when first dreaming up Disrupt the Cis-tem, it was early spring of 2023, and a record-breaking 350+ anti-LGBTQ bills had already been introduced in state legislatures across the country- a majority of them targeting trans individuals. these bills proposed denying access to gender-affirming care, public restrooms, safe educational environments, and ultimately worked to erase trans identity and existence from the public eye. as i watched the bombarding news cycle, i grew tired of apathetic elected officials talking about us- without us- and sought to create resistance.

a 24-hour play festival felt like the perfect structure- an immediate, visceral response to capture this moment of trans existence in america. plans were put into production, the event became a community fundraiser, and the performance slated in late spring;

unfortunately, due to space rental, technical issues, and other circumstances beyond control, Disrupt was postponed and then ultimately shelved.

that is, until now.

since the second inauguration of donald trump, i, like many of my trans siblings, have spent 2025 oscillating between fear, dread, and anger, taking many hours with community to discuss where we must go from here. it is in those conversations that i remembered this project, and gained a renewed sense of urgency and vigor for the work.

i am therefore excited to announce the revamp of Disrupt the Cis-tem: a 24-hour Play Festival. 6 writers, 6 directors, and 14 actors across the queer spectrum will come together to create a night of political theatre by, for, and about TGNC+ stories... all in the span of 24 hours. the festival will premiere at the Vino Theater in brooklyn on april second, in congruence with International Day of Transgender Visibility.

the mission of Disrupt is three-fold:

1. to create theatrical work as a real-time response to the current and previous administrations' attack on transgender existence,

2. to raise funds for a local queer-led and -designed organization, Princess Janae Place, whose mission is 'to help people of transgender experience reach their full potential as they transition from homelessness to independent living',

3. and to cultivate a space for upcoming queer theatre makers to meet one another, build community ties, and be radically loud in their existence together.

Disrupt the Cis-tem is currently raising funds to cover production costs for the festival itself; any additional unused funds will be donated to PJP, along with 100% of ticket proceeds. in the spirit of radical transparency, our goal breakdown is as follows:

thank you in advance for your continued support, and we hope to see you at our performance in april. remember to check in on your trans friends and family, and continue to make your voice heard.

in solidarity,

niqo torrez

[they/them]

founder and creative producer

“God blessed me by making me transsexual for the same reason God made wheat but not bread and fruit but not wine, so that humanity might share in the act of creation."