While watching Sam McCoy’s new documentary Pride/Prom on queer youth at the Andy Warhol Museum, the news on February 5th 2025 about  the signing of an executive order barring transgender athletes from women´s sports spread globally.

The film has a warm feeling in this cold Winter and particularly, nice low camera angles;  we learn that last June the Andy Warhol Museum hosted its tenth LGBTQ+ Prom where teens 13-18 years- old  from across the region converge in Pittsburgh to shine, feel safe, experience the freedom and joy of a celebration where  their authentic true selves are welcome.  It is said the party is a life changing experience for the invited guests.

A support system makes the difference and the documentary remarks on that. As we all know High School (named as a “shame factory” in the movie),  is not a safe place for transgender persons,  lacking of empathy for  the different ones who are usually scare to be who they are. 

The Pride / Prom annual activity provides the opportunity to explore about oneself and the lucky attendants may also express and come as they are.  Their parents support is essential as showed  in a touching sequence where  mother and son at a store, are choosing dresses for the ocassion and sharing the experience in a conversation that is worth to watch.

To respect trans kids provide the feeling of living in a past tense nowadays. Being part of a community where everyone is different experiencing love, gender and how one feels about oneself and others without a sense of embarrassment is something that seems to be fading away.

In 2024 The Pride / Prom had a theme,  le Cirque. At the museum they planned circus related activities and dress code was accordingly,  welcome to the whimsical Queernival!   Unthinkable then that a macabre circus will happen months later in the same country with global consequences.

Hope for transgender and LGTBTQ+ community the time to get ready, dress/ make up, have a good time and mainly, to feel comfortable in life remain.

By the way, thousands of people on Feb. 5th a Wednesday  afternoon, turned out across the  U.S. to protest against attacks on diversity initiatives and restriction of transgender rights according to the NYT Instagram account. There is even a hashtag for the movement #BuildtheResistance. 

PS This doc is currently playing in a few select Film Fests BUT when it gets a full release we’ll let you know. Pls check back