PORT TOWNSEND — A country-and-western singer who became a gay activist after coming out in 2010 will appear as a special guest at the Port Townsend Film Festival, introducing a film examining her search for identity.
Chely Wright, known for such musical hits as “Shut Up and Drive” and “Single White Female,” will appear at a screening and reception Sept. 21, the first day of the festival. The movie “Wish Me Away” will be shown at a screening at 6 p.m., to be followed by a question-and-answer session and a reception with Wright.
“Chely Wright has stepped forward in an industry that doesn’t always show its appreciation for certain folks,” said festival Executive Director Janette Force.
“She has really stepped into the front lines to talk about the impact of bullying and being less than inclusive about other people’s value and belief systems.
“It’s very exciting to bring her to our community and to have her speak about some of those things.”
Wright has released seven albums since 1994, selling more than a million albums in the United States.
She established a charity called Reading, Writing, and Rhythm, which is devoted to musical education in America’s schools and helps supply music programs with instruments and equipment.
In 2010, Wright founded The Like Me Organization, designed as an organization to provide assistance, resources, and education to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender, or LGBT, individuals and their family and friends.
“Wish Me Away” is a documentary of Wright’s life from her Kansas childhood, covering her rise to fame and her conflict as a gay in a conservative business based in Nashville, Tenn.
The movie was filmed over a three-year period, including the time preceding Wright’s public declaration of her homosexuality.
“There are films that really resonate with this community, and ‘Wish Me Away’ is one of these,” Force said.
“This is the only time Chely is appearing at a film festival that I know of, she usually appears at events for charity organizations.
The program is not scheduled to include a performance, but Force said “we’ll have a really nice guitar on stage, just in case.”
Festival passes will be honored at the screening, although a premium package is available.
The “Special Evening With Chely Wright” tickets are available for $125 per person, which includes reserved seating for the film, the question-and-answer session and the private reception with Wright.
Net proceeds from the event will benefit the Port Townsend Film Institute and Jefferson County Community Foundation’s Fund for Women and Girls.
For more information go to www.ptfilmfest.com, or phone 360-379-1333.
Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
