Art as Activism - Using performance to educate around transgender identity

Decribe your idea

As a transgender child, there existed few depictions of people whose experiences mirrored my own. The vast majority of characters I viewed seemed happy with (or at least unaware of) themselves as gendered beings: on stage, on TV, in film, on the written page. The few who did identify as “trans” were sensationalized, dehumanized, ridiculed, or worse. I refuse to accept that the only possible depictions of trans people are offensive and belittling, told by and for a non-trans audience. My story combats that narrative. By humanizing my transgender experience, I make it that much more difficult for others to dehumanize those like me. Which, ultimately, is the core purpose of art, calling us to remember our common humanity.

Why do you want to share your idea with TEDxUChicago in 2013?

TEDxUChicago is a forum for sharing ideas, backgrounds, projects, and more, all in an inclusive atmosphere. And yet, most “LGBT” speakers are actually “LG…sometimes B….very occasionally T” speakers. TEDxUChicago deserves to hear a diversity of topics from a diverse cast of speakers and presenters. More specifically, I do believe strongly in art as activism. By speaking at TEDxUChicago I will gain an audience outside of the theatre or LGBT crowd for whom I often perform, creating new allies and sparking new discussion.

How will you share your idea in a creative way?

My background, first and foremost, is that of a storyteller. I will use the tools of my body and my voice to share my experience and the projects I'm working on, as well as projection to highlight specific aspects of my identity and trans experience, as well as the broader trans community.

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