User:Nic Butterfield/gap analysis

Gap analysis

 * What is the title of the article in which you identified a gap. If no article exists at all, what should the title be?

Tona Brown
 * Document the gap you found, describe how you identified it, and analyze its impact on knowledge.

Tona Brown, an African American transwoman and professional violinist, does not have her own page in Wikipedia, despite the fact that she has played in Carnegie Hall and in front of the president (and is the first transwoman of color to have done either). She is also a vocalist, and incorporates vocal performance into her concerts. I came across articles about Tona Brown while searching for trans and gender-nonconforming artists, in whom I had a particular interest because I don’t know very many off of the top of my head (mostly actors such as Laverne Cox or Ruby Rose). Tona’s accomplishments seem noteworthy; however, I found no Wikipedia page dedicated to her. She is mentioned twice on Wikipedia, once in the ‘Timeline of LGBT’ history and once in the ‘List of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender firsts by year’. I feel that her accomplishments are notable enough that she should have her own page. Her absence from Wikipedia is possibly due to the general erasure of transfolk in media. It is most likely also due to the marginalization of people of color, and the stereotypes that surround African Americans specifically that may make it difficult for people like Tona Brown to succeed in the area of classical performance. Regardless if the omission stems from institutional racism and transmisogyny, it should be remedied so that in the future Tona Brown can be a positive role model for young transpeople of color, to show that we can in fact succeed in such fields. Additionally, it should be made more publicly known that it is in fact possible to be a good vocalist and also transition, as I have been told on multiple occasions that transitioning does irreparable damage to the vocal chords. Brown's story is an example that trans vocalists don't have to choose between easing gender dyphoria and living their dreams. Tona Brown (born December 1979) is an American violinist and mezzo-soprano vocalist. She was the first African American transwoman to perform at Carnegie Hall. In 2012 she released her debut album, ‘This is Who I Am’, a tribute to African American composers and artists.
 * Propose a paragraph of new or substantially edited content based on reliable sources. (If you are editing existing content, post the current version along with your edited version, and clearly mark which is which.)

Tona Brown started playing the violin at the age of 10. She attended Governer’s School for the Arts and later Shenandoah Conservatory. In 2010 she performed the National Anthem for President Barack Obama at The Department of Veteran Affairs LGBT Pride Month Commemoration. In 2011 she  performed for the seventh annual Out Music Awards, an event that celebrates the achievements of LGBT+ musical artists. In April 2014, Brown performed the role of La Principessa in the opera Suor Angelica.

On June 25, 2014, Tona Brown became the first transperson of color to perform at Carnegie Hall. The performance was entitled From Stonewall to Carnegie Hall and included pieces written by African American and European composers, as well as pieces from her own album “This is Who I am”. Brown was accompanied by pianist Charlie Glimer and LGBT activist Nathan James; comedian Tammy Peay hosted the performance. The concert was funded publicly on IndieGoGo and GoFundMe.

Later in 2014 Brown created a Youtube series titled ‘Conversations with Tona’, in which she talked to transfolk about queer and transgender issues. Tona Brown is currently a vocal coach and violin teacher in Springfield, Virginia.
 * List the reliable sources that could be used to improve this gap. (You can use the Cite tool from the editing toolbar above to input and format your sources.)