CW/TW: LGBTQIA+ violence, racial violence, murder, death, grief, 

“Are you going through some kind of psychological change in your life? You just can’t take it” says Venus Xtravaganza in Jennie Livingston’s Paris is Burning (1990) – a seminal piece of Queer cinema documenting the ballroom, drag, and LGBTQIA+ communities in New York City in the mid-late 1980s. Whilst Paris is Burning is by no means a perfect documentary and some of the participants were unhappy with the end result, there is no denying that Venus was a stand out feature of Livingston’s now iconic work. I’m Your Venus (2024) is a continuation of Venus’ story, legacy, and a quest for posthumous justice.

This documentary, directed by Kimberly Reed, picks up on Venus’ story over 30 years later – a lot has happened and changed in that timeframe – and yet, Trans and LGBTQIA+ youth are still being subject to hate, violence, and murder. What is poignant in the film is Venus’ hope for the future and love for life and you can’t help but wonder what she would make of the world today. We meet her three biological brothers – John, Louis, and Joe Pellagatti – on their quest to find out exactly what happened to Venus that resulted in her death, who committed the act, and how to bring justice and positive change in her name. The Pellagattis are boisterous, direct, and funny – their quips about bad coffee and amusing turns of phrase add levity to what is truly a dark and difficult subject. Yet, I’m Your Venus is not a run of the mill true crime documentary. In a Q&A session at BFI’s London Film Festival, Reed pointed out that she purposefully chose not to focus on the details of the case in that way to make sure that Venus remained humanised and that this didn’t become added to true crime fodder that we see so many of today. This was about Venus as a human being, a young 23 year old whose life was traumatically taken away, a woman who should be celebrated and whose lasting impact on the world was never known to her (as she sadly passed before Paris is Burning was completed) but could certainly be highlighted and celebrated today.

What is so unique about this documentary is the positioning of The Pellagattis and the House of Xtravaganza (Venus’ ballroom House – a group of people who are basically family, and are led by ‘mothers’ and ‘fathers’ who support the ‘children’ of the house) as allies. In Paris is Burning there is a lot of talk about found and chosen families, how Houses offer safety and community for those who are not accepted elsewhere – often in their biological families. In I’m your Venus we see these two families joining forces, taking on the trauma head on together. The Pellagattis are honest about their treatment of Venus, stating they didn’t understand her at the time but that is not to say there wasn’t love between them. In a particularly emotional scene, one brother is seen trying to find the Christmas present he bought Venus that year deemed as the first female item he bought for her. He recounts how he bought the perfume holster, wrapped it up and placed it under the tree, only for her to never receive it. What this documentary does so eloquently is using archival footage and snippets from Paris is Burning to heighten the story being told today. This is not only about the past but the world we live in today. It features vigil for 28-year-old O’Shea Sibley, who was stabbed whilst vogueing at a gas station. The impact of the crowd chanting “Vogueing is not a crime” whilst other LGBTQIA+ people vogue in his memory is moving and a reminder that Vogueing is a political act, being LGBTQIA+ is a political act, simply existing is political. It cleverly positions the before and the now next to each other, showing that not enough has changed and why this is an important topic.

Whilst we don’t really see anything new of Venus, we learn so much more about her as a young trans woman, her life, her character, her family, her impact, and of course, her legacy. By the Pellagattis and the House of Xtravaganza has collaborated to extend her legacy further, seeking to change her name posthumously and mark her home as a cultural landmark in Jersey City, gives not just Venus more visibility but all trans people who have had their lives taken from them. I’m Your Venus is a reminder to us all that Trans Lives Matter and validation and recognition for them should be a human right. This is a beautiful tribute to Venus, the ballroom community, and the love of found families who give you space to be yourself. It is sensitive, emotional, honest, and at times laugh out loud hilarious. It is truly a celebration and showcases how to make positive change and for that alone this should be celebrated widely. I’m Your Venus does not have a release date as of yet but I am certain this will be placed highly in Queer cinema history right alongside Paris is Burning.

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The world is brighter thanks to Venus and her legacy, but the work the Pellagattis and the House of Xtravaganza are doing will brighten it further and we can all help with that. If you are interested in finding out more about Venus and her legacy and what you can do to support it, you can read about it here: https://www.gardenstateequality.org/venus-house/. 

If you would like to find out more about how to support LGBTQIA+ people, how to be a better ally, how to support Trans people, please check out some of the amazing (but in no way comprehensive list of) charities below:

If you have been affected by any of the topics raised in this review, please reach out to any of the charities listed above, any of the mental health charities below, or even just a trusted loved one, remember you are not alone: