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The Dads: Fathers, Family, and a Fight for Their Trans Kids

Across the country, transgender young people and their families are navigating an increasingly complicated political landscape. “The Dads” offers a personal look at what that experience means for families – and how parents are finding community and supporting one another.

GLAD Law, in partnership with local partners, is proud to present three screenings of “The Dads,” a film that follows a group of fathers as they build a movement to support their transgender kids. Each screening will be followed by a discussion with the director, producer, and dads featured in the film.

The film features Wayne Maines, whose family was represented by GLAD Law after his transgender daughter, Nicole Maines, was denied access to her school bathroom. The Maine Supreme Court ruled in her favor, marking a breakthrough moment affirming the rights of transgender students in public education.

These screenings are open to everyone. Whether you’re a parent or family member, an LGBTQ+ community member, an advocate, or simply someone who wants to better understand what families are experiencing, we hope you’ll join us.

September 17 in Worcester, MA

Thursday, September 17 | 7-9 pm | FrontRoom/Cinema Worcester
Co-hosted by GLAD Law, MTPC, and TransHealth

Featuring a post-screening conversation with:

• Luchina Fisher, Director and Producer 
• Stephen Chukumba, Producer, father of a transgender son, and featured in the film
• Josh Sheldon, father of a transgender child, featured in the film

September 18 in Portsmouth, NH

Friday, September 18 | 7-9 pm | Portsmouth Community Campus
Co-hosted by GLAD Law, ACLU NH, and NH Outright

Featuring a post-screening conversation with:

• Luchina Fisher, Director and Producer 
• Stephen Chukumba, Producer, father of a transgender son, and featured in the film
• JR Ford, father of a transgender child, featured in the film
• The Tirrell family, who sued to allow their transgender daughter, Parker, to continue playing soccer on her New Hampshire school’s girls’ team

September 20 in Portland, ME

Sunday, September 20 | 1-3 pm | SPACE
Co-hosted by GLAD Law, Equality Maine, Maine Women’s Lobby, OUT Maine, and Portland Outright

Featuring a post-screening conversation with:

• Luchina Fisher, Director and Producer 
• Stephen Chukumba, Producer, father of a transgender son, and featured in the film
• Wayne Maines, father of transgender daughter Nicole Maines, featured in the film
• Nicole Maines, actress (Supergirl, Yellowjackets), who successfully challenged her school’s restroom policy in 2014

About the Film

Inspired by the Emmy-Award winning short documentary of the same name (Netflix, 2023), The Dads follows a community of fathers of trans and nonbinary children forced to choose between country and family amid a shifting political landscape. Filmed over the course of a year – from quiet retreats in rural Maine and Minnesota to protests, family milestones, a pivotal U.S. Supreme Court decision, and the restriction of access to gender-affirming health care – the film captures a moment of national reckoning with striking intimacy.

Directed by Emmy Award–winning filmmaker Luchina Fisher and executive produced by Dwyane Wade, this is fatherhood as an act of radical love and resistance. Learn more at TheDadsFilm.com.