On Screen/In Person Film Series “Julia Scotti: Funny That Way” FREE

With breathtaking emotional honesty, this tender, funny, and powerful portrait of transgender comedian Julia Scotti explores the unrelenting courage and humor it takes to be Julia. Decades ago, Rick Scotti was a busy guy—appearing on bills with Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld, when he came to the dawning realization that nothing felt right, and Rick’s true awakening at age forty-seven led to a new identity as Julia Scotti. And then everyone turned away – most painfully, Julia was shut out from any contact with her children. Julia reinvented herself, spent a decade teaching, and then several years ago, stepped back on stage and began her journey back to the world she loves, and her children reached out to her after 15 years of silence. This film tracks Julia’s triumphant comeback and the complex process of reuniting with her children, as comedy becomes the shared language of identity, healing, and joy.

6:15 – 6:50 P.M. Community Panel Discussion. Panelists include:

Joanne M. Carroll (she/her/hers), Executive Director, Trans Advocacy Pennsylvania; Co-Chair, Keystone Conference; Commissioner, Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs and member of Penn Central Conference of the UCC, Open and Affirming Ministry Team

Dr. Blaise Liffick  Director of Operations, Silent Witness

Alanna Berger Executive Director, Silent Witness

J Whitlow (they, them, theirs) Director of Campus Life, Millersville University

7 P.M. Screening

LIVE post-show Q & A with filmmaker Susan Sandler