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: Frank Simon
Release Year: 1968
Synopsis:
Released in 1968, The Queen directed by Frank Simon is a pivotal documentary in the history of drag culture, providing a rare, unfiltered glimpse into the world of drag queens in a time when it was still illegal for men to dress as women. This documentary follows the contestants of the 1967 "Miss All-America Camp Beauty Contest," a drag beauty pageant held at the Town and Country Hotel in New York City, and is perhaps most famous for being judged by the iconic Andy Warhol, alongside several other notable figures of the era. The film is more than just a snapshot of a subculture; it is a powerful piece of history that explores issues of gender identity, social norms, and the evolving drag performance scene in the United States.
In 1967, the legal environment for drag queens and LGBTQ+ individuals was markedly oppressive. Across the United States, it was illegal for men to dress in women’s clothing, and drag performances were considered a criminal act in many states.
1968,
Crystal LaBeija,
Dorian Corey,
English,
Flawless Mother Sabrina,
International Chrysis,
Jackie Curtis,
Rachel Harlow,
USA,
Director: Ellen Fisher Turk & Andrew Weeks
Release Year: 1993
Synopsis:
Split: Portrait of a Drag Queen (1993), directed by Ellen Fisher Turk and Andrew Weeks, is a documentary that presents a deeply personal, complex, and captivating portrait of International Chrysis, a pioneering transgender performer whose life and career were as dramatic and multifaceted as the world she inhabited. Born in 1951, Chrysis, whose birth name was Christopher, became a symbol of transformation, resilience, and glamour within the drag and transgender communities. The film explores her rise from humble beginnings to the heights of fame in New York City’s drag scene, capturing her charisma, artistry, and struggles in ways that celebrate her while also highlighting the personal costs of a life lived in the spotlight.
The documentary is structured as both a celebration of Chrysis’s career and an intimate reflection on the challenges she faced, including issues of gender, identity, health, and societal acceptance. It tells the story of a beautiful boy who, in the late 1960s, fled his Brooklyn home in search of something more, and over the next several decades, became a renowned figure in the drag and performance art worlds. Chrysis’s journey is marked by a combination of courage and vulnerability, and Split sheds light on the multifaceted nature of her character, showing not only her extravagant public persona but also the private individual who dealt with profound personal and physical struggles.
1993,
English,
International Chrysis,
USA,
