Skewed & Screwed Revue

Bri Crofton and AJ Spellman created the Skewed & Screwed Revue in response to AJ’s having been discriminated against by his former employer, four months into transitioning from female to male. As a result of that discrimination and a consequent year-long battle for unemployment, coupled with Bri’s inability to work a traditional job because of disabilities (with an ongoing SSI battle), they have found themselves in a position where they had run out of money and options.

Bri and AJ decided to start organizing fund-raising shows to acquire the money necessary to avoid on-the-streets homelessness back in June. As of this writing (12.16.10), there have been six Skewed & Screwed Revue shows, featuring burlesque dancers, live music, a magician, sideshow performers, spoken word artists, stand-up comics and other performance artists. These shows will continue for the foreseeable future, though new ideas are constantly being brainstormed and put into action in regards to format and promotion.

Once their need has passed, Bri and AJ intend to continue organizing benefit shows in order to help other GLBT/Queer people in similar situations (with an emphasis on the T, simply because they know firsthand how few resources exist specifically for transgender individuals and their families). To be clear, the name and intent of the Skewed & Screwed Revue is meant only to reflect upon the cause and not the gender, orientation or political leanings of any performers or anyone else working to help the cause.

Currently, at least 20% of the door from each Skewed & Screwed Revue will be donated to a nonprofit group in New England that is doing the sort of work that Bri and AJ aspire to be doing.