Mama Gloria – AfroPoP Season 13 | Full Episode

Luchina Fisher

"Mama Gloria" is an intimate profile of Gloria Allen, a 75-year-old Black trailblazing transgender activist who started a charm school for homeless trans youth and is now aging with joy and grace. It is the story of a mother’s love – the love that Gloria’s mother had for her and the love that Gloria has for her chosen children. And it is fueled by the love that filmmaker Luchina Fisher has for her 16-year-old Black transgender daughter, Gia. Gloria narrates the film with details of her incredible life story, and cinema verite moments capture her life as it is now. Mama Gloria includes rarely seen archival images of thriving Black drag balls on Chicago’s South Side, and crossdressers and shake dancers of the city’s past. The film also features an original song by trans activist and singer Shea Diamond and pop singer/songwriter Justin Tranter, who has written songs for pop stars Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, and Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez.