Awkward, self-conscious Adam Freeman (Nicholas Alexander) has just finished his junior year of high school in 2006. When his cool older sister Casey (Margaret Qualley) suggests he visit her in New York for the Summer, Adam has visions of meeting a girl and finally gaining some actual life experience. The fantasy doesn’t materialize exactly as expected. Casey has enthusiastically embraced life amidst Brooklyn’s young LGBTQ community and invites Adam to tag along with her to queer bars, marriage equality rallies and other happenings. When Adam falls at first sight for Gillian (Bobbi Salvör Menuez), a smart, beautiful young woman in this new crowd, she mistakenly assumes he is trans. Flummoxed and enamored, he haplessly goes along with her assumption, resulting in an increasingly complex comedy – and tragedy – of errors he’s ill-equipped to navigate.

“A step forward in representation.” – The Hollywood Reporter

“Spirited turns by numerous trans performers who lay it all out.” – Variety

“A charming, timely rom-com.” – The Playlist

“A learning lesson and a conversation starter for transgender issues” – Out Magazine

“Bobbi Salvör Menuez’s meatiest film role to date.” – Vanity Fair

The post Adam first appeared on Lesbian.com.

When Sid comes out as a woman, a fourteen year old boy named RALPH (Jamie Mayers) shows up at her door announcing that Sid is his dad. Ralph, surprised to discover that his biological father is now a woman, thinks having a transgender parent is “pretty cool”. But Ralph hasn’t told his mother and stepfather that he’s tracked her down. And then there is Sid’s boyfriend DANIEL (Pierre-Yves Cardinal) who has yet to tell his family of his relationship with Sid. Daniel is nowhere near ready to accept Ralph as a step son and complicate his life further.

Sid’s coming out has a snowball effect that forces everyone out of the closet and to get real. What happens when gender, generations and cultures collide to create a truly modern family?

“Culture-crossing comedy with a transgender twist.” – The Georgia Straight

“Charming dramedy; pure soap opera.” – NOW Toronto

The post Venus first appeared on Lesbian.com.

BFFs Kim, Momo and Bella are bullied by boys at school while their teachers do nothing. On top of that, Kim secretly confesses to Bella she thinks she was born in the wrong body. So when the trio finds a magical plant whose nectar temporarily turns them into boys (with working genitalia), it offers them the thrilling chance to experience freedoms they’ve never known. But when Kim becomes addicted to the plant and pursues a dangerous relationship with a local boy she thinks might be gay, it puts everyone at risk.

Though GIRLS LOST is sure to enter the pantheon of lesbian teen films alongside titles like TIMES SQUARE and SHOW ME LOVE, the film is sure to be beloved by gay, trans, and bisexual fans as well.

The post Girls Lost first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Kristin served for over 20 years as a member of the elite special forces Navy SEALs on SEAL Team 1 as well as the United States Special Warfare Development Group what many in the public refer to as SEAL Team 6. She retired in 2011 with the rank of Senior Chief and continued high-level clearance work for the United States government and the Pentagon.

But Kristin hid her true identity throughout and after her service knowing she would lose it all if anyone were to know her secret. In 2013, a year and a half after retirement, Kristin came out publicly first on LinkedIn and on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 soon thereafter. Many friends, colleagues and family were taken by surprise.

This film brings exclusive interviews from Kristin’s family and friends about her service, as well as their reactions to her coming out. It also includes exclusive footage of Chris Beck in training and combat. The documentary was filmed only a few months after the AC360 piece had aired, and the truth is still fresh and emotional for those closest to her. While many people have been supportive, some in the public have expressed more bigotry than she ever expected. After a lifetime of service, Kristin has learned that her fight for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness did not end on the battlefield.

Listed on Huffington Post’s
“10 Films Every Human Rights Advocate Should Watch”

FOUR STARS! “Lady Valor ultimately sells hope” — New York Daily News

“A powerful documentary” — Huffington Post

“Inspiring… her hard-won wholeness challenges each of us to our own gender bravery.”— Psychology Today

“Poignant” — The Buffalo News

“Fascinating tale” — The Boston Globe

“Comprehensive and compassionate” — Edge, San Francisco

“There is no trace of bitterness, no subtext of resentment… Which is why this film about pain will leave most in the audience smiling.” — The Austin Chronicle

The post Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story first appeared on Lesbian.com.

At home with her parents and girlie younger sister, she is Laure. But with her new pals, she embraces her new identity as Mikael. Finding resourceful ways to hide her true self, Laure takes advantage of her new identity, hoping summer never brings an end to her fun.

Céline Sciamma brings a light and charming touch to this contemporary coming-of-age story. It’s a touching story about relationships between children, between children and parents, and the even more complicated one between one’s heart and one’s body.

The post Tomboy first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Shy (Howard) is a small-town loner who blows off a diner job and thumbs to San Francisco to pursue a life of petty crime. Along the way, Shy stumbles into the off-kilter Valentine (Dodge). An unexpected friendship sparks, as they steal and grift their way towards understanding themselves and the world around them.

Co-starring performance artiste’ Stanya Kahn and super sexy San Francisco dyke poet Carina Gia.

The post By Hook or By Crook first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Anita Dolce Vita

NATASIA LANGFELDER
Lesbian.com

Anita Dolce Vita is the owner, creative director and editor-in-chief of queer fashion website dapperQ. dapperQ was created to serve as #fashioninspo for masculine of center women and trans individuals Over the past few years, dapperQ has quickly become one of the most popular websites among young fashion conscious queer people. Dolce Vita describes the site as, “a queer fashion revolution, one of the most stylish forms of protest of our generation.” dapperQ dishes more than fashion, it dishes empowerment and a sense of community.

On Friday March 11, Dolce Vita and dapperQ are set to hit a mainstream audience at SXSW– an interactive media festival and cultural phenomenon. Dolce Vita will be participating in the panel, entitled ”Queer Style: Visual Activism and Fashion’s Frontier.” The panel will feature eight prominent queer style leaders, including Sonny Oram of Qwear (Boston); Aja Aguirre of Fit for a Femme (Boston by way of The Bay); and Leon Wu of Sharpe Suiting (Los Angeles). We interviewed Dolce Vita about dapperQ, SXSW, work-life balance and fashion.

How did dapperQ come about and how did you become involve
d?

Launched in 2009, dapperQ was originally a personal blog chronicling the individual style of its founder. However, I quickly noticed that dapperQ could be much bigger than another Tumblr-esque fashion blog. There was as serious dearth of comprehensive fashion and lifestyle magazines that were similar to GQ and Vogue, but that actually served the needs of the dapperQ market. I took over the website and brought on a te
am of queer writers, photographers, videographers, designers, and stylists to start producing wide-ranging original content and events for which we have received media coverage in The New York Times, Vice, Nylon, The Daily Beast, The Huffington Post, and The Washington Post, to name a few. Our events have been showcased at world renowned cultural institutions, including Brooklyn Museum, the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston, and the California Academy of Sciences.  This year, we will be the first ever queer style panel to present at South by Southwest during their official Sxstyle lineup.

Congrats on Dapper Q hosting the first queer style panel at SxSW! Did SxSW approach you or did dapperQ take the lead on this one? 

I submitted a proposal to SxSW, which has a competitive application pool. Proposals are considered for SxSW’s annual programming based on a three tier process. Community votes comprise 30% of the final decision, and are not the only factor in the decision making process. The SXSW Programming Committee accounts for 40% of the final decision while the SXSW staff is 30%. SxSW receives over 4,600 proposals annually. We are deeply honored to have been selected by SxSW as one of the leading thought leaders in our industry.

That said, SxSW does not compensate all of their speakers, nor do they pay for a good majority of the participants’ travel costs. Therefore, some of the people I invited to be on the panel to represent a more diverse range of queer style were unable to attend. I acknowledge that participating in SxSW is a financial privilege that not everyone can afford. Luckily, The Brooklyn Historical Society has invited me to moderate a queer style panel in June
during NYC Pride month, and this panel will include voices that were not represented at SxSW due to financial constraints.

What do you hope to accomplish with the panel? 

Our panel, titled “Queer Style: Visual Activism and Fashion’s Frontier,” will feature eight prominent queer style leaders, including myself representing dapperQ (NYC); Sonny Oram of Qwear (Boston
); Aja Aguirre of Fit for a Femme (Boston by way of The Bay); and Leon Wu of Sharpe Suiting (Los Angeles). We will explore queer style as an enigmatic art form that is the new fashion frontier and examine queer style as visual activism that creates positive social change. Attendees will gain knowledge about how to succeed in this growing market using approaches that are effective and culturally competent.

We hope to start a conversation about gender identity and expression, celebrating queer style and advancing greater freedom for all people to express themselves as they so choose, regardless of how they identify. Queer style is a revolution for the people!

As a writer and editor for LGBT media, I see a ton of hateful comments and just crazy negativity. I can imagine as a website that pushes boundaries and questions gender norms, dapperQ is probably also the target of a lot of hate. How do you handle the negative comments while creating a safe space for readers? 

In the beginning, I would take unsolicited criticism personally. I would waste my time engaging with trolls, trying to defend my work. Today, I just live by the motto “haters wanna hate.” Unless, that its, someone posts hate speech, which I delete. Or, if it’s positive feedback and I can legitimately learn from it, I try to put my personal feelings aside and learn from the community.

You have a day job, a really demanding one! How do you balance all of this writing and activism with your career as a nurse? 

Sometimes I do get overwhelmed, particularly when I agree to do too much and don’t have time for self-care, such as cooking, getting a manicure, or going to the gym. But, for the most part, dapperQ gives as much to me as I give to it. After working in an emotionally trying environment all day, it’s nice to lose myself in the art of style as visual activism.

What is your absolute favorite “go to” outfit? 

Well, that depends. As a research nurse, I have the option of either wearing business casual attire with a lab coat or scrubs. To be perfectly honest, sometimes a good, comfy pair of scrubs is my go-to, especially when I know I have dapperQ-related writing or events that I have to focus on after work and don’t want to be in power heels for 12+ hours. But, even when I default to scrubs, I always try to add stylish touches, like sporting old-school Converse with a pair of super dope socks that peek out from under my pants when I cross my legs.

I do have a black, open-back jumpsuit from Club Monaco that’s my version of a go-to little black dress. I can wear a blazer over it to hide the open back for a more business-professional look, but then quickly take the jumpsuit from day-to-play by tossing off the jacket and showing off my shoulders and back for nightlife events.

What is your advice for queer people who
are trying to figure out their personal sense of style in a society with such rigid, heteronormative gender roles? 

Don’t be afraid to experiment and try a variety of looks. Document your style history, noting who your style icons are and what inspires you in your surrounding environment, such as architecture, nature, and art. And, never underestimate the importance of self-acceptance; Many will try to knock you down and discourage you. It’s all about self-love.

For more information on the panel, check out the SXSW schedule. For more on MOC/Trans/Androgynous fashion, head to dapperQ!

The post Interview with Anita Dolce Vita of dapperQ first appeared on Lesbian.com.

In the United Kingdom, healthcare is supposed to be free and equally accessible to everyone. Unfortunately, for the over 2,700 patients on NHS GIC (gender identity clinic) waiting lists, this may not always be true. With an average of 284 new referrals for gender identity services per month, the underfunded NHS is struggling to provide for the trans community. Their guidelines state that patients should be seen within 18 weeks, but in reality it can be more like 18 months before they even receive an initial consultation. A government report on Transgender Equality says the NHS is failing in its legal duty under the Equality Act, not only with its unacceptably long waiting times and long distances to travel to access treatment, but in the “lack of understanding” of many doctors.

Like many young trans people in the UK, Harlan, a trans boy from London, is now paying for his testosterone prescriptions himself. With the required quarterly visits to the endocrinologist, he is spending £1,400 a year to fund a treatment that should be available on the free healthcare system. LGBT-friendly alternative lifestyle community Mookychick has set up a JustGiving page to help support him get the help he needs.

Harlan has been trying to take the next step of his journey for some time now, but has found referral difficult, and doctors dismissive and uneducated.

“One actually asked me to leave when I brought it up,” says Harlan, “I want to be able to live my twenties in a way that makes me happy and feels true to who I am. Gender dysphoria and resulting mental health issues made my teen years incredibly difficult, and I’m at the beginning of something that will change my life, so I desperately want to be able to keep moving forward with this.”

He is far from the only one – in fact, the UK Government is currently being petitioned to make bridging hormone prescriptions easier to obtain for transgender people.

Harlan just after receiving his first testosterone prescription

“Just the thought of being able to keep on testosterone without panicking about not being able to afford the next month & the idea of surgery down the line is so incredible.” says Harlan, “This time last year I was thinking I’d never transition and it was messing me up in a big way. Everyone’s support has helped me get on T & is helping me stay there and I’m so happy!”

If you would like to help support Harlan, by donating or simply by sharing his story, you can go to his JustGiving page. Any donations over his £1,000 target goal will be donated to non-profit organisation Gendered Intelligence.

Francesca Lewis is a queer feminist writer from Yorkshire, UK. She writes for Curve Magazine and The Human Experience as well as writing short fiction and working on a novel. Her ardent love of American pop culture is matched only by her passion for analyzing it completely to death.

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BY FRANCESCA LEWIS

Lesbian.com

With an enigmatic title like How To Win At Checkers (Every Time) I wasn’t sure what to expect from this Thai film, written and directed by Korean-American Josh Kim. What I found was an understated yet finely crafted coming-of-age story where sexuality was not a plot device or a source of conflict, but simply a piece of admirably true-to-life characterisation.

This is all the more surprising given that How To Win At Checkers (Every Time) is Kim’s feature film debut. Having made short documentaries in the past, including an acclaimed film about trans women and the draft lottery in Thailand, he turned his attention to the bestselling short stories of Thai-American writer Rattawut Lapcharoensap.

“Even though the stories were set in another country,” says Kim, “I felt that the characters were people I knew, my brother, my neighbors, my friends. Rattawut wrote it in such a visual way that it felt like I had just watched a movie. It was almost as if I had licked the colors off a film strip.”

The film tells the story of little orphan Oat’s loss of innocence, as he watches his brother Ek deal with the fear and hopelessness of being entered into the military draft lottery at age eighteen. We see this unfold through Oat’s young eyes, unable to quite comprehend the magnitude of what is happening but in awe of his cool, motorcycle-riding brother and terrified to lose him.

Ek is gay and has a boyfriend, works at a gay bar and is close friends with a trans woman (a wonderfully nuanced portrayal) but none of this is treated as unusual by the characters in the film.

“It’s funny, in Thailand so many people have come up to me and said that the film is not an LGBT film, but rather that it’s a family film. I think people could feel this way because we decided not to make the LGBT aspect an issue. The conflicts in the film arise from other more serious problems in society and not from a character’s sexuality.”

What’s more, Thailand’s underground world of organised crime and prostitution is treated with a subtlety and respectfulness rarely seen in Western films that depict Thailand. This is not your usual one-dimensional sleaze-pit.

“I think one of the reasons the book stuck out to me was because the novels and stories I had read about Thailand (in English) previously dealt with crime and drugs and poisonous snakes.” says Kim, “It just felt like a really dangerous place to be and it was hard to relate to the usual detective protagonists. Rattawut’s stories were the first time Thailand felt like a place I could’ve grown up in. It was just a lot more relatable.”

The level of commitment that Kim brought to this project is exemplified in the fact that he actually learned the Thai language in order to communicate with his actors and be able to read the script in Thai. He enrolled in an intensive six month language program, four hours a day, five days a week. That level of serious dedication makes Kim a filmmaker to watch in the future.

Other than Kim himself, one of the film’s great strengths is its actors, all perfectly cast and capable of understated performances to match the film’s tone. Stand out performances by Thira Chutikul as Ek and trans actress Natarat Lakha as Kitty are particularly impressive, but it is Ingkarat Damrongsakkul as Oat who really surprises. Good child actors are a rare thing and Ingkarat is a delight as the innocent boy who just wants to be like his cool brother, holding his own in complex scenes with skilled adult actors. Kim says the casting process was gruelling,

“We saw an average of 20-40 people per day for 2 weeks straight. Ryu (young Ingkarat) was the first boy that came in and he nailed it. I was ready to move forward, but the producers reminded me that I had only seen just one boy. So we kept bringing him back in to match with the rest of the potential cast and I think by the 3rd time we all just knew that he was the one.”

It is interesting to note that both Rattawut and Kim share a certain insider/outsider status. From Asian-American families, having lived in both the U.S and Asia, they have a unique perspective. While a Thai film on this subject might be hard for a Western audience to relate to, and a Western film might be full of stereotypes, the cross-cultural point of view of both writer and filmmaker bring us the best of both worlds – a deep understanding of the culture and an ability to make it accessible to a wide audience.

“I guess you could say that there were benefits to our cross-cultural upbringings,” says Kim, “There are situations that can be at once familiar and unfamiliar. I think in Rattawut’s case, having a Thai heritage brought rich stories which he has seen, heard and lived. In my case, having roots from and living in Asia has also made me more invested in the way the story is told. I think the insider/outsider status helped both of us find the right balance between over-explaining cultural concepts and being able to express them to a more wider audience.“

How To Win At Checkers (Every Time) is a surprising, subtly political, finely crafted film that will appeal to anyone, regardless of race, location and sexuality – quite an achievement for a foreign-language indie movie from a first-time director.

You can watch How To Win At Checkers (Every Time) on Wolfe Video.

Francesca Lewis is a queer feminist writer from Yorkshire, UK. She writes for Curve Magazine and The Human Experience as well as writing short fiction and working on a novel. Her ardent love of American pop culture is matched only by her passion for analyzing it completely to death.

The post Understated Thai Coming-of-Age Film “How To Win At Checkers (Every Time)” Surprises & Delights first appeared on Lesbian.com.

Cisgender men dominate the DJ scene. However, at The Dinah this year, both women and trans individuals will be given space to spin their jams for queer party-goers. In a landmark move for The Dinah, DJ Automaton has been added to the line-up, making him the first trans person to perform at The Dinah ever.

DJ Automaton (Vincent Domini) grew up in Portland, Oregon and is currently based in Los Angeles as a DJ, Musician, and Event Producer. He is known for parties such as The Grind!, Mugshot, Portland’s Gaycation, guitarist/vocals for the punk/grunge/metal outfit Brother, drummer in Swan Island, XYX a weekly house, 90’s hip hop & R&B party, and CAKE a trans hip hop monthly party in Downtown Los Angeles. He’s influenced by a wide range of genres from psychedelic, punk and funk of the 60’s and 70’s, hip hop of the late 80’s/90’s, and 80’s/90’s grunge and goth.

Some of the other DJ’s for 2016 include queer grrl party scene mainstays such as DJ Lezlee, DJ Asha, Citizen Jane and many more.

Want to join in on the fun? Purchase tickets to this year’s Dinah at www.TheDinah.com

The post DJ Automaton is the First Trans DJ to Perform at The Dinah first appeared on Lesbian.com.