‘Trans In America: Texas Strong’ featuring Kai Shappley wins an Emmy

Kai Shappley and her family moved from Pearland to Austin last year to create a warmer environment. But before that, it was the subject of an 18-minute documentary.

That short "Trans In America: Texas Strong" Outstanding short documentary championship News and documentary Emmy Awards. The event took place in New York on Tuesday. Kai and her mother Kimberly Shappley attended the festival.

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"Trans In America: Texas Strong" followed the eight-year-old transgirl Kai, exploring life and school in Pearland, banned the use of girls' toilets. Kai was able to use the toilet in the nurse's office, but the door was locked frequently, resulting in an accident.

In this film directed by Daring K. Daresha Kyi, when other students called her a boy, she asked her mother why she could not sleep.

Her mother Kimberly also talks about the transition from conservative Christianity to her. LGBTQ allies. Kimberly punished Kai for playing with toys and beat her for claiming that she was a girl.

Kimberly said, “A 4-year-old child begged the Lord to kill her.” "I had a 4 year old child to go with Jesus forever than to stay here and live as a boy for a day."

This film from ACLU and Little By Little Films YouTube.

Kai currently attends schools within the Austin Independent School District, where he explicitly prohibits all kinds of harassment, including gender, gender, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.

And the best part is that she can be herself.

Kai said in a documentary, “It was amazing when my mother started to be a woman. "It was gorgeous."

Joey Gera He is a music critic at Houston Chronicle and covers popular culture. Follow him Twitter. Send news tips to joey.guerra@chron.com.

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