When lawmakers fail to show up for a Zoom teach-in on anti-LGBTQIA2S+ legislation and child sexual abuse, two trans survivors press forward — blending stop-motion animation and survivor testimony across the USA to illuminate how policy fails those it claims to protect.
We bookend the film with a Zoom hosted by myself and a fellow trans CSA survivor, brought together for a Queer Youth Assemble teach-in on the intersection between anti-LGBTQIA2S+ legislation and CSA. Many legislators RSVP’ed. Only one comes. We nervously look at each other across squares. Suddenly, an animated world opens. New Zoom boxes appear -- portals into the places we were formerly abused. We climb in, offering a brief understanding why we are the ones to host this gathering that now includes you, the viewer. In my reimagined childhood bedroom, my TV illuminates how we got here as a society -- vintage homophobic pedophilia PSAs, anti-trans protesters carrying "grooming" and "protect the children" signs. The channel flips again, grounding us in the present. We elevate people across the US impacted by the mismanaging of survivor narratives. Possibilities in-development include: a queer person whose local LGBTQ+ center shut down, turning to an abusive relationship in isolation; a family targeted by child protective services for affirming their trans child; an athlete fearing genital inspections proposed by lawmakers. Between stories, we briefly return to the Zoom -- someone joins, someone leaves. At the film's close, my co-host speaks to the importance of allies showing up. I nod, noting the irony that the few legislators who did attend dropped out before the end. We're in the room alone. In the animated world, we tidy the places we were abused and exit. We arrive in an imaginary third space where we sit down side-by-side.
Lexie is a trans multimedia artist whose work revolves around themes of bodies, homes, cyclical violence, and queer identity. They have been working with survivors of dometic violence and sexual assault for over 15 years - generating events, writings, books, and short films - with a special focus on fellow trans and childhood sexual abuse survivors. They've organized 120+ relevant public and private events, trainings, and panels at non-profits, universities, and more. They are a Jerome Hill Artist Fellow, resigned member of the RAINN National Leadership Council, and a Lambda Literary Award Finalist for their anthology WRITTEN ON THE BODY. Lexie integrated their personal experiences into the acclaimed THE SHIP WE BUILT, the first middle grade novel centering and written by a trans boy released by a major USA publisher, and is adapting it into a stop-motion feature film. Lexie's work has been featured in Teen Vogue, New York Times, Huffington Post, Feminist Wire, Ms. Magazine, Them, Bust Magazine, Autostraddle, as well as JKP's SURVIVING TRANSPHOBIA. WHAT WILL I BECOME? is Lexie's co-directed debut feature documentary and will have its world premiere Berlinale Generation 14plus and have its US national broadcast premiere on PBS.
