Last Friday, I was serendipitously forwarded a Youtube video called “Assigned Sex: Episode 1: Ringing the Bell,” which chronicles the lives of young transgender New Yorkers and their families.

The first video introduces us to Kyrie, a 23 year-old FTM who is an aspiring basketball coach (spoiler alert, if you watch “Assigned Sex: Episode 2: Families,” you’ll very soon find out that Kyrie was a badass women’s college basketball player who was kicked off the team after transitioning); Angel, a 22 year-old MTF aspiring singer; Lala, a 21 year-old MTF aspiring model; Jay’Lin, a 24 year-old FTM substance abuse counselor; and L, a 21 year-old FTM teacher. Clocking in at a little over eight minutes, the video intertwines these youths’ narratives with sobering statistics about transgender suicide rates and discrimination, and serves as a great introduction to the larger project behind “Assigned Sex.”

Produced by Ira Hackney and Andrew Fair, and directed by Shaun Dawson, these short episodes are a behind-the-scenes look at what viewers can expect from “Assigned Sex,” a full-length documentary that will be submitted to The Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, The Tribeca Film Festival, The Atlanta Film Festival, Sundance, and Cannes in the coming year.

And although the film has not yet reached its final stage, it is very clear from these two online episodes that “Assigned Sex” can serve as a much needed rupture in the silence that continues to permeate the lives of transgender people in New York State and across the country. Highlighting issues that transgender individuals face daily, such as discrimination (in housing, healthcare, employment and public accommodations—seriously, how is it NOT time for GENDA?), harassment, and family acceptance, the film is a great opportunity for those unfamiliar with transgender issues (this means you, NYS Republicans) to learn more and for other questioning or transitioning youth to see that they are not alone, that they are loved, and that they too will find their stride.

You can view the “Assigned Sex” webisodes on Youtube (Episode 1: Ringing the Bell, and Episode 2: Families). The other webisodes are forthcoming.

To learn more about the project, you can view the film’s full proposal, as well as shooting schedule, here.

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