A handful of top creators on hit lip-sync app Musical.ly have banded together for a music video ahead of International Transgender Day of Visibility on Friday.
The video, set to John Mayer’s Changing, features Musical.ly superstar Kristen Hancher (13 million fans), transgender creator Raegan Beast, nine-year-old Piper Rockelle, and others. It tells the story of two friends growing up and dealing with the emotional ramifications of a gender transition, and also makes a poignant statement about transgender bathroom laws — a deeply contentious issue in today’s political climate.
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The video is the first projects from Brat, a consumer destination for teens that will launch in May. Brat was founded by Rob Fishman, who is also the entrepreneur behind Niche, a talent agency connecting brands with online stars that was acquired by Twitter in 2015 for a reported $30 million.
“So much of today’s political discourse is dominated by aging men with tired ideas,” Fishman said of Brat in a statement. “We wanted to help tell a story by, for, and about teenagers who are growing up in 2017.”
Adds Matt Dugan, president of Envisioned Entertainment Partners, who manages the talent involved in the video: “The message is absolutely beautiful. It’s about the betterment of humankind.” In addition to the aforementioned creators, Changing also features 11-year-old Hali’a Beamer and The Caleon Twins, who boast a sizable following on YouTube in addition to Musical.ly.
