1946 ROAD TOUR ACROSS AMERICA

The objectives of the ROAD TRIP ACROSS AMERICA are to:

14 Free Public Screenings and Conference Tickets can be secured on the 1946 Linktree via the 1946 Eventbrite.

Facilitate In Person Outreach in designated US cities highly impacted by extremist ideology that targets marginalized communities.

Activate the audience to vote and engage in thoughtful, civil engagement and civil dialogue about the mistranslation weapons that are often used against LGBTQIA+ people. A register to vote and pledge to vote campaign.

Inspire the audiences, particularly our young Millennials and Gen Z audiences, to understand the power of their collective voice.

Connect intersectional movements, such as FREE MOM HUGS & youth, to demonstrate ways they can engage, collaborate and build power to push back against the forces that are organizing against us.

1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture is an award-winning documentary that has had a profound educational and inspirational impact. We are seeking donations to undertake a cross-country journey. The funds will be allocated towards managing the project, promoting the cause, ensuring security, hiring guest speakers and local crew for events, employing a videographer, and covering travel expenses. Our mission is to organize 14 free public conferences in selected US cities. The primary objective of these assemblies is to advocate for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, standing up for democracy and promoting equality for everyone. We will discuss the power of civic engagement to stop evangelical and legislative domination and provide people with a sustainable narrative of compassion founded on research, history, and facts.

Project Description & Goals

1946: The Mistranslation that Shifted Culture is a groundbreaking grassroots documentary directed by Sharon “Rocky” Roggio and produced by Jena N. Serbu. The film delves into the origins of the anti-gay movement among Christians, tracing it back to a grave mistranslation of the Bible in 1946. It examines the first time the word “homosexual” appeared in the Bible. Following prominent researchers as they unearth never-before-seen archives at Yale University, 1946 brings viewers along for a revelatory discovery that holds the potential to reshape our understanding of the Bible's stance on LGBTQIA+ issues forevermore. The documentary features prominent scholars, opposing pastors, and personal stories of the filmmakers, offering a comprehensive and enlightening perspective.

The team will consist of director and producer SHARON “ROCKY” ROGGIO (1946 copyright owner) and PAUL SWEARENGIN, known to 131,000 TikTok fans as Unconventional Pastor Paul, a pastor, author, and emotional and spiritual well-being coach with a simple but profound message: “God is NOT mad at you.” See page 12 for team bios.

Researchers ED OXFORD and KATHY BALDOCK, along with scholars from the film, will join at several events throughout the mission. Robin McGehee, a nationally known organizer and activist (arrested and invited back to The White House, by Presidents Obama and Biden, fighting for LGBTQ+ equality), will also join in select cities. Each event we will include LOCAL FAITH and COMMUNITY LEADERS to participate as HOSTS and GUEST SPEAKERS. By partnering with regional, state and national organizations we will further extend our reach, connect with target audiences, and ascertain media coverage.

Over the five weeks of engagement we expect to impact thousands of people with a message of permission to rethink their view of LGBTQIA+ issues, rightwing life issues such as women’s reproductive health, healthcare and economic equality.

In each town we will enlist local resources to help with media coverage, enabling reach to even more people. National interest outlets and popular social media influencers will also be cultivated in order to reach hundreds of thousands to millions of people through national media, podcasts, social media and news articles.

Project Need

The United States is a country that is dangerously polarized, often with one side espousing Christianity as the doctrine which draws the dividing line in the sand. Gay marriage, the freedom

to choose and equal rights are all rooted in the teachings and interpretations of the Bible. It was not until 2003 that Lawrence v. Texas recognized that the Levitically-based sodomy laws were unconstitutional. It would take another 12 years for the Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges to end the ban on same-sex marriage, a ruling that currently hangs in the balance.

According to a Gallup poll in 2016, 73.7% of Americans identify as Christians. The Bible, and our modern understanding of it, is present in everything we do. Not only does it affect voters and political elections, but IT AFFECTS individuals who are seen by this dominant group as “other,” particularly the LGBTQIA+ community.

Recent statistics reveal that over 510 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures across the United States since the start of 2023. This documentary's ROAD TRIP ACROSS AMERICA is crucial in the current fight to retain and grow LGBTQIA+ rights as it provides a powerful auxiliary in the work to dispel and dismantle the misinformation fueling the current anti-LGBTQIA+ movement within certain sects of Christianity and other religions. 1946 raises awareness about the historical misinterpretation that underpins discrimination.

Meanwhile, Christian Nationalism has become a major threat to our culture, religion and country.

The Bible is not only weaponized against LGBTQIA+ people, but anti-pro choice extremism is used to manipulate Christian voters to support amoral people bereft of any resemblance of Christ’s teachings or life. Unconventional Pastor Paul offers a fresh view of the Bible that gives Christians, and people of other spiritualities and faiths, the ability to rethink the importance of loving one’s neighbor as one’s self and fighting for rights of all human beings.

1. NONE of America's 100 largest churches are LGBTQIA+-affirming.

2. Negative religious beliefs held by parents, in regard to homosexuality, can double the impact on LGBTQ rates of suicide.

3. More than 5 MILLION LGBTQIA+ ADULTS in the U.S. are religious.

4. The American Psychiatric Association recognizes the impact faith leaders and faith communities can have to mitigate mental health challenges in LGBTQ youth.

5. 70% of Americans Identify as Christian.

Project History

1946 premiered at DOC NYC in November 2022 where it won the audience award became the most-screened film in DOC NYC history.

Since then, the film has won 24 festival awards

With the momentum from the festival and theatrical run, the demand from the audience with packed screenings and the surge in interest for the film, this is the perfect time for us to implement our ROAD TRIP ACROSS AMERICA. We can use this time to utilize this TOOL.

Conference Sessions

The 16 in-person conferences (free to the public) will be approx 4.5 hours per function and will offer a post-seminar gathering at available locations, providing a time of fellowship together. In addition to the film, the draw to attend will be the local community speakers and/or social media influencers and organizers attending. The community can choose to attend all or part of the event. Children are welcome to attend but we will seek to provide childcare options at available locations.

1st Session (1 Hour and 10 minutes)

10 minutes – Introduction and Welcome

20 minutes – Local Community Leader Address to the Audience

25 minutes – Unconventional Pastor Paul: Jesus is a BAD Evangelical*

15 minutes – Audience Questions

BREAK (15 Minutes)

Coffee and Tea Served or similar (at available locations)

2nd Session (2 Hours and 10 minutes)

5 Minutes – Movie Introduction

92 Minutes – Movie Screening

30 minutes Q&A – w/ Director/Producer Sharon “Rocky” Roggio**

3rd Session — Meet and Greet

1 Hour Reception (at available locations)

* outline available upon request.

** sample available upon request.

Road Trip Route

Temecula, CA

Phoenix, AZ

Oklahoma City, OK

Frisco, TX

Houston, TX

Baton Rouge, LA

Pensacola, FL

Sarasota, FL

Birmingham, Al

Nashville, TN

Memphis, TN

Springfield, MO

Colorado Springs, CO

Salt Lake City, UT

Las Vegas, NV

Production Operations

Production Staff — Coordinator/Management (pre & during production) $7,500

Social Media Marketing Manager (during production only) $2,500

Unconventional Pastor Paul (during production only) $2,500

CREW — 1 Live Broadcast Event $2,500

Van Rental / Gas / Tolls / Parking $14,845

Travel Lodging / Food / Per Diem x 6 Road Crew plus scholars $31,850

Air Travel / Expenses (Kathy/Ed/Scholars) $3,500

Location Rentals / Equipment $8,000

Local Crew / Conference Speakers $9,600

Security / Driver x2 for 5 weeks $15,000

Security at each location (15 locations x 2 people) $14,400

TOTAL FOR PRODUCTION OPERATIONS $112,195

Production Expenses

Promotions Materials (Van Vinyl Skins) $5,000

Publicist (42 West - Top Tier Agency) $15,000

Fiscal Sponsor Fee (8% of $138,805) $11,104

Contingency (5% of $132,195) $6,610

TOTAL FOR PRODUCTION EXPENSES $37,714

Total Budget

TOTAL FOR PRODUCTION OPERATIONS $112,195

TOTAL FOR PRODUCTION EXPENSES $37,714

TOTAL BUDGET $149,909

Conference Speakers

Paul Swearengin

un·con·ven·tion·al /ˌənkənˈven(t)SH(ə)nəl/ Adjective

1. not based on or conforming to what is generally done or believed: "his unconventional approach to life"

Paul Swearengin (a.k.a. Unconventional Pastor Paul) is known for asking questions of the Church and of culture that others may not feel free to express. As a person with passion for truth and a heart for people to be freed from shame and condemnation in order to know their true value and purpose, Paul is definitely an unconventional pastor. Paul and their partner Ashley have been pursuing transformation in their city of Fresno, CA throughout their marriage—Paul as a sportcaster-turned-pastor and Ashley as entrepreneur-turned-two-term-mayor of their city. This has allowed Paul to see behind the curtain of religious politics and see the damage done.

Paul’s novel “Religious Right Religiously Wrong” is a Modern Day Parable that demonstrates what an incarnate Jesus would say about the rightwing Church of today and how lack of emotional and spiritual well-being leads directly to a man-created blindness that makes Christians easy targets for manipulative politicians and religious leaders. It also brings the hope that the transformation of individuals can lead to the transformation of our culture.

As a neuro-divergent multiple, with they/them pronouns, Paul calls themself “Fearfully and Wonderfully… Weird” and encourages everyone to life in the “full life” promised by Jesus and the freedom to love themselves, so that they can follow the command to love their neighbor.

Sharon “Rocky” Roggio

Sharon “Rocky” Roggio’s Is an multi award-winning film producer and director living in Los Angeles, CA. She has been a member of three IATSE unions nationwide and has a Bachelor’s degree in Communications with a focus in Radio, Television and Film. Her background includes large budget physical production on award winning shows and films such as House of Cards, Parks and Recreation, With Bob and David, Whip It and Red Dawn. In 2016, Roggio associate produced and production designed GOOK, a feature film that premiered at Sundance in 2017 and Won the Audience Award in the Next Category. In 2018 when she heard about the 1946 mistranslation in the Bible, Roggio immediately quit all her other endeavors and has focused all her time, money, and resources on producing and creating this documentary. 1946 is Roggio’s directorial debut.

Roggio is no stranger to the implications of a life completely affected by the predominant modern interpretations of the Bible. Growing up lesbian in a Christian household, with a pastor for a father, has prepared her for this expansive undertaking. Rocky’s experience, of anti-gay biblical teachings, has been incredibly traumatic. She is a strong voice, among the growing chorus of LGBTQIA+ Christians who want to cure the world of this damaging narrative. Once Roggio learned of Kathy and Ed’s work, she was compelled to tell this story. This film is part of her attempts to reconcile a relationship with her family and begin to heal.

Road Trip Advisor

Robin McGehee

Robin McGehee is a transplant from Jackson, Mississippi, who received her M.A. in human communication, with an emphasis on public speaking, interpersonal and intercultural communication, from California State University, Fresno. She has been a full-time instructor at College of the Sequoias for over twenty years, and believes that “when we speak, we shape the world!” She was currently appointed by Mayor Jerry Dyer to be the first LGBTQ+ Liaison for the City of Fresno.

McGehee helped organize Meet in the Middle for Equality, a statewide reaction to the passage of Prop. 8 in California, and co-directed the successful National Equality March in Washington, D.C. in 2009. She helped co-found GetEQUAL – a direct action organization. She was arrested twice after being handcuffed to the White House fence as a way to draw attention to the needed repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

After the repeal, she was invited by the White House to witness the signing by President Obama in December of 2010. She was later invited by the White House, in 2022, to attend the signing of the Respect for Marriage Act, by the Biden Administration.

Her efforts to speak truth to power have been recognized with the "Sheila J. Kuehl Trailblazer Award" by the Stonewall Democratic Club of Los Angeles, the "Top Dog Alumna Award" by the Fresno State, the "Democratic Trailblazer Award" by the Fresno County Democratic Women’s Club and the "Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award,” by the city of Fresno.

Her greatest accomplishments are her two children and being able to marry her wife on the first day it was legally possible after the Supreme Court of the United States made marriage equality a reality for everyone in 2015.

THANK YOU!

Please contact 1946themovieinfo at gmail for more information.