Washington D.C.’s ‘The Check It’ might just be the only gang in the U.S. made up entirely of gay and trans members, according to the makers of a new documentary produced by actor Steve Buscemi.
FIlmmakers Toby Oppenheimer and Dana Flor have spent the last three years documenting the gang, made up of approximately 200 gay and trans African-American teens in D.C. They’ve now turned to crowdfunding to help finish their documentary, Check It, as they enter the final few months of editing.
Here’s what the filmmakers have to say about the gang:
“At first glance, The Check It, our documentary subjects, seem to be unlikely gang-bangers. Some of the boys wear lipstick and mascara, some stilettos. They carry Louis Vuitton bags, but they also carry knives, brass knuckles and mace. As vulnerable gay and transgender youth, they’ve been shot, stabbed and raped.
Once victims, they’ve now turned the tables, beating people into comas and stabbing enemies with ice picks. Started in 2005 by a group of bullied 9th graders, today these 14-22 year old gang members all have rap sheets riddled with assault, armed robbery and drug dealing charges.”
Check It focuses on five central members of the gang, following them as they try to turn their lives around and enter the fashion industry, creating their own clothing label and running fashion shows. With that in mind, 10% of the proceeds from the IndieGoGo campaign will go directly to the gang’s fashion project, to help get its members off the street and on the right track.
The filmmakers hope to raise $60,000, and have just over $10,000 so far with almost a month to go. Head to IndieGoGo to find out more and support the campaign, or watch their trailer below: