About Second Nature: Pride Month Film Screening

The Trustees is partnering with The Cabot Community Conversations Series for an exclusive Free Pride Month film screening of “Second Nature: Gender & Sexuality in the Animal World.”

Second Nature is a groundbreaking documentary directed by Drew Denny and narrated/executive produced by Elliot Page. The film explores gender and sexual diversity in the animal kingdom, challenging the idea that fixed, binary biological norms are the only natural way of life.

Currently screening only at prestigious festivals and in select major markets such as New York and Los Angeles, this rare presentation offers our community a unique opportunity to experience one of the year’s most compelling and thought-provoking films before it becomes more widely available. Following the screening, audience members are invited to stay for a live Q&A and community discussion with Dr. Patty Brennan, one of the professors featured in the film.

Together, we’ll explore themes of identity, belonging, science, and the evolving understanding of what it means to be human. This event is free and open to all as part of our ongoing commitment to creating meaningful conversations around issues that matter to our community.

Learn more about Second Nature: www.secondnaturedoc.com

Please register to attend

About Our Panelist: Dr. Patty Rodriguez Brennan studied Marine Biology in her native Colombia, and came to the USA to pursue a PhD in Neurobiology and Behavior at Cornell University. She obtained an NSF post-doctoral proposal to study bird genitalia, and worked at Yale University, and at University of Sheffield. She discovered that some female waterfowl have convoluted vaginas that coevolve with the penis due to sexual conflict. She is Associate Professor of Biology at Mount Holyoke College, where she has been since 2015 studying genital evolution and co-evolution in many vertebrates including sharks, snakes, dolphins, alpacas and birds. Her current research interests emphasize the study of the vagina and clitoris, which have been neglected by science. Her work has appeared multiple times in major press outlets in print and online. She has received multiple grants to conduct her work, has published dozens of papers, and has an extensive outreach program. Dr. Brennan is a proud fellow of the AOU, the ABS and AAAS.

About Our Moderator: Val Perini [AKA Val the Seaweed Gal :-)] is a coastal educator & ecologist who has spent her career studying the New England coastline and leading education programs and community events in nature, classrooms, museums, and more. As the Regional Education Manager for the North Shore with The Trustees, Val leads the education volunteer program, hosts events and develops interpretive materials inspiring appreciation of nature & culture, collaborates with the community, and supports a team of staff who lead summer camp and outdoor education & recreation programs. Val is passionate about making nature education more inclusive via storytelling and uplifting marginalized voices. In support of The Trustees’ goals to inspire climate hope and welcome & connect people to the outdoors, Val leverages the unique ecology, beauty, and cultural/natural history of Trustees properties to create opportunities for visitors to connect to nature through curiosity, investigation, outdoor skill-building, and volunteer service.

This screening is presented in partnership with The Cabot and brought to you by two Trustees Employee Resource Groups, Trustees Pride and Conservation in Color.

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