Sophie goes on tour!
Hello Everyone! My name is Sophie Labelle, the French-Canadian artist behind Assigned Male, a webcomic about a bunch of sarcastic trans and queer teenagers that has been running since 2014. I've also been giving talks and doing events all over the place in the past few years! In 2020, it's reaching new heights with my first actual World Tour, for which I've been receiving invitations on every continent of the world.
As a trans woman, I feel very privileged to be able to do this. In the past, every speaking tour I did allowed me to meet members from trans, queer and feminist communities of so many various backgrounds that every time, I've been learning and growing so much from these encounters. And this time, I'd like to share that experience with everyone!
That's why I'll be consigning stories from my world tour into illustrated letters, which I'll send you, the backers, by physical mail or email. Then, at the end of the tour, I will turn these letters into chapters of a tour book, with more drawings!
How will it work?
Obviously, the funds raised will mainly go toward the printing of the book, which is estimated to be about 200 pages at the end. I have self-published more than a dozen books already, and estimate the costs to be around 10ca$/unit. I'd like to print at least 1000 of them, so that's why 10,000ca$ (7,500us$) is the minimum.
The rest of the funds will help fund the tour itself, since many trans organisations who will be hosting me don't have the means to pay for the traveling part. I am doing all this by myself, with no agent, and working closely with each organisation that invite me.
You will receive 12 letters/emails from February to June, each corresponding to a country or region I'll be visiting during the tour. These different parts are each described in the Chapters section!
If we reach the second goal, which will be announced in an update once and if the first goal is reached, everyone who signed up for a book will get it hardcover!
So is it like a travel guide?
My goal with this project is to share the stories I'm collecting from my point of view as a traveling trans artist.
When I was a teenager, the idea of traveling while trans seemed to be a risky one, and the risk is real. Violence exists everywhere, but so do we.
This project isn't a travel log, and even less some ethno-sociological study. It's an art project, which will revolve around encounters and anecdotes, and will remain entirely subjective to my own experiences, perceptions and emotions.
It will also be limited by which organizations invited me for this tour, which, sadly, need an internet connection, access to specific social media in order to be familiar with my work online, and to be located in a country without laws that forbid their existence.
This tour doesn't include any country of the Americas, which I will tour later in the coming year. If this campaign is successful, I'll consider making a similar project then!
Other Ways You Can Help
Pledging isn't the only way to help! Sharing the campaign on social media goes a long way. You can also show up at the events - most of them will be pinned on my Facebook page, at www.facebook.com/assignedmale .
Chapter list
As mentioned earlier, this list doesn't include any country or region from the Americas, which will come later - you can however already message me about it!
In this list, you will find the subjects of the letters I will write and send you, in order :
1. Australia
2. New Zealand
3. South Africa
4. Hong Kong / Taiwan
5. Thailand
6. England
7. Isle of Man / Ireland
8. Germany / Switzerland
9. Denmark / Sweden
10. Belgium
11. France
12. Epilogue
