BRATTLEBORO, VT — Representatives of the Transgender Oral History Project will be in Brattleboro, the weekend of November 15 – 17, to present an afternoon workshop and collect local stories. The workshop “Movement Building and Breaking” will be held Saturday, November 16, from 2pm to 4 p.m., at the Root Social Justice Center at 28 Williams Street, Brattleboro. It is open to all in the community including allies, friends and families. A suggested donation of $5 to $25 will help defray expenses.
The visit and workshop is sponsored by Green Mountain Crossroads and the Root Social Justice Center.
The Transgender Oral History Project (TOHP) is a community-driven effort to collect, preserve and share a diverse range of stories from within the transgender and gender variant communities. TOHP works through promoting grassroots media projects, documenting trans people’s experiences, and teaching media production skills to others to continue the documenting work. [pullquote]The Transgender Oral History Project (TOHP) is a community-driven effort to collect, preserve and share a diverse range of stories from within the transgender and gender variant communities.[/pullquote]
TOHP formed on the principles of building community through soliciting and sharing stories, and encouraging multigenerational discussions, especially about community history. With a special focus on highlighting individuals, communities, and organizations struggling with issues that are not addressed by mainstream culture, TOHP is committed to portraying experiences from the perspective of the folks who live them.
The oral history project takes many forms including the TOHP website, interactive workshops, in-person exhibits, paper publications, and multimedia publications.
The workshop on Saturday, November 16, “Movement Building and Breaking,” is an interactive examination of the history of the Trans Community and the ways that it has and has not existed alongside the mainstream Lesbian and Gay movements. Join the TOHP presenters for an evening of brainstorming, collaboration, and story telling around transgender history. Learn about central tensions between the Trans and the Lesbian and Gay communities historically, and discuss how things are changing for transgender Americans today. To register for the workshop, send an email to greenmountaincrossroads@gmail.com or call Debbie Potter at 802-490-0692. [pullquote]On November 19, a candlelight procession and program will take place in Northampton, MA, and on November 20, a vigil and community gathering will take place in Greenfield, MA, beginning at 6 p.m.[/pullquote]
While in southeastern Vermont, the TOHP is looking for interview participants. Everyone is welcome to contribute, but the project is especially interested in talking to folks over 35 and people from communities of color. Contact Debbie Potter at Green Mountain Crossroads, 802-490-0692 if you are interested in setting up an appointment.
The workshop comes days before the annual commemoration of the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR), on November 20. TDoR is a day to memorialize those who have been killed as a result of anti-transgender violence, and acts to bring attention to the continued violence endured by the transgender community. On November 19, a candlelight procession and program will take place in Northampton, MA, and on November 20, a vigil and community gathering will take place in Greenfield, MA, beginning at 6 p.m.
Green Mountain Crossroads is a community-building organization for rural LGBTQ individuals, and provides events, a community calendar, and resources. To learn more or find information about the Transgender Day of Remembrance services, visit www.greenmountaincrossroads.org. The Root Social Justice Center provides a physically and financially accessible space to support and bring together communities working for social justice. Learn more at www.therootsjc.org.
[From a News Release]
