https://thegayguidenetwork.com/society-the-importance-of-proper-lgbtq-representation-in-horror-media/ GGN :: Your gay guide to good life. A high-vibe conversation about true personal empowerment & being authentically fabulous. Since 2002. Fri, 19 Apr 2019 02:44:20 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://thegayguidenetwork.com/society-the-importance-of-proper-lgbtq-representation-in-horror-media/#comment-44541 Fri, 19 Apr 2019 02:44:20 +0000 https://thegayguidenetwork.com/?p=34449#comment-44541 I am a trans man that has been worrking for proper representation with film festivals since the 90’s. I was the first trans person to be invited on the programming committee of an LGBTQ film festival. I have also curated trans programming for many festivals worldwide, and was ED of the Counting Past 2 TS/IS/TG Festival.
There is another issue that is vital, especially at non LGBTQ festivals, being that films about us made by non LGBTQ film makers, are the ones being screened, instead of films being made by us. We as a community can speak for ourselves, and there is tons of talent.
As an example, a film made by a non LGBTQ filmmaker just won an award an the LA independent film festival. This person had sent me a preview of the film when it was being made, asking for my input. He did cast a young trans person in the film, but the character was in a mental health institution, called misfit, was a bad seed, filled with angst, smoke and drank, couldn’t find a love interest because he was trans…just insult after insult. I spent a great deal of time and effort trying to explain that was not how we wanted to be represented. He replied that he spent 2 weeks talking with some trans people that were depressed, and that he knew better than me.

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