A random collection of films authored by or about my transgender, intersex sisters, and gender-nonconforming persons all over the world. I watched some of them, and I was inspired by some of them. I met some of the authors and heroines, some of them are my best friends, and I had the pleasure and honor of interviewing some of them. If you know of any transgender documentary that I have not covered yet, please let me know.
Producer: Thames TV
Director: Terry Steel
Release Year: 1977
Synopsis:
On 17 March 1977, Thames TV aired a landmark interview featuring April Ashley, M.B.E, a model, actress, and author, who is celebrated as one of the first British individuals to undergo sex reassignment surgery. The interview, conducted by Mavis Nicholson, offers a poignant glimpse into the life of a woman who not only challenged societal norms but also paved the way for future generations in the LGBTQ+ community.
April Ashley was born in 1935 in Liverpool to a strict Roman Catholic family. In the interview, she reflects on her childhood, illustrating the internal struggles she faced growing up in an environment where traditional gender roles were rigidly enforced. Ashley's early years were marked by a profound sense of disconnect from her assigned male identity. She candidly recounts her feelings of being trapped in the wrong body, a sentiment that many trans individuals resonate with.
The interview reveals how Ashley's upbringing shaped her understanding of gender and identity. Her family's adherence to Catholic values added a layer of complexity to her journey, as she grappled with the teachings of the Church that often condemned anything outside of the heteronormative framework. This juxtaposition between her innate identity and her family's beliefs created a formative tension that would influence her path toward self-acceptance.
1977,
April Ashley,
English,
UK,
Producer: Michiel van Erp
Release Year: 2011
Synopsis:
"I Am a Woman Now," a 2011 documentary directed by Michiel van Erp, offers a poignant and powerful exploration of the lives of five women who underwent sex reassignment surgery in the 1950s and 1960s. These women, who sought gender confirmation treatment from Dr. Georges Burou in Casablanca, Morocco, represent the first generation of transgender individuals to undergo what was then a revolutionary medical procedure.
Through intimate interviews, the film examines their personal journeys, both before and after their surgeries, and explores the difficult realities that followed their transformative experiences. The film's title, "I Am a Woman Now", reflects both the fulfillment and the challenges these women face in their quest for identity and acceptance, as well as the emotional, physical, and societal obstacles that continue to shape their lives.
2011,
April Ashley,
Colette Berends,
Corinne van Tongerloo,
English,
Georges Burou,
Jean Lessenich,
Marie-Pierre Pruvot,
Monika Kowalska,
