Gerald Farinas

The following is from an author’s request and broadcast by We Happy Trans* creator Jen Richards:

The Gender Project

The Gender Project is a verbatim theatre piece in the tradition of The Vagina Monologues, The Exonerated and the works of Anna Deveare Smith.

As the Author of the play, I will be editing and distilling interviews with over 50 people who identify as transgender around the world. The subjects are to include a rich variety of ages, race, educational and socio-economic background, and gender identification.

The goal of this project is to explore and demystify the Transgender experience for a wider audience through the telling of real-life stories. Although there have been, and will continue to be, a growing number of transgender individuals in the public eye, they only represent those who have been given a platform in the media. The Gender Project aims to give voice to untold stories and explore not only differences, but cast light on what unites all people in the fluid construct of gender identity.

Call for Interviews

People who self-identify as members of the Trans community are invited to participate in interviews as part of the development of a theater project exploring the joys, challenges and everyday realities of the Transgender experience.

The goal of this project is to explore and demystify the Transgender experience for a wider audience through the telling of real-life stories. It is vital to the creators to include a diverse sample of interviewees representing a broad range of age, gender identification, socio-economic status, race and geography.

The interview will be scheduled at a time and place convenient for you. The interviews generally last about 90 minutes and will be audio recorded. All interviewees will have the opportunity to remain anonymous.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please call (646) 286-3625 or e-mail the Author.

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Dear Mr. Madigan,

Now that the Illinois General Assembly has a veto-proof majority, Mr. Speaker, you have no excuse not to bring a marriage equality bill to the floor for a vote when the 98th General Assembly is called to order.

Your m.o. of telling us you need guaranteed Republican votes to pass a bill can’t be played again. It won’t make sense. You have a super majority: 71 to 47 in the House and 40 to 19 in the Senate. You have the numbers to push any legislation you want and pass it.

If Illinois Democrats are serious about upholding the Democratic platform America overwhelmingly approved on Tuesday night with the election of Mr. Obama to a second term, a platform that includes marriage equality as a major plank, you will bring a bill before our representatives to pass.

Inaction on this issue in the next General Assembly, Mr. Speaker, will amount to turning the Democratic platform into a lie and the state’s party into an obstructionist body to the civil liberties of LGBT Illinoisans.

Bring marriage equality to the floor for a vote. Pass it. The time is now.

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The trip started with an hour of sleep and then Sean waking me up at 2 a.m. so I can make it to the train en route to O’Hare.

My flight was mostly filled with people heading from the East Coast and Midwest to Kona for the Ironman World Championship. Check out this view of the Ozarks, on my way to San Francisco.

Upon arriving at San Francisco International Airport, I was hurried downstairs onto the tarmac where a car was waiting to drive me across the jetliner paths for my connecting flight.

“That plane is in the way!”

I’ve never flown on anything smaller than a Boeing 717 for interisland flights in Hawaii, so the non-jet, propeller Embraer 120 Brasilia scares me.

“Time to board!”

“I’ve arrived in Fresno!”

By the way, I absolutely love the United Airlines cabin crew that took care of me across my itinerary. Especially Dena, based out of Chicago. She grew up in Honolulu and moved to Chicago years ago. Just like me!

That’s just another reason why I’ve been such a loyal United Airlines flyer—same great service under the new company, as I got from Continental days.

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Photo: Chicago Children’s Museum.

Check out this 3D mural created for Unboxed: Adventures in Cardboard at Chicago Children’s Museum. Completely made of repurposed cardboard, the art piece features the city. The exhibit will premiere at the Navy Pier museum on August 28 and run through May 5.

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Just something I’ve been thinking about since seeing it posted by St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Chicago. And maybe you should think about it, too.

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Photo: Gerald Farinas. Artistic design: Danny Bernardo.

Me on a loading dock with Michael Harnichar, Varris Holmes, Jonathan Verge, Cameron Johnson, Danny Bernardo—and camera in hand for a photo shoot.

The campaign? Theatre Wars. Bailiwick Chicago visits Strawdog Theatre Company on August 10 at 11 p.m.

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Photo: Gerald Farinas. Artistic design: Danny Bernardo.

I spent my Saturday afternoon with five hot guys on a loading dock—Michael Harnichar, Varris Holmes, Jonathan Verge, Cameron Johnson, Danny Bernardo—and camera in hand for a photo shoot. What was it about?

Check out the social media teaser at a legendary theater company’s Facebook page, Bailiwick Chicago. Also, look what’s in store for the new season at their website and follow on Twitter @BailiwickChgo.

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Photo: Gerald Farinas.

Kate Garassino and Erik Kaiko perform in a staged reading of Mahal at Silk Road Rising by Chicago playwright Danny Bernardo of Bailiwick Chicago. Check out the rest in my portfolio: Mahal by Danny Bernardo. Read my article about the groundbreaking play at Chicago Phoenix.

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Photo: Gerald Farinas.

I never did post my pics from 8 the Play! Check out the rest in my portfolio: Northwestern 8 by Dustin Lance Black. Read my article about the performance at Chicago Phoenix.

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Photo: Gerald Farinas.

I never did post my pics from Pride! Here’s the Lake View East Chamber of Commerce float. Check out the rest in my portfolio: Chicago Pride 2012.

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Photo: Gerald Farinas.

I never did post my pics from RFAC! Here’s my favorite. Check out the rest in my portfolio: Ride For AIDS Chicago 2012.

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