My name is Larry Hughsam and I am a proud supporter of Inside Out. It's one of the ways I show my appreciation for the role Inside Out has played in my life for over a decade now.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Inside Out. I'm writing to you today because I know you share my appreciation of the Festival - whether you've been attending for one or twenty years, from its first days at the Euclid Theatre to the glitzy fabulous Festival that has become one of the largest in the world, you know the impact Inside Out has had on countless members of our community over the past twenty years.

Today, I invite you to celebrate this milestone by becoming a member of Inside Out. Your membership helps sustain the Festival throughout the year - not just during those 11 glorious days in May.

As a child, I always enjoyed movies. They provided a refuge for me as I sought some form of escapism from the homophobia I experienced as a young boy growing up gay in my hometown of Kingston, Jamaica. After moving to Toronto, I continued my love affair with movies when I discovered Inside Out and a world of queer stories, images and ideas that could be shared with an audience just like me.

In the early days, I purchased a basic membership so that I could get a discount on movie tickets. As a member, I was kept informed of the day-to-day work of the organization, and the more I learned about Inside Out, the more I wanted to help. I decided to use my financial background for "good" and volunteered as a bookkeeper for Inside Out. Pretty soon, I also volunteered my home, hosting visiting filmmakers and actors, which allowed me not only to meet wonderful, creative people from all over the world but also to see firsthand the impact that the Festival had on people from all walks of life.

In 2002, I enhanced my commitment and joined the Board of Directors as Treasurer. One of the surprising things I learned was that ticket sales covered only about 25% of the cost of the Festival - meaning 75% of the Festival funding needed to come from other sources - such as memberships and donations from loyal community members.

Moreover, as the popularity of the Festival grew, drawing larger audiences and demand for more screenings, I was astounded to witness how quickly expenses were increasing for theatre rentals and for the screening rights of so many of the great films we wouldn't get to see anywhere else.

The need for your support is even greater today, as the Festival in its 20th year is bigger and better than ever. This anniversary year promises to be the most program-rich one yet, complete with retrospective screenings and special events.

As I reflect back on my time with Inside Out, I see that it has played a loyal role in my life during so many occasions, helping frame my experience as a newcomer to Toronto, and as a member of the community. I have chosen to take advantage of the various membership opportunities by upgrading my membership from that first basic one to my current Visionary membership.

Your Inside Out membership means more than cheap tickets; it means that you support the organization and all it provides to our diverse and culturally demanding LGBT communities. This unique film Festival offers something for everyone: screenings throughout the year, panel discussions, programs like the Queer Youth Digital Video program and the Mark S. Bonham Scholarship, which support the next generation of filmmakers and great parties!

As the Festival turns 20, I can honestly say that Inside Out has spectacularly come of age.

There are many ways to support the Festival. In addition to my annual membership, I also give securities to Inside out, which is a tax-favourable way for me to directly support the organization. You too can choose to give this way or through monthly contributions towards your membership - which can be convenient for you and also helps the organization with a steady stream of funding.

Any way you can give, in any capacity you can give, greatly supports Inside Out and its programs.

Your support will allow Inside Out to challenge attitudes and change lives for another twenty years. Don't miss out on the upcoming celebrations including Inside Out's exclusive April 22nd premiere screening of the highly anticipated I Love you Philip Morris starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor at the Varsity Theatre. JOIN TODAY! Everything you need to renew right now is in front of you; support the Festival and reap all of the great benefits that come with your Inside Out membership!

Inside Out has been an important part of my life in this wonderful city I now call home. Your support can make this true for thousands more viewers and filmmakers in our community who benefit from this incredible Festival.

Take care,

Larry Hughsam
Visionary Member

P.S. Making the decision to become a member for the 20th LGBT Film and Video Festival is easier than you think. To join online, all you have to do is log onto www.insideout.ca and your membership will be processed instantly. You can call Inside Out at 416.977.6847 to process your membership over the phone. Or, if you prefer, you can fill out the provided form and fax or mail it back - the postage is included! So don't delay, please join today!