Out Loud is a collection of memoirs by LGBTQIA+ elders. Created, or inspired by, a 6-week memoir workshop facilitated by Susan DiPronio. The stories and photos included in this book are pieces of the lives richly lived by those who fought and still speak out, for our freedom to exist in times of exclusion. Susan DiPronio has a broad artistic practice as a poet, filmmaker, playwright, performer, and photographer. They conduct free memoir writing workshops for women who are seriously ill, adults and children with HIV, those who are houseless and trauma victims. Susan lives in Philadelphia where she founded Pink Hanger Presents, dedicated to giving voice to the unique life experiences of women. A breast cancer fighter/ warrior, Susan has been featured in articles on the struggles of those affected by breast cancer in the LGBT community in Curve, U.S. News and World Report and Cancer Today. Susan's poetry has appeared in Sinister Wisdom, Corset Magazine, The Avocet, Defenestration, and Spillway, a literary journal. She has received awards for her silver-gelatin photography from Fleisher Art Memorial, The Plastic Club and Project Basho. A personal essay: “Damaged: A journey of healing from sexual assault” is included in the book The Survivors Project: Telling the Truth About Life After Sexual Abuse. Susan is the co-founder and editor, along with David Acosta, of Wicked Gay Ways, a queer erotic arts journal. She was also a member of the SEXx collective which produced sex positive, body positive performance events and days long conferences to raise money for non-profits with similar missions. As a recipient of the Transformation Award (2013) and the Art for Change Grant (2007) from The Leeway Foundation, a 5-County Arts Fund co-recipient (2008), and an honorarium from Philadelphia Fight (2012), she continues to fight as an artist for social change.
