return. The route took us into the Tehachapi Mountains where we would count the tunnels as we went through them. There was always a competition amongst us chaps to see who would spot the time the engine and the last car were on top of each other – anyone who has been on “the loop” knows what I’m talking about. Around age 10 the family moved to a small town outside of Fresno, California, called Pinedale. I was rather precocious and quickly made friends and found my way to the San Joaquin River which became my play-ground; hunting rabbits, building forts, skinny-dipping and relaxing under a hot lazy sun on bright white sand. Around age 12 my family moved into Fresno and lived close to an industrial area with a Coke-a-Cola Bottling Plant across the street (this is where I probably got hooked on Coke-a-Cola (the workers used to leave a couple of cases out every night for us to “steal” – it’s my favorite soda still today, preferably with several generous dollops of vanilla ice cream)). The train yards were a stones-throw away from my bedroom. It was there while tossing small rocks at a can I met Mac, a tall lanky chap with a quick wit, who quickly become my best friend (we are still friends today). The two of us were inseparable. We made a good team; I was small … skinny really … a target for “would be” bullies, and Mac was big and strong yet soft spoken. You did not mess with me lest you incur the wrath of Mac. l quickly made a name for himself in all the school’s art fields. I was Art Editor of the Yearbook, won both competitions for the school’s Victory Flag and Senior Plaque as well as designer of the tile “R” for the school’s auditorium. It was also around this time I began to realize I was gay although there was no word for it except ugly ones. Fortunately for me I had progressive parents, especially my dad and they allowed me to explore and talk about my feelings without condemnation or ridicule but with a protective eye. This was a most confusing time because I also met my first real girl friend and boy friend about the same time. I remember clearly thinking how much my mom wanted me to go out with the girl, but my body nudged me toward the teen boy who had confessed the same confusing feelings. The situation was somewhat resolved by double dating; he and I would take the gals home early so we could have a “sleep-over.” Oddly, given the era, my close friends accepted my “odd fondness for this guy.” It was not long before I met others in and out of high school. But, I could never quite understand why everyone needed to be so secretive … I wasn’t; which caused some dismay amongst these new found friends. After high school I joined the United States Army to see the world. My basic training was at Fort Ord on the California coast. I excelled in my studies and was soon promoted to squad leader. I never forgot something my dad had taught me as I was growing up, “Son, if you do just a little bit more than the others around you, it will reap huge rewards.” That was so true in the Army. My fist posting after basic was Fort Belvoir, Virginia, were I was trained to maintain and launch missiles stored in underground silos. I still chuckle about this because when I finished my expensive training there, I was sent to Germany were there were no missiles in the ground. As has proved throughout my life, this was really a good thing; I was offered a position in the S-1 Office of Headquarters. Soon I was promoted to Courts and Boards clerk where I received the first of several Commendations, this one for over-hauling the way the Army handled soldier’s indebtedness. My legal creativeness and attention to detail soon caught the eye of still another higher headquarters and I was soon transferred to Seventh Army Artillery to form a new legal office. I received the Army Commendation Medal for my efforts and my Commanding General recommended me for Warrant Officer Training in Legal Administration. It was at this station I decided to take a weekend and go over to Frankfurt … I’d heard there were clubs there that only guys who liked other guys went to. When I stepped across that threshold, it was like all the weight in the world drained out through my toes. My gosh, a whole room full of guys with desires like mine. It was like coming out for a second time. I also met my first real “gay” boyfriend. I was also presented with my first true understanding that while in the Army I was gonna have to keep my adventurous rendezvous with him a secret – something that did not set well with me and probably was when the seeds of my activism were planted and took root. While my application for Warrant Officer made its way up though the Army’s many chains of command, my tour of duty in Germany came to a close and I was offered two positions stateside at Fort Bragg, North Carolina: one with the 101st Airborne Division’s Judge Advocates General Office (JAG) and the other with the Fort Bragg’s JAG Corps. The 101st looked good, but when I found out I would have to jump out of airplanes, I choose the latter without a second thought. The end of my three year enlistment and my application for Warrant Officer collided and I had to choose whether to stay in the Army or get out. I made the Army an offer: “Give me my commission and you’ll have me automatically for six years.” The Army said there were no “slots” at that time but if I re-enlist one will open up soon. I’d not spent over two years in the JAG field not to see what was really going on so I decided to get out. Make not mistake about it, l do not regret a moment of my Army stint. The Army taught me allot about human nature, organization, how to get ahead and navigate the “corporate-style” pit-falls in life. When I left North Carolina I piled all my belongings into my new fire-engine red Mercury Comet Caliente Coupe and hit the road for Fresno when I decided to stop off in Houston to visit a friend (the guy who took me to the bar in Frankfurt, Germany). I fell in love with Houston and decided to make it my home. Much to my chagrin, and as a lark, I did a little high-class hustling out of the Red Room, a bar which catered to a well educated older class. That only lasted about a month and I was hired by a prestigious freight forwarding firm where I advanced quickly over the next several years to Head of Operations. I was about to take charge of the Corpus Christi Office when a blood vessel burst in my brain. This single event was to transform my life forever. One evening I went to bed in my recently purchased home and four days later I woke up in a hospital unable to remember my mom’s name, walk or speak. It was a miracle I survived; 99.9% of the people this happens to die immediately. My mom and dad were told I would not survive the operation and if I did, I’d pretty much be a vegetable, certainly never be able to walk or talk again. Well I wasn’t having any of that nonsense. When I was able to travel, my folks took me home to Fresno for my recovery. They were going to have to raise their son for a second time! It was an arduous process; hours of physical therapy and physiological help to adjust to being a whole new person. I recovered quickly and while out with a good friend, I met the one true love of my life, Tom, who was sitting on the hood of a car waiting for after-hours to kick off. Tom was an intelligent understanding chap and patiently dealt with my physical limitations making sure I was taking my medications and driving me often to the many doctors and therapists I needed to see. We truly made a lovely couple; we were monogamous and set the bar for many young gay couples around us. We entertained often and our annual New Years Day Brunch was the “hot ticket” in town and always started the New Year off with great promise and adventure. Tom’s mom and family knew about him and they were very pleased we had found each other. With our dog Moose and cat Mrs. Munger (she showed-up on our door step one day and never went away – we lived on Munger Street) we made a very comfortable, and respectable, nucleolus family, at least in our eyes. Seventeen years later Tom died in a tragic auto accident. I took this opportunity to move to Yuma, Arizona, to be closer to my dad who was dying and whom I loved dearly. After my father’s death, I stayed on to help my mom through her grieving process … and mine also. It was during this time I fell in love with the Yuma area and its wide desert escapes, old abandoned mines, pictographs, intaglios and the people. Yuma only had 44,000 permanent residents living in it, but had a robust gay life and a community that didn’t much care who you slept with as long as you were honest about it and yourself. As I was encouraged to do so early in life by my folks, I immersed myself in my new community. I sat on several non-profit boards, was the treasurer of the Yuma Fine Arts (twice), President of Guest Artist Performances, started my own catering business and worked with disadvantaged youth through Big Brothers and Big Sisters (even before there really was an official Big Brothers Big Sisters). When it became clear HIV/AIDS had reared its ugly little head in Yuma, I started the first HIV/AIDS awareness group, giving out information and inviting my own doctor and other health officials to speak. Our gay bar at the time was very helpful, opening its doors on Saturday mornings so we could get the word out. I am also an alcoholic. Not the fall down sloppy kind, but the fun kind one enjoyed being around. Fortunately I realized early I had a problem with booze and joined Alcoholics Anonymous and have been sober for over 25 years. Changes had to be made however, and one of them was to disband my catering business – only another alcoholic will truly understand my decision. Fate shined its light on me again as I was closing down the catering business. Some very good friends, who I still have Thanksgiving Dinner with each year, asked me to manage the first gourmet coffee, tea, spice and kitchenware shop in Yuma – The Spice Company. Through the years I’ve championed many causes but it was the murder of Amancio Corrales in May of 2005 that had the most far reaching effect on my life although I didn’t quite realize just how much at the time. I was getting so mad no one was doing anything about this crime and some really ridiculous misinformation was going around, I founded The Amancio Project, a community organization established in June 2005 to provide support for the family of Amancio Corrales and the Yuma Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgender (GLBT) community. Amancio was a 23-year-old gay man and female impersonator brutally murdered May 6, 2005. His battered body was found floating in the Colorado River near Yuma. The crime sent shockwaves through the community of Yuma that were felt throughout the state of Arizona and beyond. The Yuma-area GLBT community was especially impacted. As the founder of the local Yuma County Gay Rights Meetup group, I quickly stepped in to help bring the community and the surviving family together to collectively mourn and process their emotions during this difficult time. I emphasized supporting the family. I found allies and collaborated with Equality Arizona (then Arizona Human Rights Fund/Foundation), Wingspan, Arizona Leadership Institute, HRC, United Church of Christ of Yuma, and Southern Arizona Gender Alliance to form a coalition to rally against bias-based violence. As a Project, we organized several community events and vigils to bring the community and family together. I utilized the local and statewide media to get the coalition’s message against violence out to the community-at-large. I organized a strong Yuma delegation to go to the Arizona State Capitol for a vigil, where a representative of Governor Napolitano’s office spoke, as well as State Representative Kyrsten Sinema and State Senator Bob Cannell among others. At a previous riverside vigil in Yuma, I brought Kyrsten, nationally-recognized transgender activist Donna Rose, and a representative from Congressman Grijalva’s office together to bring attention to this tragic event. Because of this attention, Yuma was introduced to the GLBT community and them to Yuma and the movement to end bias-motivated violence. Since then, community members have openly asked GLBT-related questions to candidates running for local office, something that is new and an important step to securing equality in Yuma and statewide. Also, the state and the rest of the nation were introduced to Yuma and Yuma’s GLBT community. Amancio’s story was even used in testimony during a U.S. House committee hearing on federal hate crimes legislation in 2005 and is in the Congressional Record. Amancio’s story is still remembered and is still having an impact. In a lobbying meeting with Congressman Grijalva in October 2007, I mentioned Amancio and talked about the need to pass legislation protecting the GLBT community. The Arizona Republic, as well as all five of Phoenix’s television stations have run stories on my efforts. Stories have also appeared in ECHO Magazine, ‘ntouch Magazine and the Advocate Newspaper as well as all Yuma media outlets. Since Amancio’s murder, I have continued to be an outspoken ally and supporter of Amancio’s family. I volunteered a significant number of hours advocating for the family with the Sheriff’s Office. When the Sheriff was reluctant to speak with the family, and refusing to speak with the GLBT community, I organized a meeting with the Yuma County Sheriff and then-State Representative Amanda Aguirre to demand they communicate with the family. I’ve also built relationships with Yuma’s two newly-elected state Representatives, and on the 2nd anniversary of Amancio’s murder, State Representative Theresa Ulmer called for a moment of silence on the floor of the House of Representatives to honor Amancio and all victims of anti-GLBT violence. One of the most important victories for the family and me was the apprehension of a suspect in the murder of Amancio. Shortly after a community vigil on the 2nd anniversary of Amancio’s murder, an anonymous tip was given to the Sheriff’s Office. It is reported the person who came forward with the information did so because they saw how Amancio’s mother was suffering. Local television news stations brought the images of Amancio’s mother and family crying at community vigils. For the longest time, at the direction of the Sheriff’s office, Amancio’s family avoided speaking to the community through the media. When it became clear things were moving too slowly, I encouraged them to speak out, coaching them on using the media to call attention to Amancio’s murder. The Yuma County Persecutor said in open court and on the court record, I deserve much of the credit for the apprehension of the murder suspect, much more than the Sheriff’s Office, who, on the 2nd anniversary of Amancio’s murder, had publicly stated the case was a cold case. One does not step up in search of recognition, but it is nice to be patted on the back once in awhile for standing up and saying, “Enough is enough!” My efforts continue today. The suspect is now in prison after being convicted of Manslaughter with aggravated circumstances and is serving a term of eight and three-quarters years for the death of Amancio. The family and I have spent over a year traversing the legal ups and downs. We were not at all happy with the plea bargain. But our vigorous and vocal actions got more than was originally offered. There are other sides to my story – I’ve been an advocate for local students assisting them in forming the first Gay Straight Alliance (GSA); I’ve been active locally in the political scene as a Precinct 21 Committee person; I was named Big Brother of the Year, first for the City of Yuma and the following year, for Arizona, and currently mentor a Traumatic Brain Injured (TBI) disabled young man. I’ve been a mentor to many disadvantaged youths in Yuma, advocating for their rights and instilling in them a sense of self-worth. I’m a Surrogate Parent with the Arizona Department of Education watching out for the rights of babies age 0 through 3 years of age. And most recently, helped to form the first PFLAG Chapter in Yuma. My activist efforts span decades in Yuma from forming the first AIDS Awareness Group over 25 years ago (which is now the Yuma AIDS Project through the Department of Health) to this documentary spotlighting my efforts with The Amancio Project by award winning GLBT Documentary film maker, Mr. T. Joe Murray. On June 5th, 2010, I received Equality Arizona's Activist of the Year Award for Southern Arizona; an honor I prefer to share with all "down in the trenches" grass-roots Yuma organizers. This is the first GLBT award for Yuma. I continue to work with the Yuma County Gay Rights Meetup and, along with The Amancio Project, am now part of a state-wide GLBT activist group to address the issues necessary to retain current civil and human rights and secure future rights for Yuma’s GLBT residents. I still live by one axiom taught me by my dad when I was learning how to drive, “Son, you can’t get a speeding ticket if you don’t speed.” Extrapolate the meaning behind that simple bit of folksy wisdom, and it will serve you well in any situation no matter how difficult it is. It really does make life simple. Above all else though, when you see an injustice, please don’t say to yourself, “Someone should do something about that.” Jump in head first and do something about it. The personal rewards and good feelings that come from it know no boundaries. Michael H. Baughman. |
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The Yuma Premiere of the documentary
"Amancio…Two Faces on a Tombstone," was Sunday, October 11, 2009, at the
Yuma Historic Downtown Theater. The presentation was held in conjunction with National
Coming Out Day 2009. 
Compass
aims to diminish stereotypes by challenging long-standing misconceptions
about the character of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
We accomplish this by emboldening our youth, promoting pride in our
community, and acting as an educator, advocate, health service provider, and
focal point for community organizing. As good neighbors, effective
partners, and respected participants in our civic responsibilities, Compass
promotes awareness of the caring nature of our diverse community.