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.
Director: George Zuber
Release Year: 2013
Synopsis:
In 2013, George Zuber released Just Gender, a poignant and educational documentary that sheds light on the often misunderstood and marginalized world of transgender individuals. This documentary does more than just explore the complexities of gender identity; it challenges misconceptions, debunks myths, and emphasizes the importance of understanding and empathy for the transgender community. Through a combination of powerful personal interviews, expert insights, and archival footage, Just Gender offers a comprehensive look at the struggles, triumphs, and complexities of those whose gender identity defies societal norms.
Just Gender was created with the intention of fostering understanding about the lives and challenges faced by transgender individuals, particularly in the context of their ongoing fight for equal rights. The documentary, narrated by actress and activist Bebe Neuwirth, features a wide range of interviews with transgender people, their families, friends, and experts in various fields. These include social workers, psychiatrists, neurologists, and historians who provide both personal and professional perspectives on the transgender experience.
The film uses a mix of original interviews and archival materials to tell the story. Through these voices, it explores the misconceptions surrounding transgender people, offering insight into the deep divisions between societal views on gender and the lived experiences of transgender individuals. The overarching message of the documentary is clear: those who challenge or seek to change society’s rigid binary view of gender are not less human. Instead, they are deserving of empathy, respect, and the same rights as anyone else.
2013,
Angelica Love Ross,
Cecilia Chung,
Earline Budd,
English,
Jillian Weiss,
Katie Hill,
USA,
Director: Mark Freeman & Nathaniel Walters-Koh
Release Year: 2012
Synopsis:
"Transgender Tuesdays: A Clinic in the Tenderloin" (2012), directed by Mark Freeman and Nathaniel Walters-Koh, offers a deeply emotional and insightful portrayal of the transgender community in San Francisco's Tenderloin district. The documentary focuses on the first primary care clinic in the United States dedicated specifically to the health needs of transgender individuals. The clinic, which opened its doors in 1993, became a vital resource for people who had long been marginalized by the medical community and society at large. Through the stories of patients who sought help at this groundbreaking clinic, the film captures both the hardships and triumphs that transgender individuals have faced over the decades.
At its heart, Transgender Tuesdays is a celebration of resilience, community, and the ongoing fight for equal access to healthcare for all. It shares the struggles of the transgender population in a part of San Francisco known for its history of poverty, homelessness, and marginalization—the Tenderloin—and illustrates how access to quality care has empowered individuals who once lived in fear and isolation.
2012,
Angel Ichord,
Cecilia Chung,
Claudia Quijano,
English,
Marilyn Robinson,
Tamera Chance,
USA,
Veronica Klaus,
