Chicago, IL: Becoming Johanna, a compelling story that follows the struggles transgender teens face every day, airs Friday, June 25th at 8:30pm on WTTW (11.1 channel). The film follows Johanna, a 16-year-old transgender Latina, as she begins her transition, gets kicked out of her home and school, but then finds a foster family who loves her and a supportive school principal who helps her graduate and thrive.
“I think it’s important to show that there’s trans kids who can actually make it,” says film subject Johanna Clearwater. “And I want to prove that I can make it.”
Becoming Johanna has screened in multiple film festivals, taking home the Audience Award in the Louisville LGBT Film Festival. The Youth and Gender Media Project has also screened the film to classrooms, mental health providers and other organizations, along with educational resources.
“The film was thought-provoking and tear-wrenching,” said Danielle Skolnick of Seneca Family of Agencies, a nonprofit mental health agency that helps children and families. “Our staff came back to the office glowing, ready to learn and advocate even harder for the LGBTQ community.”
Becoming Johanna is one of four films in the Youth and Gender Media Project, which together demonstrate how to reach every member of a school community — students, teachers, parents and administrators — to help them create educational settings that welcome all young people, regardless of the where they fall on the spectrums of gender identity and expression.
About the filmmaker
Jonathan produces award—winning documentaries for broadcast and educational distribution. His films tell the stories of people and communities struggling to overcome oppression to reach their highest potentials. His films include: “Badger Creek” (PBS), “The Thick Dark Fog” (PBS); The Elevator Operator,” (PBS); “Spit It Out” (PBS); and “A Day’s Work, A Day’s Pay” (PBS and European TV). Jonathan also writes and directs fiction films, is a film professor at Chapman University and works as a visual artist.