Queendom: Film Screening and Panel Discussion on Trans Lives
The UAF Anthropology Society Student Club and the Department of Anthropology warmly invite the UAF community and the public to an evening of film and discussion in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance and Resilience. The event, set for Wednesday, November 20, at 7 p.m. in the Schaible Auditorium and the Joseph E. Usibelli Engineering Learning and Innovation Facility Lobby, is free and open to all.
The evening will feature a screening of Queendom, a documentary that follows Russian performance artist Jenna Marvin as she navigates her journey from her native Magadan to Moscow and then Paris against the backdrop of escalating persecution of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Russia. As political repression intensifies in Russia, Queendom chronicles Marvin’s efforts to reclaim space for freedom and creativity, celebrating her art, identity, and defiance. Through evocative performances, Marvin uses her body and natural landscapes to create striking visual statements, championing the right to live authentically, even in the face of repression.
Following the screening, attendees are invited to join an engaging panel discussion. The panel includes scholars and artists deeply versed in human rights, Indigenous experiences, queer identity, and visual arts, all of whom bring unique perspectives to the dialogue on Trans remembrance, resilience, and the cultural landscape of the Circumpolar North. Panelists include:
UAF Anthropology Society Student Club member, who will offer insights into the club’s mission and the ways students engage with anthropology and activism.
Faculty with the UAF Department of Art and KuC Ethnobotany Program, Pasternak brings expertise in contemporary art and ethnobotany, examining the role of visual arts in social movements.
A human rights advocate with the Pride Foundation and a PhD student in the UAF Department of Anthropology, MoHagani is known for her work on intersectional identity and queer rights in ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥.
From the UAF Department of Theater and Film, Ponickly provides perspective on cinematic portrayals of social issues and the role of film as a medium for activism.
Chukchi scholars affiliated with the UA Museum of the North, who specialize in Indigenous culture and identity within post-Soviet spaces. They will discuss the intersections of Indigenous rights and LGBTQIA+ issues.
Anthropologist in UAF's Department of Anthropology, Yamin-Pasternak studies gender and culture within the Circumpolar North, bringing academic expertise on identity and resilience in the Arctic.
The UAF Anthropology Society Student Club has collaborated with the Department of Anthropology to organize this event as part of a broader commitment to educational outreach and inclusivity. The Anthropology Society provides UAF students with opportunities to engage with anthropological themes in ways that go beyond the classroom, connecting with real-world issues affecting diverse communities.
Transgender Day of Remembrance is a time to honor those who have lost their lives to transphobia and violence, while also fostering resilience and solidarity within and beyond the transgender community. Events such as this screening and panel discussion create meaningful spaces for dialogue, reflection, and advocacy. Guests are encouraged to participate, engage with the panel, and enjoy a reception where they can continue the conversation.
For those wishing to join a gathering of voices in solidarity, exploration, and celebration of transgender lives and artistic courage, this event offers a profound evening dedicated to remembrance and resilience.