Tuesday, April 2, 2019

House Judiciary Committee Holds Historic Hearing on the Bipartisan Equality Act

Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) released the following statement ahead of the first-ever hearing on the Equality Act set to take place this morning in the House Judiciary Committee. The crucially important, bipartisan legislation will finally provide clear, comprehensive non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people across the country. The Equality Act has unprecedented support and is backed by nearly 70% of Americans, hundreds of members of Congress, more than 180 major businesses and more than 330 statewide and national organizations.

“No one should live in fear of discrimination or harassment because of who they are or whom they love,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “LGBTQ Americans still face real and persistent discrimination in their everyday lives, and their rights should not be determined by what side of a city or state line they live on. It’s crucial that Congress advance the bipartisan Equality Act, and today’s historic hearing by the House Judiciary Committee is an important first step toward ensuring LGBTQ people are protected from discrimination across this country.”

WATCH: HRC President Chad Griffin on introduction of the Equality Act

WATCH: Explainer -- Why Do We Need the Equality Act?

WATCH: Fired for being transgender: Carter Brown’s story
WATCH: Civil Rights Leaders and Advocates Highlight Critical Need for the Equality Act

The historic hearing today will include personal stories from Carter Brown and Jami Contreras, as well as testimony from Sunu Chandy, Legal Director, National Women's Law Center; Tia Silas, Vice President and Global Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, IBM Corporation; Rev. Dr. Dennis Wiley, Pastor Emeritus, Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ; and Kenji Yoshino, Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional Law at New York University School of Law.

Discrimination is a real and persistent problem for LGBTQ Americans. HRC polling has found that nearly two-thirds of self-identified LGBTQ Americans report experiencing discrimination. Currently, 50 percent of LGBTQ Americans live in the 30 states that still lack statewide legal non-discrimination protections, leaving their residents and visitors at risk of being fired, denied housing, or refused service because of who they are or whom they love. The Equality Act would guarantee existing civil rights laws apply to LGBTQ people by providing clear, consistent non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity across key areas of life, including employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally-funded programs and jury service.

The Equality Act has growing, unprecedented support. More than 180 major corporations have joined HRC’s Business Coalition for the Equality Act. Recent polling finds that a growing majority of Americans — including Republicans, Democrats and Independents — support LGBTQ non-discrimination protections and LGBTQ equality. A recent survey by PRRI found that nearly seven in 10 Americans support laws like the Equality Act. More than 330 statewide and national organizations have endorsed the legislation, including social justice, religious, medical and child welfare organizations.

Monday, April 1, 2019

LGBTQ Civil Rights Leaders & Judiciary Vice Chair Rep. Scanlon Call for Passage of Bipartisan Equality Act

 

Today, ahead of the first-ever hearing on the Equality Act tomorrow in the House Judiciary Committee, civil rights leaders and advocates joined Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon on Capitol Hill to highlight the critical need, efforts and unprecedented support for H.R. 5. The crucially important, bipartisan legislation would provide clear, comprehensive non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people and strengthen existing protections for all people covered by the United States’ civil rights laws. Leaders of civil rights organizations and members of the LGBTQ community shared stories of discrimination that demonstrate the urgent need for the long overdue, historic legislation. The House Judiciary Committee and Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) will hold the first hearing of the Equality Act on Tuesday April 2 at 10:00 AM.

“The Equality Act is a long time coming — the result of the courage of activists and advocates who have risked their lives, raised their voices, and demanded that we tear down the barriers to the American Dream for the LGBTQ community,” said Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-5). “Every American should be able to live, work, and attend school in an environment free from hate, free from discrimination, and free from artificial limits imposed by prejudice. The Equality Act will ensure the full legal and social equality of the LGBTQ community and Congress must have the courage to codify these rights into law.”

“Tomorrow, we take an important step toward equality as Congress holds the first hearing in history on a comprehensive LGBTQ civil rights bill,” said HRC National Press Secretary Sarah McBride. “For too many LGBTQ people, discrimination isn’t just a risk, it’s an everyday reality. No one’s rights should depend on the zip code they live in or which side of a state line they work on, which is why we urgently need the Equality Act.”

“Too many transgender people are denied peace, dignity, and safety, and we were reminded of the tragic consequences of that over this past weekend—on Sunday morning, we were heartbroken to learn of the death of Ashanti Carmon, a young Black transgender woman,” said Mara Keisling, Executive Director of the National Center of Transgender Equality. “To be sure, no single piece of legislation can hope to permanently end assault and murder against transgender people. But the Equality Act is a necessary step to point our nation in the right direction.”

“Protecting LGBTQ Americans from discrimination is about people, not politics. It’s about building a country where every one of us can go about our daily lives without the fear of discrimination or violence - no matter who we love, who we are, or where we live,” said Masen Davis, CEO of Freedom for All Americans.

“This transformative legislation would ensure that LGBTQ people across the country have clear, consistent protections in the public sphere. And the bill would clarify our civil rights laws to strengthen protections for all people — including women, religious groups, and people of color,” said Kristine Lucius, Executive Vice President for Policy, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. “When our society is more equal, we are all better for it.”

“At its best, America is defined by an abiding faith in the values of love, compassion, and respect for our common humanity,” said Winnie Stachelberg, Executive Vice President of External Affairs at the Center for American Progress. “I am proud to join advocates in every corner of our nation in urging Congress to pass the bipartisan Equality Act of 2019. And I hope this week’s historic hearings on the bill will bring our nation closer to finally passing this vital piece of landmark legislation.”

F*** Me Gently With A Chainsaw, Heathers the Musical is Coming to Denver!

Equinox Theatre Company presents the second show of their 11th season: Heathers: The Musical, April 5 through 27 with shows Friday and Saturday nights.

Heathers The Musical is the darkly delicious story of Veronica Sawyer, a brainy, beautiful teenage misfit who hustles her way into the most powerful and ruthless clique at Westerberg High: the Heathers. But before she can get comfortable atop the high school food chain, Veronica falls in love with the dangerously sexy new kid J.D. When Heather Chandler, the Almighty, kicks her out of the group, Veronica decides to bite the bullet and kiss Heather’s aerobicized ass...but J.D. has another plan for that bullet.

“I’m so excited to be bringing Heathers to our audiences at The Bug Theatre,” said Director Deb Flomberg-Rollins. “The original movie shocked me to my core when I first saw it. I’d never seen a movie take such a frank and harsh look at the hallowed halls of High School, and I connected to so many of the moments and characters — from Veronica’s struggle to find her place in the world to the bullying of Martha Dunstock. Without Heathers there would be no Mean Girls, Jaw Breaker or Clueless and it paved the way for hit shows like Beverly Hills 90210 and Freaks and Geeks and so many more films and shows that address the universal themes of the desire to belong, the crushing weight of isolation, and dealing with the spark of burgeoning sexuality that affect teenagers across the country."


Misterb&b Gives LGBTQ Community & Allies Opportunity To Invest

Misterbandb, the world’s largest short-term rental marketplace dedicated to the Gay community, has launched a Wefunder campaign to give guests, hosts, and the public the opportunity to invest in the company to help launch expansion to hotels.

Homosexuality is illegal in a third of the world, and in 8 countries, it is punishable by death. In the U.S., hate crime incidents increased by 17% from 2016 to 2017, as reported by the FBI’s yearly "Hate Crime Statistics" report, with 20.6% due to sexual-orientation -- the largest increase since 9/11.

Not knowing whether a host will be welcoming makes “traveling while gay” for men, women, and gender non-conforming people around the world dangerous - and potentially life-threatening.

At hotels, global gay travelers have been rejected or forced to book separate rooms. The only solutions available to them are third-party, unverified, user-generated reviews.

misterb&b was created to give its community the freedom to book an entire home or rent a private room at the home of a gay or gay-friendly host, and with many located in gay-friendly neighborhoods.

Now, after verticalizing the short term rental industry, misterb&b wants to build equality into the sharing economy and give back to a community that’s been historically economically marginalized, by providing the misterb&b community with the power of part ownership of the company.

The funds, raised through Wefunder, which reached half a million dollars in just 7 days, will be used to provide gay and gay-friendly hotel rooms on the platform.

This new offering curates gay-friendly and welcoming hotels that have been hand-selected by the company’s editorial team, with high quality, exclusive, and verified reviews from LGBTQ travelers. What’s more, misterb&b travelers will be able to discover and connect with others from the misterb&b community staying at their hotel, and to explore the city together - especially because there’s truly safety in numbers.

Crowdfunding provides a way for all individuals (even non-accredited investors) to participate in investment opportunities and reap the benefits.

Matthieu Jost did not want to go the traditional route of investment for this round because he wanted to extend the opportunity first to the misterb&b community, many of whom may not be accredited investors.

“This is a unique opportunity to own a part of misterb&b and help us create a more welcoming world. We are reaching out to the most passionate people in the community: our hosts and our guests, as well as LGBTQ allies,” said Matthieu Jost, founder of misterb&b. “We want to provide the opportunity to financially benefit from our successes - giving back to a community that’s been historically economically marginalized.”

While the sharing economy for short-term rentals has increased, it has been difficult for gay hosts and travelers to feel secure and welcome. misterb&b is a response to strong demand for collaborative tourism in the booming niche of global gay tourism, a $100B market. The gay market is also a premium segment, traveling twice as much as other travelers.

“The online travel industry is already generating massive business worldwide and innovation keeps on thriving in this sector,” said Jean Bourcereau, managing partner at Ventech, a member of misterb&b’s board of directors. “misterb&b’s early commercial traction and tremendous growth over the past two years have proven the huge value of their differentiated offer for both hosts and guests.”

misterb&b is a graduate of 500 Startups and have raised US$13.5M from institutional investors like Project A and Ventech, and from angels like Joel Simkhai (founder of Grindr, sold for $300M USD). The marketplace has 310,000 hosts in over 135 countries.

"We have a penchant for companies with strong growth and revenue. Not only does misterb&b have both, but they also have a stellar team,” said Christine Tsai from 500 startups

For more information and to invest, interested hosts, guests and allies can visit https://wefunder.com/misterbandb

The Gay Vegans: A Note to Restaurant Owners

By Dan Hanley

Well, to be honest up front, this is more than a note.

Mike and I eat out often. We have our favorites and also check out new places to us often. I have have had so many “not good” experiences in the last several months that I decided it was time to write about them.

I won’t share which restaurants I have had experiences in. I’ll also add that we typically only go to restaurants where we think we can get a delish vegan meal.

First I’d like to offer a kind word of advice to restaurants that have no interest in serving vegan options or bringing in people who want a delish vegan dish. I guess this is more of a request. If you fall into this category, no judgement, simply let people know. That would be sweet. Then we don’t waste our time, and you and your staff don’t get irritated. I honestly don’t care if you think vegans are difficult to cook for or that you love beef. I’m there to have a delish vegan meal. I didn’t come into your restaurant to cause a ruckus or debate food with you. There are many ways to communicate to people that you don’t serve vegan dishes. Save us all the time. Thank you.

Now to restaurants that do want to serve delish vegan food and welcome people who want this type of food.

If you’re not an all-vegan spot, please label dishes that are vegan or can be made vegan. This is super helpful.

Please put as much time in creating delish vegan meals as you do other meals. We love amazing food. And serving crappy vegan food is not good for veganism (or for you).

Please teach your staff about veganism. Getting an “I’m not sure” when asking about whether a dish is vegan or not leads me to believe that the person serving me my meal is unsure of what they are serving me, which doesn’t bring a high level of confidence.

Please keep your unused tables clean. My expectation isn’t that a table is cleaned immediately after a customer leaves, which is different from walking into a place where more than half of the empty tables are dirty. The cleanliness deal also refers to your restrooms. If your restroom is dirty it makes me think that your kitchen might be dirty and then I question whether to stay or not.

When I write about restaurants I look at delish vegan options and hospitality. The way your staff treats people matters. Kindness is super easy. Guests asking about ingredients only want to make sure they’re not consuming anything they don’t wish to consume. A kind, friendly server is a huge deal.

I hope this short list is helpful. A couple of delish vegan options on your menu can certainly change your business plan and bring so many more people in. I am frequently going out to eat with a group of people and I am the only vegan, yet the restaurant is chosen based on what has options for me. That ten top in the back with one vegan could certainly help on a slow Monday night.

Thank you for reading.

2019 LGBTQ Denver Mayoral Forum

Join One Colorado for a forum with candidates for Denver Mayor this Thursday to discuss issues that impact LGBTQ Coloradans and their families. Confirmed participants are Mayor Michael Hancock, Penfield Tate, Dr. Lisa Calderon, Kayln Heffernan, and Jamie Giellis.

Out singer Mathew V releases latest single “Catching Feelings”

Out Canadian singer-songwriter Mathew V is thrilled to release his latest single “Catching Feelings” via 604 Records. The extremely danceable track marks an evolution in Mathew’s career, following the release of his 2018 album 'The Fifth.' Co-written and produced by Ryan Stewart, Mathew is proud of his latest creation. “Knowing Ryan’s catalogue, when we finally got into the studio together, I knew I wanted something fun, cheeky and playful. The song developed in front of our eyes, and it really became our lovechild for a few months.”

“Catching Feelings” is infused with fun lyrics and dynamic beats, accomplishing Mathew’s goal for the song. “I really wanted this song to be something people could dance to. That really isn’t something I’d done before and it was super fun to explore that side of me. I want this to be a song people can listen to when they are thinking of their high school crush. Channelling nostalgia, fun, and playful energy.”

One Colorado: Support SB19-085: It's Time for Equal Pay for Equal Work!

By Sarah Clark, Organizing Manager, One Colorado 
Your elected officials will soon be considering SB19-085,  a crucial piece of legislation aimed at addressing the pay gap in Colorado.  We know that pay equity is a real and persistent problem for LGBTQ Coloradans and their families and it's time to level the playing field.  It's time to let your elected officials know that you support equal pay for equal work. 
Based on data collected in our 2016 needs assessment,  transgender Coloradans, cisgender women, and LGBTQ people of color make less money on average compared to heterosexual, cisgender white men.

SB19-085 works to address pay inequity by prohibiting employers from doing the following:

⇒ Seeking the wage rate history of a prospective employee
⇒ Relying on a prior wage rate to determine a wage rate
⇒ Discriminating or retaliating against a prospective an employee for failing to disclose the employee's wage rate history
⇒ Discharging or retaliating against an employee for actions by an employee asserting the rights established by the bill against an employer
This bill is likely to be heard in the state senate this week before it moves to the state house. 
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to keep Colorado moving in the right direction.


Thursday, March 28, 2019

Books: Heroes: A Tribute

Tra Publishing announces the June 2019 release of a new hardcover trade edition of HEROES: A Tribute by Doug Meyer. In 1981, conceptual artist and designer Doug Meyer lost a dear friend to a mysterious new disease we now know was AIDS. Over the next few years, Meyer went to 79 funerals. In HEROES: A Tribute (Tra Publishing, June 4, 2019) he pays homage by way of portraiture to some of the first victims of AIDS and AIDS-related diseases — brilliant creative figures such as Robert Mapplethorpe, Keith Haring, Rudolph Nureyev, Freddie Mercury, Rock Hudson, John Duka, Tina Chow, Klaus Nomi, Halston, and Angelo Donghia, whose contributions may be unknown to a younger generation. Printed in multiple papers with pops of neon color and painted edges echoing the artist’s work, Doug Meyer’s HEROES is a gorgeous feast for the eyes and soul that not only honors the creative geniuses who died too soon, but immortalizes their work for generations to come.
“I find it so sad and horrifying that these 50 Heroes seem to have fallen out of contemporary cultural memory,” says Meyer. “My intent for both the Heroes Project and this book is to expose a younger generation to these Heroes whose contributions, talent and even existence have been forgotten or perhaps nearly lost in today’s digital world.”
Originally conceived as an installation for the annual DIFFA (Design Industry Foundation to Fight AIDS) dinner, Meyer’s Heroes Project went on to show in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. In creating each portrait, Meyer conducted extensive research, ploughing through books and newspaper archives to gain intimate knowledge of the men and women he was depicting. “I immersed myself in their lives,” he says. HEROES includes biographies of each figure based upon his research.
To create his 3D portraits, Meyer blended new and old techniques ranging from terracotta to eglomise to papier-mâché to computer-generated collage, to name only a few. He felt it important that the technique, materials and style of each work be as diverse as possible. He says, “I employed everything I could muster up, including drawing, painting, sculpture, photography — all combined in various forms to create works that were uniquely different —to give the appearance that each object was made by different hands.”
The book is distributed worldwide by Simon & Schuster and is also available on amazon and through Tra Publishing’s website at www.trapublishing.com.  Collector’s and Art editions of the book are also available from the publisher.

Breaking Glass Pictures to be Honored with Industry Award Presented by qFLIX Philadelphia

Breaking Glass Pictures, a Philadelphia-based independent film distribution company founded by film industry veteran Rich Wolff,will receive the industry award from qFLIX Philadelphia, the LGBTQ+ Film Festival produced and presented by Thom Cardwell and James Duggan, the legendary film festival producers who brought life back to the Philadelphia LGBTQ+ film festival.

The festival will present its inaugural qFLIX Philadelphia 2019 Industry Award to Wolff as part of the closing night ceremonies. Following the awards ceremony will be a screening of the closing night film “My Big Gay Italian Wedding,” an Italian musical comedy being distributed by Breaking Glass. The program will take place Sunday, March 31 at The Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts beginning at 8pm.

“We are honored to receive the industry award from qFLIX Philadelphia in recognition to our dedication to LGBTQ+ cinema,” said Wolff. “Each year, Thom and James continue to out-do themselves with the festival as it grows, and shows important films to Philadelphia audiences.”

Harvey Milk Becomes Norwegian’s Latest American Tail Fin Hero

Norwegian, World’s Best Low-Cost Long-Haul Airline and Value Airline of the Year, unveils its newest tail fin hero, and eighth American to be immortalized on a Norwegian aircraft: Harvey Milk.

“Norwegian was founded on the premise of bringing affordable fares to all. As we continue to grow, our message of inclusion is beyond just that of affordable fares, it is unifying customers, employees, and business partners from all over the world who share our vision of diversity. Like ours, Harvey Milk’s mission was reflective of a pioneering spirit. He demonstrated a tireless hunger to look past the differences of people and instead focus on bringing them together for the greater good. We can’t think of a better way to honor Harvey Milk’s bravery and courage than to dedicate a Boeing 787 Dreamliner to his legacy of equal rights – a tribute that will span the globe for years to come, reinforcing our joint commitment to making the world a smaller, friendlier and more inclusive place,” said Bjørn Kjos, Founder and CEO of Norwegian.

Harvey Milk, among the best known civil rights leaders in modern history, fearlessly pursued the freedom for every human being to live life with authenticity and courage. As one of the world’s first openly gay officials, Milk’s ground-breaking election in 1977 offered hope for all marginalized people across the globe. Today, Harvey’s legacy lives on through award-winning films and documentaries, plays and operas, books, and scholarly contributions. His name graces schools, community centers, parks, and streets around the world, proving that his pursuit of acceptance and equality is remembered, honored, and continues to this day.

"We are proud to partner with Norwegian, having Uncle Harvey join the airline's forward-thinking Tail Fin Hero program that already includes change makers like Sojourner Truth and Oscar Wilde," said Stuart Milk, nephew and the co-founder of the Harvey Milk Foundation. "This is such a unique way to educate and celebrate those that have come before us, allowing for their legacies to live on. We look forward to seeing Harvey 'flying' into airports across the globe and continuing to spread his message of acceptance."

In partnership with Norwegian, Harvey Milk’s legacy will travel the world, his name and likeness adorning the tail of a state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The aircraft is more than a flying tribute – it is fitted with custom art that depicts the brave life Harvey led so that customers on board will not only see his name, but truly understand and connect to his life’s work. Norwegian will also support the Harvey Milk Foundation’s annual diversity and inclusion efforts and collaborate to identify how Norwegian can become an even stronger advocate for equality, understanding, and inclusion through its diverse workforce.

Harvey Milk joins the rank of recently spotlighted American tail fin heroes including Mark Twain, Charles Lindbergh, Arthur Collins, Babe Ruth, Clara Barton, Sojourner Truth and Benjamin Franklin. Each of these historical figures share Norwegian’s vision of pushing boundaries, inspiring others and challenging the status quo.

Colorado Craft Movement is Alive and Thriving with These Home-Grown Makers

Known for its vast forestry, colorful plains and mountainous grit, Colorado is the nation’s capital for adventure. With its awe-inspiring backdrop, homegrown makers are enhancing what it means to buy and support local. They are building experiences that are restorative, as they are educational, from leather goods-making to fiber weaving classes. Among their work, are full product lines that are completely sketched, sourced and produced within the four-cornered state; making it easy to swap out big box retailers with quality craft items that let you take a great piece of Colorado home.
 
Meet the Makers:

Caitlin Rose Ward, Lonewolf Collective, Crested Butte - Having worked in modeling, Caitlin Rose knows too well the irreversible effects that industry can have on the environment and society as a whole. Armed with a camera in one hand and a torch in the other, she set out to make minimal jewelry pieces that are as delightful as they are sustainable. Lonewolf Collective stands for slow fashion, and Rose is completely transparent about where she sources her materials, straight down to the recycled cotton t-shirts she uses as business cards.

Cordelia Smith, Formulary 55, Pueblo - After spending countless afternoons crafting at camps and weekends watching her aunt weave bohemian style rugs, Cordelia Smith grew up with a profound love of homemade products. In 1993, she began making soaps from scratch and sold them at local farmer’s markets—a business that she grew from a side hustle to a full time gig. Committed to her roots, Smith processes all orders by hand by employing a community of makers in Pueblo.

David Kaminer, Raleigh Street Bakery, Denver - Using only organic ingredients and his culinary background, David Kaminer whips up fresh, artisan bread made-to-order every week. Operating under Colorado’s Cottage Food Law, his loaf selection ranges from the well-known French baguette to a savory sunflower rye, all of which are baked in his home hearth. The bakery also offers workshops where Kaminer teaches the tricks of the bread-baking trade.

Hayden Kessel, Hayden Knife, Carbondale - After taking up a knife apprenticeship with a west coast bladesmith, Hayden Kessel set out into the mountains of Colorado to forge his own brand of custom blades back in 2015. Ever since then, he’s influenced each and every knife by hand with the strokes of a hammer. The blades are made from high-carbon steel and he sources his wood from nearby forests and fruit orchards. The result is a modern-yet-rugged heirloom blade that is as fit for the kitchen as it is for the backcountry.

Jodie Bliss, Bliss Studio & Gallery, Monument - A Colorado native, Jodie Bliss is a modern-day metalsmith that holds both a B.F.A. and M.F.A. in Fine Art Sculpture. She works with materials varying from steel and brass to glass and ceramics. An expert in forging metal, she regularly holds workshops in her craft—teaching others how to construct metal sculptures.

Salihah Moore, Boulder County - Salihah Moore is a designer of beaded jewelry, wall hangings and wearable art pieces. The delicate balance between exuberance and minimalism often on her mind, Salihah uses glass seed beads, needle and thread to hand weave styles with a modern sensibility. Her jewelry can be found in Cedar & Hyde Mercantile in Boulder.

DFL Offering Half-Price Adoption Fees to Help Pets from Pueblo

If you’ve been considering adopting a cat or a dog, now is the time to do so!
  
The Denver Dumb Friends League has an urgent need to make space in their shelters in order to support the critical situation with pets at Community Animal Services of Pueblo. As a result, the Dumb Friends League is offering 50% off adoption fees for all cats and dogs one-year-old and older at both the Quebec Street Shelter in Denver and the Buddy Center in Castle Rock through Wednesday, April 3.
 
Adopting a pet today will help DFL provide care to animals who desperately need it. Adopters can visit ddfl.org or come into one of the shelters to meet animals looking for new homes.

All adoptions include spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, microchip ID and a free office visit with a participating veterinarian. The standard adoption screening process still applies during all reduced-fee promotions.

POC Trans Docu-Series AMERICA IN TRANSITION Premieres on Revry on International Trans Day of Visibility



In honor of International Transgender Day of Visibility, global streaming network Revry will premiere the award-winning, Sundance-backed documentary series America in Transition (AIT), a Revry Original that explores the community, family, and social issues of trans people of color across in the United States - capturing real life for a veteran turned activist, an immigrant seeking home, a woman living with HIV healing from trauma, and a model navigating family life.  


Transgender Filmmaker, educator and community Organizer, André Pérez, founded the Trans Oral History Project in 2008 motivated by the isolation he felt growing up in a military family in Virginia.  Perez journeyed across the country to document the subjects of the series.  Each of the four episodes explores one person’s story in depth, tackling intersectional issues such as HIV criminalization, living as trans in the South, family acceptance, trans exclusion from the military, and immigrant detention. 

America in Transition is a compelling and powerful portrait of trans people surviving in a world built for their exclusion.  André Pérez tells these stories with the empathy and understanding that only another trans person can.”   
—Zachary Drucker, Producer of Transparent

"America In Transition (AIT) was initially inspired by my own experience coming of age in North Carolina and starting my transition as a youth in rural Vermont,” said creator André Pérez. "I had questions about everything from health care access to navigating relationships, but I had no one to ask. Without role models or institutional support, I felt like I had to come to the city to find myself. I went on to found the Trans Oral History Project. Over the past seven years, I’ve interviewed trans folks across the country who express parallel stories of being told trans didn’t fit with other aspects of our personhood. How can you be trans and Muslim or black or Mexican or Southern? We found ways to reconcile the seemingly disparate parts of who we are."
2015 was heralded as the “transgender tipping point,” but 2016 has brought some of the most regressive civil rights legislation in modern US history. Trans people have become the targets of radical social conservatives who are leveraging fear and ignorance to create a social climate of increasing and unrelenting hostility - a culture war, as Southern lawmakers fight the federal government in order to protect the supposed “right” for businesses (MS and NC), schools (TX), and even health professionals (TN and TX) to discriminate against transgender people. AIT uses character-driven storytelling in order to highlight issues of importance to trans people in marginalized communities.
At its heart, AIT is about how environments shape who we are. It will complicate notions of social change in underrepresented communities. This is a crucial moment to help people understand how trans realities differ based on identity, geography, and social context. The world is changing for the white, upper-middle class people we see on mainstream television, but trans people of color, immigrants, and working class families face a different world. AIT focuses on relationships as it explores where, when, and how change happens in a complex individual, a diverse community, and a divided nation.   


Along with the series premiere March 29th on Revry.tv just before the March 31st Trans Day of Visibility, America in Transition will be partnering with more than 20 institutions around the country to build community, amplify trans people of color’s voices, and activate accomplices.  Go to Revry.tv for additional information about this and other available LGBTQ+ content.

DNC on House Democrats Passing Resolution Condemning Trump’s Trans Ban


DNC LGBTQ Media Director Lucas Acosta released the following statement after Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Joe Kennedy, and House Democrats overwhelmingly passed a resolution condemning President Trump’s ban on transgender Americans serving in the military:

“Today, House Democrats took a stand against hate by rejecting President Trump’s arbitrary and discriminatory ban on transgender Americans serving in our military. Discrimination is not a national security strategy. In fact, the Department of Defense’s decision to implement this unnecessary policy weakens our military, ignores science, and flagrantly disregards the opinions of military leaders with decades of experience.

“A man who has never served a day in the military, and who finagled his way out of service with a series of deferments for ‘bone spurs’, shouldn’t be deciding on a whim who can and cannot serve their country. Each and every day, transgender service members fight alongside their cisgender peers to defend the safety and security of our country. Rather than attack their identity, we should celebrate their bravery, patriotism, and sacrifice.

“Thank you to Speaker Pelosi, Congressman Joe Kennedy, the Equality Caucus, and House Democrats for standing with the transgender community and leading with our values.”