Insider debuts "Moving Isa," a documentary short about one parent's journey to protect her transgender daughter

Insider debuts “Moving Isa”

In July of 2023, Insider premiered its powerful documentary short, “Moving Isa,” at the historic queer bar Henrietta Hudson in New York City.

The film follows Violet Augustine and her journey to protect her six-year-old transgender daughter, Isa.

Born biologically male, Isa had begun confidently communicating that her true identity was female from the moment she learned to speak. It was at this time that Violet Augustine embarked on her educational journey to support her daughter.

However, during the early months of 2022, the family was presented with life-altering circumstances when the Texas governor signed an executive order criminalizing parents seeking gender-affirming care for their children. Violet quickly came to the realization that giving Isa the best life possible would require moving from Texas to a state with stricter protection for transgender people and broader access to healthcare.

The bustling floor at the Henrietta Hudson turned still as the film visually portrayed the hostility and struggles encountered by the family – turning a once abstract concept into a tangible human experience.

Isa’s mother, Violet Augustine, joined the crowd for the premiere

Spearheaded by Executive Producer of News and Documentary, Erica Berenstein, this powerful piece of work is yet another example of how DEI is core to Insider’s mission. Some stories are hard to hear. Some are difficult to watch. It’s these moments that define why Insider doesn’t shy away from real and raw lived experiences – they’re the ones that leave a lasting impact.

“Last year, when we started hearing about families with trans kids fleeing Texas we knew we had to find a way to tell that story in a way that would be relatable to people across every side of the political spectrum.

As journalists we wanted to show that this doesn’t need to be seen as a political issue. It is a human issue. A family issue. A parenting issue. So our amazing senior producer, Selima Hussain, during her very first weeks at insider, started looking for a family who would let us into their world in an authentic and intimate way. And she found Violet and Isa - this absolutely charming, outgoing, and fiercely intelligent pair of humans navigating a scary and difficult reality.”

— Erica Berenstein, Executive Producer of News and Documentary, Insider