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 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.

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, 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 four black trans sex workers and their confrontation with the black community. It is 1 hr 13 mins long.
Secret Society (2021) is a drama about two cunning women who use seduction and manipulation, but a hidden truth threatens their success. It is 1 hr 34 mins long.
An in-depth look at Hollywood's depiction of transgender people and the impact of those stories on transgender lives and American culture. It is 1 hr and 48 mins long.
Visible is a documentary with 30 subjects exploring what it means to be Caribbean, LGBTQ, and living in the North American diaspora. It is 1 hr and 30 mins long.
Captures an intimate's struggle for the right to love. Following a Ugandan transgender girl, forced to leave her country. It is 1 hr and 32 mins long.