Sophia Clark’s “I Am Who I Say I Am” Docuseries Celebrates Gender Affirmation & Intersectionality

Main as much as Transgender Consciousness Week, Black Public Media (BPM) has launched “I Am Who I Say I Am,” a docuseries capturing feel-good tales about gender affirmation. Sophia Clark (“First Particular person PBS”) directs the three-part quick movie sequence that’s now out there on BPM’s YouTube channel and social media pages. 

A part of BPM’s BE HEARD! social media marketing campaign, “I Am Who I Say I Am” follows three totally different topics as they focus on the significance of honoring most well-liked pronouns and of partaking in open, compassionate dialogue about gender. 

“‘I Am Who I Say I Am’ goals to start the method of fixing hearts by first altering our habits, primarily based on the basic perception that most individuals need to embrace and perceive others, their variations and their potential to contribute to the larger good,” Clark defined in a press launch.. They added that “these movies are for anybody striving to open their thoughts past the binary.”

“How you can Study Somebody’s Pronouns” options Janelle “Jei” Lawrence, a multidisciplinary artist and educator. Within the quick, Lawrence discusses the necessity to use gender-affirming pronouns in knowledgeable setting: “Even in the event you’re occupied with me, [I want you] to be occupied with me with the fitting pronouns,” they clarify in a trailer for the docuseries.

“Discussing Gender Identification with Household” follows mother-son duo Sharon Kidd-Fryer and Brit Fryer as they discover familial acceptance and help for various gender identities.

“Why Your Affected person’s Pronouns are Vital” sees pediatric dentist Dr. Maya Thompson explaining why gender is part of holistic healthcare.

The challenge goals to teach audiences in regards to the respectful use of pronouns, particularly as transgender people proceed to maintain “discrimination, demagoguery and violence, with Black transgender individuals bearing the brunt of it,” the press launch particulars. Citing the Pew Analysis Heart, the discharge notes that at 26 %, Black transgender unemployment is double that of different trans people and 4 instances that of the final inhabitants.

“With Black transgender and non-binary individuals dealing with marginalization at alarming charges, it’s essential that we view these points by way of a Black lens,” mentioned BPM Govt Director Leslie Fields-Cruz. She added that the docuseries goals to “kickstart conversations that may result in all members of our group being afforded their full humanity, starting with gender affirmation.”

Additionally a producer, Clark has credit on digital sequence “These Thems,” a digital sequence that follows 4 New Yorkers of varied sexual orientations and gender identities. It tackles sequence tackles themes of queerness, gender nonconformity, popping out, and acceptance by way of a comedic lens.

Based in 1979 because the Nationwide Black Programming Consortium, BPM “helps the event of visionary content material creators and distributes tales in regards to the international Black expertise to encourage a extra equitable and inclusive future” by addressing “the wants of unserved and underserved audiences,” per its web site. “BPM continues to deal with historic, modern, and systemic challenges that historically impede the event and distribution of Black tales.”