{"id":50774,"date":"2017-03-01T18:01:33","date_gmt":"2017-03-01T23:01:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/ivory-aquino-alexandra-grey-jazzmun-talk-to-glaad-about-playing-trans-characters-in-abcs-when-we-rise\/"},"modified":"2017-03-01T18:01:33","modified_gmt":"2017-03-01T23:01:33","slug":"ivory-aquino-alexandra-grey-jazzmun-talk-to-glaad-about-playing-trans-characters-in-abcs-when-we-rise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/ivory-aquino-alexandra-grey-jazzmun-talk-to-glaad-about-playing-trans-characters-in-abcs-when-we-rise\/","title":{"rendered":"Ivory Aquino, Alexandra Grey, Jazzmun talk to GLAAD about playing trans characters in ABC's 'When We Rise'"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ivory Aquino, Alexandra Grey, Jazzmun talk to GLAAD about playing trans<\/a> characters in ABC's 'When We Rise'<\/b><\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n

On\u00a0Monday, February 27, the ABC mini-series\u00a0When We Rise<\/em>\u00a0premiered<\/a>, with new episodes\u00a0airing every night this week at 9:00 pm ET.<\/p>\n

From Academy Award-winning writer-director Dustin Lance Black, the series chronicles the history of the LGBTQ community from the 1970s up until now.\u00a0The eight-hour series chronicles how the LGBTQ movement on the west coast developed, and the prominent advocates and organizations\u00a0who led the way, including trans<\/a> leaders Cecilia Chung,\u00a0Bobbie Jean Baker, and Seville. All of the trans<\/a> characters in the series are played by actresses who are also transgender.<\/p>\n

\"\"Legendary trans<\/a> advocate Cecilia Chung is played by Ivory Aquino. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE magazine<\/a>, Aquino\u00a0said\u00a0that as a young transgender girl<\/a> from the Philippines she had given up her dream of becoming an actor\u00a0and instead pursued music, which eventually led to a career on stage. Though Aquino doesn’t\u00a0often bring up the fact that she is transgender, she felt it important for the casting director of When We Rise<\/em>\u00a0to know and\u00a0made sure they did before landing the part.\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

Alexandra Grey,\u00a0a star on the rise<\/a> who, last fall alone, appeared\u00a0on CBS’\u00a0Code Black<\/em>, NBC’s\u00a0Chicago Med<\/em>, Comedy Central’s\u00a0Drunk History, <\/em>and in a breakout role as Elizah in Amazon’s\u00a0Transparent<\/em>, portrays Seville, a homeless trans<\/a> woman<\/a> who finds shelter at City of Refuge United Church.<\/p>\n

\"\"Trans advocate Bobbie Jean Baker<\/a>\u00a0is played by Jazzmun, who has her own established career as an actress and trans<\/a> advocate. Baker was\u00a0an ordained minister at City Refuge United Church in Oakland, where she served as TransSaints Minister of the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, lay minister at Transcending Transgender Ministries, and has worked with numerous Bay-area non-profits as an advocate.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

GLAAD caught up with Ivory, Alexandra, and Jazzmun to find out about their experiences working on this important series, what they hope people will take away from watching, and what else everyone\u00a0can look forward to seeing them in.\u00a0<\/p>\n

GLAAD:\u00a0What was it like to work on When We Rise<\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ivory Aquino:\u00a0<\/strong>To say When We Rise <\/i>has changed my life is an understatement. As an actress, it gifted me the opportunity to work with the most inspiring artists I have emulated throughout my career. As a member of the LGBTQ and trans<\/a> community, it gave me a deeper connection with the history of the civil rights movement in this country I now call<\/a> home. Just as anyone in the community strives to simply live<\/a> a happy life, I enjoyed my private life in New York with my pup Chewy-Bear alongside my dear friends, acting in the theatre and doing what I love without pomp. More than anything, I am an artist. Although I had never seen myself as an activist with the quietness of my life, I realize now that with my role in\u00a0When We Rise<\/i>, my life has taken on activism by virtue of being an artist with more visibility who happens to be trans<\/a>. For until my family in the community are\u00a0able to lead their happy lives, with access to the same facilities and resources as everybody else, then I will use my voice to advocate for them and for our community.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Alexandra Grey:\u00a0<\/strong>It was such a joy! I knew how important of a project it was early on, and when I received the script for audition I really wanted to share\u00a0Seville’s\u00a0story even more. It was a blessing to work with such seasoned and brilliant actors like Phylicia Rashad and Michael K. Williams. I can’t describe how emotional it was to film a lot of these scenes. Also to work with Dustin Lance Black, who is bae of course, but also a genius. I love his passion\u00a0and he really guided me to\u00a0let me know it was okay to go to those dark places to achieve what I believe the world will be moved by.<\/p>\n

Jazzmun:\u00a0<\/strong>I had the most amazing time working on When We Rise.<\/em>\u00a0It was a profound moment in my life. Having\u00a0the opportunity to work with extraordinarily\u00a0talented individuals to\u00a0tell a story about American LGBTQ History was\u00a0empowering, affirming, and inspiring.<\/p>\n

GLAAD:\u00a0What do you hope people will take away from the series and\/or your character’s story?<\/strong><\/p>\n

IA: <\/strong>“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,”\u00a0Charles Dickens wrote as he set the stage for\u00a0A Tale of Two Cities<\/i>. For our times now, and for the times depicted in When We Rise<\/i>, the reverse may ring more true: \u201cIt was the worst of times,\u201d\u2026but these can also be \u201cthe best of times.” Undeniably, these are trying times. But as the people portrayed in\u00a0When We Rise<\/i> demonstrate, these are also times of opportunity. Opportunity to show that we stand united as a community of minorities asking for the same freedoms as the majority. By standing up for our lives and those of our LGBTQ sisters and brothers, we are activists not only for ourselves but for all of humanity. Until equal rights for all are attained, the movements depicted in\u00a0When We Rise<\/i> continue. My biggest wish for those watching the series and Cecilia\u2019s journey, and I do hope it’s members of other communities as well as those of our LGBTQ communities, is that they see that we\u2019re all more similar than different.\u00a0<\/p>\n

AG:\u00a0<\/strong>With the recent tragic murders of trans<\/a> woman<\/a> of color, I really hope the viewers take away the transgender experience. I think a lot of what is going on in the world is because we’re just not educated enough on each other’s differences and backgrounds. I hope people will show more compassion and more love. I want them to walk away after watching\u00a0this television experience feeling changed and motivated to stand up for all of us. Seville is such a brave transgender woman<\/a> of color, like myself, who’s life on this earth hasn’t always been easy, but nevertheless, she fights through it and continues to this day! And if there’s anything I can leave you with\u00a0today, I would just say “PLEASE STOP KILLING US.”<\/p>\n

J:\u00a0<\/strong>I hope people take away from the series and my character Bobbie Jean Baker\u2019s story how important it is for people to stand up for what they believe\u00a0in, continue to challenge the systems that having been put in place to ostracize\u00a0and dehumanize marginalized communities, and how important it is to take care of one another.<\/p>\n

GLAAD:\u00a0<\/strong>W<\/strong>hat can we see you in next?<\/b><\/p>\n

IA:<\/strong>\u00a0I currently have offers for acting projects and speaking engagements, and am in conversations on which to do next. I\u2019m excited to share that with everyone when the time is right, and if anyone wishes to know, I will share on Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0on Facebook Official<\/a>.<\/p>\n

AG:<\/strong> In addition to appearing in Doubt<\/em>\u00a0on CBS, there’s a few projects that I can’t talk about right now, but soon! I’m just happy to be a part of the trans<\/a> movement. Follow me on social media to keep up with my new projects on <\/i>Instagram<\/a>\u00a0and Twitter<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n

J:\u00a0<\/strong>Although I do not \u00a0have a new project rolling out, I am working closely and intentionally with Trans\/GNC individuals here in the City of Angels\u00a0to ensure that Los Angeles is a sanctuary for the Trans\/GNC Communities. I am immersed in my activist work. And with the recent murders of seven Trans Women of Color, it is imperative that Trans Rights and Lives are protected, prioritized, and centered. We\u2019re in a State of Emergency! You can follow me on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, and Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Tune in to When We Rise<\/em>\u00a0tonight and for the rest of the week at 9:00 pm ET on\u00a0ABC<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
March 1, 2017<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Issues:\u00a0<\/div>\n