Wed 5/20 @ 6:30pm
Allies don’t always come easy for the all too often misunderstood trans community. Many people don’t understand — or have empathy — for those who don’t experience gender as a simple binary. This can lead to bullying, discrimination and abuse — situations all too often experienced by trans individuals.
Luckily, there are places where they can speak their truths. Waterloo Arts has proven to be a key ally to the local trans community. This spring they, along with the LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland, kicked off the Trans* Art and Video Project, which consisted of an art exhibition — I Am — and a series of film screenings.
Next they’re hosting a free screening of House Not Home, a short film from Scenarios USA written by Cleveland native Skyler Edge, a 16-year-old junior at Facing History New Tech High School in Cleveland. Written to give a voice to trans communities in schools across the country, the film is a firsthand account of a gender-fluid teen navigating the journey out of the closet.
CoolCleveland spoke with Waterloo Arts’ Amy Callahan about the film and the importance of partnering with the trans community.
“As partners in our Trans* Art and Video project, the LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland connected us with Scenarios USA and is facilitating this event at Waterloo Arts,” says Callahan. “The LGBT Center assisted Scenarios USA in finding local residents to cast in the film, House Not Home.
“I hope this film helps to broaden the viewers understanding of gender and they come away with an empathy for those who don’t experience gender as a simple binary. I hope that viewers appreciate that gender identity is not a choice and children need to feel safe and loved as they express who they are so they can grow into happy, healthy adults.”
The film was first screened at the Cleveland International Film Festival to a packed audience and is a natural fit within Waterloo Arts’ focus on trans art and video, which is revolutionary in its own right. But how did the partnership come about?
“The project started when a local artist proposed the idea of doing a trans art exhibit in order to share the story and emotions of the transgender community. Planning the exhibit we learned more about gender identity gender nonconforming individuals and felt it was important to plan more events and educational programming for the community around this issue. We couldn’t have done the project without the support of many partners such as the LGBT Community, Jacob Nash, Zoe Rene Lapin and Equality Ohio. We also gratefully to the City of Cleveland Cable Minority Arts and Education Fund for funding this project.”
While going to see the film, be sure to check out I Am in the gallery, which will close with a bang on Sun 5/24. The closing party will start in the gallery and move to the Beachland Tavern for the first PAT party (“think androgynous SNL character”) outside of Brooklyn, NY. Musician JD Samson and local trans activist Zoe Rene Lapin will be there.
“It will be a crazy fun, totally inclusive dance party and we hope everyone comes out to celebrate with us,” says Callahan.
Push those misconceptions aside and hear what trans individuals have to say. Listen to their experiences and, perhaps, gain a whole new perspective.
House Not Home screens Wed 5/20 at 6:30pm at Waterloo Arts in North Collinwood.
Cool Cleveland correspondent Sarah Valek studied art and writing at Ithaca College. After graduation, she came back to Cle and served two years as an AmeriCorps*VISTA with the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless. She can be found on all sides of the city in pursuit of homeschooling activities for her son and the perfect soy latte. Contact her at CoolEditor@CoolCleveland.com or via Twitter.
Cleveland, OH 44110