I Am Who I Say I Am
is Black Public Media's Anthem Award-winning documentary short film series capturing stories of gender affirmation.
A three-part series premiering October 6 with new episodes released every other week.
"I want you to know, even if you're thinking about me, to be thinking about me with the right pronouns."
—JANELLE "JEI" (THEY/THEM)
EPISODE ONE
FEATURING JEI
HOW TO LEARN SOMEONE'S PRONOUNS
"If you love your child, that's the best you can give them — by supporting and advocating for them."
—SHARON (SHE/HER)
SHOWN HERE WITH HER SON, BRIT (HE/HIM)
EPISODE TWO
FEATURING BRIT & SHARON
DISCUSSING GENDER IDENTITY WITH FAMILY
"Gender affirmation is something that is like the holistic part of a person. ... It's a part of who that person is, and so you have to acknowledge that to be able to provide the best care."
— DR. MAYA (SHE/THEY)
EPISODE THREE
FEATURING DR. MAYA
WHY YOUR PATIENT'S PRONOUNS ARE IMPORTANT
Premiering November 3
73% of Americans know someone who uses gender-neutral pronouns, but less than half (47%) feel comfortable using them.
— Pew Research Center (2019)
Black Trans Lives Matter
I Am Who I Say I Am is a series that boldly asserts gender cannot be dictated. Gender must always be self-proclaimed and self-assessed. As a community, it is our duty to affirm and support each other — this is especially true for Black transgender people. Go beyond the gender binary.
LEARN MORE ABOUT GENDER AFFIRMATION
A Letter from Black Public Media's Executive Director
Leslie Fields-Cruz (she/her)
"As the Black parent of a gender nonconforming adult, nonacceptance was never an issue. I love my child, and affirming who they are is, and will always be, of utmost importance to me and my husband."
Video Production
Executive Producer, BPM: Leslie Fields-Cruz (she/her)
Executive Producer, BPM: Denise A. Greene (she/her)
Executive Producer, Feral Films: Whitney Dow (he/him)
Coordinating Producer, BPM: Carol Bash (she/her)
Director/Producer: Sophia Clark (they/them)
Line Producer: Nadine Ng (she/her)
Director of Photography: Julie Florio (she/her)
Editor: Danielle Okon (she/her)
Assistant Camera: Melanie Rieders (she/her)
Colorist: Serena Kuo (she/her)
Field Sound Mixer: Nicholas Jarvis (he/him)
Post Sound Mixer: Sylvester E. Lewis (he/him)
Field Production Assistant: Nikkie Mansfield (she/her)
Field Production Assistant: Sultan Olusekun (he/him)
Field Production Assistant: Conor Twohy (he/him)
Featuring: Brit Fryer (he/him), Sharon Kidd Fryer (she/her), Janelle "Jei" Lawrence (they/them), Maya Thompson (she/them), and Einstein (dog).
Music: APM Music Library
Advisory Committee: Dr. Aymar Jean Christian (he/they), Carrie Hawks (they/them), Kirya Traber (she/her)
Social Media Production
Director of Marketing and Engagement: Cheryl D. Fields (she/her)
Social Media Strategist: Sean A. Watkins (they/them)
Social Media Manager: Kat Walsh (they/them)
Engagement Manager: Eboni Johnson (she/her)
Web Design: Chloe Cuffe (she/her)
Public Relations: Cheryl Duncan (she/her) and Alimah Boyd (she/her)