Portland, ME 04102 United States
An objective of the project was to learn, record and share glimpses of the history and ecology of transgender poetry. The study zooms in on two late transgender icons; Anderson Bigode Herzer of Sao Paulo, Brazil and Brandon Teena, of Lincoln, Nebraska to discuss the overlap and impact of their collective histories, especially as they have influenced smith’s life and work.
Anderson Bigode Herzer was the first transgender poet to publish a memoir and book of poems in Brazil in 1982; the same year he took his own life at the age of 20. His poetry will be shared in both Portuguese and English.
Brandon Teena was a transgender man who was made famous for the hate crimes of his brutal sexual assault and murder over the winter holidays in 1993. His story was made iconic by the feature film, Boys Don’t Cry for which the actor who played him, Hilary Swank, won an Oscar.
The project points at the disproportionate statistics for the outcomes of transgender youth while preserving the legacies of two young beautiful souls through poetry. smith shares their own narrative through poetry and uses a multi-media presentation to demonstrate how the lives of Herzer and Teena had an impact on smith’s own coming out story.
Music will be provided by WMPG and guest performances include poems by USM students, Liv LV, Vincent Herrington and ninaka raine as well as a one-act performance by the hosts niece, 16 year old, South Portland High School student, Savannah Smith.