As the Trump administration continues to dehumanize transgender citizens, strip them of their rights, and dictate their identities, the ACLU and Little by Little Films are fighting back with a new web series, “Trans in America.” The documentary series, available on the ACLU’s website, YouTube, and Conde Nast’s LGBTQ+ platform, them, tells the story of three trans individuals and their experiences in a country that is often hostile towards anyone who doesn’t fit into a a neatly labeled box.
“Texas Strong” sees a mother and her seven-year-old trans daughter contending with a rigid, conservative community that opposes trans rights and a school that only allows female-born girls to use the girls’ bathroom. “Chicago Love” follows a trans woman and former convict as she tries to rebuild her life and find a job accepting of her gender identity and criminal record. “Atlanta Drive” is a portrait of Jennifer Chavez, who filed and won a landmark discrimination case after being fired for coming out as transgender. Although she is a pioneer for trans rights, she is now alienated by her industry and struggling to make ends meet.
“Trans in America” is directed by Daresha Kyi (“Chavela”) and Cary Cronenwett (“Maggots and Men”), both of whom are LGBTQ+ individuals. The docuseries’ majority-LGBTQ+ production team includes producers Lindsey Dryden and Shaleece Haas, and EPs Molly Kaplan and Chase Strangio. Each short film also received input from transgender advisory board panelists Wriply Bennet, StormMiguel Florez, Sam Berliner, Janetta Johnson, Drian Juarez, and Debi Jackson.
You can find out more about “Trans in America,” its filmmakers, and advisory board over at the ACLU’s website.