Sundance 2025: Why I’m Not Attending or Covering Next Year

Draconian transphobic laws quickly made their way through the Utah legislature, passing both chambers during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. I wish I didn’t have to write this. It’s really unfortunate that it has come to writing yet another piece about the transphobic attacks on rights. I guess I could say that I saw it coming a year ago on what was the penultimate day of Sundance. The transphobic laws continued this year with some…

"Sundance 2025: Why I’m Not Attending or Covering Next Year"

Sundance Film Festival: Transphobic Laws In Utah Will Prevent My Attendance

The Utah state government’s transphobia was loud and clear when last year’s Sundance Film Festival ended–this year is no different. On the penultimate day of the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, I learned that Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed a bill banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth. It was already bad enough that there was still a hint of transphobia in laws targeting transgender athletes, especially girls. What I found out upon coming back online after…

"Sundance Film Festival: Transphobic Laws In Utah Will Prevent My Attendance"

Dave Chappelle Gets Transphobic On Netflix in The Dreamer

Dave Chappelle got both transphobic and antisemitic in The Closer in 2021 but the transphobia continues on Netflix with The Dreamer. The Lincoln Theatre in Washington, DC should be ashamed of playing host to transphobia. As should Netflix but we all know that Ted Sarandos is seemingly fine with giving his star comedian a free pass. There is no place for hate speech in comedy. Not now. Not ever. Netflix, enough is enough. Please do…

"Dave Chappelle Gets Transphobic On Netflix in The Dreamer"

Trace Lysette talks Monica, Transgender Representation

Trace Lysette spoke with Solzy at the Movies about Monica, making history in Venice, and the state of transgender representation. While Monica touches on the topic of familial rejection, it does not deal with the cliches that other films might use. It’s a nice change of pace when it comes to transgender representation in that the character is a three-dimensional transgender character. Also, a transgender character is lead and most importantly, the character is not…

"Trace Lysette talks Monica, Transgender Representation"

Casey Bloys Is Wrong To Deflect Anti-Trans Comments

Casey Bloys is wrong to deflect anti-trans comments when asked about JK Rowling’s involvement in a new Harry Potter series for MAX. I don’t know how many times that I have to keep repeating myself. At this point, anything that Warner Bros. Discovery decides to do with its social media during Pride month will be nothing more than performative allyship. The fact that Casey Bloys just shrugged off concerns is disappointing in and of itself.…

"Casey Bloys Is Wrong To Deflect Anti-Trans Comments"

Utah Attacks Trans Rights on Penultimate Day of Sundance

On the penultimate day of Sundance, Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed a bill to eliminate gender-affirming care for transgender youth. After the Utah legislature overruled Governor Spencer Cox’s veto for the trans athlete ban, I decided I wouldn’t be attending Sundance 2023. Lawsuits were filed. Ultimately, trans athletes would be allowed to play sports but only after a committee said they could. This put trans rights in a place where I felt comfortable enough to…

"Utah Attacks Trans Rights on Penultimate Day of Sundance"

Reed Hastings Discusses Glass Onion, Dave Chapelle, and More

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings discussed Glass Onion, Dave Chappelle, and more during an appearance at the New York Times DealBook conference. On the Glass Onion box office, Hastings said the following (via Deadline): “It’s a promotional tactic for the streaming service. We are not trying to build a theatrical business.” The CEO also admitted to Netflix leaving money on the table. Talk to anyone and they’ll tell that this film would have made north of…

"Reed Hastings Discusses Glass Onion, Dave Chapelle, and More"

Jon Stewart Calls Out Transphobic Attorney General

Jon Stewart returned to classic form in the second season premiere of The Problem With Jon Stewart by calling out Leslie Rutledge. The season 2 premiere takes a look at “The War Over Gender.” I did not ask, want, or choose to be transgender but at the end of the day, all I want to do is just live my life! As Stewart takes at look at what’s happening among conservatives, he uses the moment…

"Jon Stewart Calls Out Transphobic Attorney General"

Something You Said Last Night – Toronto 2022

Writer-director Luis De Filippis marks her feature directorial debut with a different kind of trans-led film, Something You Said Last Night. The film marks the on-screen debut for Carmen Madonia. She worked with an acting coach for a year and a half heading into production. Her work paid off because you could never tell that this was her first feature role. The mid-twentysomething Ren (Carmen Madonia) joins her family on vacation to a beach resort…

"Something You Said Last Night – Toronto 2022"

Taika Waititi: Transphobic Tweets Resurface From 2013

Oscar-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi is in hot water this week after nine-year-old transphobic tweets resurfaced from 2013. I’m not sure how the tweets first resurfaced this week but the tweets went viral as the Thor: Love and Thunder filmmaker was ratioed on Twitter. In the first tweet, the Jojo Rabbit filmmaker writes: “No disrespect to men who want to be/dress as woman. I should have just said their makeup looks manly. Also no disrespect to…

"Taika Waititi: Transphobic Tweets Resurface From 2013"