Maya Aleman is Breaking Barriers as a Trans Filmmaker in Honduras

Sempiterno (translated as “Eternal” in English) is more than just a short film. It’s a deeply personal story of resistance, survival, and, above all, reclaiming a voice in a world determined to silence it. At the heart of this project is Maya Aleman, a trans woman from Honduras who is breaking new ground as a photographer, writer, and, for the first time, filmmaker. With her upcoming film Sempiterno, Aleman uses her platform to explore the power dynamics and class struggles that shape her homeland while shedding light on the voices that are often drowned out by the spectacle of power.

Aleman explains, “Sempiterno is a story of silence, but it’s a story about a scandal,” adding that the name of the film reflects something “that has a beginning but no end.” Originally conceived as a short story for a contest in the Honduran newspaper El Heraldo, Sempiterno has been evolving since 2017. The narrative follows a photojournalist obsessed with fame and fortune who coincidentally takes a photograph of a political assassination. Aleman says her initial goal in publishing the story was to gain recognition, but she expressed her perspective changed, “Now the story has a heart, and it has it because I also have a heart now. With my transition, I won my soul back.”

Art as a Lifeline

Aleman has always been artistic, with a focus on photography, though her creative spirit touches all forms of art—music, film, and writing. “I feel like I’m the kind of person who is always involved in art in one way or another. It’s the best way to live life,” she says. This passion has guided her through her journey as a queer artist, leading to the latest chapter of her life as a filmmaker.

Now approaching her 30th birthday, Aleman is taking her final steps as a student at “Una Mirada Propia,” a filmmaking school organized by the Honduran Filmmakers Collective. The collective, which focuses on feminist approaches to cinema, has provided Aleman with the tools to translate her short story Sempiterno into a short film.

For Aleman, Sempiterno is also a reflection of the voices that are silenced by larger forces, such as gender and ethnic minorities, which are often marginalized by the Honduran government. “I want this story to illustrate how easily the most important things get drowned out by everything else. The voices of those with the most needs are often the ones that go unheard,” she says.

Violence Against Trans People in Honduras

Honduras remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for transgender people, with widespread violence and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, particularly trans women. According to a 2022 report from REDLACTRANS (the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Transgender People), more than 400 transgender people have been murdered in the region in the past decade, with many of these killings occurring in Central America, including Honduras.

Between 2009 and 2020, at least 120 LGBTQ+ individuals were killed in Honduras, the vast majority of them trans women. Despite the frequency of these attacks, impunity remains rampant. The lack of legal protections for gender identity means that these cases often go un-investigated or are mishandled by authorities.

The Honduran government has done little to address this crisis, leaving the country’s trans community in a precarious and dangerous position. As a trans woman in this hostile environment, Aleman’s work is not only creative but revolutionary. “In Honduras, we are second-class citizens,” she says, pointing to the legal vacuum that leaves trans people without basic protections. “We’re like a black hole—a triviality—because we’re not explicitly recognized in the law.”

Creating Queer Cinema in Honduras

For Aleman, art is not just a form of expression but a way to educate and generate empathy in a world where cynicism often overshadows optimism. “The most important education we owe as a society is empathy,” she emphasizes. Aleman believes that by creating films like Sempiterno, she can help foster this empathy, showing the world that trans lives, queer lives, and marginalized voices are worthy of attention and care.

The Call for Support

Through her crowdfunding campaign, Aleman is seeking to bring Sempiterno to life. She urges supporters to see their contributions as more than just financial backing for a film—They are helping to amplify voices that have been silenced for so long.

Those interested in supporting Aleman’s film can contribute through her crowdfunding campaign here.

With Sempiterno, Aleman isn’t just making a short film. She’s creating a space for trans voices, queer narratives, and stories from the marginalized to shine in Honduran cinema and beyond. “This is my first time truly living life,” she says, hopeful that her work will inspire others to listen, empathize, and act.

Photos courtesy of Delmer Membreño