The ripples of inequality that come from our administration can be felt even here, and it has manifested in a slew of initiatives that I believe do not have our best interests at heart. Of these, number 638 threw me into a spiral. So, let’s talk about this initiative and what it would mean for our youth, both Trans and not.  

Tacoma Film Festival ran this past weekend, October 22-25, at the Grand Cinema. This was the festival’s 20th anniversary of bringing the best of independent features and short films to Tacoma audiences, and the programming this year knocked it out of the park. There were many highlights, but two documentary films really stood out for their parallels to each other and the uniqueness of their voices. 

The Grand Cinema is gearing up to host the 20th annual Tacoma Film Festival, which will run October 22-25. This year’s iteration, which celebrates independent filmmaking from the Pacific Northwest and beyond, includes a selection of feature films, a festival centerpiece on the art of music video, and a variety of short film programs. 

In preparation for Becky Chambers’ upcoming Town Hall with Caitlin Starling, I took some time to reread A Psalm for the Wild Built, a solarpunk novella following a tea monk named Dex and a curious robot named Mosscap. The book is wonderfully optimistic and introspective, having us question what is most important to us as people and as a society.

There is a deep importance to a theater that creates a community out of the films that they show. I was the first to arrive at my screening, but as the theater filled up around me, there were many people who did not fit the art house mold. Theaters like Tasveer encourage patrons who are after some magic and a story they can engage with on more than an entertainment level.

“[The WSHRC] went through the normal process. From my perspective, everything was done. I thought there was resolution and that the concern had been addressed.” Wilvich continued her day-to-day life as a Trans content creator, singer, and founder of a local choir ensemble, STANCE, believing that the matter had been settled. Three years later, in 2023, things quickly changed. 

At the corner of 2nd Avenue and James Street, you will find one of the few bespoke tailoring shops in Seattle: Sew Generously. Step inside, and you might think you have wandered onto London’s Savile Row.