Laura Horak is Professor of Film Studies at Carleton University and Director of the Transgender Media Lab and Transgender Media Portal.
Around one in 300 Canadians identify as transgender or nonbinary, according to the 2021 census. Despite their presence in Canadian society, openly trans people have long been excluded from creative industries and have not had the opportunity to tell their own stories. Stories by non-trans creatives about trans people have too often been sensationalizing and cliché, with a focus on the details of medical transition and accounts of feeling like one is “in the wrong body.” Telling one’s own story and having decision-making authority over stories about one’s community is a crucial human right and essential to the creation of a just and multicultural society. Canada briefly led trans storytelling in the 1990s, but lost momentum in the following years. Canada has the potential to once again become a world leader in trans filmmaking, living up to its human rights commitments and values as a multicultural society.
Horak’s proposed research will build and maintain a robust ecosystem for the complete lifecycle of trans filmmaking in Canada, from funding to production, exhibition, distribution, and preservation. Her research will result in concrete recommendations for supporting and advancing trans filmmaking in Canada.
Horak’s groundbreaking initiative will help build a more trans-inclusive media culture in Canada and will propel the country’s leadership in this rapidly evolving field.
