'People tell our stories, but they don't ask us permission': Chanty Marostica on the gap in trans storytelling

In Netflix's new political thriller Designated Survivor, there's a scene from a recent episode where a support group of trans people take turns sharing their experiences in the world.

While the show is fiction, those testimonies are not. Those are real people from the trans community in Toronto expressing their true feelings. Chanty Marostica is a Toronto-based stand-up comic who was asked to consult on Designated Survivor and helped put that scene together.

"People tell our stories, they write them, they act them, they don't ask us permission, they tell stories about our deaths without telling stories of our lives," said Marostica. "So to have somebody actually ask you and then put you in full control has never been done before. It was very scary, but it was a really beautiful, positive experience."

Marostica joined q's Tom Power live from Winnipeg to tell us more about that scene and to talk about the gap in trans storytelling.

"I want more trans storytellers to be able to tell their stories on their terms," said Marostica. "And also, just tell stories. I don't always have to talk about coming out, or how people view me, or using the bathroom. Being trans is really difficult and it's a really weird experience, but there's also so many ideas that are just in my head because I'm also just a person."

The episode of Designated Survivor Marostica consulted on was season three, episode seven. You can find the show streaming on Netflix now.

Click 'listen' near the top of this page to hear the full conversation with Chanty Marostica.

— Produced by ​Diane Eros

This summer during Pride, CBC is collecting LGBT stories from across the country. You can find them at cbc.ca/pride.