TRANS LIST, THE (TV)
Summary
This documentary film features interviews with eleven notable transgender or non-binary Americans. Author and interviewer Janet Mock introduces the film by commenting on how society has, in many ways, "outgrown categories" of sex and gender, but still has a long way to go in achieving true equality.
Attorney Kylar Broadus describes "praying for unity" as a child, explaining that he faced discrimination as not only a masculine female person but as a so-called "high yellow" African-American. After identifying for some time as a lesbian, Broadus found inspiration in the story of Billy Tipton, the '40s-'50s bandleader who was revealed after his 1989 death to be a trans man, and by closeted actor Raymond Burr, to follow his personal and career dreams. Next, Caroline Cossey describes being outed as a trans woman in 1981 by the British tabloid News of the World after enjoying a prolific career as a showgirl, a fashion model and a "Bond girl" in "For Your Eyes Only" (1981). She explains that she has never regretted her gender-confirmation surgery, concluding that one cannot be controlled by bigotry.
Photographer Amos Mac describes his childhood love of the eccentric Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) and the male-bonding film "Stand By Me" (1986), explaining that he donned oversized "girls'" clothes and eventually turned to alcohol to handle his sense of turmoil over his gender identity. After shooting a series of photos of trans men, he eventually co-founded "Original Plumbing" (OP) magazine, the title of which refers to strangers' frequent questions about trans people's genitalia, and comments on the experience of "passing," or being viewed in the world simply as a man and not as a trans individual. Activist Bamby Salcedo recalls the "enlightening" experience of donning a dress for the first time, stating that the trans community is "about 40 years behind" the lesbian, gay and bisexual community in terms of visibility and legal rights. She cites the 2002 hate-crime murder of trans teen Gwen Araujo as her inspiration for entering the activist world, describing her own harrowing past with crime, sex work, drugs and prison and her sense that she is "supposed to be here" to continue enacting positive change.
Adult film performer Buck Angel describes idealizing the hyper-macho "G.I. Joe" figure as a child, explaining that he repeatedly attempted suicide before finally finding a therapist who understood his gender identity as something other than a "masculine woman," as well as a hormone doctor who, experienced in treating trans women only, offered to use Angel as a testosterone "guinea pig." Angel was surprised by many positive responses from gay men when he began performing in the porn industry, and he stresses the importance of understanding one's body and one's individual sexuality, concluding that he would like to assure his child self that he "can be G.I. Joe" after all. Activist Miss Major Griffin-Gracy describes being one of the leaders at the famous 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City, explaining that she was considered "unemployable" for many years and spent time in prison and on the street, hoping that her legacy positively affects young trans people's lives.
Teenage activist Nicole Maines highlights the debate around public bathrooms, explaining that, in high school, she felt demeaned when she was forced to use the boys' bathroom with a staff member present and eventually decided to sue the school for discrimination, eventually winning the landmark case known as "Doe v. Regional School Unit 26." Maines describes how her mother and twin brother helped her father to eventually accept her identity and become a strong trans ally, urging young people to advocate for themselves when faced with adversity. United States Marine Corps member Shane Ortega describes entering the "alpha male" world of the military during the Don't Ask, Don't Tell period, when he was assumed to be a lesbian and felt a constant "sense of panic" of being outed. Having grown up partially on a Cherokee reservation, Ortega explains that the Corps is still discriminatory and uses the outdated 1994 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) to classify transgender identity as a mental problem, meaning that he is still referred to as female under "military law."
Olympic gold medalist and reality TV personality Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Bruce, describes joining through her late-in-life gender transition in the public eye, explaining that she is still pondering the true meaning of "female" and expressing a desire to use her platform of fame to discuss gender issues and rights. She acknowledges using sports as a way to "prove" her male identity despite secretly feeling otherwise for many years, adding that she wishes to maintain a sense of humor about her unusual personal life and still considers herself her children's father. Poet Alok Vaid-Menon, who identifies as non-binary, talks about the fluidity of gender and the importance of associating femininity with strength, highlighting the popular stereotypes that reduce the idea of womanhood to merely the idea of reproduction. Vaid-Menon explains how British colonialism largely erased Indian culture's traditional ideas of gender fluidity and expression, classifying feminine men or trans women as simply "eunuchs," and stressing the importance of being able to express oneself without fear of prejudice.
Finally, actress Laverne Cox describes being "transformed by art" and finding inspiration in black opera singer Leontyne Price throughout her childhood in Mobile, Alabama, where she faced discrimination for being an "effeminate boy" who enjoyed dance. She explains that, while somewhat uncomfortable with the "spectacle" aspects of working at Lucky Cheng's Drag Queen Restaurant and Bar in New York City, she formed a lasting sisterhood with the drag queens and trans women working there. She eventually found her way into mainstream art, landing an Emmy nomination in 2014 for her role on "Orange is the New Black." Deciding that she can no longer "cower" from her trans identity, Cox explains that she has decided to own her truth and use her fame to address important issues.
Details
- NETWORK: HBO
- DATE: November 30, 1999 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:57:51
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 129830
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: LGBT Collection; Public affairs/Documentaries; Talk/Interview; Transgender people; Gender identity
- SERIES RUN: HBO - TV, 2016
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Ingrid Duran … Executive Producer
- Catherine Pino … Executive Producer
- Chad Thompson … Executive Producer
- Tommy Walker … Executive Producer
- Sheila Nevins … Executive Producer
- Lisa Heller … Supervising Producer
- Sam McConnell … Producer
- Timothy Greenfield-Sanders … Producer, Director
- Janet Mock … Producer, Interviewer
- Beauregard Houston-Montgomery … Associate Producer
- Michael Slap Sloane … Associate Producer
- Ryan Cunningham … Digital Intermediate Producer
- Chris Robertson … Music by
- Neal Evans … Music by
- Kylar Broadus … Interviewee
- Caroline Cossey … Interviewee
- Amos Mac … Interviewee
- Bamby Salcedo … Interviewee
- Buck Angel … Interviewee
- Miss Major Griffin-Gracy … Interviewee
- Nicole Maines … Interviewee
- Shane Ortega … Interviewee
- Caitlyn Jenner (see also: Bruce Jenner) … Interviewee
- Alok Vaid-Menon … Interviewee
- Laverne Cox … Interviewee
- Gwen Araujo
- Raymond Burr
- Paul Reubens
- Leontyne Price
- Billy Tipton