5/2/10

Translations 2010 - The Seattle Transgender Film Festival

$50 for a festival pass
$8 for single tickets
$6 for single tickets for Three Dollar Bill Cinema Members. Limit twotickets per member per screening.
$5 youth & senior discount (youth are 21 and under, seniors are 65and over). Youth and Senior discount is only available day of show at the boxoffice. Must present ID.
Reality TG is a free program.
Buy your tickets in advance and save $1 per ticket! (not available for passes or the youth/senior discount)

Buy a Festival Pass! Get into every screening at this year’s festival for just $50.

Translations: The Seattle Transgender Film Festival

Venues

The Northwest Film Forum
1515 12th Ave.
Seattle, WA 98122

The Erickson Theatre
1524 Harvard Ave
Seattle, WA 98122

Capitol Hill Library
425 Harvard Ave. E.
Seattle, WA 98102

Reality TG
Thursday, May 13
6:15pm
Capitol Hill Library
FREE

Is visibility a means to social acceptance? Do the drawbacks of too much (or unchecked) visibility outweigh the good it can accomplish? There has been an explosion of transgender people on talk shows, dramas, and especially reality television. We’ll screen some recent episodes of reality programs that feature transwomen as cast members and discuss how this representation affects the whole trans community.
Watch some TV and then join Sara Michelle Fetters, film and TV reviewer, and Three Dollar Bill Cinema Executive Director Rachael Brister for a discussion on this fascinating broadcast trend.
This is a FREE event. No tickets are needed.


Riot Acts
Friday, May 14
7:30pm
Erickson Theatre

Seasoned musicians, music aficionados, or anyone interested in world of music will enjoy this film about the transgender people who play it. RIOT ACTS follows the careers of some of the best and brightest musicians playing across North America today. With interviews and performances by first rate musical acts such as The Clicks, Coyote Grace, Katastrophe and The Degenerettes, RIOT ACTS explores the passion these musicians have for their craft, the impact gender has on their careers and their perspectives on a wide array of topics from their audience to their lyrics. Through interviews with artists across every genre and gender, RIOT ACTS gives transgender bands and musicians the chance to speak (and sing) from their own experiences, illuminating the challenges and triumphs of transgender people putting themselves out there by taking the stage.

RIOT ACTS,
Madsen Minax;
2009; US;
72 min.

Following the exhilarating screening of RIOT ACTS director Madsen Minax and featured musician Adhamh Roland will give an exclusive performance during our Opening Night party!
Madsen Minax is a filmmaker, musician and multi-media artist come hell-raiser currently living and working in Chicago, IL. He currently plays with the technically savvy and emphatically suave triad, The Homoticons, and actor slash model, a group that draws from vaudville, folk, and bluegrass roots.
Adhamh Roland is a guitar strummin’, accordion squeezing, whistling warbler who fancies reminiscing about his Midwestern roots while devising collective strategies for liberation. Adhamh has coughed up 4 solo albums in the last several years and is collaborating with musicians in his new home of Berkeley, California to form a Euro-folk inspired trio that has yet to be named.


Diagnosing Difference
Saturday, May 15
1pm
Northwest Film Forum

Most of us know that Gender Identity Disorder, or GID, is a disorder listed in diagnostic manuals used by the medical community and insurance companies to categorize transgender people. While some in the transgender and gender variant communities support the purpose of a GID classification, others say it’s completely useless and some believe it’s outright harmful. DIAGNOSING DIFFERENCE examines the issues surrounding Gender Identity Disorder through interviews with some of the best and brightest in the transgender and medical communities. This topical, informative, and occasionally humorous documentary brings an important issue facing the trans community front and center.
DIAGNOSING DIFFERENCE, Annalise Ophelian; 2009; US; 63 min.

Preceeded by:
DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
A student produced news report on the signing of the historic, gender identity inclusive, hate crimes bill and a memorial to those who lost their lives to anti-transgender hatred.
DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, 2009; US; 3 min


Forever's Gonna Start Tonight
Saturday, May 15
3pm
Northwest Film Forum

In her heyday, Vicki Marlane was part of the first wave of people on the performance circuit of what we currently understand to be drag. But Vicki is not just a drag queen. In fact, Vicki’s not in drag at all. Vicki is Vicki: a performer in her 70s who still works in San Francisco’s nightclubs, bringing down the house with her seductive routines and putting female performers more than half her age to shame. This revealing documentary follows Vicki’s wild journey through life, from carnival sideshows and romantic road trips to present day San Francisco. With both regalement and touches of sorrow, FOREVER’S GONNA START TONIGHT tells the story of an unparalleled woman and the losses, loves, and places that filled the spaces between her hot and racy burlesque performances.
FOREVER’S GONNA START TONIGHT, Michelle Lawler; 2009; US; 54 min.

Preceeded by:
JANENE
Seattle performer Anita Goodman plays a lonely escort, enjoying the last few hours of her day before a rendezvous with a sailor.
JANENE, Joriah Goad; 2009; US; 5 min.


Mainstay
Saturday, May 15
5pm
Northwest Film Forum

In the wintry landscape of rural Maine, Fischer has just returned home upon hearing of his ex-lover Hannah’s sudden death. After a two-year absence from his family, Fischer is well into his transition from female to male – an experience that he shared only with Hannah. With the loss of this source of validation, Fischer begins to rebuild his fragile relationship with his brother and mother. In the public realm of the small town, Fischer must engage with the people of his past, thus forcing him to negotiate the tenuous boundaries between his queer identity and his perceived “straight” male body.
MAINSTAY, Elliot Montague; 2009; US; 50 min.

Preceded by:
AMATEUR
A withdrawn country boy goes on a camping trip and becomes interested in a confident gender-bending girl named Sam. When she forces him to question his true feelings, he must confront his own insecurities before he can accept Sam and himself.
AMATEUR, Daniel Trevino; 2009; US; 15 min.


Maggots and Men
Saturday, May 15
7pm
Northwest Film Forum

In Russia, the Kronstadt sailors had a long tradition as radicals and courageous fighters. MAGGOTS AND MEN is an experimental historical narrative set in a mythologized, post-revolutionary Russia that re-imagines the 1921 rebellion of the Kronstadt sailors with a twist of gender anarchy. The film is set in the all male environment of a Russian naval base, but cast with actors from a range of masculine gender expressions, resulting in a film that redefines male, challenges the binary gender construct, and intentionally creates confusion. And acknowledging a long tradition of homosexuality amongst sailors, the film has provocative sex scenes that evolve organically out of teamwork in close quarters.
MAGGOTS AND MEN positions the struggle for gender equality within a larger struggle for peace and justice, while bringing together both transgender and queer communities. It documents a rapidly evolving transgender community and illuminates the gender revolution currently taking place in our society.

MAGGOTS AND MEN, Carey Cronenwett; 2009; US; 53 min. (in Russian & English)


Dinah East
Saturday, May 15
9pm
Northwest Film Forum

Have you ever heard the rumor that larger-than-life actress and icon Mae West was actually a man? DINAH EAST takes that story and runs with it in this campy cult classic from the 70’s. Jeremy Stockwell and Warhol superstar Ultra Violet star in this sexy and scandalous rags-to-riches story of a girl who makes it in Hollywood while hiding an explosive secret about her “true” identity. The movie itself spawned a new spate of rumors – did the real-life West have the film pulled from distribution and all copies destroyed, as the producers claimed? Or did she see it ten years before her death and find the whole thing hilarious? While it helps to have a sense of humor and imagination to enjoy DINAH EAST for what it is, at its core is a refreshing story focusing on the importance of individual human relationships, while steering away from labels and the conjecture of identity.
DINAH EAST, Gene Nash; 1970; US; 90 min.


Queerly Canadian
Sunday, May 16
1pm
Northwest Film Forum

These short films from our neighbors up north present two unique perspectives on gender queer experiences.

COMPROMISING POSITIONS presents a world where gay-bashings and trans-bashings menace, yet scrappy young queers willingly risk injury in one another’s hands in queer wrestling. This unruly combat sport is a sub-cultural phenomenon popping up in urban centers cross-Canada. Jimmy Stray and Johnny Trouble, two genderqueer rascals with a passion for kicking ass, embark on a filmmaking adventure to explore queer identity through combat. Along the way, they confront a series of unexpected demons and discover what they are truly wrestling.

AND THE REST IS DRAG, explores gender from the perspective of drag kings who consciously and politically queer their gender, both on and off stage. Using an eclectic mix of performance footage, still photography, and interviews with members of the Alberta Beef Drag King Troupe, the film draws audiences into the sexy, rebellious, and sometimes humorous world of drag kinging.

COMPROMISING POSITIONS, Auden Cody Neuman & Mik Turje; 2008; Canada; 35 min.
AND THE REST IS DRAG, Melisa Brittain; 2009; Canada; 31 min.


Love Interests: Short Films
Sunday, May 16
3pm
Northwest Film Forum

This collection of transgender short films examines the dynamics of love in myriad relationships. Calpernia Adams plays a woman unsure about coming out to her new boyfriend and goes through a hilarious process to make her apartment TRANSPROOFED. CAT’S CRADLE uses a childhood game to represent our relationships to others and ourselves. REMEMBER ME IN RED is the wish one woman tries to fulfill and to rightfully honor her friend’s memory, while a secretive SEÑORITA leads a double life to be a guardian to a young boy in her care. GOSSAMER WALLS shows an abstract memory of family and childhood through the negative lens. A rumination on the dangers of first crushes, BLINK also reveals the habits of sea cucumbers. And AMATEUR is about staying in the moment, taking a risk, and learning to forgive.

TRANSPROOFED, Andrea James; 2009; US; 14 min.
CAT’S CRADLE, Raymond Rea; 2010; US; 4 min.
REMEMBER ME IN RED, Hector Ceballos: 2010; US; 15 min. (in Spanish)
SEÑORITA, Vincent Sandoval; 2009; Philippines/US; 15 min. (in Tagalog)
GOSSAMER WALLS, Malic Amalya & Peter Miller; 2007; US; 5 min.
BLINK, Silas Howard; 2009; US; 11 min.
AMATEUR, Daniel Trevino; 2009; US; 15 min.
Total Running Time: 79 min.


My Buddy Claudia
Sunday, May 16
5pm
Northwest Film Forum


For over thirty years Brazilians came to know Claudia Wonder through music, magazines, and film. She was a transwoman from São Paulo who managed to come out of the newspapers’ crime section to become a highlight in the culture pages. MY BUDDY CLAUDIA follows this remarkable woman from her difficult childhood (she spent 15 days in jail by order of her military grand-uncle), to her role as the first travesti to act in ’70s mainstream soft-core, to her days of activism and being a rock star in the ‘80s. Through the film we learn much about Brazil itself, while being exposed to Claudia’s many facets from courageous to profane.

Warning: Contains brief nudity and sex on screen.
MY BUDDY CLAUDIA, Dácio Pinheiro; 2009; Brazil; 86 min. (in Portuguese)


Open
Sunday, May 16
7pm
Northwest Film Forum

Winner of the Special Jury Award for LGBT film at the 2010 Berlin International Film Festival, OPEN presents a visually striking and emotionally moving portrayal of relationships for a new millennium.
When the young hermaphrodite Cynthia meets Gen and Jay, a couple recovering from plastic surgery, she learns of Pandrogeny, in which two people merge their facial features in order to reflect their evolution from separate identities into one unified entity. Inspired by this, Cynthia abandons her husband and suburban life to embark on a road trip with Gen through anachronistic America.
A young transman, Syd, meets a young punk, Nick, and after a sexual encounter they find themselves falling in love. But are Syd and Nick ready to deal with the implications and consequences of their unique romance?
OPEN’s cast of real hermaphroditic, pandrogynous, and transpeople bring authenticity to this story of emerging possibilities for human connection.

OPEN, Jake Yuzna: 2009; US; 90 min.

Translations: The Seattle Transgender Film Festival

4/28/10

Ticked off trannies with Knives: Controversy Dogs Ticked off in Texas

Israel Luna's 'Ticked off trannies with knives' returns home. Transgender activists poised to protest.

Many cisgender men and a smattering of transgender people in north Texas beleive TOTWK has established an important new genre, camp transexplotion and are defending what they perceive as an attack on freedom of speech by trans activists opposed to TOTWK. Many of movies supporters and actors also feel the transgender community is over reacting to this violent revenge flick and have commented that they should just "lighten up" because it's 'just a movie'.

BBC Amrica interview of Transsexual woman Ashley Love and Israel Luna


Transgender people are not amused.

Conversely the transgender community has protested vigorously denouncing the commercial exploitation of the systemic violence committed against transfolk so graphically and gratuitously depicted in TOTWK as unethical and immoral. Most transgender people are also upset over the pejorative "tranny" in the tittle and have persuaded Luna to leave blank the letter 'n' in tra**y, ostensibly in a effort to obscure the dehumanizing effect of the movies title.

WNYC NPR Fresh air interview of transsexual activist Ashley Love and Israel Luna about the Transgender Controversy at Tribeca Film Fest

Controversy dogs ticked off trannies in Texas.

Tod Camp artistic director of Q Cinema Ft. Worth TX, the next stop for ticked off tra**ies defended his rational for featuring TO*WK in June despite the outraged local transgender community while commenting on a public facebook note:
Camp wrote..."I think the fundamental disagreement we have is what this film is actually about. This is NOT a film about the trans community, it's a film about drag performers, some of whom are transexuals, who call themselves "trannies," as many of them do. They're not PC, they're drag queens " Camp reasons.... "It is no more about the transexual community than "Boat Trip" is about the gay community. "As to his overriding the transgender communities objections.... "I will not be dictated to by anyone as to what i screen at this festival. You are welcome to protest, debate, preach and opine my decision to screen it, but know that this film will be screened."
The Texas transgender community is somewhat relieved that Tod Camp 'Gets it'. However his unlikely comparison of Boat Trip to the murderous characters of "ticked off' leads me to wonder if Camp truly grasps the differences between having light hearted fun poked at you and the end of a baseball bat slamming into your face.

The transgender community has a few small 'successes' to show for their efforts to this point

Luna has removed the references to real murdered transgender woman in the trailer and obscured the titles defamatory slur and in this way tacitly agreed with Camp's opinion that "This is NOT a film about the trans community, it's a film about drag performers". Sadly, however the misconceptions seeded by the tittle and information supplied by the producers still leads one to believe it is about transgender people.

As noted social commentator C. L. Minou recently wrote "This isn’t standing up to oppression. This is fucking illustrating it."

The North Texas community has identified the need to educate the greater LGB and straight community and will do so by holding a educational protest/rally on the opening night of TOTWK.

Protest/Rally information

Facebook event Protest 'Ticked off Trannies With Knives' at Q Cinema FT Worth

Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies call to action.

4/25/10

Religious Leaders Take a Stand against "Ticked off trannies with knives'

A transgender person of faith responses to "Ticked off Trannies with Knives".

There comes a time when people of faith must look beyond ourselves and to our God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit solely for direction. There comes a time when our religious beliefs must be allowed to guide us past our earthbound alliances and interests.

That time is now.

There is a movie written and directed by a Dallas gay man, Israel Luna called "Ticked off trannies with knives"(TO*WK). This movie sensationalizes the murderous violence committed everyday against transgender woman. This movie commercializes on a fantasy concocted by Luna in which violent retribution is subsequently committed by these 'hot, sexy and fierce' transgender victims.

The movie TO*WK misrepresents transgender people as comical caricatures of females who intentionally "fool" men into believing they are 'real woman' who desire heterosexual sex. Upon being discovered by their intended partners as 'men in women's clothing' the transgender woman inconceivably allow themselves to be willing victims of these murderous men. These transgender victims are then transformed in the last moments of the movie into vigilantes who then violently exact revenge on the original perpetrators of the violent acts.

This movie lends credence to the discredited and abhorrent 'transpanic' defence. Prior to the trial of Alan Andrade for murdering Angie Zapata this tactic was successfully and often used in defence of the killers of transgender woman. Andrades claims that he murdered transgender woman Angie Zapata because she had 'fooled' him were not allowed by the court and he received the maximum penalty.

The 'Transpanic defence' has not been attempted since and the reality of receiving equal punishment for murdering a transgender person undoubtedly has played a major role in the demented minds of those considering this violence.

Israel Luna incensed the transgender community by placeing Angie Zapata's name in the begining of the TO*WK trailer and remained there untill he was forced to remove her name by outraged transgender people.

"Ticked off trannies with knives".

Nothing could be further from the truth about the transgender experience. Nothing could be more dehumanizing or damaging to transgender peoples welfare. The uneducated will be terribly misled and transphobic people, regardless of sexual orientations, will use this tragic movie to further there own hateful agendas.

Religion and "Ticked off trannies with knives."

Despite my objections my pastor is attending the showing of TO*WK at the Fort Worth Q Cinema in June and plans to engage in dialogue with other movie goers about it afterwards.

I contend that the a Cisgender male pastor of a MCC church should not enter into a discussion that normalizes the usage of 'tranny', a pejorative so dehumanizing, harmful and hated by transgender womankind.

I contend that the message that TO*WK communicates should not be supported by the Metropolitan Community Church in any way. My Church, Trinity MCC Arlington Texas, does this by supporting Q Cinema, which is featuring TO*WK at it's film festival despite the transgender communities pleas that it does not.

I contend that the primary mission of a pastor at a MCC Church or any other Church, is the well being and safety of their congregations and this priority should not be ignored so as to preserve a social association or obligation outside of the Church.

Will Trinity and all of the other Churches in North Texas who claim transgender people as welcomed by god and by their congregations as equals, sit in silent acquiescence to the damaging misconceptions of TO#WK?

Will Metropolitan Community Churches defend ALL of it's congregants, or will it's allegiance to a earth bound agenda prove more important.

I invite all LGBT welcoming Churches to consider this a invitation to take a stand against the transphobic violence inspiring misogynistic message of TO*WK. I invite all transgender inclusive churches to come to the informational rally at the opening night of TOTWK at Q Cinema in Fort Worth.

Kelli Anne Busey
Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies

#########

4/21/10

Trans Forming Media (TFM): "An Image I'd Rather Forget" - My Synopsis Of TOTWK


Ashley Love of Trans Forming Media has watched Israel Luna's "Ticked off trannies with knives" debuting at the Tribeca Film Festival and offers this critical review;

"The film “Ticked Off Tra**ies With Knives” spreads a fear, misogyny and hate stemmed ideology. I have seen the film and it’s very upsetting that people unfamiliar with transsexual and transgender women will walk away from the film with a stigmatizing perception of trans women. This film is dangerous propaganda, whether intentional or not. TOTWK leaves the viewer with the false impression that transsexual and transgender women are unauthentic in their gender identity and really “gay men in drag.” The film portrays all trans women as hypersexualized, jokes, murderous and/or unstable. This is not only inaccurate, it's offensive and incites further misunderstanding and violence."

Read Ashley Love's review in full at Trans Forming Media (TFM): "An Image I'd Rather Forget" - My Synopsis Of TOTWK

University of Virginia Student Council Bucks VA AG: passes Inclusive Non Discrimination Resolution

By kelli Busey April 21, 2010

The student council and 62 campus groups stood up to the Virginia Attorney General and passed a resolution urging the legislature to amend the states non discrimination policy to include gender identity/expression and sexual orientation.

Source UVA Independent Student Newspaper April 21 2010 The Cavalier Daily;
"Student Council unanimously passed a resolution yesterday night to affirm its support for a fully inclusive non-discrimination policy and to urge the Board of Visitors, the Virginia General Assembly and U.S. Congress to pass legislation supporting protections “against discrimination in local, state, and federal employment based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.”
The resolution comes on the one year anniversary of a hate crime against a gay student and in response to the VA AG who has campaigned stridently against LGBT rights in Virgina.

Source March 3 2010 towleroad
"Virginian Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has written a letter to all of the state's public colleges encouraging them to abolish policies that prohibit discrimination of gays and lesbians."
A paragraph from the VA AG Ken Cussinelli's anti equality letter which so inflamed students passions;

"It is my advice that the law and public policy of the Commonwealth of Virginia prohibit a college or university from including 'sexual orientation,' 'gender identity,' 'gender expression,' or like classification as a protected class within its non-discrimination policy absent specific authorization from the General Assembly."
On March 11 2010 the Virgina Governor did a 180 degree about face, rescinding his previous executive order removing protections from LGBT state workers and rescinding the AG's letter recommending removal of protections. Many saw this as a pragmatic political maneuver since it does not mandate state reporting or enforcement.

Source The Christian Science Monitor March 11, 2010;

"Mr. Cuccinelli ruled that only the state legislature can extend such protections. McDonnell says he agrees with Cuccinelli’s basic legal interpretation, but as he rescinded Cucinelli's letter Wednesday he acknowledged that an executive directive can, in fact, extend some rights to workers and is symbolically important. (So far, Virginia's Republican-dominated legislature has not passed a law extending workplace rights to gays.)"
Republican Governor McDonnel's letter reaffirming his commitment to an inclusive nondiscrimination policy included this paragraph and is seen by conservatives as a bellwether for republican policy as most are similarly beset by overwhelming fiscal problems and a population demanding equality;

"We will not tolerate discrimination based on sexual orientation or any other basis that's outlawed under state or federal law or the Constitution, and if it is reported, then I will take action, from reprimand to termination, to make sure that does not occur," McDonnell said Wednesday.

4/13/10

Debunking the deceptive misconceptions of Q Cinema's Director Tod Camp

I am writing this rebuttal after being alerted by a email from 'Kyle' asking me how I respond to Todd Camp's: A response to the "Ticked-Off Trannies With Knives" controversy... found on facebook here

I will publish Tod Camps note and respond to it's misinformation categorically. In "quotations" are found excerpts from Tod Camps facebook note. Sentences in italics are my response.

*******************

Todd Camp: A response to the "Ticked-Off Trannies With Knives" controversy...

"Kelli Anne Busey's recent screed against Q Cinema on the Planet Transgender blog (read it in full at http://planetransgender.blogspot.com/2010/04/tranny-this-pejorative-is-not-up-for.html) finally ticked me off enough to write a response. As many of you know, Q Cinema will be presenting Israel Luna's controversial film at this year's film festival and I wanted to take a minute to counteract some of Kelli's misguided claims:"

"I have to take issue with several of Kelli Anne Busey's comments, especially since she has gone so far as to label the planners of Q Cinema as liers. As the founder of Q Cinema and its artistic director for the past 12 years, I can say that I honestly have NEVER had a conversation with Kelli - via phone, e-mail, Facebook exchange, anything - regarding Israel Luna's film "Ticked-Off Trannies With Knives."
I do not dispute this fact. Tod Camp has never attempted to contact me by the aforementioned methods of communication, including this note which I was not a recipient, even though we remain 'facebook friends'. I only became aware of it's existence after being alerted to it in a email from someone named 'Kyle'
I monitor her Anti-TOTWK Facebook page and read her posts but we have NEVER spoken directly nor has she made any attempt to do so.
I am not the creator or a administrator of "The boycott TOTWK" facebook page that Camp incorrectly alludes to as "anti TOTWK".

I do post there like I do on TOTWK page. However unlike the TOTWK gang the members of the Boycott TOTWK group are thoughtful and carefully respectful of others feelings. I do post more often on the Boycott page for those reasons plus of course our passions are more closely aligned as transgender brothers, sisters and allied people.

I actually had no intention in revisiting the controversy surrounding "tranny" after my protests of it 2009 were ignored and shouted down by transphobic gay bloggers and I was doing my very best to ignore TOTWK.

I had said my piece in 2009 and felt that any further efforts would have 'Zero bearing' on the Gay people's insipid campaign to force a despised pejorative down transgender people's throats.

But I found myself drawn back as I could not remain silent after seeing Angie Zapata's image and a recount of her murder on the begining of a "transploitive camp comedy" uncaringly exploiting transgender violence.


Camp continues "To take her points one at a time:"

"I cannot fathom how the phrase "opening an avenue of discussion between ticked-off typists and the filmmakers and cast" from our press release can possibly be misconstrued as an example of "the blatant gay transphobia and generic straight transbaiting and cyber bullying that transgender people are forced to endure."

Tod Camp can not imagine how the invitation to "Ticked off Typists", shortened from "Ticked off trannies with key boards" as we are called by his minions on facebook, for us to watch comical caricatures of ourselves being violently attacked in a movie who's name is so retched, in a packed, closed room filled with people that consider our request to be treated with dignity a joke, could ever be construed as anything other than an a honest good willed invitation to a welcoming safe environment conducive for intelligent discussion. OMG!

Film festivals are about film and talking about film. If you want to get your point across to someone, angry online screeds tend to be far less effective then simply face-to-face interaction. Apart from some weak, poorly chosen alliteration on my part, there's absolutely nothing in the above quote that I would consider trans-bashing, but as it does come off as a bit smug, I'm happy to change the wording to come off as more respectful."

It's not smug Camp. Its disrespectful, insulting and dismissive and practice what you preach Mr. Camp. Maybe you could make me a recipient to your next facebook kelli-bashing note(screed).

[Camp]"went on to say:
"After I complained to key sponsors of the Q Cinema a watered down version appeared containing a quote from the GLAAD call to action suggesting that GLAAD was the first and only organization ever opposed to this movie."

I was making a point that this is a transender issue was just recently joined by GLAAD at transgender peoples request. I had long telephone conversations with GLAAD about this issue in January and February of 2009 and they had decided at that time they were not going to be a participant in the conversation.

"As the decision to include this film was mine and mine alone, and we have never spoken, I have no idea who you spoke to and I can assure you that whatever you may have said had absolutely zero bearing on the press releases and announcements that went out regarding the film, all of which I write myself."

My pastor at Trinity MCC has said he emailed you previously regarding your decision to show TTWK and you have not responded. Although we passionately disagree on some things about TOTWK our conversation is proof positive to me that he deeply cares and I will be in his congregation next Sunday. However this paragraph does illustrate how transgender sensitivities are of 'zero bearing' to you Mr. Camp.

As to our "out right lie" that:

"Q Cinema staffers had made the determination to show the film before the trans tempest began stirring..."

...the tempest I was referring to was the call to pull the film from Tribeca. I was well aware of early objections to the film's title, but as someone who spent 25 years in the word business as a journalist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and other metropolitan dailies, I have an appreciation for the fact that our language is a living breathing thing that is forever changing. At the top of your blog, you mention a laundry list of derogatory words GLAAD arbitrarily assembled as a sort of George Carlin's list of seven gay words you can't say on television.

This is by far the most odious debasing and contemptuous statement by Mr Camp. He clearly believes transgender people and the organization committed to our welfare in the media are a joke. But his social commentary then extends further debasing all minorities in one fell swoop.



Camp is advocating to make common usage among society these words and "Faggot", "Sodomite", "Tranny", and "it"! "It's" unlikely inclusion to the list was undoubtedly why Tod Camp finds GLAAD's list funny. However, it's inclusion probally could be attributed to a emotional response of a GlAAD staffer after personally attending the court room when Allen Andrade recounted murdering Angie Zapata with a finale blow because "IT" moved again.

RIP Angie we love you, and we will not allow your memory to be desecrated.

The list of hateful defamatory slurs is as expansive as Camps desire to hold 'conversations' about them.

Our culture is held together by social conscripts. Since we have progressed to a point were we rely on guidelines set by socially responsible groups I decry Camps attempt at degrading GLAAD as it is so needed today in defense of Gay people.

"I have seen or screened films by gay and lesbian writers and directors using every one of those films in the TITLE, so forgive me if I chose to reserve judgment on Israel's film until I had actually had a chance to screen it."
How convenient. Judgement by a cisgender man on a production by a cisgender man who's mainly cisgender employees and cast jumped at chance at fame and fortune, regardless of the consequence to the transgender community. That's OK by you.

"Lastly, as to your comment:

"Truth is first and foremost Q Cinema chooses self promotion and profits over transgender dignity, and well being"

"Sadly, and with all due respect, you obviously don't know a damned thing about who we are and what we do. For starters, we are a non-profit, all-volunteer organization and neither I, nor a single member of my amazing and hard-working staff has ever earned a dime off this organization. Every dollar we make goes right back into fulfulling our mission."

Monetary gains are but one way hateful transphobes profit from TOTWK.

In the past 12 years, we have shown countless films that provided positive portrayals of the trans experience. We have consistently reached out to trans organizations and individuals yet attendance was often minimal to negligible often costing us hundreds in rental fees to play pictures to tiny audiences. That didn't stop us. We feel that reaching out to every part of our community is crucial to who we are and what we do.

Yes, yes, yes I know. The gay blogosphere and now the gay theatrical component utilizes this fact to there utmost benefit, whether it's overpowering us in media or playing the victim card.

The 1/2% of the 1% of the population who live in the DFW who have transitioned and could be in attendance, if unencumbered by poverty and fear do not very often attend Q Cinema productions. Wondering why?

However, a Q Cinema production was the FIRST time I attended a social gathering in public. It was so such a awesome experience I had to write about it. I will never forget the sisterhood on that warm Texas day and thank you for making a safe place for me to further transition. I have through the Metropolitan Church, been a supporter of Q Cinema and find our current status the most sad state of affairs.

"When the Fort Worth City Council recently voted to add protection of transgender citizens to the city's anti-discrimination policy, I was there with my executive staff speaking on behalf of transgender rights. I don't remember you being in the crowd that night."

I was there Tod Camp and I remember you being there also. I was one of only three transgender people to join with the multitudes of Gay and Lesbians who spoke in front of the City Council that night. I am in awe to this day, of the overwhelming support Lesbian and Gay people have for transgender people.

I Decry Tod Camps attempt to further alienate transgender people in the DFW from the larger GLB community.

But Mr Camp, were you then listening to our transgender voices?

[camp continues]"So before you try to characterize as "trans-bashing" Q Cinema, Tribeca or anyone else who has the audacity to challenge some of your assertions, do a little research and you might learn that we're actually on the same side."

I am a author on a tiny under read blog who has stood up against overwhelming gay trans-bashing to give a voice and empower the transadvocates to come, like Ashley Love in New York City. I am audacious and it riles transphobes to no end that we will not "shut up" as so often demanded.

For the record. Don't you ever call me a 'tranny'. This controversy is about our oft silent and invisible minority claiming our identity again, but NOW we are doing so collectively LOUD and PROUD.

I hope you are listening now.

Respectively,

Kelli Anne Busey
Transgender Advocate
Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies
planetransgender