Jack Halberstam, an academic and the author behind Female Masculinity, channelled “the spirits of all the trans masc dandies” for his runway walk. “We are the ones who have always worked very hard to look good in the face of public rejection, to walk tall even when we barely hit 5’4,” and to own our masculinities, now and for the future dandies to come,” he told Them.
Shortly after her own runway walk, Lux Pascal, younger sister of actor Pedro Pascal and an actress in her own right, beamed, “Unlike other runways, this one felt important.” Though she initially felt nervous due to the energy in the room, she admitted, “I felt present throughout. There were times where I was too excited and so overwhelmed with emotion. It was beautiful.”
Everyone involved agreed that the show was, as Halberstam describes, “a beautiful performance of trans beauty, a glorious statement about trans glory, and a massive act of defiance in a time of danger, state violence, and political mayhem.” The experience felt all the more empowering due to the fact that it was a homegrown, community-based endeavor.
“The effort came together, piece by piece, through a truly grassroots approach,” Menuez explained, proudly. “From one personal connection into the next, we built it and they came.”
Reflecting on the event, Lío Mehiel, a Sundance award-winning actor and the Head of Production for MDHS, told Them, “The impact of Saturday’s event will lift my heart and spirit for a long time to come. This project and our goal to uplift the trans community, celebrate our joy, and get resources into the hands of trans organizers through TJFP has served as jet-fuel for my sense of hope, which, right now, is a sacred feeling that must be protected.”
And Saturday’s show was just one part of Mother Daughter Holy Spirit’s three-pronged wider mission. Right now, you can purchase a range of special-edition t-shirts designed by the likes of Precious Okoyomon, Miranda July, Tourmaline, Ryan McGinley, Aimee Lou Wood, and Pippa Gardner (whose “Adult Content” design was recently sported by Pedro Pascal during a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live). Later in April, you will be able to shop pre-owned pieces pulled directly from the closets of celebrities like Hari Nef, Pedro Pascal, Chloë Sevigny, and Tommy Dorfman. And because this is ultimately a celebration of trans joy and beauty, the Mother Daughter Holy Spirit initiative will conclude with a special closing party in the near future.
It’s all in the name of an important cause, and Saturday’s show was a vital testament to how much power the trans community truly wields. “I hope the images and story of [this show] reach our community, especially trans youth, across the country,” Mehiel said. “I hope they read about who was involved, and that inspires them to learn about the work of Connie Fleming, Qween Jean, Jack Halberstam, Cassils, Richie Shazam, and others. [I want them] to see that our community does not exist on the fringe, but at the center of culture, of art, and amidst a vibrant community.”
Or, in the simple words of Lux Pascal, “I don’t even think we have to be ‘visible,’ because we already are. You could feel that in the room. There’s no stopping us, at any time.”
Learn more about Mother Daughter Holy Spirit and the Trans Justice Funding Project.
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