What Sex Am I?

1985, Christine Jorgensen, English, Monica Lynn B., USA,

Director: Lee Grant
Release Year: 1985

Synopsis:

Released in 1985, What Sex Am I? is a landmark documentary directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Lee Grant. The film is both an intimate exploration of the lives of transgender individuals and a broader investigation into the complexity of gender identity. At a time when transgender issues were far less understood or discussed in the mainstream, What Sex Am I? offered a compassionate, sensitive, and often unflinching look at the experiences of transsexuals and transvestites.

 

The documentary's central theme is the struggle for identity, particularly the quest to reconcile one's internal sense of gender with the external expectations of society. While groundbreaking in its honest portrayal of transgender individuals in the mid-1980s, the film remains relevant even today, offering insights into the ongoing conversation about gender, identity, and societal norms.

 

Lee Grant's interest in the trans community was sparked after seeing the Broadway production of La Cage aux Folles, which portrayed a fictionalized version of the lives of transgender and drag performers. This led her to begin researching the lives of real transsexuals and transvestites for her documentary. The result, What Sex Am I?, was produced under her partnership with her husband, producer Joseph Feury, and aired on HBO. The film was an ambitious and empathetic undertaking, offering a rare glimpse into the lived experiences of individuals who were often marginalized or misunderstood. Grant’s decision to focus on the lives of transgender individuals was driven by a desire to explore gender beyond the confines of traditional male and female binaries. The documentary follows several transgender individuals, including Miss Veronica York, a beautiful trans woman working as a dancer at Baby O's strip club in Houston, Texas. Through York and others like her, the documentary explores the emotional and psychological toll of gender dysphoria—the distress caused when an individual’s gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth.

 

Defining the Terms One of the key distinctions in the film is between "transsexuals" and "transvestites," terms which, in the 1980s, were often used interchangeably but carry distinct meanings. What Sex Am I? explains these differences clearly: transvestites are individuals, typically men, who experience a strong desire to wear clothing typically associated with the opposite sex—often driven by fetishistic or emotional needs. Transsexuals, on the other hand, are people whose gender identity does not match their assigned sex at birth, and who may undergo medical procedures such as hormone therapy or sex reassignment surgery to align their physical characteristics with their internal gender identity. Grant's documentary, however, does not simply focus on medical procedures or the technical aspects of transitioning. Instead, it delves into the emotional and social experiences of these individuals—showing the complexities of their identities and the emotional cost of navigating a world that often denies their lived experiences.

 

Throughout the documentary, Grant allows her subjects to speak for themselves, ensuring that the film is more than just a clinical examination of transgender identity. One of the film's most poignant moments is the interview with Jody, a 45-year-old transsexual who had been married twice and had three children before undergoing sex reassignment surgery. Jody, who had lived much of her life as a man, speaks candidly about the decision to transition. "I just knew I was a woman," she says, offering a deeply personal insight into the sense of knowing one's true gender identity. The documentary presents Jody’s journey with empathy, showing the anguish and the complex feelings surrounding the choice to undergo such a transformative and often traumatic process. In addition to Jody, the film features Veronica York, a stunning trans woman who works as a stripper in Houston. Her story provides insight into the pressures and challenges of being a trans woman in a world that often objectifies and marginalizes individuals in the sex trade. Despite the hardship, Veronica remains resolute in her identity, and her story highlights the intersectionality of being both transgender and a sex worker—two elements that compounded the difficulties she faced. Another key character is Mary, a roommate and fellow trans individual portrayed by Memphis legend Renee Williams. As a companion to Jody, Mary provides a different perspective on the trans experience, offering both camaraderie and contrast to Jody's struggles. Their relationship is both supportive and complex, allowing the film to examine the various ways transgender individuals navigate social relationships.

 

What Sex Am I? was notable for its compassionate and non-exploitative approach to its subject matter. It does not sensationalize or focus on the shock value of gender transition, a common tendency in media depictions of transgender individuals in the 1980s. Instead, it takes the time to explore the nuanced and deeply personal journeys of its subjects. The film emphasizes the idea that transsexuals and transvestites are not deviant or mentally ill, as was often portrayed in mainstream media at the time. Rather, it asserts that they are people whose gender identities are complex, and whose struggles for acceptance and self-realization should be met with empathy and respect. Grant's documentary goes beyond merely documenting the lives of transgender people; it raises larger questions about the nature of gender itself. The film examines how rigid gender norms—such as the expectation that men should be masculine and women should be feminine—force individuals into painful boxes. Throughout What Sex Am I?, Grant suggests that gender is not binary, nor should it be. The documentary challenges viewers to consider the possibility that gender is fluid, that it is something that goes beyond definitions imposed by society, and that there should be room for individuals to express their true selves, free from judgment or restriction.

 

When What Sex Am I? premiered on HBO in 1985, it was groundbreaking. At a time when transgender individuals were often depicted in the media through the lens of ridicule or pathology, the film offered a refreshing, humane perspective. Critics praised it for its sensitivity and for presenting a well-rounded view of the challenges facing transgender people. The New York Times noted that the film “looks sympathetically at transsexuals and transvestites,” while The Chicago Tribune described it as “searing” and “brutally candid.” In fact, the documentary’s empathetic approach is part of what set it apart from other media portrayals of transgender individuals at the time. The film has also been compared to Jennie Livingston's 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning, though What Sex Am I? predates it by five years. Both films explore issues of gender identity and expression, but while Livingston's film focuses on drag queens and the ball culture, Grant's documentary is centered more on the personal journeys of transsexuals and transvestites.

 

What Sex Am I? may have been ahead of its time, but its relevance continues today. In the wake of increased visibility for transgender individuals—particularly following the high-profile transition of Caitlyn Jenner in 2015—the documentary has gained new attention. Clips from the film began to circulate on social media, and its themes of gender fluidity and self-identity resonated with a new generation. Lee Grant, seeing this renewed interest, worked with filmmaker Taylor A. Purdee to produce a 30th anniversary edition of the film, bringing it to a younger audience and prompting retrospectives in film festivals and art-house cinemas. The film has been preserved in the Academy Film Archive and the UCLA Film Archive, ensuring that future generations will be able to experience this important work of documentary filmmaking. In addition, its influence can be seen in the continued evolution of transgender representation in film and media, which has grown more nuanced and supportive in the years since What Sex Am I? was first released.

 

What Sex Am I? stands as a crucial work in the history of transgender representation in film. With its sensitive, empathetic, and nuanced portrayal of transgender individuals, it helped to humanize a community that had long been misunderstood and marginalized. In exploring the question of "What sex am I?" the film offers an answer that challenges conventional ideas of gender, suggesting that identity is complex, personal, and worthy of respect. For those interested in understanding the roots of the modern transgender movement in popular culture, Lee Grant's documentary remains an essential and insightful viewing experience.

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