Director Emily Lerer joins forces with writer and co-star Sam Meier to roll out a genre and gender-bending short film, T-Minus. This is a Trans-abortion-road trip-rom-com with a surprise musical number. Andrew is an Ohio Trans man, masculine presenting. He hooks up with drag queen Lex (played by Meier) from a right-swipe on a popular app, and they have a glorious one-night romp. However, the universe being the bitch that it is, Andrew’s legacy female parts are still working, and a pregnancy test reveals they are in a real pickle due to Lex’s, uh… pickle.
“…Trans-abortion-road trip-rom-com …”
Deciding an abortion is the right thing, Andrew calls Lex for help to get him out of Ohio, and they set off to Detroit, where Lex knows people and the abortion laws aren’t medieval. The destination is Planned Parenthood, but Lex books a drag show on the night before to help pay for all the expenses of the trip. Despite the single session of sexy time, the two are strangers who become acquainted on the drive. Andrew was abandoned by his family and friends post-transition, but Lex knows everyone who’s anyone in the drag scene. They don’t agree on music but find each other to be charming company otherwise. Lex decides to help Andrew get more familiar with the gay community when the dust settles from this event.
The Detroit show is a raucous party that becomes a rave of gay anthems and dancing. The scene is colorful and joyous, but weighty matters must still be dealt with, and Andrew doesn’t understand much about drag culture. The short but wild journey of discovery (plus the big production number), camaraderie, and fashion is juxtaposed with the brutal reality of draconian state reproductive restriction laws. Love, warmth, acceptance, tears, cross-dressing, travel, and making new friends on the way to the clinic, T-Minus has it all.
"…a short, utterly charming, journey of discovery"
