When Self-Acceptance is a Radical Act 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️♿️
11/16 - CT Screening of Empire Waist at the Triangle Community Center!
No time to read? I’ve got you:
Free screening of Empire Waist at the Triangle Community Center (Norwalk, CT) on Sunday, Nov. 16th from 4-6:30pm 🍿 Followed by a Q&A with me! Great for ages 10+
I’ve been sponsoring free screenings for LGBTQ+ and low-income community nonprofits impacted by the current administration. You can donate directly to support them and their work here: Triangle Community Center (Norwalk,CT), Project TEA/The Pride Center/NJCRI (Newark, NJ), and Love Your Labels (Worcester, MA). Or support one in your area!
Bonus reading: GREAT piece on how anti-trans ads backfired in this week’s elections from Erin Reed.
On Looking for the Helpers — And Helping Them
Hi friends,
Hot take: I’m a big fan of Mr. Rogers. Specifically, this quote of his:
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”
It’s a quote I first remember reading in college. One I immediately wrote down and kept on a post-it at my desk.
It’s a truth I’ve returned to when things felt scary or out of control with the world around us, whether in politics, pandemics, or cruelty witnessed both in-person and online.
The meaning of the quote has changed as I’ve gotten older: from looking for the helpers, to being the helper, to helping the helpers.
I’m talking about helping the helpers like librarians, teachers, social workers, caregivers, non-profit staff, and more who are working their hardest to hold things together and provide for vulnerable communities.
And I know many of you are already doing the same:
—Donating directly to food banks to support those impacted by SNAP cuts.
—Donating to mutual aid funds to support unhoused or struggling neighbors.
—Donating to and volunteering with local organizations who are helping immigrant families who are unsafe to leave their homes because of ICE. (Shoutout to Danbury Unites for Immigrants)
You are helping the helpers, and that makes a huge difference.
For me, I’ve used the resources at my disposal—my film Empire Waist and free Confidence Curriculum on body image and self-confidence—and have been covering screening fees for 10 LGBTQ+ and low-income nonprofits who have been especially impacted by the current administration.
The work is two-fold. We get to:
1) Share the film’s message of self-love with their community, emphasizing that they are loved and worthy EXACTLY as they are 🏳️⚧️ 🏳️🌈 ♿️
2) Hold public screenings of the film as fundraisers for their vital community work.
And the next one of those screenings is next Sunday at my local LGBTQ+ community center in Norwalk, CT — more on that below 💜
So, remember:
When you’re feeling overwhelmed, look for the helpers—and help them. Whether it’s through donating money, volunteering your time, or attending their events (fun fact: this helps nonprofit orgs prove their work should continue to be funded!), your solidarity and support makes a big difference and remind vulnerable communities that they’re not alone.
And that you’re not alone either 💜
11/16 - FREE Screening of Empire Waist in Norwalk, CT
Extremely excited to screen Empire Waist at the Triangle Community Center—a phenomenal LGBTQ+ center in Norwalk, CT—on Sunday, November 16th from 4-6:30pm.
Q&A with me to follow, so bring any questions you have about filmmaking or how to bring your own dream projects to life. Great for ages 10+.
Can’t Make the Screening but Want to Support?
Here are 3 of the LGBTQ+ nonprofits I’ve worked with recently who you can donate directly to:
Triangle Community Center (Norwalk, CT) - Donate | Website | Follow
Project TEA/The Pride Center (Newark, NJ) - Donate | Follow 🏳️⚧️ | Follow 🏳️🌈
Love Your Labels (Worcester, MA) - Donate | Website | Follow
Or reach out to an org in your own neighborhood!
Have an LGBTQ+ or low-income org in mind for a free public screening and talkback?
Reply to this email or email me directly at tryanywayproductions[AT]gmail.com.
Here’s to continuing to support the heck out of each other 💜
Love,
Claire