Trans in Trumpland

Trans in Trumpland is a 2021 American four episode docu-series directed by Tony Zosherafatain that chronicles the experiences of four transgender Americans during the Presidency of Donald Trump in North Carolina, Texas, Mississippi and Idaho and investigates transgender rights in the United States during the Trump era.[1][2] It premiered on February 25, 2021, on Topic, a streaming service from First Look Media.

Trans in Trumpland
GenreDocumentary
Directed byTony Zosherafatain
ComposerJake Hull
Country of originUnited States
Original languages
  • English
  • Spanish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes4
Production
Executive producers
ProducerJamie DiNicola
CinematographyLeroy Farrell
EditorJason B. Kohl
Running time25-32 minutes
Production companyTransWave Films
Release
Original networkTopic
Original releaseFebruary 25, 2021 (2021-02-25)

Production

The series was directed, hosted, and narrated by filmmaker Tony Zosherafatain. It was created by trans-run production company TransWave Films,[3] and produced by Jamie DiNicola, with executive producers Trace Lysette,[4] Miss Major Griffin-Gracy,[5] and Chella Man.[6] Associate producers include Miss Hazel Jade and Gabriel Resendez.[7]

Development of the series began in 2016 the week that Trump won the election. In an interview with Interview Magazine, Zosherafatain stated: “in 2016, when Trump took office, I remember that first week just feeling really scared. He removed any mention of LGBTQ rights at all from the White House website, and I couldn’t really sleep. It was hard. Three days into his presidency, Trans in Trumpland just popped right in. It was like, ‘There you go. Run with this, kid.’ And then I had to think about what exactly this would mean. What kind of documentary would this be? I just had a feeling [Trump] was going to attack our community even worse than that first week.”[8]

Zosherafatain “spent the next three years developing the concept and raising money through Kickstarter.”[9] After a successful Kickstarter campaign in August 2019 raised $65,000, production began in September 2019 in North Carolina, Texas, Mississippi, and Idaho and filming completed in December 2019.[9][10]

Episodes
No.TitleOriginal release date
1"North Carolina"February 25, 2021 (2021-02-25)
High school comes with enough struggles, but Ash also has to deal with painful gender dysphoria and a fear of simply going to the bathroom. But he still believes coming out as trans saved his life and is finding more strength each day.[11]
2"Texas"February 25, 2021 (2021-02-25)
For Rebecca, a trans woman and Mexican immigrant living on the border, discrimination comes from many directions. Can she live freely in a state with one of the highest immigration detention rates?[12]
3"Mississippi"February 25, 2021 (2021-02-25)
Meet the owner of the first trans-focused nonprofit in Mississippi. After her friend Mesha Caldwell was murdered for being trans, Evonné started her organization to help protect the trans community in a state that fails to do so.[13]
4"Idaho"February 25, 2021 (2021-02-25)
Shane Ortega identifies as Two-Spirit, a Native term referring to a person with both a feminine and masculine spirit. The Idaho resident and retired Army veteran believes that trans rights are inextricably linked to the decolonization of America.[14]

Release

The series was acquired by Topic, the streaming service for First Look Media, which acquired North American streaming rights to the series.[15] Trans in Trumpland was released on February 25, 2021, on Topic, and is also available on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.

Though the series premiered after Trump was no longer President of the United States, Zosherafatain believes that the issues raised in the series regarding transgender policies will remain relevant in the future.[16]

Reception

Trans in Trumpland has received critical acclaim. Allsion Shoemaker and Saloni Gajjar of The A.V. Club wrote that the series is “a step beyond negative headlines, offering a glimpse into the lived experience of those directly affected by laws such as the discriminatory HB2 bill, which prohibits trans people from using bathrooms and lockers that align with their gender identity, or the trans military ban,” and “this docuseries is a heartfelt must-watch.”[17] Writing for Vogue, Liam Hess summarized the effectiveness of the series stating, “the four stories come together to form a rich and moving tapestry, touching on how trans people across a range of intersectional identities have responded to the challenges of living under the Trump administration—as well as their hopes for and vision of the future.”[18] Benedict Nguyen of Vanity Fair called the series “a vital contribution to the trans media canon” but that the series “could have told more complex stories, covering an even wider breadth of experience or addressing the violence of Trump-era policies in more depth.”[19]

LGBTQ+ media strongly praised the series. Johnny Yates of PinkNews described Trans in Trumpland as “a powerful new documentary that puts the spotlight on transgender lives in the Trump era...everyone needs to watch it.”[20] Xoai Pham of Autostraddle stated, “rather than simply presenting the culture of violence, the series’ creator Tony Zosherafatain delivered a resounding celebration of the relationships that sustain trans lives” and that “we are in a new wave of visionary trans filmmaking, with documentaries like Disclosure feature films like Lingua Franca, and TV shows like Veneno. Remarkably, Trans in Trumpland is no exception.”[21]

References
  1. MacDonell, Donny (2021-01-15). "The GLAAD Wrap: 'The U.S. vs. Billie Holiday' and 'The World to Come' new trailers; 'Sex and the City' reboot at HBO Max; new music videos from Trace Lysette, Shamir, Claud; and more!". GLAAD. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  2. Wasilak, Sarah (2021-01-25). "Trans in Trumpland Is a Docuseries About Trans Lives With Trans Filmmakers Behind the Camera". PopSugar. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  3. Biese, Alex (2021-02-25). "Trans in Trumpland documentary series reveals transgender Americans' struggles, stories". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  4. Malkin, Marc (2020-07-28). "Trace Lysette to Produce New Docuseries 'Trans in Trumpland' (EXCLUSIVE)". [Variety. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  5. Masters, Jeffrey (2021-07-23). "What Trans Elder Miss Major Griffin-Gracy Wants You to Know". The Advocate. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  6. Ramos, Dino-Ray (2020-08-06). "'Trans In Trumpland' Adds Chella Man As Executive Producer". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  7. Malkin, Marc (2021-01-14). "'Trans in Trumpland' Documentary Debuts Trailer Ahead of February Release (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  8. Lysette, Trace (2020-02-26). ""Trans is Everywhere": Tony Zosherafatain and Trace Lysette on Trans in Trumpland". Interview Magazine. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  9. Ennis, Dawn (2020-08-01). "Tony Zosherafatain Made a Movie about Being 'Trans in Trumpland.' Will Hollywood Support It?". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  10. Abbott, Jared (2021-02-22). "An Interview With the Creators of 'Trans in Trumpland'". World of Wonder. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  11. "North Carolina". Topic. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  12. "Texas". Topic. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  13. "Mississippi". Topic. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  14. "Idaho". Topic. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  15. Malkin, Marc (2021-01-14). "'Trans in Trumpland' Documentary Debuts Trailer Ahead of February Release (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  16. Giardina, Henry (2021-01-19). "Watch the Trailer for This Powerful Documentary About Trans Resilience in Trump's America". them. Retrieved 2021-03-04.
  17. Shoemaker, Allison; Gajjar, Saloni (2021-02-25). "New docuseries explores what it means to be Trans In Trumpland". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  18. Hess, Liam (2021-02-25). "The New Documentary Honoring the Harsh Realities of Trans Life Under Trump". Vogue. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  19. Nguyen, Benedict (2021-02-24). "Trans in Trumpland Shows the Benefits, the Limits, of Glossy Representation". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  20. Yates, Johnny (2021-03-01). "Trans in Trumpland: how to watch the powerful new documentary on transgender lives in the Trump era". PinkNews. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  21. Pham, Xoai (2021-02-22). ""Trans in Trumpland" Depicts the Past, Present and Future of Trans Lives". Autostraddle. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
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