The Governance of Trans Existence
(1) Journey by Paper
The Governance of Trans Existence is a series of projects that are a direct response to my experience with legally changing my name, my designated gender, and obtaining an ID to reflect those changes. There were many steps in the process that I had to meticulously plan and so much paperwork that I had to obtain and keep track of. Part one of this project, Journey by Paper, is a reenactment of this process narrated only by the documents involved.Legally changing your name and gender marker is an important step in so many trans people's lives and yet, there are a large number obstacles put in front of us that can keep us from achieving this goal. The entire process is emotional, not only because of what it represents (having your identity legally recognized), but also because of the frustrations and roadblock we are likely to encounter. Still, I am lucky in my experience, being that I was able to afford this process and complete it with the ease of being a US citizen.
This stop-motion animation, through an excess of fast moving documents and forms, attempts to show the emotion and labor behind this life-affirming journey.
Video stills from The Governance of Trans Existence (1) Journey by Paper, 2020. 1min 23sec.