Ryann Holmes and Genesis Tramaine (bklyn boihood),Susan Herr (DapperQ, Philanthromedia), Lea Robinson (Butch Burlesque, Butch Voices), and Gina Mamone (Riot Grrrl Ink) will share their perspectives in a conversation moderated by Anna Barsan, co-creator of the SIGNIFIED web series. Panelists will present images and clips from their work – including never-before-seen-images from DapperQ and shots from the newly released bklyn boihood 2012 calendar; share their unique experiences in a variety of artistic mediums; and discuss their efforts to increase the visibility and diversity of representation of masculine-of-center queers.

The panel discussion will be preceded by a short screening of clips from Season 1 of SIGNIFIED, led by SIGNIFIED co-creator Jessie Levandov.

*** What do we mean by “masculine of center”?

Coined by B. Cole of the Brown Boi Project, the term masculine of center (MoC) “recognizes the cultural breadth and depth of identity for lesbian/queer womyn who tilt toward the masculine side of the gender scale, and the term includes a wide range of identities such as butch, stud, aggressive/AG, tom, macha, boi, dom, etc.” Folks who are trans, gender nonconforming, gender variant, and many other people may also identify as MoC. Does this term apply to you? You decide, and let’s talk about it.

Facilitator Bio: Anna Barsan is a filmmaker and media educator based in Brooklyn, NY. She is currently completing her Master’s Degree in Film Production and New Media Studies at The New School. Anna currently works as a film director in documentary and narrative genres and is an Adjunct Professor of Film Studies at Empire State College. Meet ‘SIGNIFIED’ Co-Producer Anna Barsan (VIDEO) SIGNIFIED is a web-based multi-platform documentary project that aims to increase visibility of queer identified individuals and organizations as well as create local, regional, and international networks for community organizing and resource sharing.  The project is comprised of an ongoing web series of short video profiles, an online platform for educational resource exchange as well as an ongoing discussion forum featuring the work of a diverse range of queer people and organizations.

The creation of this documentary project came from a desire to provide a common platform and literally common space, for queer communities to come together to witness their overlapping work, voices, lives and struggles. We hope this series will serve as a catalyst to begin the long but necessary journey in holding one another accountable, in joining forces, in exercising our social responsibility to queer communities, of color communities, immigrant communities, trans communities, and many more.

Panelist Bios: Susan Herr – With the exception of four lucrative years as an inner-city high school English teacher, Susan has spent her entire career working to advance change through America’s Nonprofit Sector. She gained experience in the trenches of youth development and nonprofit management as publisher to the cadre of teens who publish Chicago’s citywide newspaper, New Expression, and as coordinator of the First National Youth Conventions held concurrent with the 1996 Democratic and Republication National Conventions. From 1996-2000, she served as a senior program officer and director of a 10-year, $30 million initiative developed by The Chicago Community Trust to strengthen seven disenfranchised Chicago communities. She also spent five years as an instructor of nonprofit management at De Paul University. As managing director at Community Foundations of America from 2002-2006, Susan focused on business development, fundraising and R & D for next generation donor engagement products and services. Susan has served on a variety of boards including Horizons Community Services and Chicago Arts Partnership for Education.  She also served as co-chair of Gays and Lesbians for Daley and Marwen Foundation’s Paintbrush Ball. Susan founded PhilanthroMedia, Inc. (Pm) in January, 2007 to “celebrate the end of philanthropy as usual and to advance the perspectives of those leading the charge.”

Ryann Holmes Born in Washington, DC and raised in neighboring PG County, Maryland, Ryann Makenzi Holmes, is a black, masculine of center, self-identified boi. She’s earns her keep as an entrepreneur, consultant, student, and community organizer. After completing her undergrad in Business and Marketing at George Mason University, she is now completing her final semester of graduate work in Baruch College’s MBA program. From her innovative event planning work with the Women’s Sports Foundation to her dedicated work with Public Interest Projects and The Audre Lorde Project, Ryann is committed to a life lived with integrity.

Settling in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn 6 years ago, the city and its energy felt vibrant, artistic and inspiring—all traits that she continually seeks to embody in her personal and professional endeavors. As a founder of bklyn boihood she spends much of her time working on providing visibility and promoting the empowerment of masculine of center folks of color. After the successful launch of their visionary 2010 calendar, Ryann has set her sights high, committing to the creative expansion of the collective through hosting opportunities for networking, substantial program development and using social innovation to empower individuals and community efforts on a local to global scale.

Ryann was featured as one of Go Magazine’s ‘Top 100 Women We Love: Class of 2011′, has spoken on numerous panels including ‘Queer My Blog’ at NYU, the’ Queerocracy Symposium’ at the New School, and ‘Queer Memoirs’ at Bluestockings, and is a graduate of the Brown Boi Project Leadership Program in Oakland, California.

Genesis Tramaine, born and bred in bed-stuy, lives the bustling life of a visual artist, high school math teacher, and co-founder of bklyn boihood. A graduate of Syracuse University, Genesis worked in the corporate sector for years before applying to be a NYC Teaching Fellow. She is currently in her third year of teaching math in a Brooklyn public high school. Art, by Genesis’ own admission, is “the only thing she’s ever been really really good at.” So between teaching and bklyn boihood, Genesis finds time to give herself to her truest and most precious passion, painting. Genesis is a fine artist who uses mixed media on raw canvas, creates work that is as arresting and provocative as it is tender and tenuous. Her work has been shown in galleries throughout New York City including The Shine in Harlem, the Midoma Fine Art Gallery, and The Salt Space in Chelsea.

Genesis and her partner in crime created bklyn boihood with the mission of creating the space and opportunity for it’s ability to speak to and for the intricate and colorful array of masculine presenting women in Brooklyn and everywhere. Genesis, who (half in jest) speaks of herself as a “mature boi” is thrilled for the opportunity to create a space for women like her to shine.

Lea Robinson is a multi-talented butch.  You may recognize her as the emcee for Boxers Off! An Evening of Butch Burlesque, L Boogie of L Boogie Productions, or from New York’s Butch Voices conference (www.butchvoices.com).   You may have also seen her as “Officer Ruffins” in the lesbian serial ROOM FOR CREAM at La MaMa, as “Alma” in BUTCH MAMAS at WOW Cafe, or in the Bulldyke Chronicles at Dixon Place.  She is currently working on a new solo show, YOU AIN’T SPECIAL (directed by Elizabeth Whitney), which chronicles her adventures as a genderqueer actor in New York City. She was also featured in GO Magazine’s 2009 Edition of 100 Women We Love.  In her former life, she was a baller and played in a final four, which has led to her ongoing work with the National Center for Lesbian Rights and It Takes a Team! on homophobia and transphobia in athletics. She is a gay for pay at a local university by day and a co-parent (with wife Elizabeth Whitney) of 5 furry friends the rest of the time! www.learobinsonactor.com.

Gina Mamone is the founding president and CEO of Riot Grrrl Ink. Riot Grrrl Ink (RGI) is the largest Queer Record Label in the world. Our produce-and-support roster is over 170 strong and includes bands, artists, film-makers, singer/songwriters, authors, poets, nonprofits, community organizations, record labels, and social justice organizations.  At RGI we help make Queer art specifically at the intersection of politics and social change. The artists that call our roster home craft art that is designed to inspire people to become acquainted with their own potential and develop connections to their community simultaneously.  At RGI our passion is helping to make art that is community-driven, politically-mindful and radically-beautiful.

We hope to redefine what a label is not just to a community but also to an industry – together we are creating a rEvolution.