Fund Desmond Picotte's Film on Trans Community

Help us fund our film! 'The Ladies of the Midwest' is a documentary film directed by Desmond Picotte and shot by Fernanda Roth Faya.

What started as a birthday party over a decade ago, has grown into a long weekend social event, three times a year, for trans people from across the Midwest, who are coming out later in life. Hosted in Detroit, Michigan, TG Detroit Invasion emphasizes the importance of social belonging and community in the coming out process. Most attendees identify as part-time trans, because they feel unsafe being visibly out in their hometowns. These weekends, called “Invasions”, provide the time and space for folks to experiment with their gender expression and connect with others on similar journeys.

Now, during a second Trump administration, the ability to be out and proud as trans individuals has gotten riskier. With an unprecedented number of laws targeting the trans community, civil rights are under attack. The TG Detroit Invasions allow for safety in numbers for the ladies to enjoy regular social activities as their authentic selves. A key part of this dynamic is the pairing up of “newbies” with “veterans” - where women who have previously attended a Detroit Invasion help newer members come out of their shell and find their footing in a woman’s world.

As the director of the film, I have now attended two Invasions - one last October, which I documented with photography and audio interviews. This past April, I returned with a full film crew to begin telling this story in greater detail. We need to raise funds to attend the next two Invasions in July and October of 2025. Money raised will go towards paying my crew, flights, accommodations, archival footage, and more. This is a queer lead production, with a majority queer crew, and it's important to me to employ storytellers from within the community.

We have some exciting rewards for our donors!

Donations $50 and over: A 'Ladies of the Midwest' 2026 calendar featuring photos and stills from the film

Donations $100 and over: A signed print of original photography by Desmond Picotte. Your choice of print from https://desmondpicotte.com/

Donations $500 and over: A personal 1 hour portrait session with Desmond Picotte (In the Detroit or NYC area only).

Donations $1,000 and over: A credit line in the film + 2 of the previous tier rewards.

Stay tuned for more exciting rewards and announcements soon!