Brendan Fay - Co-Producer and European Field Producer Originally from Drogheda, Ireland, Brendan is known for his outspoken efforts for justice and equality for LGBT people in the Church and society. He holds BA and MA degrees in theology from St. Patrick's College in Maynooth, Ireland and St. John's University in New York. He is founder and Co-chair of New York's inclusive St. Patrick's Parade, the Lavender and Green Alliance, a group serving the needs of the Irish LGBT community and Irish Aids Outreach, a group he helped form to break the silence surrounding AIDS in the Irish Community. A frequent presenter on spirituality, sexuality, and justice at churches, community groups, rallies and retreats, Brendan recently finished coordinating "Silence to Speech," a video documentary series on being Irish and Gay in America. He has been interviewed by national and international media -CNN, NBC, BBC, RTE and has been profiled in the New York Times, NY Newsday, and the National Catholic Reporter. Fr. Mychal Judge (the FDNY Franciscan chaplain who died in the WTC tragedy Sept 11th, 2001) was a keen supporter of Brendan's work. Their friendship began shortly after Brendan arrived from Ireland in the mid 80's. Over the years they shared similar paths in sober, Irish and Catholic circles. After the 9/11 tragedy Brendan organized, on October 11th, a "MONTH'S MIND," an evening of prayer, stories and music in Mychal Judge's memory. "A MONTHS MIND" has been documented and has screened in many festivals. Brendan is working on a book, a collection of stories and letters about Fr. Mychal Judge. For many years Brendan has been involved in the movement for civil marriage equality and is founder and Co- chair of the Civil Marriage Trail Project, bringing couples across the border to Canada and Massachusetts to legally marry. Brendan lives in Astoria, NY with his spouse Tom Moulton. For their marriage blessing they used a bible given as a gift by Fr. Mychal. They were among the first New Yorkers and binational couples to legally marry in Canada in July 2003. Brendan draws his life's energy from three wells of an Irish love of stories, a Catholic tradition of compassion, and New York activism. |