Taking an act of hate speech in my own front yard as a starting point, Counterspell asked several questions simultaneously:
-As a pacifist, how does one defend their family?
-When do imagined threats become actual,
and how can you be sure?
-Is it possible to live without completely without fear?
If so, who will teach us?
Seeking out answers to these questions took me in different directions, ultimately leading to an intervew with Alex Suarez - a drag queen who was gaybashed in downtown Athens, Georgia, where the events of Counterspell are based.