A historical archive of events for which the incomparable Rayceen Pendarvis - "Goddess of DC" - has either hosted or participated in some other capacity.
IN A HURRY.....ENTER A NAME, EVENT, ORGANIZATION, OR OTHER SEARCH QUERY INTO THE BOX BELOW AND CLICK "SEARCH."
Rayceen Pendarvis participated in the Pre-Transgender Day of Remembrance - 2017 Day of Action Town Hall Event. Utilizing the themes “Gone, but not forgotten” and “We remember you,” organizers billed this event as an evening of discussion in bringing the transgender community together.
The primary objective was to “remember the victims of violence, celebrate [their] history and achievement, and [create] a safe space for everyone to gather.” The event was sponsored by Empowering the Transgender Community (ETC) and funded by Brother Help Thyself (BHT). The evening was hosted by Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive (HIPS) and held at their headquarters in Washington, DC.
Rayceen Pendarvis was invited to serve as Mistress of Ceremonies for Opulence: A Salute to Cinema. The creative fashion display was presented by The X FaKtor Productions and was officially billed as a “Salute to Cinema in a fashion show of EPIC proportions!” The event was held at Capitol Hill United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall in Washington, DC For more information visit: The X FaKtor DC
Rayceen Pendarvis was invited to host Reel Affirmations XTRA Presents: The Death & Life of Marsha P. Johnson. Director David France's documentary uses never-before-seen footage and rediscovered interviews in a search for the truth behind the mysterious 1992 death of black transgender activist and Stonewall veteran Marsha P. Johnson (the “P” stands for “Pay It No Mind”).
When the beloved, self-described “street queen” of NY’s Christopher Street, was found floating in the Hudson River in 1992, the NYPD called her death a suicide. Protests erupted but the police remained impassive and refused to investigate. Now, twenty-five years on, Academy Award® nominated director and journalist David France examines Marsha’s death and her extraordinary life.
Marsha “Pay It No Mind” Johnson arrived in the Village in the 1960s where she teamed up with Sylvia Rivera (pictured above - right) when both claimed their identities as “Drag Queens,” (to use the vernacular of the times). Together, the radical duo fought arrests, condemned police brutality, organized street kids, battled the intolerant majority within the gay community, and helped spearhead the Stonewall Riots.
In 1970, they formed the world’s first trans-rights organization, STAR (Street Transvestites Action Revolutionaries). Despite their many challenges over the years (bias, homelessness, illness, and more), Marsha and Sylvia ignited a powerful and lasting civil rights movement for gender nonconforming people.
A quarter century later, at a time of unprecedented visibility and escalating violence in the transgender community, a dynamic activist named Victoria Cruz (pictured above) has taken it upon herself to reexamine what happened at the end of Marsha’s Life.
The Death & Life of Marsha P. Johnson follows as this champion pursues leads, mobilizes officials, and works to get to the bottom of Ms. Johnson's death.
Reel Affirmations - Washington DC’s International LGBT Film Festival - is one of the largest LGBT film festivals (in terms of attendance) in the United States. Each month the organization consistently offers new and exciting international, documentary, short, and feature films, as well as panel discussions, filmmaker Q&As, and various celebrations.
The theatrical screening was held at the Human Rights Campaign Equality Center in Washington, DC. Click below to view the Official Film Trailer.
