A fundraising campaign for the upcoming documentary film, MAJOR!, which tells the story of transgender elder and pioneering civil rights activist Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, is coming into its final days on the creative funding site, Kickstarter. With eight days left to meet their goal of $25,000, filmmakers Annalise Ophelian and StormMiguel Florez are offering several perks for campaign backers, including the recent contribution by trans activist and writer Janet Mock of advance signed copies of her upcoming memoir, Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More.
"I grew up not knowing that Miss Major existed," said Janet, in a video clip for the MAJOR! campaign. "The success of this project means that young trans women like myself and queer people of color will have access to hearing Miss Major's story from her, and those who love her…Let's make this film as major as Miss Major's legacy and impact."
Miss Major is an internationally recognized human rights activist and community organizer, from her participation in the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion, to her current role as Executive Director of the Transgender GenderVarient Intersex Justice Project (TGIJP). She is a Black transgender woman who was formerly incarcerated and a former sex-worker, and has supported and mentored an entire community of transgender women. MAJOR! will not only tell the story of Miss Major's life, but will also educate viewers about the issues her work has focused on.
You can donate to the MAJOR! Kickstarter campaign, and help spread the work on social media. To find out more about how to get an advance signed copy of Janet Mock's upcoming memoir, contact Annalise and StormMiguel through Kickstarter directly. For updates about the project, follow MAJOR! on Twitter and "like" the project on Facebook.
"This film will bring her inspiring story, her bold and unapologetic way of demanding visibility and respect, and her message of self-love and self-worth no matter how you express yourself to audiences around the world," write Annalise and StormMiguel on the campaign page. "We hope it will serve as an oral history of marginalized communities through the lens of a vibrant and charismatic woman, bring humanity and authenticity to the representation of transwomen of color and formerly incarcerated transpeople in media, and invite audiences into stories and experiences they may not have heard before."
