“SUITED” – A Free Pride Month Film Screening. SUITED tells the story of Bindle & Keep, a Brooklyn-based tailoring company that specializes in clothing for people who are LGBTQ, gender-nonconforming, or nonbinary. Clothier duo Rae and Daniel take a holistic approach to their work, considering each client’s personal narrative, which becomes inextricable from the creation of the perfect custom-made suit. From Derek’s emotional journey as he prepares for his wedding to Everett, a law student in a conservative environment, or Melissa, who simply wants to look good for a 40th birthday party – the need for well-fitting garments represents deeper issues of identity, empowerment, and the importance of feeling happy in one’s body.
WHEN: June 28th, 6:00pm (DOORS) | 6:30pm (SCREENING) | 8:00pm (PANEL)
WHERE: Somerville Theatre | 55 Davis Square, Somerville, MA 02144
TICKET: Free but first come, first serve (arrive early)
A panel discussion on “Sexual Orientation, Inclusion, and Gender Identity” will follow the documentary with panelists:
Bennet Hazell: Somerville High Student & Gay Straight Alliance member
Matt Storm: a Multidisciplinary Artist based in Washington D.C.
Matt Storm is a photo-based artist, making photographs, performances, installations and sculptures in Washington, DC. Storm’s work engages with the theme of identity, and the question “who are we, and how do we know?” He approaches this question through portraits of himself and others, and his images reference transgender and queer issues, the physical self, family, and community. Storm has shown work in solo and group shows in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington DC. Storm majored in Studio Art at Dartmouth College, and has lived at the Marpha Foundation in Nepal and the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, MA. He currently serves on the board of the LGBTQ Caucus of the Society for Photographic Education. His work is at mattstormphoto.com and @mattstormphoto on instagram.
Hannah Simpson: a Transgender Writer and Activist based in NYC
Hannah Simpson is a transgender advocate, marathoner, youth mentor and unabashed nerd who describes her gender identity as “now available in female.” She frequently comments on LGBTQ issues at schools, businesses, houses of worship, news networks, and even military bases. Her writing has been featured on Refinery29, the Guardian, NBC News, the Advocate, HuffPost, Bustle, and more. Hannah has been a featured guest on MSNBC’s Melissa Harris-Perry Show and Fox’s Good Day New York. Hannah graduated in 2008 with her bachelors degree in Biomedical Engineering from BOSTON UNIVERSITY (GO BU!), and while she now resides in New York City, rest assured Yankees will always suck. Follow her twitter @hannsimp, instagram, @hsimpso, and website hannahsimpson.com.
Leo Morris (moderator): Leo Morris moved to Boston from Washington D.C. He studied Psychology and Sociology at Howard University and continued his work in community organizing around youth development, LGBTQ, and sexual violence awareness. Passionate about people and building community, moving to Boston was a natural fit. As a former senior corps member at City Year Washington D.C., his move to City Year Boston, now serving as an Impact Manager, was a welcomed homecoming. In his free time Leo volunteers with the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, co-chairing Boston Black Pride, preparing for law school, or you can find him fulfilling his “foodie” dreams dining at a local restaurant. Grateful for the community he’s entered and is helping to build, Leo makes sure that everyone he connects with are welcomed and seen in a way that is reflective of the warm ways people have made him feel since his arrival to Boston.
This event is organized by the Somerville Media Center, film presented by the Arlington International Film Festival and generously supported by the Somerville Theater, City of Somerville Health Services Department, HBO, Medford Film Collaborative, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Somerville Gay-Straight Alliance, Somerville Public Library and The Center for Teen Empowerment.
