The Black Trans Gaze ft. Kristen Lovell and D. Smith

Episode notes

Hosts Tre’vell Anderson and Shar Jossell welcome producer and co – director of the documentary, The Stroll, Kristen Lovell as they discuss the documentary’s portrayal of trans sex workers who worked in the Meatpacking District of New York City during the 90s. Lovell also speaks on finally having the control of the Black trans narrative behind the camera, and not just as the subject. Then, our hosts speak with the producer and director of the documentary, Kokomo City, D. Smith. She discusses the audience’s reception to the film and  the legacy of Koko Da Doll, the star of the film who was tragically murdered earlier this year. 

But first, Tre’vell and Shar discuss sex work representation in media as it pertains to Black Trans women and while it being a necessary piece of trans history to learn, it is not the end all be all of trans representation. And later we hear what every day trans folks have to say about trans visibility in another segment of Pass The Mic.

Over the course of this series, Tre’vell and Shar will be including the personal experiences of ‘everyday’ trans people. To that end, anyone in community who wishes to comment on or speak to issues brought up on the show, please share your thoughts with them. We’ve made it easy to record a message. Just click SpeakPipe.com/WeSeeEachOther and follow the very simple instructions. If you’d like to email Shar and Tre’vell, you can send any message to FANTI@maximumfun.org and put WSEO in the subject line.

Find us on IG: @Slayzhon

We made it easy to share your thoughts. Go to SpeakPipe.com/WeSeeEachOther

You can buy We See Each Other: A Black Trans Journey Through TV & Film the book wherever books are sold

Mentioned in the Show

D. Smith on Kokomo City

Kokomo City

Pose (Hulu)

Stroll

Good Trouble (Freeform)

Sylvia Rivera’s Place

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Plugs 

Kokomo City will be in select theaters on July 28th 

The Stroll drops June 21 on HBO 

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Twitter

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@vivalapalma (Producer, Palmira Muniz)

@swishswish (Senior Producer, Laura Swisher) 

Music: Neverending Nina (IG @neverendingninanotes)

Producer: Palmira Muniz

Senior Producer: Laura Swisher

Laura Swisher is senior producer 

Music: Never Ending Nina

We See Each Other: The Podcast is produced and distributed by MaximumFun.org

This podcast is supported by Critical Minded, an initiative to invest in cultural critics of color co founded by The Nathan Cummings Foundation and The Ford Foundation. It’s a production of Slayzhon and Maximum Fun!