Port Authority Star On Representing The Transgender Community In Film
Representation in TV and film is important so that as many audience members as possible are able to see themselves on screen in some capacity. There are a lot of stories to tell, and none are one size fits all, as Leyna Bloom has explained. The star of the upcoming drama Port Authority opened up about representing the transgender community in film.
Port Authority tells a love story between Paul (Fionn Whitehead), a young man recently kicked out of his home with nowhere to go, and Wye (Leyna Bloom), a transgender woman of color with striking confidence. While Leyna Bloom and her character Wye both identify as transgender, Bloom is careful to clarify that this role does not and should not represent an entire community. Here is what she told CinemaBlend:
Leyna Bloom is the first transgender woman of color to lead a feature film at the Cannes Film Festival. As she said, respect is of the utmost importance when it comes to representing any community. Even if one belongs to the group they are representing, it’s important to remember that the character they’re portraying and the story they’re telling is only a piece rather than the full picture. Keeping this in mind, Bloom shared the following on how to achieve authentic representation:
So well said. Casting members of marginalized communities in roles that are telling their stories is just as important as having these people in the writers’ room, contributing to costuming, directing, and truly being part of every aspect of the story.
Port Authority will be released in theaters May 28 and On Digital and On Demand June 1. Leyna Bloom will also be seen in the third and final season of FX’s Pose.
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