SCREENING TOUR & IMPACT CAMPAIGN
Thanks to generous support from Sundance Institute, Arcus Foundation, Colin Higgins Foundation, Swing Issues Media, and hundreds of individual contributions through our Kickstarter campaign, we were able to bring Growing Up Coy on the road to states that have debated bathroom bill legislation throughout 2018.
ALABAMA
In Florence, we partnered with the Shoals Diversity Center, PFLAG Shoals, and Equality Alabama to screen the film in March 2018. After the screening, the audience heard some powerful first-hand accounts about transitioning in Alabama from panelists and other audience members. We also met parents of trans kids, and we met activists who gave an overview of state and local politics. A representative from PFLAG offered resources to families and individuals in need.
In April 2018, Birmingham saw a an equally meaningful event with partners PFLAG Birmingham, Central Alabama Pride, and the Magic City Acceptance Center. One audience member said “The panel really moved me - inspired me to fight for equality”. Another said “As a straight white cisgender male, it is important to use my position of privilege to urge people to not only be more aware of the issues in the film, but also supportive and accepting of trans people.”
MASSACHUSETTS
In partnership with Thrive LGBTQ Youth Center and PFLAG Cape Cod, we hosted 2 screenings and round circle conversations in October 2018 at Cape Code Unitarian churches in Barnstable Village and East Falmouth.
SOUTH CAROLINA
In Greenville, S.C. - we partnered with the local PFLAG chapter and Gender Benders in May 2018. The panel discussion touched on what legal protections trans folks do and don't have in the South Carolina. The community was also mourning the death of Sasha Wall - a black trans woman who was murdered in S.C. over Easter weekend. Because of that, the film also sparked some productive conversation about the role race plays in terms of trans folks' safety.
NORTH CAROLINA
In Boone, North Carolina, we partnered with Equality North Carolina and Appalachia State University to hold a screening in October 2018 where the audience was encouraged to vote and keep the conversation going with friends and family, and on social media. A 2nd screening was held in Durham where we partnered with ACLU of North Carolina, Bull City Schools United, and Transforming Families NC to screen the film at Duke University in collaboration with Duke's LGBTQ group Blue Devils United.
TEXAS
In partnership with Equality Texas and ACLU of Texas, we hosted 4 screenings and conversations in February 2018 across the state of Texas - in Stafford, El Paso, Amarillo, and McAllen.
WASHINGTON DC
In October 2017, we had the privilege of screening the film for a audience of mental health professionals from around the world at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists annual conference in Washington D.C. A fascinating discussion followed that dealt specifically with the lack of agreed-upon guidelines for the treatment of gender dysphoric pre-adolescent children.
WASHINGTON STATE
In November 2018, we partnered with PFLAG Washington State Council, PFLAG Benton/Franklin and WSU Gender Identity/Expression & Sexual Orientation Resource Center to hold screenings in Richland, Washington (part of the Tri-Cities area), and then in Wenatchee, Washington in collaboration with the the WVC Queer Straight Alliance.