In the short documentary, "Sunny," a young trans woman and early-career drag queen named Sela searches for identity, belonging, and alternative creative expression in New Mexico. Only about two years into the drag scene, Sela dedicates about twenty hours a week toward the development of her drag career, spending her other time working at the local consignment shop. As Sela expands her chosen family in Albuquerque, she continues to question where “home” is for her. In order to further explore this question, she journeys to her small hometown of Española, considering producing a drag show there. In the midst of trans vilification and queer censorship, this intimate and colorful portrait seeks to both celebrate differences and build connections across them.
Under the current political climate, with trans people being under uniquely heightened threats, this story feels especially timely. In 2025 alone, 1,020 anti-trans bills have been introduced in the US, and 125 have been passed. Legislative attacks have also been prominent in the drag community, with 17 bills introduced in 2025 that would lead to drag bans in 10 different states.
As a queer artist, I’m especially grateful to work with Sela and be witness to this chapter of her life and the communities she has cultivated. Sela’s story will be an important contribution in an already expanding landscape of queer storytelling.