The In Transition Project: Oral History
In the country and across the globe we are living through what many are calling a civil rights reckoning for the trans and nonbinary community. This critical and pivotal moment in history for trans and non-binary people and those who love and support them, is marked by contrasts – more and more visibility and also unprecedented political backlash.
The In Transition Project: Oral History aims to meet this moment with the care and urgency it deserves.
This project is a companion to the In Transition documentary, but it also stands on its own as a vital historical archive. Our aim is to collect and preserve first-person testimonies from transgender and nonbinary individuals, as well as from the people who love them and have bore wittness to their lives and transitions: parents, siblings, spouses, friends, and chosen family.
These interviews will form a rich, multifaceted oral history that will stand as a testament not only to personal courage and identity, but also to the power of empathy, resistance, and deep relational acceptance.
The stories will serve as a respiratory for stories of triumphs great and small. It will be a time capsule for a critical moment in history one that can be used for generations to come.
Why an Oral History?
Oral histories are a key component of cultural preservation. They give voice to people whose stories might otherwise go unheard, be misunderstood, or become politicized beyond recognition. They remind us that history is not just what happens in in media and political arenas, but what happens in lives and shared experiences of loved ones.
Trans and nonbinary communities have always existed, yet their stories have been historically overlooked, distorted, sensationalized or silenced. Oral history allows us to preserve these stories in the voices of those who lived them—unfiltered, uncensored, and grounded in lived experience.
In this unique project, we also focus on the people who walk the journey with them—parents learning to grieve old expectations, siblings learning a new language, spouses renegotiating identity, and communities choosing love in the face of fear.
Cultural Significance
As anti-trans legislation spreads across the U.S. and as gender identity becomes a part of the larger culture wars, we want to make sure these stories are not lost.
Much like the archives of civil rights activists, Holocaust survivors, or AIDS crisis responders, The In Transition Project: Oral History will serve as a resource for educators, researchers, policymakers, artists, and future generations.
It will be a call to remember and a tool for education and advocacy. It will a gift to the next generation who will look back and ask: What did you do when it mattered most?
Connection to the Broader “In Transition” Narrative
The oral history project is a natural extension of the In Transition documentary, which centers on a deeply personal story of one mother (Erinn) and her transgender son (Skylar) as they navigate the final steps of a decade-long transition.
That mother-son journey took an unflinching look at the themes that are at the heart of so many trans narratives: fear, love, resistance, growth, loss, and renewal.
This is not just Erinn and Skylar’s story anymore. It’s everyone’s.
What We’re Creating
A digital oral history archive of recorded interviews
Edited stories for public listening (audio and/or short video)
A searchable transcript collection for educators, journalists, and researchers
A long-form documentary companion piece (Phase 2)
Who We Want to Interview
Transgender and nonbinary individuals of all ages, regions, races, and identities
Parents and guardians
Siblings and extended family
Partners and spouses
Friends and allies
Faith leaders, educators, and healthcare providers with personal connections
Final Word
The In Transition Oral History Project is more than a collection of interviews—it will be living, breathing time capsule of a generation pushing the world toward something more just, more free, and more honest. We are not just capturing what it means to be trans in 2025—we are capturing what it means to love someone who is trans.
Because history isn't just what's happening on the frontlines—it's what's happening at the dinner table, in the car on the way to top surgery, or on the phone late at night when someone finally says, "I see you."