Trans Mom vs. Family Court at Santa Monica Playhouse

Winner of the Transcendent Craft Award sponsored by Trans Stories and The Joy Who Lived, winner of the Daredevil Award sponsored by Electric Lodge, finalist in the Theatre Planners Award and semi-finalist in Loud Karma’s Emerging Women and Non-Binary Playwrights Award.

Chronicling my transition to trans-mother while simultaneously fighting for custody rights in 1995 without an attorney? Why? Because positive trans-stories are needed as witness of common ground and our rightful place in society. I’m sharing my custody battle for the first time publicly to help reframe trans stereotypes and empower our community and allies against dishonest rhetoric and discriminatory legislation.

Maybe telling this story risks backlash, but still I’m urgently compelled to challenge bias and hate, and save lives; especially as we face persecution and legislative animus trying to literally erase trans people!

I’m weaving live looping, reenactment, my music and photographs, and drawing from courtroom audio and transcripts to educate, motivate and unify. My story demonstrates that authenticity and equal rights are as valid for trans people as for cis people and the potential impact demands that my story be shared. I truly appreciate your support for my play and for our community!

Come and bring a friend, bring many friends! Let’s fill the theatre with trans and non-binary people and their allies!

My story highlights how transgender parents face discriminatory scrutiny in custody battles, where ‘best interest of the child’ is often weaponized against them based solely on gender identity. Despite psychological experts confirming that transitioning doesn’t affect parenting abilities, these biases persist in our legal system.

Set in the 90’s, my story also shows that being ‘trans’ isn’t some recent phenomenon. We have always been here and always will be.

Transgender rights are revoked daily. As of April 2025, there are 850 anti-transgender bills under consideration nationwide, with 219 actively being considered as of January 17, 2025.

Some of us feel like giving up, fleeing our country. They want us terrified. States like Kentucky and Nevada have terminated parental rights based on gender identity. We cannot bear more parents being separated from their children, more trans suicides, more hate crimes – and more lies.

The issue extends beyond courtrooms into broader civil rights challenges affecting LGBTQIA2S+ communities. As more people live authentically, trans custody disputes increase, forcing some parents to choose between their truth and relationships with their children. This reflects an openly coordinated pattern of attacks – from challenges to same-sex marriage, sports participation, restroom choices, medical treatment and adoption rights to restrictions on discussing gender and sexuality in schools.

These efforts connect with increased surveillance of marginalized groups and attempts to weaken workplace protections against discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Their agenda is ultimately about controlling not just identities, but bodies, voices, and personal freedoms.