AUTHOR: Angel M. Rodriguez
Filmmakers Katelyn Howes and Melissa Johnson bring a voice to this moving MTV documentary series ‘Transformation’. The documentary follows cast members , Jessica-Jean, Ashleah, Zander, Lindsay Albanese, Ash, looking to be transformed to become the person they were always meant to be. This MTV documentary follows a young gender hair stylist Madin Lopez, who provides free hair styling for young LGBT youth around the Los Angeles area including The LGBT Center. Lopez, helps them embrace their inner beauty and brings life to their identity with fresh cuts.
Transformation touches on six real-life trans and gender nonconforming youth as they receive makeovers. Ashton, Carman, Ashleah, Milo, Jessica-Jean and Zander share their own stories as they come to celebrate their true identities. As Transgender Awareness week is among us, these six incredible and moving stories bring a voice and awareness to the kind of world we live in.
As all these stories are moving, Jessica-Jean’s story moved me the most. Jessica-Jean is 22-years-old from a small town in Tennessee and now homeless who lives in a church. Jessica-Jean was meant to stay with a family friend when moving out to Los Angeles, but an hour into the flight she receives a message on Facebook stating that she couldn’t stay there due to the fact that the family friend didn’t want to confuse their children and that there wasn’t enough space in the home.
My heart went out to the whole cast, something you will find when watching this documentary is that every cast member had the support and love from a friend or family member. Jessica-Jean didn’t have that. She stole the show. She’s a fighter, survivor and a voice for so many LGBT people out there suffering from rejection because of who they are are.
After the shooting and killing in Orlando, that rocked this nation, it opened this country’s eye to the hate that is still upon the LGBT community. I still cry from time-to-time since it happened. I couldn’t image being with my husband, Carlos (CoCo) having a great time out, only for someone to shoot us dead for being in love. We need to come together as one to stop these hate crimes from happening. You should never fear who you are when walking out of your home. But unfortunately, this is the kind of world we live in.
MTV ‘Transformation’ Premiere Screening and Panel was Tuesday, November 15, 2016, at the Los Angeles LGBT Center in Los Angeles, California. Even with everything the cast has been through, they showed up with smiles and laughter that brought the house down.
Make sure to tune in tonight on MTV for the ‘Transformation’ premiere at 10ET.
Transformation Trailer
http://www.mtv.com/video-clips/5dh41r/transformation-transformation-trailer
