Happy Pride Month! 2021 is moving at the speed of light, so there might be some trans-affirming resources you’ve missed that could elevate your Pride experience. We’re here to fill you in.
Pride Month Events
- TransLash is a beneficiary of Stonewall Day 2021! Pride Live is hosting a global Livestream event on June 6th, to help raise funds for TransLash and organizations like us in our fight to achieve intersectional liberation for all. #SWD2021 marks the end of the three-day concert event hosted by the award-winning artist series OutLoud: Raising Voices, in partnership with Pride Live. OutLoud: Raising Voices will be held live in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with 3,500 live attendees, as well as being streamed on Twitch. The headliners for each day are all incredibly talented, as well as varied: we kick it off with a DJ set by artist Sofi Tukker on June 4th, followed by Hayley Kiyoko on the 5th, and Adam Lambert as the closing act on the 6th. All of the other acts are also incredible as well, be sure to check them out so you can sing along during the concert series! Stream live at home for free on Twitch: twitch.tv/officiallyoutloud
- The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association made an International 2021 Pride Calendar that shows you where all of the parades are being hosted and when, so you can join in on the fun!
- Transgender District is hosting a live panel event moderated by our very own Imara Jones called The State of Transgender Visibility: Politics, Policy and Social Justice on Monday, June 7th, at 5:30 PDT/ 8:30 pm EDT. There might be some familiar names on the panel Imara is leading in this event: Senator Sarah McBride, Transgender District Co-founder and San Francisco Democratic Party Chair Elect Honey Mahogany (who both appeared in the same TransLash Podcast episode!), Civil Rights Lawyer Chase Strangio (who we remember getting to know from our documentary The Future of Trans), and candidate for City Council of New Orleans, Mariah Moore (who was featured as a guest in #LivesAtStake: Ending Violence Against Trans Women). Be sure to watch the live event here!
Films and Shows to Watch
- A Fantastic Woman is a Spanish drama film that grapples with prejudice in a way not often seen. Marina – played by Daniela Vega, the first trans actress nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars (for this role) – has to prove the validity of her relationship with her partner who recently passed away suddenly to his family, who don’t see her for who she is. Watch A Fantastic Woman here.
- Disclosure, a documentary available to watch on Netflix, is a deep dive into how transgender people have been depicted in Hollywood. You’ll get to hear from stars like Laverne Cox, MJ Rodriguez and more, while gaining more information about the world of representation and what needs to be done to make it better. You can read more about it on Disclosure’s website.
- First Day is a kid-friendly series about Molly, a trans girl, starting middle school. It stars Evie MacDonald, a trans actress who came out as trans at the young age of 9, which makes her easily identify with portraying a girl trying to figure out what it means to be herself in the school age. Watch the first season on Hulu here.
- Man Made is a documentary that explores the ins and outs of the bodybuilding world at the world’s only all-trans competition, the Trans FitCon in Atlanta. It follows four men that open up about their journeys through and with self-discovery. Watch it here.
- Passing is a half-hour short documentary that follows the lives of three transgender men who have medically transitioned — specifically exploring the identity of being a black man and what it’s like to live as one, when your friends don’t know you are trans. Watch the documentary here.
- Strong Island is a true-crime documentary film on grief and the struggle of having lost a brother to violence without ever being given answers as to why or who did it. It is narrated by Yance Ford, a Black trans film producer and director (this was his directorial debut), and walks us through his experiences in a painful, yet incredible way. Strong Island made Ford both the first openly trans man and the first Black openly trans person to win an Emmy Award and an Academy Award. Be sure to watch it here.
- Together, Together is a comedy film about a mid 40’s single man and his platonic relationship with his gestational surrogate, played by Patti Harrison, who is making her big screen debut acting across fellow comedian Ed Helms. Find where to stream the movie here.
- TRANSFINITE, is a science fiction feature film composed of seven individual short stories of trans and queer people of color with supernatural powers — all using their powers to teach, love, protect, and much more. Watch the film and learn more about the story, the cast, and see the movie posters here.
History of Pride
- A Trans History: Time Marches Forward and So Do We, ACLU
- “Free Our Siblings, Free Ourselves:” Historicizing Trans Activism in the U.S., 1952–1992 by Abram J. Lewis
- If We Knew Trans History, We Would Embrace Trans Rage by Joy Michael Ellison
- Trans America: A Counter-History by Barry Reay
- Transgender History in the United States and The Places That Matter by Susan Stryker
- Transgender History in the United States: A special unabridged version of a book chapter from Trans Bodies, Trans Selves, edited by Laura Erickson-Schroth and Genny Beemyn
LGBTQIA Organizations to Support Year-Round
- For The Gworls is a Black trans-led collective with a mission to financially assist other Black trans individuals with rent, medical copays, transition procedures, and more through curating fundraiser parties. They also offer financial support through their website. Inspired by an effort to save a friend, this organization now works to help other members of the trans community with the power of parties! Check out their Instagram for more info.
- House of Tulip is a Louisiana-based community land trust that creates housing solutions for people in the state and surrounding area. They are a long-term investment in housing solutions for people that need it, by working to build spaces that provide safe access to community programming, a hot meal, a shower, social safety net navigation — any and everything a person could need. Watch Imara interview one of the founders, Mariah Moore, on #LivesAtStake and don’t forget to follow House of Tulip on Instagram and Twitter.
- The Marsha P. Johnson Institute is an organization made to eradicate the systemic, community, and physical violence that stands in the way of safety and joy by elevating, supporting, and nourishing the voices of Black trans people. Follow them on Instagram and Twitter, go to their website to find out how you can support them, and watch the Founder of MPJI, Elle Moxley talk to Imara about Marsha P. Johnson’s legacy on #LivesAtStake.
- Solutions Not Punishment is a Black trans and queer-led collective that envisions Atlanta as a safe and free place for people to live their authentic lives. With creative ways to give back including songwriting contests and a weekly freedom school, SNaP Co. makes positive change to the community in such a colorful way. Be sure to take a look through their Instagram and Twitter!
- The Transgender District (also known as the Compton’s Transgender Cultural District) is the world’s first transgender district created to honor and support the lives of transgender people in San Francisco. With empowerment workshops, housing assistance, Covid-19 Relief and more, it’s a place where you can be yourself, and get what you need safely. It was founded by Aria Sa’id, an advocate and political strategist who you can see more about in our Women’s History Month: Black Trans Women To Follow And Support blog post, and watch Aria’s interview with Imara on #LivesAtStake. Read more about the events and programs there and how you can help on their website, and follow them on Instagram and Twitter.
- Transgender Law Center, the nation’s largest trans-led organization that advocates for a free world for all, is firm in its foundation of legal expertise and commitment to racial justice. For over 19 years, TLC has risen to the challenges of changing laws and policies and fighting for trans liberation. Be sure to follow them on Instagram and Twitter, and listen to our episode of the TransLash Podcast with Imara Jones where JuniperAngelica Cordova walks us through her program Roses, a partnership with Transgender Law Center: Trans Visibility with Leyna Bloom.
Trans and TGNC-led Podcasts to Follow
- Cancel Me, Daddy is exactly what it sounds like: funny, clever, and insightful. Journalists Oliver-Ash Kleine (who is also a part of the TransLash Podcast team!) and Katelyn Burns, get together to dissect the tantrums and myths within ‘cancel culture’ and censorship with a couple of laughs and good insights on who’s really being suppressed and excluded. Watch Katelyn speak with Imara on #LivesAtStake about Why Trans People Should Run for Office and listen to Cancel Me, Daddy, wherever you listen to podcasts.
- Gender Reveal, or “a podcast about what the heck gender is” as they put it, created and hosted by journalist and educator Tuck Woodstock, investigates the wide-spanning diversities within the trans experience by interviewing trans, non-binary and two spirit people. It’s published weekly on Mondays, and you can find where to listen as well as read past episode transcripts and check out their getting started tip guide here.
- Marsha’s Plate, a weekly podcast where every Thursday, three best friends come together to share opinions and discussions on culture through Black trans lenses – hosted by Diamond Stylz, Mia Michelle, and Zahir Raye. Read more about Marsha’s Plate and where to listen on their website.
- Transcripts, a podcast from the Tretter Transgender Oral History Project at the University of Minnesota, is “a podcast about how trans people are remaking the world” hosted by Minneapolis City Council member Andrea Jenkins. You can listen to an episode of transcripts on our feed (TransLash Presents: Transcripts) and while you’re there, make a stop at the Biden-Harris and Trans Votes episode to hear Imara and Andrea discuss politics in the election era. For more information on the podcast and where to listen, go to UM’s Transcripts page.
- TransLash Podcast with Imara Jones is our bi-weekly podcast! With anti-trans violence and political backlash at all-time highs, award-winning journalist Imara Jones hosts the TransLash podcast, where trans people and allies talk back about what matters most and discuss how to create a fairer world for all. Be sure to follow us wherever you listen to podcasts!
- TransPanTastic is “a podcast about gender, identity, orientation and all the life that happens around them, by an FtM transgender dad and his pansexual genderqueer wife.” It’s hosted by George, a straight trans man, and his pansexual, non-binary/genderqueer wife, Jess. There’s a lot of transition talk here specifically, so check out their blog every Saturday for episodes and see where else to subscribe.
- Queersplaining is a weekly podcast where interviews with members of our communities come on to discuss how their queer and trans qualitites effect the way they navigate the world. Hosted by Callie Wright, a freelance audio producer and self-described “super okay roller derby player.” Listen to previous episodes and follow them on their website.
[Image Description: Imara Jones is featured on a graphic promoting Pride Live’s Stonewall Day 2021 event.]
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