The last time Dennis Shepard went fishing with his son was 1998. A few short months later, Matthew Shepard was brutally slain in an anti-gay hate crime that reverberated globally, ushering in sweeping hate crime legislation many hoped would pave the way for lasting equality. 25 years later, five fathers of trans children join Dennis for another fishing trip, in a moment when the civil rights of their kids – and kids just like them – are being rolled back across the United States and around the world. The simple moments on the river bring healing: the beauty and craft of tying a lure; the peacefulness of standing by the water with trusted friends; the respect and love they feel for nature. But as documented in this candid and emotional short from director Luchina Fisher and executive producer Dwyane Wade, the trip offers a rare opportunity for these fathers to speak openly and honestly with others who understand their fears all too well. They’re willing to put everything on the line for their children, but it’s clear they cannot survive in isolation – it will take all of them together to protect trans youth, in this generation and beyond.

Playing in OUT SHORTS.