BY: CRAIG STEVENS
"Change in the Family" follows Zo, a young Black transgender man from Silver Spring, Maryland. The documentary vividly chronicles the experiences of Zo and his family members during his transition from female to male.
American University PRIDE on Monday will screen the film, followed by a Q&A session with director Dr. Sam Hampton.
The screening will be held in Kerwin Auditorium 2 at 6:30 p.m.
"This film is about bridges," said Zo. "Lately, I've been feeling like part of my purpose in life is to serve as a bridge towards understanding foreign concepts for the people around me… Iï¸ think that people of marginalized identities—be it race, gender, ability or otherwise—are often expected to explain ourselves to the cookie-cutter vanilla world we didn't ask to be born into."
This gripping project provides a window into the ups and downs of Zo's life. Hampton's brilliant combination of home videos and family interviews reconstructs Zo's transition, shattering preconceptions and challenging stereotypes.
"Iï¸ won't get the chance to meet every person who ends up watching this film, talk to them, and make my black trans identity that much more real, tangible and acceptable in their minds," Zo continued. "Iï¸ hope that this film can serve as a bridge towards greater acceptance and understanding, and can serve as a reference point for other youth who might be having similar experiences."
The hour-long screening will be followed by a Q&A session with Hampton and Dr. Susanne Unger from AU's Department of Anthropology. Check out the documentary before it hits the film festival circuit in 2018.
