Originally published at: Content for Transgender Awareness Week (Nov. 13-Nov 19) -
Author: Newsroom
In honor of Transgender Awareness Week and the upcoming Transgender Day of Remembrance, HBO Max would like to shine a spotlight on two of its original series: VENENO (Episodes 101 and 102 are available now, with 2 new episodes released every Thursday) and EQUAL (all episodes available now). These powerful series not only celebrate stories of the transgender community, but they also utilize transgender talent both in front of and behind the camera.
Max Original “Veneno” launched on HBO Max on Thursday, Nov. 19, to commemorate Transgender Awareness Week (Nov. 13-Nov 19) as well as Transgender Day of Remembrance (Nov. 20).
Based on the memoir by Valeria Vegas “Not A Whore, Not A Saint: The Memories of La Veneno,” Spanish creators and directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrosi bring the most beloved transgender icon of the 90s, Cristina Ortiz (La Veneno) to 2020.
The series follows Valeria, a young journalism student who discovers she has more in common with La Veneno than she thought. The two women were born in very different times, but their stories become intertwined when Valeria writes a book about La Veneno. Through learning more about her, Valeria discovers her chosen family, how to love herself, and the impact of mass media in the life of an enigmatic entertainer.
“Veneno” is a co-production between Atresmedia Studios, Suma Latina and HBO Max. The show stars Isabel Torres, Daniela Santiago, Lola Rodriguez, Paca la Piraña, Goya Toledo, Ester Exposito, Jedet and Lola Dueñas.
HBO Max pays tribute to the epic origin stories of the LGBTQ+ movement with EQUAL, a masterful four-part docu-series that captures the gripping and true backstories of the leaders and unsung heroes, pre-Stonewall, who changed the course of American history through their tireless activism. These warriors gave voice, often in a life or death battle, to millions of people yearning for equality and the desire to be themselves.
Each hour-long episode in the series plays like a thriller, bringing to life the high stakes and hard deadlines of historical events that have not yet been given their due. EQUAL honors the rebels of yesteryear through high-end portrayals, never-before-seen footage, and captures the emotions of the times with messages just as relevant today.
EPISODE 2: Transgender Pioneers
Directed by: Kimberly Reed
Synopsis: Trans people and their stories have been consistently erased from history. In Episode Two, we relive the events of an August night in 1966 when trans people rose up against police harassment at what had been a safe-haven for the people of San Francisco’s Tenderloin: Compton’s Cafeteria. We meet Christine Jorgensen (Jamie Clayton), the 1950s global phenomenon and first transexual celebrity who turned media attention into a tool to educate and entertain. Her visibility laid the foundation for the Compton’s uprising a decade later. We will also delve further back in time to meet the lesser-known but no less important figures of Lucy Hicks Anderson (Alexandra Grey) and Jack Starr (Theo Germaine), turn-of-the-century folks who boldly and defiantly lived as they chose amidst a society that criminalized their lives.
EQUAL is executive produced and led by Scout Productions’ Emmy Award-winning team – Academy Award® winner Michael Williams (The Fog of War), Joel Chiodi, David Collins(Queer Eye), and Rob Eric (Queer Eye) along with Emmy® nominated Berlanti Productions’ Greg Berlanti (Love, Simon, Arrow, Riverdale, The Flash) and Sarah Schechter (Supergirl, Riverdale), Emmy® and Golden Globe® winner Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory, The Normal Heart, The Boys in the Band) and Emmy® nominee Todd Spiewak (Special, Young Sheldon, A Kid Like Jake) as well as Emmy® nominee Eric Norsoph from That’s Wonderful Productions, Jon Jashni (Lost in Space) from Raintree Ventures, and Mike Darnell and Brooke Karzen, Warner Horizon Unscripted Television. Diane Becker and Melanie Miller of Fishbowl Films serve as producers. Acclaimed filmmaker and producer Stephen Kijak (Sid & Judy) is the showrunner and director of episodes one, three and four alongside ground-breaking trans director Kimberly Reed (Prodigal Sons), who directs episode two.