The much anticipated sexy new-media series Her Story grapples forthrightly with the frictions and fissures of desire between trans and queer women, as they navigate sometimes paradoxical identities in Los Angeles. Showrunners Laura Zak (a mentee of Jill Soloway) and Jen Richards (as seen on E!’s I Am Cait) combine their creative forces with director Sydney Freeland’s (Drunktown’s Finest, Frameline38) to center the frame on the lives and loves of women of trans experience.

Allie (Laura Zak), a budding journalist for Gay LA, notices Violet (Jen Richards), a super-cute server, while out with her old-school lesbian posse (including Fawzia Mirza, The Queen of My Dreams, Frameline36) and finds her curiosity piqued. Allie makes a bold inquiry, asking Violet if she is trans and if she can interview her for a story. Although hesitant, Violet accepts, sparking an excitingly unexpected relationship. Meanwhile, Paige (Angelica Ross), a fierce LAMBDA Legal attorney and Violet’s best friend, helms a challenging case against a transphobic women’s shelter, while coming out as trans to her gorgeous, grounded new boyfriend. Before long these women’s stories and communities intersect with consequences that force everyone to question preconceived, normative notions of who they are allowed to be and be with.

With #realtalk realness and beautiful cinematography, Her Story exemplifies the storytelling power of new media when it is made by and for trans and queer women.