Trans, Female, Undocumented and Making Their Way in the South

Entre Nosotras, a new short documentary by Define American, follows five Latina transgender women in North Carolina. The film explores their struggles as undocumented immigrants in combination with their identity as trans women, helping each other along the way as they share their experiences in a trans feminine support group led by Cristina Morales, who began her transition with drag in Mexico.

Director Shauna Siggelkow and producer Yosimar Reyes discovered the support group when looking for a story after the state passed a law in 2016 -- now partially repealed -- that prevented trans people from using the public restrooms comporting with their gender identity when in government buildings.

"After [the so-called bathroom bill], we really wanted to share a story that showed the unique challenges of living as a trans person without papers, especially in Trump's America. When we met this group of women, we were completely blown away by how open and trusting they were about their struggles," Siggelkow said. "It was an incredible shoot, and we're so grateful to these brave women for sharing their stories with us."

These women, filmed by director of photography Monica Medillin, speak on the discrimination they've faced and the intersection of issues they deal with daily in 2019 America, as Donald Trump continues to persecute undocumented immigrants and the transgender community. Trans women of color also face some of the highest murder rates in the United States. Entre Nosotras gives these women a platform for their voices to be heard.

Watch the film below.

Define American is a nonprofit organization focused on giving representation and an honest voice to immigrants across the nation, particularly those in the media and the visual arts. You can find their website here, and their social media @defineamerican.