Dispatches from Queer media & Other things || Issue #2
Tre’vell Anderson talks LGBTQ+ representation in media, GLAAD Honors makes me ponder, and the X-Men are back!!! 🏳️🌈💥📺🗞️
Headliner
Hello babes! Welcome to Dispatches; these past few weeks have been hectic, but I survived. I've been in these media streets rubbing elbows and serving looks. My favorite outfit was for GLAAD Honors, an event celebrating Black LGBTQ+ folks in media and a special occasion as it falls on the anniversary of my medical transition. So here’s to 1 year on HRT. But being surrounded by all these fantastic folks got me pondering on developments of queer representation in media but especially ones of trans/ non-binary experience. When I racked my brain, only a few series that directly reflected me came to mind, such as P-Valley for Southern queer representation and The Chi for its Black trans woman character, Fatima, who also happens to be a journalist like yours truly. As I’ve been thinking more about community & what it means to love Black trans folks, I appreciate these shows for helping normalize our presence in this very cis world. While I’ve found success in communal love through sisterhood, romance is another story, as loving us is as taboo as ever.
In a perfect world, there would be more milk & honey after the proverbial trans tipping point in media, but in reality, it was just the first leg of a long marathon, and I’m ready for more stories of joy, love, and community to be told of the Black trans experience on small & big screens (to execs, directors, writers, etc. I BEG). But we’ll dive into LGBTQ+ representation a bit later in this issue of Dispatches. In the meantime, I’m finding bliss in self and the beauty of her blossoming:
What I've been up to lately:
The Los Angeles media streets have been a buzz the past few weeks, especially with NAACP Image Awards weekend, Black Hollywood was having a family reunion. To celebrate this year, I attended the Without Exception Brunch powered by The Human Rights Campaign, NAACP LGBTQIA Committee, The Bayard Baldwin Institute, and Native Son to celebrate queer Image Awards nominees.
In an attempt to get to the nitty-gritty of the film that many have strong opinions about, The American Society of Magical Negros, I interviewed the director Kobi Libii about the trailer, reaction, and the importance of telling all Black experiences. Check out some of that conversation here.
In the nerdy word world, my Essence digital cover story about stan culture was the context for Merriam-Webster’s word of the day, emulate.
According to the source
According to the Source, is a mini-interview section of Dispatches with an expert or professional in a respective field in the entertainment and broader media industry.
This week, I spoke with Tre’vell Anderson, 32, an award-winning journalist and authoress of We See Each Other and co-author of Historically Black Phrases. Check out our interview below about the importance of including Black queer experiences —especially in Black stories, their possibility models in journalism, hopes for future Black queer representation in media and more.
We all have possibility models or our North Star guiding our careers, which is something you actually taught me. Who are your queer journalism possibility models?
Anderson: So, two of my leading possibility models in journalism have always been, and will always be, André Leon Talley and Monica Roberts. Both of those individuals, in different ways, I think, made space for someone like me, Black, queer, trans, nonbinary, and from the South. And both helped illustrate how to move through the world and do this work. And doing this work with some connection to or in memory of who we are and where we come from. Unfortunately, though, neither of those legends is still alive.
When I think of living possibility models, it is essential for me to look to my left and right, people who I consider to be colleagues and friends who are also paving various ways for us to move through the world and exist, such as Gerrick Kennedy, Mikelle Street, Raquel Willis, Jamal Jordan, and Sam Sanders. I will end by saying I'm an old head at this point and also energized by a generation of Black queer journalists who are coming behind me, obviously yourself, Kenya Hunter, Taylor Crumpton, and Da'Shaun L. Harrison.
Why do you think it's essential for more Black queer characters to be included in the stories we tell? Especially ones about us Black folks.
Anderson: There is still a prevailing sentiment in so many communities, although the one I care about most is mine: Black folks — that being gay, trans or queer is a white thing. And we obviously know it is not because we exist and our ancestors have existed. But when I think about how the broader LGBTQ+ community is more often and has historically been rendered on screen, it has been led first and foremost by white folks.
There have been these pivotal moments in which visibility has increased on the backs of Black folks. I'm thinking about how pivotal Laverne Cox and Janet Mock were to the quote-unquote transgender tipping point. Despite that, so many people would still struggle to name five Black trans people working in the industry or who are visible celebrities. So it's essential for us as Black queer and trans folks to be represented in these narratives, especially the Black ones because we exist there too. We always have, and I'm looking for those inclusions that don't leave us as the sassy best friend or one-note character. I want to continue seeing Black queer, nonbinary, and trans characters under the entire umbrella that are complex and nuanced and take us somewhere in terms of possibilities.
If you could give a piece of advice to rising Black LGBTQIA media professionals, what would it be?
Anderson: My advice is to stand up, which means this is a difficult industry, but that doesn't mean we have to lose ourselves in pursuing these dreams, not at the expense of our livelihood, health, etc. I want more folks to advocate for themselves and not accept scraps.
Now, the caveat there: I want to be clear. The work you are producing has to be good. The reality is that a lot of the work out there isn't. No shade. It is not good because the systems have deteriorated in a way that younger writers don't have the rigor I had, for example, the push and pull that comes with an editor relationship, the time to sit with your thoughts and organize them in a coherent way as opposed to knee jerk or emotionally led hot take. We all do the hot takes because that is where the system is now. But I firmly believe that there is a collective of solutions that get us to care about the health of journalists as well as the output of journalists.
Lastly, what are your hopes for the future representation of Black queer folks in media?
Anderson: My hope is simple. It's for more varied, complex, nuanced examples that make you go, 'Do we want that on TV? Do we want that in the movie?' The uncomfortable examples of Black queerness and transness that will push us to a space of radical acceptance. I think that's how we get to a place where the images we see on our screen reflect the vast possibilities for us in our everyday lives.
Media Library
What's a piece of media you have consumed lately? As the media literacy epidemic spreads across the digital world, I'm encouraging folks to get a diverse helping of a media diet by asking what they read, watched, or listened to lately while providing some links to recommendations of some of my favorite recent media.
Read
In this lovely cover story by Evette Dionne, Sheryl Lee Ralph: ‘You Gotta Have Guts to Live,’ the Abbott Elementary star wants you to know your worth—and pull out the good plates more often. Dive into this piece for a great interview, and stay for the gorgeous photos. | SELF
To my fellow nerds, I bring fantastic DC news: 'Teen Titans' live-action movie is a Go at DC Studios. While I’m excited to see my favorite team of superheroes take the live-action big screen by storm, the impending fan casts will be a mess across social media. | The Hollywood Reporter
This awards season, red carpet and press looks have been gloriously bold and fresh, but one of my favorites has been Fantasia's style throughout her Color Purple run, thanks to her stylist Daniel Hawkins. Essence's Contributing Fashion Editor, Robyn Mowatt, spoke with Hawkins about bringing Fantasia's most stylish era to life. | Essence
What's better than one Black Woman Hollywood executive? FIVE. MadameNoire and HelloBeautiful's latest Women to Know: Hollywood Executives cover features Niija Kuykendall - Netflix, Amber Rasberry - Amazon, Alana Mayo - Orion Pictures, Tara Duncan - Onyx Collective, and Nicole Brown - TriStar Pictures. This one features five profiles and a round table discussion to dive into and enjoy all the glorious insight! | MadameNoire
Watch
For my fellow comic book nerds and lovers of animation, X-Men '97 premiered this week with two stellar episodes that not only honor the original series but bring the story to the present with a relevant storytelling style that feels familiar and fresh. | Where to Watch: Disney+
I know we hate edgy thriller depictions of journalism, let alone the politics beat, but The Girls On the Bus is my new obsession. The series follows four female journalists who follow the every move of a parade of flawed presidential candidates, finding friendship, love, and a scandal that could take down not just the presidency but our entire democracy along the way. | Where to Watch: Max
Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told recounts the rise and fall of a small Atlanta HBCU picnic that exploded into an influential street party and spotlighted ATL as a major cultural stage. | Where to Watch: Hulu
Listen
Olivia Rodrigo’s DELUXE Album GUTS (spilled), featuring new songs and visuals like “Obsessed,” is now available on streaming services and for purchase.
This COLORS performance from Philly native Bri Steves has had my attention all week. She’s a talented rapper and singer you should keep an eye on as she gears up to release her independent EP RNBri.
Well, that's all, folks. This is Dispatches. I'm Daria Lynn Cottingham, and I'm signing off. ✍🏽💜