Photo Credit: Olivia Peregrino

Two documentarians are currently raising funds for post-production on their films, one in Mexico and one in the United States, both profiling strong activists that have taken stands for equality in their respective countries.

Querida Nancy

Olivia Peregrino is a photojournalist whose series Familias Lesbícas (Lesbian Families) won several awards. She has tnow turned to film with a debut project on pioneering lesbian activist Nancy Cardenas. Cardenas was the first lesbian woman in the country to come out publicly on national television in 1973. A journalist and playwright, she achieved many firsts including founding Mexico’s Gay Liberation Front, the country’s first gay organization in 1974.

Cardenas died in 1994 of breast cancer. Peregrino interviewed Cardenas’ many peers in an effort to rescue her memory. The title of the documentary is “Dear Nancy” in English and you can learn more about the production’s campaign here.

Raising Zoey

Peruvian born filmmaker Dante Alencastre is known for Transvisible: The Bamby Salcedo Story, a profile of trans Latina activists Bamby Salcedo. His current project Raising Zoey follows trans Latina teen Luna and her mother Ofelia as they navigate Luna “growing up trans in a working class Latino family and neighborhood.” Somos Familia, Aids Healthcare Foundation, The City of West Hollywood’s Department of Cultural Affairs and other organizations have signed on to help the film reach audiences after it launches in the summer.

Zoey is a charismatic teen who continuously raises her voice against bullying, family rejection and discrimination towards trans people locally, in national media and on MTV’s The T Word. The documentary allows viewers to get to her know her and her fiercely protective and supportive mom.

You can learn more about their fundraising efforts here.