SXSW 2025: The Power of Intersectional Queer Storytelling

Description

Stories have the power to shape culture, shift perspectives, and spark change. Queer storytelling goes beyond representation—it amplifies voices, preserves history, and creates space for authenticity in a world that often tries to rewrite, erase, or neglect our narratives. For many LGBTQIA+ individuals, especially those who are also living with disabilities, storytelling becomes an essential tool for visibility, advocacy, and belonging. 

Join us for an inspiring discussion on The Power of Intersectional Queer Storytelling, where we’ll explore how LGBTQIA+ voices—particularly those at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities—are transforming media, literature, film, and beyond. Whether through personal narratives, activism, or creative expression, queer stories hold the power to educate, empower, and connect communities, breaking down barriers of discrimination, ableism, and exclusion.

🗓️ Saturday March 8th, 2025

⏰ 10am - 11am

📍 Gina’s on Congress, 314 Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701

Refreshments available for purchase: Pastries, kolaches and beverages from 10am, brunch menu starts at 11am. Attendees are responsible for their own tabs. As a Chamber of Commerce, we ask that you support our local LGBTQ+ owned and allied businesses!

What to Expect:

✨ The impact of intersectional queer storytelling in today’s cultural landscape

🎬 How media and entertainment shape LGBTQIA+ and disability representation

🗣 The role of storytelling in activism, advocacy, and disability justice

🔥 Personal insights from dynamic speakers

* Panel is spoken in English and with an ASL Interpreter. *

This is an official SXSW event. All SXSW badges get priority access to the event. Don’t miss out!

Panelists/Speakers:

• Moderator: Fiona Dawson (she/her) - Fiona Dawson is an Emmy®-nominated filmmaker, author, and LGBTQIA+ advocate. Her SXSW award-winning documentary TransMilitary showcased the power of storytelling in shifting culture and influencing policy change. As Membership Development Manager at the Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce, she fosters corporate engagement and community connections to advance economic accessibility in Central Texas.
• Nathan Manske, I'm From Driftwood - Nathan Manske is the Founder and Executive Director of I'm From Driftwood, an online archive of first-person LGBTQIA+ stories with over 40 million views on YouTube alone. In 2011, Manske led a 50-state story collection tour, now archived in the Smithsonian. Under his leadership, I'm From Driftwood has expanded to include a podcast, an anthology, and nationwide live events, with its stories used by educators and counselors to foster understanding and support.
• Tamar Price, Digital Executive Producer - Tamar Price is an executive producer focused on bringing unique and diverse stories to the forefront. Her background in production and digital content marketing has served her efforts in print and digital media, ad agency production, and the development of cultural art initiatives. Her work has been distributed via PBS Digital (Dead and Buried and Roots of Resistance) and HOORAE’s YouTube channel and has been screened at SXSW, Palm Springs ShortFest, Indy Shorts Fest, and more.
• Dr. Brian A. Cheslik, Deaf Austin Theater - Brian Cheslik has been performing for 25 years between Ohio, DC, and Austin. His favorite shows/roles include Pa in Selkie, Magistrate in Lysistrata, Artie in House of Blue Leaves, Juliet in Shakespeare’s R&J, Miss Strict in Zombie Prom, and directing Ladies at the Alamo, Tribute, and Messiah on the Frigidaire. In December 2019, Brian co-directed DAT’s collaborative production of Next to Normal with Ground Floor Theatre. Brian is an associate professor at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and serves as the Program Coordinator for their ASLI Program.
• Sav Rodgers, Filmmaker and Founder, Transgender Film Center - Originally from Kansas, Sav Rodgers is a filmmaker, writer, and pop culture documentarian. Sav’s debut feature Chasing Chasing Amy explores the complicated legacy of Chasing Amy (1997) and its profound impression on his life. In 2018, Sav gave a TED Talk on the subject, appropriately titled, “The rom-com that saved my life.” The film had its World Premiere at Tribeca, and played at prestigious festivals including the BFI London Film Festival, Outfest Los Angeles, and the Palm Springs International Festival. Sav was awarded the Cleveland International Film Festival’s DReam Maker Award for pioneering LGBTQ+ filmmakers for his work on the documentary. Sav’s experiences as a queer Midwesterner with a wild imagination have spurred the writing of scripts that center on highly specific, surprising stories about LGTBQ+ people. His screenplays have been recognized by GLAAD, Outfest, ScreenCraft, among others. Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2024, Sav is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Transgender Film Center, a nonprofit aiming to help trans creators bring finished films to audiences around the world. In 2024, TFC awarded $100K in funding to transgender filmmakers. In 2025, they are on track to grant $170K.

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