NEWS
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Gender Fluidity Is a Part of Hawaiian Culture. How a Children's Book is Reclaiming That - Today on NBC
"Ho'onani: Hula Warrior," a children's book based on a 2014 documentary, can help make conversations about gender identity easier to navigate.
Posted 1st Jul in News
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13 FASCINATING MOVIES THAT CELEBRATE THE RICHNESS OF THE TRANSGENDER EXPERIENCE - RVA Magazine
In Introduction to Transgender Studies, published in February 2019 by academic LGBTQ publisher Harrington Park Press, author Ardel Haefele-Thomas explores the historical and political contexts of transgender lives. They also share intimate personal stories and essays by trans people from around the world, and celebrate transgender people’s contributions to the worlds of art, literature, and culture. Haefele-Thomas recommends 13 films about transgender people and featuring transgender subjects and themes. If you feel less familiar with the transgender experience than you’d like to be, this list is a good place to start.
Posted 30th Nov in News
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13 FASCINATING MOVIES THAT CELEBRATE THE RICHNESS OF THE TRANSGENDER EXPERIENCE - RVA Magazine
In Introduction to Transgender Studies, published in February 2019 by academic LGBTQ publisher Harrington Park Press, author Ardel Haefele-Thomas explores the historical and political contexts of transgender lives. They also share intimate personal stories and essays by trans people from around the world, and celebrate transgender people’s contributions to the worlds of art, literature, and culture. Haefele-Thomas recommends 13 films about transgender people and featuring transgender subjects and themes. If you feel less familiar with the transgender experience than you’d like to be, this list is a good place to start.
Posted 30th Nov in News
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DIVERSE DOCUMENTARIES UNDER ATTACK AS CONGRESSMAN QUESTIONS PUBLIC BROADCASTING ‘AGENDA’ -- INDIEWIRE
Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) singled out PBS' "Independent Lens" docs "The New Black," "Baby Mama High" and "Kumu Hina" as not appropriate for funding.
Posted 6th Apr in News
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INDIE CAUCUS RESPONSE TO STATEMENTS BY CONGRESS ABOUT DIVERSE PBS DOCUMENTARIES
On March 28th, during the Congressional Subcommittee Hearing on President Trump's plan to eliminate the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), Rep. Andy Harris (R, Maryland) singled out three PBS broadcast documentary films that he thought should not have been supported by public dollars: The New Black (directed by Yoruba Richen), Kumu Hina (directed by Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer), and Baby Mama High (directed by Heather Ross). Each of these films focused on different stories about women of color in America.
Posted 6th Apr in News
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"Growing Up Trans" - PBS Frontline
Just a generation ago, it was adults, not kids, who changed genders. But today, many children are transitioning, too — with new medical options, and at younger and younger ages. In Growing Up Trans, FRONTLINE takes viewers on an intimate and eye-opening journey inside the struggles and choices facing transgender kids and their families.
Posted 26th Oct in News
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Sexual and Gender Diversity in Native America and the Pacific Islands - National Park Service
Although scholars of LGBTQ history have generally been inclusive of women, the working classes, and gender-nonconforming people, the narrative that is found in mainstream media and that many people think of when they think of LGBTQ history is overwhelmingly white, middle-class, male, and has been focused on urban communities. While these are important histories, they do not present a full picture of LGBTQ history. To include other communities, we asked the authors to look beyond the more well-known stories. Inclusion within each chapter, however, isn’t enough to describe the geographic, economic, legal, and other cultural factors that shaped these diverse histories. Therefore, we commissioned chapters providing broad historical contexts for two spirit, transgender, Latino/a, African American Pacific Islander, and bisexual communities.
Posted 25th Oct in News
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OUTREACH, DISTRIBUTION AND ENGAGEMENT FOR KUMU HINA - Pacific Islanders in Communications
Making a documentary is a lot of work. But once the final frame is finished, how do you make sure that your film is seen and has the impact you're hoping for? What we found for our PIC-supported documentary KUMU HINA is that outreach, distribution and engagement are just as demanding, and as important, as the filmmaking itself.
Posted 25th Oct in News
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"A Place in the Middle" on The Laura Flanders Show
Journalist and author Laura Flanders, interviews forward thinking people from the world of politics, business and arts. "Native Hawaiians have a lot to teach us about our limited approach to gender diversity. Dean Hamer & Joe Wilson produced a film on exactly that. Now they're releasing a curriculum in connection with the film."
Posted 8th Oct in News
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Free Gender Diversity Resources for Educators
As the new school year begins, communities across the country are searching for ways to help ensure that all students, including transgender students, can attend school in an environment free from discrimination. To help educators seeking to deepen their own understanding and get students thinking and talking about how to create a welcoming and inclusive school climate, a powerful resource modeled on Hawaiian culture's tradition of gender diversity is being made available for free to all interested in putting them to use in the classroom.
Posted 7th Sep in News
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Kumu Hina Receives the NEA's Ellison S. Onizuka Award for Human & Civil Rights
The National Education Association has recognized and honored those who have fought — and continue to fight — for human and civil rights at a moving and inspiring awards gala since 1967. This year, NEA will thank and honor the outstanding work of Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu and 12 of America’s social justice heroes at its annual Human and Civil Rights Awards Dinner on July 3 in Washington. Among Hina’s greatest accomplishments is the development of a multi-award winning PBS production called “A Place in the Middle.” Through this 25-minute kid-friendly film, viewers are left with a powerful message that focuses on acceptance, love, and anti-bullying.
Posted 5th Jul in News
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"UOTeachOUT To Screen Documentary on Transgender Teacher" - Eugene Weekly
On May 12, UOTeachOUT hosts a screening of A Place in the Middle, followed by a discussion with Wong-Kalu. The film’s directors, Dean Hamer & Joe Wilson, will also be present.
Posted 7th May in News
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Reframe Gender Through Film - A Gender Spectrum Conversation with Joe Wilson & Dean Hamer
"In order to highlight the way films bring gender stories to life, we created the Reframing Gender Through Film group. This group is a dedicated space for parents/caregivers, family members, teens and professionals to discuss the role of film in raising awareness about expanding understanding of gender and gender diversity. We invite you to join our group, participate in our forum, and contribute to the conversation by sharing videos, film titles, links for viewing, and discussion topics. Tune into our first broadcast of the Reframe Gender Through Film Series, February 9, 2016 - 3:00pm to 4:00pm (PST) - A Conversation with Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer, Producers of A Place in the Middle. Check out the film beforehand at www.aplaceinthemiddle.org. Tweet/follow us at @GenderSpectrum."
Posted 10th Feb in News
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"A Place in the Middle" Included in New Resource: "Expanding Gender: Youth Out Front"
A primer for students, teachers, administrators, and parents, Expanding Gender: Youth Out Front, explores the varied identities of trans and gender expansive youth and young adults through four documentaries that allow these brave individuals to share their own stories. This collection features professionally developed curriculum for use in Gay-Straight Alliance meetings, as well as integration into classrooms. An accompanying Action Guide for Gay-Straight Alliances includes resources to enhance GSA activism—within schools and communities at large—thus creating safer spaces for LGBTQ people.
Posted 26th Jan in News
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Making Democracy Work -- A League of Women Voters interview with Kumu Hina
Carl Campagna interviews Kumu Hina about "A Place in the Middle" - a culturally-centered campaign to promote gender diversity and inclusion for all.
Posted 25th Jan in News
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UOTeachOUT: Leadership Summit & Educational Series on Gender Identity & Sexual Orientation Issues in Education to Feature A PLACE IN THE MIDDLE
Save the Date: Thursday, May 12, 2016 -- The University of Oregon's UOTeachOUT 2016 Youth Leadership Summit -- Featuring: Documentary filmmakers Joe Wilson & Dean Hamer, and teacher and keynote speaker Kumu Hina. And screening two amazing new documentary films: "A Place in the Middle" and "Kumu Hina"
Posted 26th Nov in News
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"How Can Our Community Better Understand Gender Diversity?" -- Insights on PBS Hawaii - Nov.12, 2015
Following broadcast of "A Place in the Middle," Insights on PBS Hawaii hosted a one-hour on-air conversation to help promote understanding, acceptance and inclusion of all people, across the gender spectrum, in our communities.
Posted 14th Nov in News
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Penn Museum Film Series Explores Gender Boundaries with Hawaiian Stories
“Gender Across Cultures” is the focus of the Penn Museum’s Second Sunday Culture Film Series, which begins Oct. 11. Two documentaries about Hawaii will be shown: “A Place in the Middle” and “Heart of the Sea.” The films are about big ideas, but it should be noted that the two documentaries being screened are neither pretentious nor didactic. On the contrary, they are colorful, eye-opening and fun to watch.
Posted 9th Oct in News
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Hawaii State Public Library System Sponsors Kumu Hina's Bullying Prevention Campaign
The Hawaii State Public Library System will present "A Place in the Middle" - a short Hawaiian film at the heart of a new bullying prevention campaign centered on cultural empowerment and gender inclusion - in a series of screenings at eight selected public libraries statewide from Friday, Sept. 18 through Wednesday, Oct. 28.
Posted 14th Sep in News
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"Countering Bullying, with Aloha" - The Huffington Post
A Place in the Middle is available at no cost for streaming and download from PBS Learning Media and on Vimeo, and the accompanying Hawai'i Teacher's Guide can be downloaded from the Hawai'i Educators Website. The program will be touring Public Libraries across the islands beginning this fall.
Posted 19th Aug in News
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Educational Video "A Place In The Middle" Distributed with Subtitles in China
In a new partnership between the Kumu Hina Project and Queer Comrades, the educational video "A Place In The Middle" is now available online to viewers in China, with Chinese subtitles!
Posted 22nd Jul in News
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A Place In The Middle: An Educational Toolkit for Cultural Empowerment & Gender Diversity
A PLACE IN THE MIDDLE tells the true story of an eleven year-old Hawaiian girl who dreams of leadi
Posted 14th Jul in News
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"Making 'A Place in the Middle' in Every Classroom" - Teaching Tolerance
By Dean Hamer, Co-Producer/Director of "Kumu Hina" --Many U.S. schools serve groups of kids who are
Posted 6th May in News
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"Kumu Hina and A Place in the Middle: New Inspiring Films Explore Gender in Hawaiian Culture" - Welcoming Schools
“This film shows one culturally specific story with the universal message of acceptance,” Welcoming School's Tracy Flynn explains. “It’s an amazing tool to help educators understand the need for acceptance for each and every child regardless of gender expression.”
Posted 2nd May in News
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"PBS/Independent Lens Premiere of ‘Kumu Hina’ to Launch Educational Campaign" - Teaching Tolerance
April 28, 2015:Mark your calendar for Monday, May 4 from 10 to 11 p.m. (EST)! PBS’ Independent Len
Posted 29th Apr in News
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PBS Learning Media Unveils Kumu Hina Educational Resource: 'A Place In The Middle' A Place in the Middle
Learn about the native Hawaiian approach to gender diversity, the power of cultural heritage, and th
Posted 11th Apr in News
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"A Beautiful Look into Hawaiian Culture and Living Outside the Gender Binary" -- AfterEllen.com
A Place in the Middle is a documentary short about a young Hawaiian person growing up “in the middle” of the gender binary; about the reclamation and celebration of Hawaiian culture; the wounds of colonialism; the bonds between students and teachers; about acceptance. It tells us more than once about the true meaning of aloha: love, harmony. In this story, aloha means standing in the girls’ line or the boys’—or out in front, with two leis; different, but not alone.
Posted 30th Jan in News
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"Kumu Hina: A Place in the Middle" Premieres at the 65th Berlinale Film Festival
KUMU HINA: A PLACE IN THE MIDDLE is one of 65 films from 35 countries selected for the 65th Berlinale's Generation programme, a slate of state-of-the-art world cinema devoted to children and young people seen by more than 60,000 attendees annually.
Posted 17th Jan in News
