TRANScending LOVE

RINGS & TINGZ

First Exhibited: QTRL Fest

Paul Cadario Conference Room (formerly the Croft Chapter House) at University College

Date: March 25, 2022

Tatiana Ferguson, co-founder of the Black Queer Youth Collective was selected to be a part of the inaugural Queer and Trans Research Lab (QTRL) housed at the Mark S Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies at University of Toronto.

During her community leadership residency, Tatiana with the support of three other Black Transwomen created TRANScending Love: Rings & Tingz, a community-led project that examined the key motivators for African, Caribbean, and Black Transwomen in Canada when dating and in pursuit of long term relationships. The project explored themes related to Sex, Love, and Marriage and findings were used to informed the design of a dating game which was tested in the QTRL and with trans youth.

While many Transwomen seek a healthy relationship with a supportive, loving, and understanding partner. The reality of dating as a Transwoman is never easy. During her residency, Tatiana conceptualized a dating game as a potential solution to ongoing communication challenges Transwomen experience when dating. The game is designed to help facilitate meaningful conversations and encourage genuine connections. Watch the video below to learn more about the design process for the TRANScending LOVE: Rings & Tingz project.

Special thanks to

the Community Advisors (Vanessa C, Eva S, Kitanya W), the Research Assistant (Jade N), the Queer & Trans Research Lab organizers (Dana S, Christopher S, Nikoli A), the Sexuality Diversity Studies Committee, the models and crew, Elliott T, and everyone who worked behind the scenes to make this project possible. They all truly enriched this project.

Films to watch

Kokomo City (2023) is a documentary about the reality of living in America as a Black Transwoman. The film features four Black trans sex workers who are unapologetic about their womanhood and shed light on issues Black transwomen go through in America. Duration: 1 hr 13 mins.
Some may call them hustlers or gold diggers but Celess and Tina are ambitious women who are willing to do whatever it takes to live their dreams. Secret Society is a drama about the private lives of two women who play the game and take risks in hopes of big rewards. Duration: 1 hr 34 mins.
This film features Laverne Cox and several other notably Trans advocates, creators, and media personalities. Disclosure is an in-depth look at Hollywood's depiction of transgender people and the impact of those stories on transgender lives and American culture. Duration: 1 hr and 48 mins.
Dominique Jackson, best known as Elektra Abundance on the FX television series Pose is featured in this documentary about LGBTQ+ Caribbean People in North America. VISIBLE: The LGBTQ+ Caribbean Diaspora investigates what it means to be Caribbean, LGBTQ, and living in the North American diaspora. Duration: 1 hr and 30 mins.
Captures an intimate's struggle for the right to love. Following a Ugandan transgender girl, forced to leave her country. Duration: 1 hr and 32 mins.