Joy was the lesson, the method, and the message.

At a standing-room-only event in Wilton Manors, trans activists Candis Cayne and Danna Davis invited the community to learn, laugh, and celebrate at Trans 101, a lively evening of videos, conversation, and connection.

“We focus so much on the strife and bad things, which do happen to us,” Cayne said via video from her studio in California. “But the cis community can identify more with joy, laughter, and the fun.”

Davis and Cayne are co-founders of Mary It’s Mary Productions. They held the trans-centered event at Space Untitled art gallery in Wilton Manors.

“We decided to run a few historical videos of trans visibility and trans education,” Davis said.

Local trans members and allies packed the space, owned by artist Matteo Trisolini. The videos feature Cayne explaining trans history and present, all while clad in schoolmarm chic fashion.

“It’s important to talk about trans everything,” Cayne said. She attended via video link from her studio/fab closet in Southern California. “A lot of people don’t really understand how rich in culture trans people are because we don’t have much recorded history.”

Videos touch on the first trans nightclub, Andy Warhol’s impact on the trans community, pioneering trans actors who took on Hollywood and more.

The videos are fun and informative for those willing to listen and learn. This night Cayne and Davis were preaching to the choir.

OutSFL asked how they can get the rest of the community involved, including reluctant members of the queer alphabet.

Cayne’s answer: with joy.

“It starts with the joy of the trans community. There are so many joyful moments trans people bring to the world,” she said. “[We wish] everyone could just see that, instead of judging all the time.”

The goal is for allies to spread the word and the love.

Danna Davis and Candis Cayne. Photos by JR Davis.