The women of AsiaSF, professional cabaret dancers who also happen to be transgender, are the stars of a new Fuse docuseries.
The first thing you should know about the cast of Fuse's upcoming Transcendent docuseries is this:
Transcendent documents the day-to-day of five women, referred to as "the ladies of AsiaSF," as they balance their personal and professional lives. The restaurant and nightclub in San Francisco is famous for its transgender cabaret performers and sets the scene for plenty of drama. Produced by the creators of Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce and Ru Paul’s Drag Race, the cast hopes the show can become a teaching tool for showing "what it’s like to be transgender in America today."
Fuse
To find out more we let the women answer a few questions on life at AsiaSF, what it's like to represent the trans community, and why people should be watching.
Fusion
Nya: Transgender people are human beings and we hurt and bleed and love and laugh just like everyone else.
Xristina: A better awareness of what it's like to be trans. We all take different walks in our life, but what is true to the core is that we are all human and we all bleed the same color blood. I want people to learn that Transcendent is not a representation of all transgender people, and I hope non-transgender viewers learn to expand their minds and become more educated and accepting of that fact that we are women.
Bambiana: What I hope the audience takes away from this show is to gain an open mind, and hopefully an open heart as well. The one thing I'd like people to learn is that transgender people are no different than you because once you get to know us, you'll realize how much we actually have in common.
Bionka: I hope that by watching Transcendent people gain a better understanding of the trans community as a whole. I believe that [the show] will bring the level of education about the trans community full circle, with our diverse cast providing different experiences from all backgrounds.
LA: One thing I hope people will take away from the show is that they see that we transgender women are the same as any other person. We are human beings. Also, we go through the same challenges and struggles — if anything we experience more. Bottom line is, I hope every viewer realizes that IT IS ABSOLUTELY OK TO BE YOU! Because at the end of the day, it is our happiness and nobody else's.