Shoulders of Giants: A Trans Multi Media Project

Shoulders of Giants: A Multi Media Trans Project

By Helen Boyd Kramer and Rachel Crowl

We first got involved in trans movement in the early 2000s, and walked into a welcoming community of activists, scholars, authors, legislators, policy wonks, and artists: people who had been involved in the trans community 5-20 years before us, who had done all kinds of work on de pathologizing trans identities, creating legislation, doing the research on trans identity, and providing advocacy and education in every field: from history to TV shows to creating trans conferences, these trans warriors were committed, brilliant, and effective.

Some worked alone, others in organizations.

During our time promoting the books and doing our own advocacy – for people in relationships, for partners of those transitioning, etc. – we met and interacted with a great many of them, many of whom became friends.

After the death of Helen’s friend Lynn Conway, she once again realized that she had been talking about interviewing some of these activists for years, and well, time is of the essence. Many of these activists are in their 70s and 80s and many are still deeply engaged in the work.

So we decided it was time: to do the interviews, to take the portraits – ultimately to tell the story of the years of trans activism, education, and outreach before we showed up – so that the history isn’t lost, and so there might be an accessible archive for generations to follow.

Our skillsets cover most of what needs doing: Helen writes, interviews, and is friends with many of the people we’d like to interview. Rachel is a photographer, videographer, and website developer.

What we don’t necessarily have is money: to travel to do the photography, to pay conference fees when that’s a possibility, and, of course, to commit to the time required for this kind of project.

We see the work happening in three stages:

Stage 1: Initial interviews, including requests, Zoom calls. Initial portraits, depending on availability.

Stage 2: Editing those interviews / compiling links to other information / laying out the website.

Stage 3: Creating and launching the website and/or creating a long form documentary.

We expect to fundraise at all three stages. We also expect to find grants to help pay for additional expenses, but you can't get grants until you've got something started.

We’re hoping to fundraise about $5000 in startup costs. We need your help – donate if you can, spread the word if you can’t.

Helen has already completed interviews with Kate Bornstein, Jamison Green, Dallas Denny, Gwen Smith, and Angela Brightfeather.

She has scheduled or is in the process of scheduling: Tony Amato, Dylan Scholinski, Denise Norris, Reid Vanderbergh.

Others who have already said yes include Arlene Lev, Max Wolf Valerio, Ethan St. Pierre, and Vanessa Foster, Danielle Askini, Paisley Currah, Riki Wilchins, Roz Blumenstein.

Other requests are going through friends. The complete list (for now) includes:

Calpernia Addams * Mariette Pathy Allen * Tony Amato * Danielle Askini * Roz Blumenstein * Kate Bornstein * Angela Brightfeather * Patrick Califia * Paisley Currah * Dallas Denny * Aaron Devor * Vanessa Foster * Susan Golightly * Jamison Green * Monica Helms * Andrea James * Andrea Jenkins * Arlene Lev * Denise Norris * Jude Patton * Julia Serano * Melissa Sklarz * Gwen Smith * Ethan St. Pierre * Sandy Stone * Susan Stryker * Max Wolf Valerio * Reid Vanderbergh * Stephen Whittle * Riki Wilchins

If you have recommendations for people who should absolutely be interviewed, please let me know.

Of course if we hire anyone else for this project, those folks will be trans.

Additionally, some of our elders should be paid for doing this interview. Some don't need the money, and others do.

Thank you so much for donating and for sharing!