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Black Trans Stories Matter
Live True Storytelling Performance
Saturday, June 12th, 7pm EST
In partnership with the Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center, TMI Project is proud to announce its first-ever production of Black Trans Stories Matter, a live virtual true storytelling performance. The stories that will be featured will be read by the people who lived them, and were crafted in a Black trans-led space.
This performance is accessible to an all-inclusive audience. We invite you all to attend with a willingness for deep introspection, courage to transform, and hope each audience member leaves with emboldened inspiration to take action to end systemic racism and transphobia.
This event is open to the public with a suggested donation of $20.
Meet the Storytellers
Theodora Green
She/Her/Hers
Geneva, IL
"I’m honored to share my story and hopefully inspire young women not to give up -- that through adversity and perseverance you can reach your goals, whatever they may be."
Julian Harris
He/Him
Washington, DC
"Our stories matter. My story helps me remember my resilience in times I feel weak, alone, and hopeless. I hope it can help others, too."
Sanaia Hood
She/Her/Miss/Ma'am/Queen/Mermaid/Goddess
Charlotte, NC
"We need as much positive trans visibility as possible, from many different perspectives -- politicians, creatives, entrepreneurs, medical workers, etc. I want the audience to know we can do and be anything!"
K.C. Nyabinyere Jallah
They/Them/Theirs
Los Angeles, CA
"Too often the narratives of Black Trans people are unheard, disregarded, or only focused on death. I am hoping these narratives extend our collective humanity and empower other Black Trans folx to continue advocating for our existence."
KT Kennedy
They/Them
Brooklyn, NY
"I want to showcase, share, celebrate, uplift, and highlight the profound and infinite ways BTGNC's voices and stories matter."
Eddie Maisonet
He/Him/His
Boston, MA
"Trauma porn is very effective to get white-centered institutional resources but using the way hegemonic society pathologizes Black Trans people does not affirm my full humanity or integrity as an artist. I am more than a token that audiences can use to get in touch with their own humanity."
Lylah Matthews
She/Her/Hers
Las Vegas, NV
"I am a strong-minded, caring, and smart individual, who happens to be Black and transgender. I’m just like anyone else who has a story."
Aren Somers
He/Him
Lynchburg, VA
"There is tremendous diversity in the lived experience of Black trans men. We can be neurodivierse, ASpec, gay, nerdy -- a million different things. I hope the audience will ponder what makes up a black trans life, and how we find the courage and solidarity to keep on living those lives."
Jahir Thomas
Him/He
Fort Worth, TX
"I want to tell my story of being a black trans man to inspire young and old FTMs to be confident in who they are and to not let fear of judgment slow their lives down. I want the audience to know that being trans is not a negative -- it’s a normal and positive aspect of life."
Syd Williams
He/Him
Durham, NC
"I think it is important for the audience to know the stories of black trans folks are not all the same. We all go through different things to get to where we are."
Mario (Mars) Wolfe
They/Them
Petersburg, FL
"Stories centering Transgender folx usually dramatize violence, surgery, and sex work. I find those stories difficult to watch because some of those narratives hit too close to home, but also because they contribute to a monolithic depiction. I want to help expand our growing landscape; filling in the non-binary colors of the rainbow."
Host
Cece Suazo
She/Her/Hers
Cece is a life-long trans activist and artist. She was honored with the 2018 Advocate Magazine Award for her contributions to the ballroom community and performing arts. She has appeared in numerous off-Broadway productions at Rattlestick, Signature, LaMama, Arcon, and appearing in the New York Times Critics’ Pick production of Street Children and Incongruence at NYTW. Cece also starred in the Bay/San Francisco area premiere of Chisa Hutchinson’s Dead & Breathing at Theater Rhinoceros, as well as in TMI Project’s off-Broadway production Lifelines: Queer Stories of Survival for the Trevor Project. In 2019 she had the honor to play trans pioneer Lucy Hicks Anderson in High Herstory. As the 1st trans woman of color at WOW Cafe Theater, she’s produced many works in her 12 years as a collective member. Cece is also one of the founders of TRANSLAB where she recently did a residency in partnership with The Public Theater & WP Theater. Her first play, Shattered Reflections (The Deep Play), had its premiere in December 2018 at the WP Theater. She recently presented her latest play, You Will Neva Enter Our High Holy Land Of Blackness-HIYA, at Long Wharf Theater. Ms. Suazo’s ballroom career began in 1988 as the youngest member in the Iconic House Of LaBeija. She earned Legendary status in 2010, and in 2013, she departed the house after 27 years.
Partner Organizations
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This event has a suggested donation of $20.
T H A N K Y O U
We're excited to have you join us at our first-ever Black Trans Stories Matter true storytelling live virtual performance! A registration confirmation is on its way to your inbox now.