“To see a brown trans woman onscreen as a kid would have been amazing. With ACE: As It’s Dealt, I believe we would make that happen for the next generation”
BY ACE
As a trans woman in music, I often find it means being seen only as that. For better or worse, my identity can tend to overshadow my art. Some will uplift you instantly, while others won’t bother hiding their disregard. Even the support can feel hollow, especially when it’s driven by optics, quotas, or performative allyship. They praise our bravery, our existence, often without understanding the mental and emotional toll of being constantly politicised. “So brave,” they say, framing survival as a choice, as if anyone would choose this kind of hardship.
I’ve often found that being a trans woman in music is both a journey of self-expression and resilience. The world of music has long been a space for outsiders, rebels, and visionaries. Yet for many trans women, myself included, it remains a complicated landscape shaped by barriers, stereotypes, and the slow pace of progress.
At its core, music, to me, is about truth and community. I’d like to create a community by raising my voice and claiming my own truth, reshaping trans identity in the public eye. Music has become my lifeline, a way to speak louder than my fears, to affirm who I am, and to find others who recognise my story in the sound. Of course the pressure to represent an entire community can be exhausting and terrifying. But our art isn’t just “trans music”, it’s music, full stop. It tells stories of joy, pain, transformation, love, and the search for home.
The challenges are real, but so is the power. Community-building, collaboration, and mutual support are vital tools in breaking down gatekeeping and amplifying trans voices. When we lift each other up, we shift the culture. Being a trans woman in music means creating not just sound, but space for ourselves, for others, and for the next generation who deserve to see themselves thriving on their own terms.
To see a brown trans woman onscreen as a kid would have been amazing. I couldn’t even imagine it. With ACE: As It’s Dealt, I believe we would make that happen for the next generation. In making this documentary, I want to capture voices that too often go unheard while following my journey of not just creating music, but carving out space in a world that wasn’t built for us.
This film isn’t just about gender or art; it’s about truth, survival, self-determination and community. Representation matters because when we tell our own stories, we reclaim power. We show what’s possible. I want to show people the humanity, talent, struggle, and the joy that there is in the trans experience. To understand that being trans isn’t a headline, it’s a life. And it’s worth documenting.
To find out more go to: indiegogo.com.
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