There could be” no potential worth having without trans people at the center of it,” according to recognized transgender journalist Imara Jones in our first Trans Futures line from last year. I’ve been holding onto that idea ever since as lawmakers have attempted to distance us from the current. But our world is still shaped by trans people. Qween Jean and other protesters continue to be at the forefront of our independence struggles. Our influence on state is still embodied by politicians like Delaware State Senator Sarah McBride. And producers like Pose sun Angelica Ross show how our story has a broad impact. The future is not just ours; we are required to make it. With the second season of Trans Futures, we aimed to distill this reality into four conversations that not only exemplified the general relevance of our struggle but also emphasized the activists, actors, politicians, and writers who were guiding us toward a more liberated and radiant world.
Trans people have always understood that everyone benefits from our struggle for liberation and that all people should prioritize their rights to physical autonomy and freedom from condition surveillance, to name a few. In order to achieve this, the granite of conversations this year encourages trans luminaries to discuss the most important issues in their respective fields with transgender thought leaders.
First off, Delaware State Senator Sarah McBride will discuss trans political act with Pose actress and upcoming politician Angelica Ross. Next, Black Trans Liberation co-founder Qween Jean discusses the history and enduring importance of interethnic solidarity with Black Panther Party star Ericka Huggins. After that, we’ll move on to two culture-focused meetings, with authors Carmen Maria Machado and Gretchen Felker Martin discussing the therapeutic potential of gay horror and comedians Mae Martin and Jes Tom delving into the redeeming energy of trans humor. Conversations will be published every year over the course of the upcoming month starting during Trans Awareness Week.
War has raged, a climate crisis is also looming, and the powers that continue to waste their time—and our money—finding ways to expel young trans girls from youth soccer terms one year after we released Trans Futures. However, I think that the potential can still be felt in shared experiences and in seeing the brilliance and tenacity of our own. Greetings from Trans Futures. — Wren Sanders
