University of Toronto students, staff, faculty and librarians recently had the opportunity to watch the screening of Pink Light, a short film about Scott, a transman and ex pro hockey player, who experiences a flashback to his pre-transitioned self after getting injured during a beer league game.
The film follows Scott at two critical moments in his life: as a 20-year-old student navigating college pre-transition, and a 30-year-old trying to reconnect with the sport he gave up to physically transition.
The screening, hosted in collaboration between the Sexual & Gender Diversity Office (SGDO) and the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE), was followed by a panel discussion with the film's creator Harrison Browne, who was a professional hockey player in the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) and the first transgender athlete in professional hockey, and Carly "CJ" Jackson, a first-time actor and goalie for the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Toronto Sceptres.
Introduced by Allison Burgess, director of SGDO, and facilitated by Terry Gardiner, director of diversity, equity and inclusion at KPE, the panel discussed a range of topics - from what inspired the making of the film to what they hope the audiences will take away from it.
Browne explained that the inspiration for the title of the movie came from actual pink lights in his bedroom that took him back in time to the frat parties he used to attend as a 19-year-old.
“I never thought I’d be happy and I wanted this movie to be a gift to my 19-year self to see what I would become,” he said.
In the movie, Scott and Scotty, his pre-transitioned self, see each other in the mirror.
“I thought that was such a cool moment, when Scotty can see Scott and feel safe and joyful about the future rather than fearful,” said Jackson.
Browne said he wanted to develop nuanced characters, ones that people could relate to, root for and see for their humanity.
“That’s what makes representation so important,” he said.
Harrison Browne, Carly "CJ" Jackson and Gretchen Kerr at the film screening of Pink Light
Professor Gretchen Kerr, dean of KPE, thanked Browne and Jackson for sharing their perspectives and insights, adding that she was struck by how many times both of them talked about feeling joyful doing what they love.
“Sport has such potential to transform peoples’ lives in positive ways, but it must be inclusive and welcoming to everyone,” she concluded. “Those are the values championed by KPE.”