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: Tim O'Hara
Release Year: 2011
Synopsis:
Felicia Elizondo, also known as Felicia Flames, was a pioneering transgender activist, a veteran of the Vietnam War, a survivor of AIDS, and one of the most vocal and resilient members of the LGBT community in San Francisco. Her life, which was marked by groundbreaking activism and personal challenges, stands as a testament to the courage and resilience of transgender individuals, particularly during a time when such communities faced profound stigma and discrimination. Felicia's story is not just one of survival but of pushing back against injustice, educating others, and creating spaces for those who had long been silenced.
Felicia's path to becoming a transgender icon and activist was not an easy one. Born in 1946 in San Angelo, Texas, as a boy named Robert, she faced both the inner turmoil of knowing she was different and the harsh realities of growing up in an environment that was hostile to her identity. She struggled with bullying and molestation and found herself constantly at odds with the expectations placed upon her as a young boy. At a young age, Felicia knew she was meant to be a woman, but the social constraints of the 1950s and 1960s left her with few outlets for self-expression.
2011,
English,
Felicia Elizondo,
Felicia Flames,
USA,
Director: Gene Wang
Release Year: 2011
Synopsis:
In Gene Wang’s 2011 documentary Tenderloin: A Forgotten History, the filmmaker delves into a crucial yet often overlooked chapter of San Francisco’s LGBTQ history. The documentary explores the role that the Tenderloin district played in shaping the local LGBTQ community during the 1960s and 1970s.
Through the stories of the people who lived and thrived in this urban enclave, Wang highlights how the Tenderloin became a refuge, a battleground, and a birthplace for many of the ideas and movements that would later influence the national LGBTQ rights movement. Central to this narrative is the story of Felicia Elizondo, a transgender woman whose life not only intersects with the Tenderloin's history but also embodies the resilience and activism that defined the district during a time of great social upheaval.
2011,
English,
Felicia Elizondo,
Felicia Flames,
USA,
Directors: Gabriel Gasca & Phil Siegel
Release Year: 2013
Synopsis:
In the early 1960s, a cultural revolution was underway in the United States. The Civil Rights Movement, the feminist movement, and the anti-Vietnam War protests were all powerful forces fighting against entrenched social and political inequalities. At the same time, LGBTQ+ individuals across the country, many of whom had long lived in the shadows of societal repression, were beginning to find the courage to come out and demand their rights. The convergence of these movements created a “perfect storm” of activism that would leave an indelible mark on the LGBTQ+ rights struggle.
One of the most significant works to capture this moment in history is the 2013 documentary Coming Out in the 1960s, directed by Gabriel Gasca and Phil Siegel. In this film, four young activists interview a diverse group of LGBTQ+ elders—gay, lesbian, and transgender individuals—about their experiences in the '60s and how the social upheavals of that era inspired them to fight for their personal freedoms.
2013,
English,
Felicia Elizondo,
Felicia Flames,
Monika Kowalska,
USA,
Directors: Victor Silverman and Susan Stryker
Release Year: 2005
Synopsis:
In 2005, the documentary "Screaming Queens: The Riot at Compton's Cafeteria" directed by Victor Silverman and Susan Stryker, brought attention to a pivotal yet often overlooked moment in LGBTQ history. The film delves into the events surrounding the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot of 1966, a violent confrontation between transgender people and the police in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco.
Preceding the more famous 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City, the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot is now recognized as one of the first recorded transgender uprisings in the United States. The documentary, featuring interviews with key figures like Amanda St. Jaymes, Felicia Flames, and Aleshia Brevard, serves as a critical retelling of an event that marked a turning point for the transgender community, giving birth to a political consciousness that would shape LGBTQ activism for years to come.
2005,
Aleshia Brevard,
Amanda St Jaymes,
English,
Felicia Elizondo,
Felicia Flames,
Monika Kowalska,
Susan Stryker,
USA,
