Tommy Dorfman isn't just using her platform to uplift queer and trans voices — she's building a new one entirely.
Known for her role in the hit Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, the actor is also the co-founder of a new queer lifestyle platform, CURRAN. The digital zine features perspectives and artwork from members of the queer community, in order to both promote and "uplift" their voices.
"All I want to do in this life is continue to uplift and platform queer and trans people as much as possible, and redistribute opportunities and wealth to queer and trans people," Dorfman tells Tracy E. Gilchrist of Equal Entertainment. "I know firsthand how much storytelling especially can change perspectives. There aren't enough spaces that are doing this kind of work and really highlighting queer and trans artists, especially so that they can make a living on their art."
Tommy Dorfman Showcases Queer Joy In New Online Platform
According to Dorfman, CURRAN's launch is especially important today, as conservatives across the country push to censor LGBTQ+ art. She believes that "there's a lot of regression right now in the queer liberation movement, the trans liberation movement" due to legislation imposing bans on books and gender-affirming care. The LGBTQ+ community shouldn't be discouraged by this, Dorfman says, but instead motivated by it.
"Now isn't the time to sort of shy away from expressing ourselves. It's actually the time to lean into authenticity more and really, really engage with the outside world and own ourselves without having to explain ourselves," she continues.
While Dorfman says that she believes "inherently" that "being trans is political, being queer is political," she notes that she doesn't think "queer and trans people, just by the nature of being queer trans, should have to be advocates or activists or political if they don't want to be." This is reflected in CURRAN, which she explains isn't so much a political publication as it is a collection of voices.
"Individuality and autonomy is really important for us to earn and supporting an artist's voice and vision and whatever form it might take," she says.
Catch Dorfman's full conversation above. For more interviews like this, watch Equal Entertainmenton The Advocate Channel.
