On the evening of 4 November 2009, HRC Utah was proud to join TransAction and the Utah Pride Center for a Wine & Cheese Gathering for board and staff of allied organizations, such as Equality Utah. The event started Transgender Awareness month off with a very informative and insightful presentation on Transgender Awareness / Transgender 101. 

The round-table type discussion by the representatives of the several LGBT organizations illustrated the need for Transgender education in the community, and in the general public, for inclusive equality.  HRC Utah members participating in the discussion on Transgender issues included Valerie Larabee, HRC Utah Dinner Co-Chair and Federal Club member & Utah Pride Center Executive Director; Marina Gomberg, HRC Utah Membership and Community Events Co-Chair & Utah Pride Center Director of Development & Marketing; Jessica Bair, HRC Board of Governors; and J.A. Steel, HRC Federal Club Council member and filmmaker.

Transgender is any non-conforming gender identity or expression with the "traditional" characteristics associated with one's biological sex, and Steel shared her experiences of gender roles and gender discrimination in Hollywood.  Steel is an out Lesbian and made history by being one of the first female directors who has written a nude scene for herself, in the feature THE THIRD SOCIETY.  Steel went on to write, produce, direct, star in and edit two more action feature films, SALVATION in 2007 and DENIZEN coming in 2010.  The DENIZEN lead character is again a female action hero, who is also a married Lesbian in a committed relationship.  DENIZEN also has a transgender supporting character, played by transwoman actress and Utah LGBT activist Dominique Storni.

See the full article at HRC Utah