Film Lens
Mama Gloria is an American documentary film directed by Luchina Fisher that tells the life story of Gloria Allen, a 73-year-old trans woman from Chicago. The film covers her upbringing on the south side of Chicago, her supportive family, and her realization of her gender identity. It also depicts her experiences in the drag ball scene, her coming out, gender reassignment surgery, and her career as the owner of a charm school.
The documentary is Fisher's debut feature and was developed to provide a positive representation of a Black trans woman for her daughter, Gia Parr. The film began production in 2018 and faced a pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Fisher had enough footage to complete the story. Mama Gloria premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival in October 2020 and was later released as part of the World Channel documentary series AfroPoP on April 5, 2021.
Why Watch
- •Meet Gloria Allen, a trailblazer in the trans community.
- •See a positive portrayal of Black trans women.
- •Follow Gloria's inspiring story of self-acceptance.
Did You Know
•Mama Gloria premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival in October 2020.
•The film won Best Documentary at the Teaneck International Film Festival in 2020.
•Filming began in 2018 and was completed despite a shutdown due to COVID-19.
•The film's soundtrack features an original song by trans artist Shea Diamond.
Perfect For
Transgender representationChicago cultureLGBTQ activism