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Christopher Lee

Known for his transgressive filmmaking, Christopher Lee (48) died by suicide on December 22, 2012, after suffering for years with bouts of depression and mental illness. 

Lee, served in 2002 as the first female-to-male grand marshal in the San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade. He is also remembered for his work with Tranny Fest, now called the San Francisco Transgender Film Festival, and the creation of a serious of groundbreaking films about the transgender experience.

Lee's first film, Christopher's Chronicles, explored the intricacies of his own transition, while his other films, Trappings of Transhood and Alley of the Tranny Boys, were fearless documentations of trans identity and sexuality. Alley of the Tranny Boys, released in 1998, is the first historically significant feature length film claiming an erotic and pornographic space for FTMs.

Alley Of The Tranny Boys

Lee devoted his energy to filmmaking and activism and will be remembered by many, including Gender Reel, as a unifying force in the trans community. 

Gender Reel will showcase Lee's films at all four of it's festivals this year. Individuals interested in catching these films in your town can do so by consulting Gender Reel's film schedules in August 2013. 

Continue reading »]]> On June 14, 2013, Gender Reel, will showcase four amazing films from it's previous years event at the Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference. PTHC is entering it's 12th year and is known to be the largest transgender conference in the country, drawing over 2500 people from all parts of the world to the event.   

According to Gender Reel Founder and Chair, Joe Ippolito, the goal of having a mini film festival at the conference is to expose the community to the amazing films Gender Reel has to offer.  "We held our first mini fest at the conference in 2012 and the turnout was very successfull," reports Ippolito.  

The mini film festival is being held Friday, June 14, 2013 from 5:40 pm to 7:00 pm and will feature the four following films: 

Austin Unbound: From the age of three, Austin knew that his female anatomy did not fit him. In middle school, he changed his name and began to dress as a boy. His family thought it was a phase, but he persisted. Now he will get surgery so he can breathe freely and finally, swim in public. Austin Unbound is the first documentary about a man who is deaf and trans.

A Difference: A Difference is a short non-fiction video that examines the intersectionalities between gender transition and racial difference. Transmen of color as well as white transmen are interviewed in this mix of answers to ’what does it mean to transition from being (read as) a white women to being a white man as vs transitioning from being (read as) a woman of color to being a man of color? 

Sisterhood: This short documentary examines the lives of a group of Latino trans women who work at a beauty salon in Bronx, New York. 

Bye Bye Babybox: This film was originally conceived as the promo video for a fundraiser that would raise money to assist a Houston-area FTM in getting a hysterectomy. The concept was simple, a transguy has a dream (or maybe it’s a nightmare) about being pregnant. Presented humorously through sight gags, a quirky doctor, and dreamlike randomness the film brings humor to what would be a potentially frightening and uncomfortable situation for some transguys. 

Gender Reel, is the only national film and performance art festival dedicated to the gender non-conforming and transgender community, being hosted in four cities around the country: Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Oakland and Portland, September 19-21, 2013.  

Individuals interested in learning more about Gender Reel, the submission process and/or ways they can bring the festival to their city can do so in person during the conference by stopping by our vending table and talking to one of our amazing organizers or volunteers. 

Continue reading »]]> The 2nd Annual Black Transmen, Inc Transgender Advocacy Conference takes place March 13-17, 2013 in Dallas Texas.

This years conference is entitled, "The Power of You," and is an empowering compilation of education workshops and lively entertainment that will empower attendees to become their own agents of change. 

The 1st Annual Conference, themed ” Stepping Up and Stepping Out,”  was the prologue to the critical impact the transgender community is making for positive social change.  Hundreds of people from around the world attended the event and organizers expect the 2013 conference to be just as successful. 

Conference highlights include, but are not limited to: Keynote addresses by Kylar Broadus & Monica Roberts, Mr. and Ms. Black Transgender International Pageant, a health and career fair, and much, much more.

Black Transmen Inc. is the 1st National Non-Profit Organization of African American transmen solely focused on acknowledgment, social advocacy and empowering African American trans men with resources to aid in a healthy female to male transition. Black Transmen Inc is on the forefront of transgender services for people of color and strives to advance the transgender community as a whole, creating programs geared towards supporting all female to male transmen and SLGBTQI individuals, regardless of race, creed, color, religion, sexual identity or sexual expression.

To find out more about this amazing event, including how to register, visit the website at http://retreat.blacktransmen.org/index.html.

Continue reading »]]> The 2013 Gender Reel festival is expanding.

The two-year-old, East Coast based multi-media festival is scheduled to take place in various cities across the United States. The festival originated in Philadelphia, PA in 2011. However, it is now set to take place in Minneapolis, MN and Philadelphia, PA, in Sept 2013, with plans to add Oakland, CA, and Portland, OR, to the list of places where the 2013 festival film and performance art program will be showcased.

According to Gender Reel Founder and Chair Joe Ippolito, "The festival grew in popularity a lot since it started in 2011 and we wanted to bring this experience to others." The festival, which started off with a multi-media platform, will now focuse only on film and performance art. "While the visual art and photography pieces were well received, the film and performance art aspects drew the largest crowd and organizers felt focusing on this would make it easier to expand," Ippolito explains.

Filmmakers and performance artists interested in submitting work to Gender Reel can do so through our "submit" page on the website. The submission process begins April 20, 2013 and ends June 20, 2013.

Gender Reel is committed to diversity and strongly encourages film and performance submissions from people of color communities, gender queer folks, and trans women.

Continue reading »]]> In the film, "Riot Grrrl: The Self-Told Narrative," Filmmakers, Angie Young, and, Vega Darling, explore the dissemination of the "personal is political.”

The film, which is due out later this year, explores the onset of the Riot Grrrl movement, an underground, feminist, punk rock movement that started in the early to mid-1990s. The film highlights out the movements impact on our culture and it's influence on third wave feminism.

Riot Grrrl bands, such as Bikini Kill, The Butchies, L7 and Team Dresch, address issues of rape, domestic abuse, sexuality, racism, patriarchy, and female empowerment. In addition to the music scene and genre, Riot Grrrl, consists of a larger subculture of zines, DIY art, political action, and activism.

Young, most notably known for her 2006 film, The Coat Hanger Project,” and Darling, hope to use the film to look at, Riot Grrrl, in new and important ways. The film showcases the untold stories of queers, sex workers, women of color, trans* individuals and men, affected by Riot Grrrl. It also illustrates the ways, Riot Grrrl, slipped unknowingly into our collective consciousness, explores the complexity of identity and looks at the past and the present of, Riot Grrrl.

To find out more about "Riot Grrrl: The Self-Told Narrative," and/or help support this project visit the films website @  http://www.riotgrrrlfilm.com/Home_Page.html.

Continue reading »]]> Piggy backing off the success of last year, Gender Reel, will host another art auction this year. Last year, GR raised close to $200 in proceeds for the festival. The art auction takes place during Gender Reel 's Opening Reception on Friday, 9/7/12 at the William Way Community Center from 6-8:30 PM.

Morris & Mina

Local artists and TG/GV allies Morris Klein and Mina Smith-Segal donated various copies of their art work to auction this year. 

Auctioned artwork starts bidding at $25. Artists interested in donating art work to GR's auction should contact Gender Reel Chair Joe Ippolito at genderreelfest@gmail.com. We are also open to accepting donations of non-art related items for the auction. Individuals looking to donate these kind of things should check in with Joe first. 

All items need to be dropped off at the WWCC on Friday, 9/7/12, between 2 pm-5 pm.

Continue reading »]]> Gender Reel 2012

Press Release

The 2nd Annual Gender Reel Festival is just around the corner!

The first of its kind on the east coast, Gender Reel, is the only multi-media festival dedicated to enhancing the visibility of gender non-conforming and transgender artists in film, photography, art and performance. The 2012 festival features: 20 films, 8 artists/photographers, 10 performance artists, 3 panels and 4 workshops.

According to Gender Reel Chair, Joe Ippolito, "Gender Reel 2012 is going to be another great year. The festival has grown in a number of ways, including expanding our venue location to the William Way Community Center, adding more performance art to the mix and offering more hands on art and film workshops to our patrons. I am happy to report that Gender Reel does exactly what we envisioned it doing when we came up with the idea in November 2010 in that it is providing a safe, supportive and empowering place where Gnc/TG people can display their multi-media art work." 

2012 Festival Highlights include:

• Friday, 9/7 Opening Wine & Cheese Opening Reception @ 6 pm. Free to anyone who wants to attend.
• Friday, 9/7 @ 7:30 PM: Discussion and performance by notable guest and performance artist, Ignacio Rivera, from NYC.
• 50 day collaboration of art between Gender Reel and the William Way Community Center's LGBTQ Art Gallery. This collaboration runs from 9/7/12- 10/26/12.
• Saturday, 9/9 @ 11 AM: The Painted Self: The return of last year’s heavily attended water color workshop facilitated by Gender Reel's very own Sam Richman.
• Saturday, 9/8 @ 3 PM: The Final Cut: This panel explores how mainstream portrayals of people of color in film and television impact the lives of queer people of color.
• Saturday, 9/8 @ 4:30 PM: TransHISTORY: This workshop explores the history of transgender people in film.
• Saturday, 9/8 @ 9 PM: MixTape, Gender Reel's surgery fundraising party, returns as a collaborative effort with the organizers of BLITZ. Location: Tabu Lounge & Sports Bar. Cover: $5-$10.
• Sunday, 9/9 @ 4 PM: Panel Discussion with the filmmaker of "Trans," the 2012 award winning documentary.

Other films to see: Facing Mirrors; Trans, America's Most Wanted; Gold Moon, Sharp Arrow, Makes Me Want to Believe, Present Continuous, Transpass, A Difference, Austin Unbound, I Am Queen, The Sisterhood, Bye, Bye Baby Box, Transsexual Dominatrix, I am Trans, Sisterhood, Akin, Against the Grain, Gloucerter City, My Town, Taki Mam, Glen or Glenda.

Other artists & performers to catch: Bo Luengsuraswat, Jaden Rogers, Josephine Yuonne Paulovic, Markus Harwood-Jones, Takeya Trayer, Krissy Mahan, Sarah Barnard, Chance DeSilvah, Ignacio Rivera, Qian Li, Gender Edge, Justin Deforest and Radium Angels.

Tickets:

$20.00          All Festival Pass (except MixTape)

$10.00          Day Pass (except MixTape)

$100.00        Group Pass (6+ people, except MixTape).

2012 Gender Reel Sponsors: Leeway Foundation, Christin McGinn, Safeguards, Kathy Rumor & Galaei.

To find out more about Gender Reel’s 2012 programming, vending options (limited spots available until 8/15), ticket prices and more please consult our website @ www.genderreelfest.com.

Other questions can be directed to Gender Reel Chair Joe Ippolito @ genderreelfest@gmail.com and/or by calling 267-974-4259.

Continue reading »]]> Just a Bit Radical, is a new magazine, focusing on the needs and stories of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning (and allies, too!) youth. 

Based in Massachusetts, the magazine  features stories about prominent entertainers and Q&A's about popular LGBTQ initiatives. 

Earlier this month, Gender Reel Chair Joe Ippolito had a chance to talk with Editor-in-Chief, Catherine Oliver, about Just a Bit Radical. Here is what she had to say about this innovative magazine.

Joe: "What inspired the creation of Just a Bit Radical?"

Catherine: "I decided to start Just a Bit Radical because I was tired of seeing the suicides of LGBT youth every time I turned around. I was tired of seeing every magazine only cater to one part of the LGBT spectrum and never include youth. Most publications only focus on 18-and-over content and never think about what the younger generation has to say. I also am alarmed at the lack of transgender representation in print. Being bigender myself, I think that having a positive trans* voice in print and digital media is important. I gathered an amazing team of individuals to help me, and here we are today!"
 

Joe: "What has been the communities response to the magazine so far?"

Catherine: "We’ve had an overwhelmingly supportive response from so many amazing people. We launch our website and first issue in June, and myself and my team are looking forward to feedback from the community at large once they see the first magazine completed."

Joe: "What are three primary goals JaBR hopes to achieve when it comes to
helping LGBTQ youth?"

Catherine: "First, to give youth a place to submit their stories/artwork/photography/etc. It’s very important to us to offer youth a chance to express themselves in what might be the only safe creative outlet they can find. Secondly, to bring together the community under one banner instead of focusing on our differences. Lastly, we hope to be a voice for equality and fairness for all individuals and provide those that might not have listened to our message a chance to read our publication and perhaps broaden their horizons."

Joe: "In what ways is JaBR hoping to expand and/or grow over the next year or so?"

Catherine: "We’re going to be launching three more ‘zines this year–and are always looking for new submissions. We’d like to grow as a company, and become a go-to in the LGBT world for youth publications."

Want more JABR, check out their website @ justabitradical.wordpress.com.

Continue reading »]]> On Thursday, May 31, 2012 the Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference will host it's first annual Gender Reel mini film festival.

The free mini film fest will take place the first night of the conference from 7-8:30 pm in Room 103A. The primary goal of this years mini film festival is to give PTHC attendees a chance to experience the types of amazing films the Gender Reel Festival supports and shows at it's annual event in Sept.

This years mini film festival will premier three amazing films about gender non-conforming and transgender activists: Envisioning Justice, Against the Grain and Changing Houses. Q & A's with Envisioning Juctice's Pauline Park and Against the Grain OluSeyi O. Adebanjo

Oluseyi

Later that night, GR will host it's 2nd Annual "Still Coming Out," fundraiser at Tabu (200 S 12th Street) from 10 pm-2 am. Last years fundraiser was a huge success and we are hoping to do it again this year. 

At the beginning of the event, Ryan Sallans will be reading from his new book, "Second Son," followed by four amazing performances by Ryan Cassata, Wordz the Poet Emcee, Geppeta, Katastrophe and Dynasty (our MC). Mix and mingle and dance music by Gender Reel's very own DJ Sara Sherr to follow performances. Cover: $5 to $10.

Continue reading »]]> Living outside the binary is not an easy task especially for transexual and drag queens living in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. MALA MALA: A Transformative Puerto Rican Documentary, takes a thought-provoking look at the places where gender identity and cultural identity intersect, while capturing the search for selfhood and the love shared between friends. 

Additionally, the film looks at Trans/homo/queer phobia issue in Puerto Rico. Over the last four years, there have been over two dozen documented hate crimes committed against gay and transgendered people in Puerto Rico alone. In 2011, just months after the U.S. Department of Justice released a report which highlighted the under-documentation of hate crimes on the island, Puerto Rico's legislature introduced measures that would remove protections from their existing hate crimes law for people based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Gender Reel Chair Joe Ippolito had the pleasure of talking with Filmmakers Dan Sickles & Antonio Santini about the documentary: 

Interview:

Joe: "What inspired you to make this film?"

Dan: "During a trip to Austin last year for a film festival we had a film screening in, we stumbled upon a drag show and watched it play out. We became drawn to this one trans female who ended up losing the competition and getting kicked out that night.  Her name was Maggie McMuffins and she ended up inviting us over to her house in Northern Austin, where we met her and her family. We met her 3 months into her male-to-female transition, amidst a difficult divorce from her former wife, and a beautiful 9 year old daughter to take care. Soon after, Antonio found out a former high school classmate from Puerto Rico, Jason, was a now April, the queen of drag queens in San Juan, so we had a hunch there were more stories like Maggie’s that we needed to tell. We realized that gender reassignment was a lonely and difficult journey that thousands of people embarked on every year. We wanted those people to realize they weren’t alone and we wanted to share, on screen, this process and every person who is a part of it, whether straight, gay, or trans."

Joe: "Since the onset of making this film, what is one of the most profound things you have learned about trans youth living in Puerto Rico?"

Dan: "The two most important lessons we've learned through this filmmaking journey are the importance of community and of being yourself. Drag queens literally recreate a family dynamic to support each other.  They each have a role within their family unit. Together they form an imagined family that is very much as real as any biological family. And of course, after hearing Samantha’s struggle with her dad’s acceptance and her courage to transition, and after watching the girls from The Doll House drag family go on stage every night fearlessly, we knew ever double-guessing ourselves was no longer an option. You are who you are and at the same you always have the opportunity to evolve into the best person you can and desire to be."

Joe: "How do you plan to use the film to educate others about the experiences of trans youth?"

Dan: "There’s been too many times in all of these boys & girls lives where they’ve been told that they’re ugly, or that because they break convention, they’re less than perfect, or going to hell, or some other lie made up to instill fear in those that choose to be bold. The members of this community are testaments that being true to your identity is not that scary.  That, not lying to yourself and others about who you are and who you want to be is not the end of the world. It’s growth, it’s life. We plan to use this film its stories to educate others to feel the same: to take off their masks and put on their wigs."

Support for the making of this film is still needed, so please consider donating today through their  Kickstarter account: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1542010154/mala-mala-a-transformative-puerto-rican-documentar