By: Kyrie Sismaet By: Kyrie Sismaet | March 30, 2022 | People, Lifestyle, Celebrity, Art,
March 31st marks the Transgender Day of Visibility, and highly popular interactive science museum the Exploratorium has a large list of activities dedicated to celebrating this international day of awareness for their upcoming Saturday After Dark event.
Revered for their immersively engaging and informative programs, the Exploratorium's free 18+ event is set to include a packed evening of not only short films and hands-on art exhibits, but also live music and famous guest speakers.
Inducted in 2009, the Transgender Day of Visibility at the end of March serves to highlight transgender achievements and amplify their accomplisments, value, voices, and presence.
In collaboration with the SF Transgender District and STARS, or Striving for Trans Inclusion and Anti-Racism in Science Learning, the Exploratorium similarly aims to signify and affirm the deep connection the trans community and science share. The program will not only feature transgender individuals in STEAM fields, but also explore transgender experiences and the diversity of human expression in cultural and scientific contexts.
A panel conversation will also discuss the importance of trans inclusion in fields critical to social and technological advancement, what accountability and allyship looks like in such fields, and what trans visibility in STEM means for trans liberation. Three powerful trailblazers for trans representation in STEM are to head this talk- Apple Software Engineer Kenya Boudreaux, Professor and PhD chemistry Orion Lam, and #NetflixWalkout organizer and Systems Engineer Terra Field.
Another prominent figure is slated to moderate the conversations- local leader and national celebrity Honey Mahogany.
Honey Mahogany has numerous accolades as an activist, politician, and singer. Her most prominent, however, are as a former contestant on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, as the co-founder and director of The Transgender District, and as the Chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party.
She was also named by Queerty as one of their Pride50 "trailblazing individuals who actively ensure society remains moving towards equality, acceptance and dignity for all queer people."
Jupiter Peraza, the Director of Social Justice Initiatives for San Francisco's Transgender District, the first of its kind anywhere, is one of many who helped to create the After Dark event. Peraza is another local icon, as she recently was honored as Woman of the Year by the California Senate District.
Within the Exploratorium's event, custom pronoun button making, the gender euphoria photographic wall, and short films on Trans Rebirth, Resilience, and Joy are all a few key activities to anticipate. Tory and the Teasers will be providing soulful jazz and funk music under the moon, and STARS Project Lead Gwen Payne will be leading "Putting the T in STEAM," educating on the lives and careers of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people through biographical posters made by the Exploratorium's High School Explainer six week program.
The Exploratorium first opened in 1969 and has been devoted to promoting scientific and intersectional topics in innovative and creative methods for all ages.
The After Dark: Trans Day of Visibility runs on March 31st, from 6–10 p.m., is 18+, and free with museum admission. Tickets can be purchased on their site.
Photography by: Ramón Salinero/Unsplash
