Enhance your experienceTalks follow Sunday matinee performances and last approx. 20 minutes
We hope to bring more to the conversation begun by the play ROTTERDAM, and illuminate the breadth and depth of transgender experience as it is authentically lived.
This series of Beyond Conversation stage talks is curated and helmed by Dramatist Guild Southern California Representative, Josh Gershick. Conversations moderated by Attorney/Advocate Elissa Barrett are indicated with an asterisk.
Sun. Jan 7*
California’s transgender community is an untapped pool of motivated workers that can make a good business even better. Yet trans people are among the most discriminated against in the workplace. With Michaela Mendelsohn, CEO of El Pollo West Corp., and founder of TransCanWork; and Jennifer C. Pizer, Law & Policy Director, Lambda Legal
Sun. Jan 14
Many transgender people are people of faith. What are religious communities doing to make congregations places of warmth and welcome for trans people? Guests: Rabbi Lisa Edwards, Senior Rabbi (Congregation Beth Chayim Chadashim), Joel Wilsey, Minister (MCC United Church of Christ in the Valley), Rev. Jesse Brune-Horan(Inspire Spiritual Community, Los Angeles)
Sun. Jan 21
Transitioning mid-life may present different challenges and opportunities than a transition undertaken in one’s 20s and 30s, but every journey requires courage and loving community. Guests discuss their experiences transitioning across the generations. Guests: Keegan Halupowski
Sun. Jan 28
Whether ursine or human, Mother Bears ferociously protect their young. These mothers of transgender children, fierce advocates, discuss what they’ve learned in their fight to make their communities safe for all gender-nonconforming children. Guests: Emily Power, Cindy Byrne, Jackie Maloney, Tina Sarafa, Wendy Warren
Sun. Nov. 12
When one member of a family transitions, all members of the family transition and must question their own assumptions, hopes, desires and beliefs about their emerging trans child, mother, father, brother or sister and about themselves.
With Special Guests
Sun. Nov. 19
Transgender folks aren’t a new phenomenon. We’ve existed through time. Archivist Loni Shibuyama of USC’s ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archive, the world’s largest collection of LGBT historical materials, will discuss transgender history, from Christine Jorgensen to Laverne Cox and beyond.
Sun. Nov. 26
Latina trans activist Alexis Sanchez sharing her stories and discussing the past, present and future of transactivism.
Sun. Dec. 3
When a spouse transitions, the couple itself must transition. Many long-term couples remain together, reframing marriages built on love and commitment. Guests: Marcy & Scottie Madden and Elissa Barrett.
Sun. Dec. 10
When one member of a family transitions, all members of the family transition and must question their own assumptions, hopes, desires and beliefs about their emerging trans child, mother, father, brother or sister and about themselves.
Guests: Peggy Cryden Rostovsky and Jake Rostovsky
Sun. Dec. 17
The Trump Administration, including its Department of Justice, is openly hostile to LGBT people – and particularly transgender people, aiming to reverse a decade of progress. How can City, County and State officials protect these vulnerable populations? Guests include L.A. City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell (13th district), Abbe Land (former Mayor of West Hollywood and Exec. Dir. of the Trevor Project); Amanda Goad (LGBT rights advocate from the ACLU), Riku Matsuda, Los Angeles County Workforce Development.
All events and guests are subject to change
