Peter Alexander, interviewed in Sydney, speaks of his transition from female to male. He discusses the aspects of his personality which influenced his decision, his view of women in society, and his plans for the future. Remember, folks- trans men have always existed, and we deserve to be included in trans histories!

This is an interview with a female-to-male transsexual named Henry S. Rubin, who identifies himself as previously being a “dyke” and describes the complexity of evolving identities. He says, “It’s very difficult to walk around in a world that perceives that there are only two genders and two sexes.” He speaks about the diversity of women, about the disconnect between his body and his gender, and the narrow expectations placed upon men. He also addresses the perception that he is a “traitor to the cause”, referencing feminism, insisting that “all men aren’t the enemy”. He talks about the neglect of female-to-male transsexuals, specifically regarding surgical alteration of FTM genitalia, echoing frustrations discussed in documentaries like Southern Comfort.

You Don’t Know Dick: The Courageous Hearts of Transsexual Men is a wonderful documentary. It stars American trailblazers Jamison Green, Max Wolf Valerio, and Loren Cameron, who have been frequently erased as trans pioneers. I would highly recommend watching it. It features interviews where trans men discuss all aspects of their lives: Romance, surgery, families, parenthood, aspirations, coming out, mental health, sex, religion, libido, etc. At least one of the men is a bisexual, one of them is gay, and several are straight. Most are White. The documentary features discussions with family members of the trans men, most of whom are supportive.

This short film was made in the late 90s, by a trans man named Jay Allen Sennett who was dealing with "confusion and pain" related to his transition and his body. In Phallocy, Jay discusses deciding to transition at the age of 32, and the complex feelings he has about being a man with deep links to a female past. He says, "I ask myself, how does a thirty five year-old man who played as a tomboy, bled like a girl, reared as a lady, fucked like a stone butch lesbian, and dresses like a dandy, become a man? How do I act for this part? Which parts of me should I keep? Throw away?" He goes on to describe having sex with a woman, referring to his prosthetic penises as "tools of the patriarchy", recalling how he cried because he would never be able to ejaculate. Reflecting upon this short film later in life, on his website (linked below), Jay comments, "Listening to it now, the person I was then is not who I am now. As I’ve said before, learning to love myself as I am is my life’s work. Doing that work day after day has moved me from Phallocy to Truth, which is that I love my transsexual body very much, as it is. Phallocy represents a period in my life I will never forget, and one I’m glad to have moved through."

Robert Eads was an American, White transsexual man who died of ovarian cancer, after being denied cancer treatment by transphobic doctors. This documentary follows him in his final year of life, and is both heartbreaking and beautiful in its honesty. Robert’s friends and partner are all interviewed, along with his parents and other members of the community, making this a valuable snapshot of an important moment in FTM history. Relationships, sex, transitioning, parenthood, and family are all explored. The DVD has an extra interview where Eads clarifies that he wasn't allowed to attend a trans medical centre because he was a trans man. Specifically, his male appearance would "embarrass" the trans women in attendance. Despite the fact that he had cancer and desperately needed care, he was not welcome because trans men were considered too rare and unsightly to warrant inclusion. This example of FTM-specific discrimination is usually left out when people discuss Eads' death. A note regarding the interviewees' views on bottom surgery: options have improved a great deal since Southern Comfort was filmed, and many trans men have undergone satisfactory operations.

NOT YET WATCHED. The synopsis is as follows: "Documentary meets explicit sexuality in Luke Woodward's groundbreaking debut video about body image, relationships, sex and sexuality from the perspective of nine female-to-male (FTM) transmen and their partners. Featuring health educators, college students, sex workers, activists and artists, Enough Man navigates the terrain between objectivity and personal identity, allowing viewers into some of the most personal and rarely discussed areas of transgender life."

NOT YET WATCHED. Years before Thomas Beatie attracted widespread media attention as "the pregnant man", FTM filmmaker Jules Rosskam released a documentary dedicated to the experiences of trans men who chose to carry children. The trailer, which you can watch via the link below, opens with a trans man saying "I'll always be part female-bodied, and I'll always be their mom", followed by other trans men talking about their experiences, some instead expressing a preference to be known as a dad, one man saying that he enjoys being part female and part male, part mom and part dad. Andrew, a trans man with a beard and long dark hair, talks about how he reassured his children once he began his transition. Other men have a range of different parenthood journeys, from leaving their children entirely to raising them all throughout their schooling. I am really, really looking forward to watching this one.

NOT YET WATCHED. The synopsis is as follows: "While female-to-male transgender visibility has recently exploded in this country, conversations about trans issues in the lesbian community often run into resistance from the many queer women who view transitioning as a “trend” or as an anti-feminist act that taps into male privilege. Boy I Am is a feature-length documentary that begins to break down that barrier and promote dialogue about trans issues through a look at the experiences of three young transitioning FTMs in New York City–Nicco, Norie and Keegan–as they go through major junctures in their transitions, as well as through the voices of lesbians, activists and theorists who raise and address the questions that many people have but few openly discuss."

NOT YET WATCHED. Still Black: A Portrait of Black Transmen reportedly pushes back against negative stereotypes that affect Black trans men, and does this through interviews with such men.

NOT YET WATCHED. The synopsis is as follows: "Follow Chaz Bono, Sonny and Cher's once golden-haired daughter as he embraces his true self in this intimate and nakedly honest documentary about his own gender reassignment." The trailer includes misgendering, courtesy of Cher, Chaz's mother.

NOT YET WATCHED. The synopsis of Sam and Evan: From Girls to Men is as follows: "17 year-old Sam and 20 year-old Evan describe themselves as a gay male couple, but underneath their clothes they have female bodies. What makes this story so exceptional is that they are both in the process of changing their genders from female to male, at the same time. This film follows their gender-changing journey and the prejudice they encounter along the way – including the humiliation and fear they suffer of having eggs thrown at them as they walk to the bus stop. This is the story of how Sam and Evan met, fell in love, and embarked on a remarkable transgender journey together to transform their bodies from Girls to Men."

NOT YET WATCHED. The synopsis is as follows: "The documentary Brothers takes you to the female-to-male transgender community in China, a community which endures hardships that are unfathomable to the majority of Chinese society. It documents the life of Tony, who forms part of a group of female-to-male transgendered people who call each other brothers. The film shows Tony’s road to self-acknowledgement, his troubles at work, his decision to undergo sex reassignment surgery and all the difficulties he encounters on his path."

This is a really good documentary that I highly recommend watching! There are three trans male interviewees, two of whom are men of colour (Syrus and Nik) who both transitioned before having a child. In fact, Syrus stopped using testosterone in order to carry their baby. The third trans man in this film is Hershel, who is not a man of colour, and who transitioned after already raising a son. Because of these men's differing circumstances, their experiences are naturally very different, and this documentary does a great job of letting these men tell their own stories. The complexities of navigating the world as trans parents are properly and sensitively explored. Nik tears up as he describes the struggle of being invalidated because he isn't his daughter's biological parent. Syrus expresses frustration at being read as a mother, whereas Nik is often read as a father when they're out in public together. Syrus discusses the dysphoria and loss involved with ceasing hormone replacement therapy in order to have a child, all the while emphasising how important it was for him to carry their pregnancy. Beyond gender-related issues, Syrus discusses the assumptions which are projected onto him and his husband, because they are men of colour raising a child who is lighter-skinned. He compares these assumptions with comments which were directed at his mother (a lighter-skinned woman raising a darker-skinned child) and points out the resulting double standards which betray racist worldviews; namely, that he must be a nanny looking after someone else's child. Hershel, who transitioned when he was older, is interviewed alongside an adult son who still calls his father "mom" and switches between she/her and he/him, depending whether he's referencing the past or the present. This is something that Hershel does not seem to mind, despite repeatedly saying that he doesn't feel like a mother at all. Their interviews are very gentle, sweet, and mature. The interviews with Aiyyana (an older trans woman) and her adult son are similarly lovely, and perhaps even more so, with her son Jaret intelligently reflecting on his past ignorance and showing great acceptance. "I thought about it, and there's no change other than the physical change, which is immaterial, really," he says, "Nothing has changed. My parent is still my parent, she's my mom... I raised my kids to know their grandma." The documentary ranges from heartwarming to pretty damn sad. Stefonknee, a trans woman, talks about completely losing her family and community because she came out at age 46, leading to homelessness and suicide and exclusion from her own father's funeral. Meanwhile, Jenna (a young trans woman) and Eby (who is pregnant with Jenna's baby) discuss their relationship and lives together, all with the support of Jenna's father. This documentary absolutely shows that no two trans stories are the same. The only downside to purchasing and watching this documentary on Vimeo is that, while the trailer is 720p, the documentary plays at 360p and includes several extra minutes of blank/grey screen. It almost seems like the filmmakers uploaded the wrong file. But the whole film is accessible, the interviews are still incredibly touching, and I don't regret my purchase. You can access the documentary via the link below.

This is an amazing documentary about a White Australian man who postponed his hormonal transition in order to carry his own child. I would really recommend watching, and (surprisingly) this film didn’t trigger my dysphoria at all. I could never do what AJ did, but I admire him so very much for his commitment to being a father.

This is a heartbreaking and lovely look into the lives of two older White Australian trans men, named Dale and Andrew. Dale describes coming out in the late 60s and 70s, and then being confined to a corrective institute by his parents. He was there until he was eighteen, interspersed with periods of homelessness. At the institute, he was forced to wear dresses and would be inspected to ensure he wasn’t wearing shorts below the dresses. If he was found to be wearing shorts, they would be forcibly removed. He was given estrogen to ‘fix’ his FTM identity, while trans girls were given testosterone to 'fix' their MTF identity. Dale also discusses trans male invisibility. When he was trying to transition, the local medical opinion was that the so-called “gender-dysphoria gene" was on the Y chromosome and, according to him, “we spent a lot of time in the eighties waiting for that to change” so that trans men could even be believed to exist. In the modern day, he talks about being refused medical care and being abused in medical settings. Andrew describes being deprived of food by medical staff in 2014, on the basis of his gender identity. These men’s experiences are an important, crucial reminder that trans men are vulnerable to abuse and discrimination– especially as we get older, another topic discussed by Dale and Andrew, relating to receiving aged care. Andrew, a younger man, insists to Dale that he won’t allow Dale to be put into an aged-care home.

Overall, I really enjoyed this documentary. It's so rare to get this extensive an insight into a mature-aged FTM transition. WARNING: This documentary includes graphic, uncensored footage of surgery being performed. Kim, at the beginning of the documentary, is aged 48. We get to see him starting Testosterone, grappling with coming out, and having top surgery. I am so proud of Kim for showing his pre-op chest, especially considering his dysphoria about its size. Later, we get to see Kim swimming shirtless, post-op, and it's such a beautiful moment. Dr. Tony Mangubat, who performed Kim's surgery, is an Asian man. In a very beautiful (but sad) interview, he compared discrimination against trans people to his experience of using “coloured” versus “White” water fountains. I loved seeing his empathy on display. There is some misinformation from gay journalist Dan Savage about phalloplasty and the ability to orgasm, namely that female-to-male bottom surgery options are inherently inferior and unsuccessful. It's worth noting that his opinions are outdated and incorrect. Savage also offers a perspective on coming out which doesn’t take into account abusive families who put trans people in genuinely unsafe (and deadly) situations. He also places the onus on trans people to answer all questions from cis people, even “the average Joe Blow on the street”. I reject that onus, thank you Mr. Savage. Jamison Green (an FTM pioneer) offers a more considered view of coming out to parents and family, and has a beautiful conversation with Kim. Green's interviews are far more valuable, in my opinion, than what Savage has to offer. It's worth noting that Buck Angel is interviewed in this documentary. I stopped following Angel's career a while back, as an FTM transsexual myself, because I found his confrontational and aggressive manner quite anxiety-inducing... and his views have only gotten more extreme since then. However, in this documentary, he is very calm and relatable. He doesn't say anything confrontational at all, and describes feeling positively about the direction that the trans community is heading; having a “glass half full” attitude about the trans movement (an outlook which has clearly changed). He discusses his own experiences with top surgery and choosing not to have bottom surgery, which is definitely valuable for men who feel similarly. Any negative commentary you might associate with Angel isn't included in Finding Kim, so I still highly recommend this film. One comment I will make is that not all trans men, contrary to some of Kim's comments, hate our chests. Not all trans men want surgery, even some trans men with bigger chests. And that is totally okay. One other comment... Kim says that he was inspired by Stone Butch Blues, which is wonderful in itself, but he does label it an FTM book. I would say that's a misinterpretation of who Jess Goldberg is.

NOT YET WATCHED. The bio accompanying this interview begins thusly: "Shannon Minter was born on Valentine’s Day, 1961. He grew up female in a close-knit family and faith community in East Texas. In high school, Shannon came to the conclusion that he was lesbian, and eventually came out to his family as such. After graduating from University of Texas at Austin, Shannon attended Cornell Law School. During his last year there, he began to identify as transgender. He graduated from Cornell in 1993, and in 1996 began transitioning... Shannon has devoted virtually his entire career to the quest for LGBTQ legal equality. Many of his cases have set precedents that safeguard LGBTQ rights."

For my full review, see the link below. Juani Santos Peréz, an older trans man, is one of three trans Cubans interviewed in this documentary. If you are a trans man, I would definitely recommend watching this documentary for Juani's journey. He is a joyful, hard-working, resilient, energetic man who was finally able to access sex reassignment surgery at 61 years of age, at which point he became "Cuba's first transsexual". There is no expiry date on being your true self, gents!

Coby is about trans manhood, and features extensive interviews with a now-deceased White trans man (Jacob), his partner, and his family. The film alternates between modern, feature film-quality footage of himself in his daily life, and archives of video diaries that he took throughout his transition. Viewers get to see him in his youth, with a higher voice and a smaller body, and his subsequent boyhood as he began to grow facial hair and change into a man. I’d definitely recommend this documentary to other trans men, and to families who are trying to adjust. His mother's transphobia was difficult to watch, but very realistic to what many of us face from our own mothers. My hope would be that transphobic mothers might pause before rejecting or attacking their own trans sons, if they see the impact Jacob's mother had on him. Christian Sonderegger, Jacob's brother, directed this documentary, and would later co-write the film A Good Man (2020), with characters based on Jacob's own transition and journey. Having watched A Good Man and absolutely hated it, that does cast this documentary in a slightly odd light, but it's still good in isolation. Especially considering the fact that Jacob has since passed away. It's a gift that we get to see his life in such detail.

REVIEW PENDING. I watched this a while ago and, from memory, it was good but did involve unsafe activities such as weightlifting and playing football/soccer while binding. It’s available for free on Youtube. I believe there is a follow-up documentary exploring the experiences of Fabian and Marino after the conclusion of this film.

Trans men of many different backgrounds, ethnicities, sexualities, and experiences gather for a bodybuilding competition. Man Made doesn't shy away from the realities of being trans, doesn't sugarcoat what it's like to be assigned a gender that you innately can't connect with, but ultimately offers a message of love and acceptance. Everything is discussed: Transitioning, sex, love, work, fitness, family, ethnicity, suicide, depression, euphoria, homelessness, and so much more. Plenty of content warnings apply to this film, but only because the trans director wished to give his interviewees ample chances to share their stories. There is so much wisdom, pride, and complexity in this documentary. WARNING: This documentary includes graphic, uncensored footage of surgery being performed.

This film is shockingly refreshing in its depiction of a cis mother’s relationship with her trans son, Vincent. This is another documentary (partly) about the military but I found it easier to watch, probably because there is less focus on the military itself as the film goes on. I was surprised and delighted, actually, by how involved Vincent’s mother was with his journey. The only point of conflict that was ever discussed was an assumption Vincent had made, when he was a teenager, that he had been born intersex and had secretly been operated on by his parents. With no information about being transgender and in response to gender dysphoria, he built up that fiction in his mind as an explanation of why he felt like a boy, but had to live as a girl. Due to that, he carried a lot of resentment. In retelling the story, he apologises for the resentment he had, and his mother laughs and says that she understands. It’s clear they’ve moved past that difficult time of non-communication. He shows his mother STPs, packers, and prosthetics that he uses, and explains to her the ways in which he has sex. It’s a very open and honest dialogue, one that very few people (cis or trans) have with their parents. It didn’t seem unnatural or forced in the slightest. In fact, very natural and lovely. Vincent’s relationship with his grandmother is also very positive. Vincent’s best friend, another trans man, is also interviewed. He provides insight into life, as a parent who has given birth to three children, and how that impacted his dysphoria and gender certainty. I would definitely recommend this documentary. One caveat, though, is that it’s a very binary perspective on transitioning. This does not bother me in the slightest, in terms of my own personal journey. I empathised with almost everything that Vincent said, particularly his comment that the goal of transitioning is to pass. For me, yes, that was (and is) true. But that is not the case for everybody, so be prepared if you are a trans person for whom passing is not the goal, or even achievable. That said, I still feel that this documentary matters, for those of us with similar journeys to Vincent. WARNING: There is unsafe binding in this film (Vincent binds while lifting weights and exerting himself).

Despite the poor production quality, these are some worthy and insightful interviews with three Black trans men. However, one of the interviewees (Chevy) makes some very questionable comments which warrant deeper discussion. The positive things, first... I really liked Chevy’s response when asked if he identified as a man or as a trans man. He said, if he had to choose between society’s labels for him, he would just choose man. I feel the same way, so I enjoyed this comment. Gino had the same response and also added, “I don’t think anything can singlehandedly define a man. Or masculinity. We are what we know we are. We are what we speak.” I really loved that. I would say that Gino's interviews were my favourite, including a beautiful, considered response to a question about God and whether transitioning is right or wrong. I appreciated Jaye’s discussion about how his needs changed as he transitioned, and the consequences of being outed. When he was still received in society as a stud, he needed his girlfriend to tell her family that he was actually a trans man, but once he was passing as a man, he needed girlfriends to respect his privacy and not out him. Now, the negative stuff... Chevy, after asserting that his journey had been made harder by "fad" trans men who were only transitioning because it "looks good", revealed to the interviewers that he binds with duct tape. This, he said, makes him a "real" trans man, compared to men who don't go to such unsafe lengths. He even said that men who use binders or elastic bandages aren't as "real" as he is. By the logic that he offers in this documentary, another of the interviewees isn’t a “real” trans man because he has an unbound chest beneath his clothes. Any documentary that promotes duct tape chest binding, or even bandage binding, is dangerous. I worry about newly-exploring trans men, or even gender non-conforming women and non-binary people, who might be influenced by Chevy's comments. Binding unsafely, and potentially cracking your ribs, doesn't make you any more "real" than trans men who choose not to do that. I chose not to do that to mysef, pre-surgery, after being seriously harmed by that practice. I didn't become any less "real" by making that choice. Chevy's experience is what it is. It is good that he had the opportunity to speak authentically about his journey. But this documentary presented duct tape chest binding with no warnings, no disclaimers, and certainly no concern for vulnerable viewers.

This one is sweet, genuine, and lovely. Krow Kian, a White male model, documents his journey and his modelling career pre-transition and post-transition. His friends are also interviewed, and they share their own stories. Suicide, self-harm, dysphoria, and other struggles are addressed, but through the lens of a happy ending. Family members interviewed are supportive, and viewers get to see progress beyond early-transition turbulence. I'd definitely recommend this documentary to early-transition men, and to their families. Many steps are shown. Coming out, starting Testosterone, having a mastectomy, having a uterectomy, getting married, etc. I really liked an interview Krow's mother gave, referencing an emotional moment that she had while her son was having surgery. She says, "I sat down, poured myself a drink, and said goodbye to my daughter. Then I poured myself another drink, and said hello to my son." I liked that the mother's grief didn't affect her support for Krow, and that she outwardly advocated for him and supported his decisions, while also nursing her own complex feelings. The concept of grieving your child while they're still alive is a tricky one, because it's so often used as a weapon against trans people, to prevent us from transitioning and make us feel guilty for identities we can't control. That isn't what happens in this documentary. What Krow's mother shows, in a moment of profound maturity, is that it's possible to support and love your child while also commemorating who they used to be. She shows that a sense of loss doesn't mean you've actually lost your child, and you can still be there for them. I liked that this film made space for that nuance, all the while showing Krow being loved, supported, and defended by his mother.

I highly, highly recommend watching this film. With a runtime of less than 20 minutes, it has more worth and emotional weight than many feature documentaries. However, there are some serious trigger warnings to be aware of. The documentary opens with Logan’s morning routine, which involves someone assisting him so that he can wear a binder. We are then shown footage of Logan as a child, pre-transition, while he explains that he was born with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, meaning he's more comfortable and mobile in a wheelchair. He goes on to talk about his gender journey, including realising that he wanted to transition at seventeen years of age. He chats with a hairdresser about being excited to start testosterone, smiling happily as he describes the positive experience of being called a young man. We meet Logan's mother, who goes through childhood pictures with Logan and talks with him about his choice to medically transition. Though she has some concerns and worries about him using testosterone, she says that she supports him and trusts him to make the right choices. Logan discusses how his relationship with his mother has become strained, due to his rejection of femininity and stereotypical mother-daughter bonding activities. One of my favourite parts of this delightful, beautiful, amazing documentary is hearing Logan talk about bonding with his father, and listening to Logan's father talk about his son. Despite never meeting any other trans people prior to his son coming out, he completely supports him. He tears up, beginning to cry as he praises Logan's patience and guidance. Logan, sitting nearby, starts crying as well. Logan discusses being physically and sexually abused by his teacher, when he was only fourteen years of age. He emphasises that he is not trans because of his trauma, and this is echoed by Logan's father, who says, "His coming out as trans is just one facet of who Logan is. Logan is a visible minority, he is a person with a physical disability, he is a person with learning disabilities, he is a survivor." I am so thankful that Logan shared his story, and that cis filmmaker Navid Mashayekhi made this short documentary possible.

Our Baby: A Modern Miracle (2020) follows Jake and Hannah Graf, a trans man and trans woman in a self-described heterosexual marriage. Both of them are White and English. They conceive a child with the help of a surrogate, all the while dealing with lockdowns and the pressure of publicity. Overall, this is a good documentary, but not quite what I expected. I was disappointed by some of Jake Graf’s comments. While discussing pregnancy and surrogacy, he says, "there's nothing men can do that's similar [to] carrying someone's baby for nine months", aside from "wanking into a cup", referencing the donation of sperm. In saying this, he completely disregarded and erased the trans men who do, in fact, choose to become pregnant. I found these cisnormative comments quite bizarre, especially considering the fact that Jake's own frozen reproductive material was used in the surrogacy process, and surely his long career as an activist has educated him about FTM experiences different to his own. Just because he found pregnancy utterly incompatible with his maleness doesn't mean all trans men feel similarly. As he was in conversation with a cis woman when he made such cisnormative comments, I did wonder whether he'd have said such a thing when exclusively in the company of trans people. Either way, I found it disappointing. But maybe I'm misinterpreting without conversational context, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. This isn't the most moving documentary I've ever watched, but it was good. Many aspects of Jake and Hannah's relationship, and their separate lives, are discussed. Jake's struggles with alcohol addiction, family dysfunction, and gender dysphoria are explored. Hannah's father is interviewed, tearing up as he describes being proud of his trans daughter. Jake and Hannah, while filming the documentary and waiting for their surrogate to give birth, go public with their journey and do a news interview. Following this, transphobic social media comments are read out by Hannah, so you should prepare for that. I feel that there should've been more footage of the surrogate herself, and the pregnancy actually occurring. I got the sense, just from watching, that the film crew had been prevented from getting all of the pregnancy-related content they'd desired, due to COVID restrictions. I really wanted to hear the surrogate's feelings about carrying a baby for a trans man and a trans woman, and to get a deeper look at the process of birth. But, much like the Graf couple themselves, viewers are locked out of that process by the pandemic. Even if the birth was never going to be captured on camera (I can definitely understand if the surrogate felt some reluctance in that department), I think the baby could've been more of a focus. This documentary may be more fulfilling for trans women than trans men, as Hannah's anxieties about motherhood are explored more than Jake's feelings. But, even then, we don't get to see how Hannah fares in the raising of her daughter, and whether these anxieties go away. This feels like an unfinished film, if that makes sense.

NOT YET WATCHED. The synopsis is as follows: "A mother interviews her transgender son as they come to their identity, addressing the conflicts, certainties, and uncertainties."

NOT YET WATCHED. Judging from the trailer and synopsis, this is an experimental short documentary narrated by a Jewish trans man, going by the title Scum Boy, commenting on social issues and the nature of humanity. It looks very different to more mainstream explorations of trans identities and experiences.

I was very glad to find this short documentary, because it focusses on a group which is extremely underrepresented in the FTM media I've been able to research and access; Indian trans men. Further, Ya_All FC is the country's first all-FTM football/soccer team, and it's wonderful to see that kind of pioneering effort in any country, especially if that country has restrictive laws which affect trans men. Wahengbam Chaoba, the Captain of the team, speaks about his personal gender journey, including being raised by a father who was supportive of his male identity. He starts crying when discussing his mother's reservations towards his transition, proving how important parental support is, and how crucial FTM-exclusive spaces can be for young trans men without adequate support. When the interviewer asks if Chaoba has found a family in the team, he immediately agrees. "I have found a place to share my story," he elaborates. The founder of the team, a gay man who was motivated by his own isolation and struggles with substance abuse, established a space for trans men after noticing that FTMs were being left behind while trans female visibility was bolstered by HIV awareness movements. The purpose of the team goes beyond simply playing football, with the main goals being equity and social justice. I loved hearing that a primary goal was to turn young trans men into the next generation of leaders.

(Also titled The Second Puberty of Trans Men.) This is a lovely documentary short where trans men are interviewed about their experiences of finally feeling comfortable in their bodies. One trans man laughs as he recalls being surprised by the growth of arse hair. Several men describe the process of testosterone (and transitioning overall) being less linear than they had expected, with changes ebbing and flowing throughout the years. The word cl*t is used by one trans man to reference his bottom growth so, if that will make you dysphoric, proceed with caution. If you're sensitive to needle use, you should be aware that uncensored footage of a testosterone injection is shown.

This is a very sweet, sensitive documentary short. The synopsis is as follows: "Spring 2021 is a season of transformation for ex-dancer Jack López – a nonbinary, transmasculine parent of four children. Starting testosterone at 43 and readying himself for top surgery, it is a period of huge physical change, but Diego, Frida, Issac and Emilia see Jack as “mummy” whether he has a moustache or not. M(OTHER)HOOD shows an unfiltered but fragmentary perspective of the parent, using the children’s art, cinematography, and words to gain privileged access to their domestic sphere." It can be watched as part of The San Francisco Transgender Film Festival 2022 screening, available (at the time of writing) via the below link, starting at 0:31:51.

NOT YET WATCHED. I am really, really eager to view this documentary, but I can’t find it anywhere. If you have any information on that front, and especially if you know of any links to the full film, please get in contact! The synopsis is as follows: "Iran is the only country in the region to recognise trans people (any other LGBQ+ identity is banned). Both Shervin and Saman offer a glimpse into what life is like for trans youth, who despite loving and supportive parents are forced to live covert lives, shy away from their neighbours and even consider emigration, in order to be who they truly are. One of the many heartrending scenes in this documentary features one of the boys, fully clothed on the beach and yearning to go swimming, while the other shouts at his parents, asking whether his father is also forced to wear a headscarf. This is Not Me is a detailed depiction of the legal and social labyrinth that promises a slim aperture of freedom." Saeed Gholipour, the director, said the following about this documentary: "What drew me to this issue was the community's ignorance of the transgender community. Many trans people in Iran have fallen victim to traditional thinking and have been murdered or expelled from society... The lack of culture about trans people encouraged me to make a film about their lives, and after three years of filming the lives of Saman and Sherwin, I portrayed the process of their lives."

Kai Clancy, the subject of this documentary short, has long been an advocate for First Nations gender-diverse people. For those of us who have seen his videos in the past, when he was much younger, it is wonderful to witness him as his bearded, older self. This short film opens with the words of Kai’s father. He says, “Kai is a strong First Nation warrior. Wakka Wakka, Wulli Wulli.” He goes on to say, “Amongst our tribe, the wedge-tailed eagle is one of our totems. It means guardian and keeper of the law, for family and language. And Kai does that well. He is a great warrior.” It was so beautiful to hear Kai’s father speaking those words, and to watch as he ceremonially painted Kai. Kai speaks about his relationship with his culture, how his gender is received by his community, his marriage and relationship, and his transition. All in all, a very sweet and sensitive portrayal that I wish was longer!

If you’re looking for representation of Black trans men, this series is a must! I’ve watched the first episode so far, and it’s already clear to me that this casual chat-focussed documentary series offers dialogue and insights usually lacking in FTM representation. I was particularly heartened to see that Ja'Mel A Ware and his partner Alphonso Mills are among the cast. Ware discusses carrying Mills' child as a trans man, what it's like to be HIV-positive, and the amount that he and his husband have had to defend their family. He talks about the importance of having a queer-identifying OBGYN who fought for him, the impact of untrained receptionist staff on his birthing experience, and the pregnancy scares along the way. While I'm yet to watch the rest of the documentary series, I really identify with the language used by interviewees in episode 1. I describe myself as being "born female", similarly to interviewee Nick Devereux, and have found a lot of freedom and validation in that description. Speaking that way about myself has allowed me to accept my female-to-male transsexual identity and be at peace with my female past, whereas labels like AFAB didn't really resonate with me on a personal level (although I absolutely recognise the value of such a label). The great thing about documentaries such as this is that the speakers are real trans men who are using their own words, resulting in a diversity of self-identification and labelling. In a confronting, intensely sad interview, Shon Jackson discusses being molested by his brother, and the trauma he still endures as a result. We live in a world where men, especially Black and trans men, struggle to seek support and speak out after experiencing sexual violence. Recognising that, I'm so thankful to Jackson for speaking his truth. If watching Jackson's interview triggers any bad memories for you, I recommend checking out 1in6.org, which is a site dedicated to supporting male survivors. You're not alone. For any religious/spiritual viewers, you may connect with the documentary's discussions of the bible, religion, and faith. As an atheist, I was pretty unmoved, although I do love the community solidarity and personal liberation the interviewees have found within their religion. If you are located in the USA, or have a USA VPN, you can watch the series via the below link.

Lou Sullivan was a White, American, transsexual man who was both an FTM pioneer and a gay activist. In these interviews, Sullivan discusses transitioning and fighting for the rights of gay trans people, which was a controversial concept in an age when all trans individuals were expected to be heterosexual. He also discusses his childhood, transition, and all aspects of his private life. To get some perspective on the work done by previous generations, to fight for the right to self-identify in any way preferred, I would highly recommend giving this series a watch. Thank you to Kasper for reaching out and providing this resource! These interviews are groundbreaking. Hearing Sullivan's voice and story is so important.​ Trans men are often erased from retellings of trans history, but we've always been here, and we've always made an impact. Many people have spoken up to credit Lou Sullivan's accomplishments, including FTM activist Max Wolf Valerio, who said, "Lou was a writer and capable of standing up for what he saw as truth. He was a gay transsexual man, before this was even allowed or recognized. He is also the person who helped to change that, and now—being gay is no longer an issue if you want to begin transition." A very America/Western-centric statement, certainly, but Sullivan's impact should be recognised regardless.

This documentary follows three Japanese people, one of them a medically-transitioning trans man, as they work in an LGBT bar. Gender identity, sexuality, and complicated relationships to gender roles are discussed in honest, unflinching interviews. All three interviewees identify as onabe (alternatively spelled onnabe), which is a diverse term for trans men and "women who live as men", including people who might be known in western discourse as non-binary individuals or butch lesbians. Shinjuku Boys is a wonderful film that, while sad at many points, is an enriching insight into a unique trans culture. I highly recommend it. This is a part of FTM history that should be more widely appreciated. Shinjuku Boys presents a beautifully complex portrait of the participants' gender– a complexity that is lacking in many Western documentaries. Kumi, a trans woman and drag queen who goes by she/her, is a partner of Kazuki, one of the onabe-identifying guys who are central to the film. She explains their relationship by saying, “He’s a woman who likes women, I’m a man who likes men, so we understand each other.” A simplistic, Western interpretation might view such a statement as ‘misgendering’, but that would do a disservice to the unique glimpse into Japanese gender variance we’re afforded by this wonderful documentary. Gaish, one of the main interviewees, describes feeling trapped by his cultural reality, saying that an ex-girlfriend of his would’ve been “an outcast” if she’d committed to living her life alongside him. “It was better for her to marry and lead a normal life,” he says, “rather than be with me. That’s what I thought. So we split up.” He goes on to explain that this experience has permanently impacted him; “By law, I’m alone. If I think about that, where’s the fun in living? If I think about it, I wish I’d never been born.” The whole documentary isn’t as heartbreaking as that scene, with Tatsu (a hormonally-transitioning man) describing a much happier romantic situation, but it’s important to acknowledge the intimacy and vulnerability we’re afforded in the more sobering moments of Shinjuku Boys. The worth of this documentary cannot be overstated. Tatsu describes being happy in his body, and the first time he was ever naked with a woman. His partner describes being pressured by her family to seek out a male partner who can give her a baby, but says that she loves Tatsu and doesn't wish to be with anyone else. It's a beautiful conversation, especially considering the year in which it was filmed. WARNING: Includes the use of unsafe chest binders.

One thing that deeply disappointed me about Gendernauts: A Journey Through Shifting Identities was a discussion about Brandon Teena, wherein a gender-variant person claimed that they couldn't know how Brandon Teena identified, because he was dead and therefore couldn't be asked. This betrayed a willing ignorance of Brandon's identity, and a determination to ignore his own words. In The Brandon Teena Story (a deeply-distressing documentary released one year before Gendernauts), several interviewees insisted that Brandon identified and lived as a man, and wished only to be known as a male. One of Brandon’s ex-girlfriends, when interviewed, said, “he just wanted everybody to know him as always having being a man”. Another of his ex-girlfriends described him rejecting the idea that his relationships were lesbian, insisting instead that they were straight, because he was a man. Brandon, according to testimonies, would say that he had begun sex change surgeries, to make people believe in the legitimacy of his male identity. Therefore, I was disappointed that a gender-variant person in Gendernauts made an art project speculating about Brandon’s gender, and treating Brandon as a fictional character. It felt invasive, much in the same way that cis people refused to take Brandon’s maleness at face value. The motive seemed to be to use Brandon, in death, as a platform to project the artist’s own non-binary experience, rather than respecting Brandon's binary maleness. That said, I do somewhat recognise the value in Gendernauts. I enjoyed interviews with trans men, ally doctors, and an intersex non-binary person who was particularly articulate and expressive. One of the interviewees I was most impressed by was a woman of colour, named Chrystal Weston, who worked for the DA’s Office as an advocate for LGBT people. I really liked that her education about transgender people included, in her words, transsexuals, transvestites, and both pre-op and post-op individuals. A very progressive understanding for the time. This documentary definitely gave me mixed feelings. I didn’t like that a trans female interviewee compared all trans people to cyborgs, as part of the “genderfuckery” theme underlying the whole film. I found it dehumanusing and invalidating of my own binary male identity. Plus, one of the interviewees (a cis woman) shamelessly misgendered a trans man. Her key reason for doing so was that he still had a vagina. Overall, this film is not for binary trans men. The disrespect shown to Brandon Teena is enough to make that clear. I found many of the non-binary interviewees genuinely interesting, but that interest wasn't enough to compensate for the way my own identity was treated.

In this documentary, the family of Kade (a White trans boy) is extensively intervewied, as is Kade himself. Kade's mother and grandmother refer to Kade with she/her pronouns and also by his deadname, but have very different perspectives on the legitimacy of his identity. Kade's grandmother is very concerned and distressed by her grandson's journey, whereas Kade's mother is very supportive despite using the incorrect name and pronouns (a contradition attributable to the family's broader social context). Kade's father, on the other hand, consistently uses the correct name and pronouns. While outdated in some respects, this is still a very sweet short documentary, and a precious glimpse into a snippet of FTM history. Kade's mother describes connecting with trans support groups, and having her worldview reframed by the generosity of others. We witness a trans march and get to meet Kade's supportive friends, including two very sweet and open-minded cis boys that stick up for him. We also meet Anna, Kade's girlfriend. Kade's father details his son’s immense struggle with puberty, describing Kade as “virtually suicidal” in response to his first period. This, he goes on to say, “really cemented and confirmed” the reality of his son’s transgender identity. Kade's mother goes with him to a doctor's appointment where he receives an injection as part of his puberty blocker treatment (with each shot costing $1100), and holds his hand while he gets the shot. When he is older, she does his testosterone injections. It is apparent that Kade is very close with his mother, regardless of how she refers to him. Kade's sister is far less accepting, and is quite self-centred about Kade's transition. She complains that she had already "established" herself in school when Kade became a freshman, and how irritated she became by the idea that she might have to "stick up for" Kade. Such a burden!

This documentary features drag kings of all kinds. Some are women who do drag for political/social reasons, rather than being motivated by gender. One is a self-described butch who also identifies as trans, recounting a childhood where he identified as a boy, empathising with Brandon Teena and describing similar experiences of small town violence. One mixed-race trans king describes a queer upbringing, with a crossdressing bisexual father and a lesbian mother, and meditates on the complexities of gender and ethnicity and class. I really enjoyed interviews with Mildred/Dréd, a Black king who offered a rare and very nuanced look into her life and identity. One king's daughter criticises her mother's portrayal of men, and takes issue with the stereotyping of men as inherently aggressive and bad. Many viewers may feel similarly about some aspects of the kings' routines. Regardless, this documentary is valuable. People of all ethnicities, backgrounds, sexualities, and genders are interviewed, including a non-binary person who is transitioning on testosterone, and trans men who have affirmed themselves medically. Trans guys are shown using STPs, discussing intimate transition experiences, and displaying bottom growth images. This definitely isn’t a documentary which prioritises trans men such as myself. As a female-to-male transsexual who feels utterly disconnected from his assigned gender, I don’t see myself in most of the interviewees. But I love witnessing the diversity which has always existed in female-born masculine spaces and, while I didn't agree with some of the views expressed, I'm glad I bought the film. WARNING: Includes seriously unsafe chest binding with duct tape and bandages. Please see the chest binding page for more information.

For my full review, see the link below. This is a fascinating, confronting, historically-important documentary about the Aggressive community. I highly recommend watching it.

NOT YET WATCHED. Produced by the United Church of Christ, this documentary is about a White trans man named Malcolm, and sounds extremely progressive. The plot, as outlined on the United Church of Christ’s website, is as follows: "Call Me Malcolm is an amazing story of the human spirit and God’s spirit, and the liberating struggle to realize and express with confidence the marvelous gift of one’s truest sense of self. As Malcolm shares his own story and through the stories of others we meet, Call Me Malcolm offers us a glimpse into the real lives of real people who are transgender. But it is only a glimpse. There are many stories to be told and Malcolm helps us make connections to our own stories, encouraging us to share them. That can seem daunting in a culture which has done more to heap shame on persons who identify as transgender. The good news of Malcolm’s story is the way in which shame and fear are overcome by grace, compassion and knowledge. Viewers cannot help but come to a deeper understanding of faith, love, and gender identity, and by doing so, arrive at a deeper understanding of their own journey."

Legacy of the Imam: Iran's Transsexual Support Society is a fascinating, but unfortunately short, window into the world of transsexual Iranians. Amir Ali, a trans man, is interviewed alongside other transsexuals who are at different points in their journeys. "I've had boyish mannerisms since the age of two or three," he says, "When I first told my family, I was 21 years old. At first, my father was upset, but mainly because he felt that it would not be accepted in this society. But right now, my family has accepted it completely. I have received a permit, and I am ready for my operation." When asked whether he wants to undergo sex change surgeries in Iran or another country, he confirms that he wishes to transition in his own country, saying, "I am extremely proud of being Iranian." At the beginning of the short film, Mohammad Mahdi Kariminiya is interviewed. He is a student and professor who is authoring a thesis on the "religious and legal dimensions of a sex change". He argues that, since homosexuality is strictly forbidden but transitioning a person's sex characteristics is not, transsexualism should be permitted and considered separate from homosexuality. Maryam Khatoon Molkara, a trans woman and the first Iranian to receive a permit for affirming surgery, stresses the importance of blending into society and abiding by Iranian laws, namely that a trans person should "act properly". She and another trans woman discuss rejecting interested men on the basis that, if a trans woman were to be in such a relationship before undergoing surgical affirmation, she would be considered a homosexual and would therefore be committing a crime. I try to be very open-minded when I watch documentaries about trans communities in countries which are vastly different to my own, which is why I am so eager to watch This Is Not Me, a 2022 documentary about two Iranian trans men, that will allow a more modern view into the world of Iranian gender-diverse communities. I am eager to learn more about Iran, especially considering my status as a female-to-male transsexual who is also living the life of a gay man. I am acutely aware that, according to all the information I can find, my identity would not be allowed in Iran. What Legacy of the Imam offers, for a curious and knowledge-hungry Westerner like myself, is a glimpse into the lives of people who have pride and respect for their society, regardless of how that society persecutes and criminalises gay desires. I want to know much, much more about such people's experiences. You can watch the short film via the link below.

NOT YET WATCHED. The synopsis is as follows: “Austin, a deaf man born female, undergoes a double mastectomy to complete his transition of becoming male.”

NOT YET WATCHED. Available for free on Youtube. It's about two trans men, Tom and Scott, who wish for a biological child after already adopting two children. Scott carries the pregnancy.

In this documentary, trans men of many different backgrounds are interviewed, including mixed-race men, Black men, gay men, straight men, etc. The main topic of conversation is sex, including how interviewees' orientations have evolved alongside their bodies. It is absolutely an explicit documentary, and uncensored footage of trans men having sex is shown. So, obviously, it's for adults only. This is a Buck Angel production. Though this documentary preceded his extremely combatative and aggressive views, Angel still labels the term "cisgender" as being somehow "politically correct" (whatever that means), and confronts an FTM interviewee about the use of such language, which I found uncomfortable and quite ridiculous. This documentary is definitely outdated, too, when it comes to discussions of bottom surgery and how functional genitals are after such procedures. As a female-to-male transsexual myself, who is very intimidated by Buck Angel and the way he engages with others, I absolutely understand why many people wouldn't want to watch this documentary. He's said many things that I do not agree with, especially recently. His rhetoric gets more and more alarmist with every passing day and I do not feel comfortable supporting him. That's a personal choice everyone gets to make, based on his modern-day comments. Sexing the Transman, whatever its faults, is nowhere near as hostile as Angel's more recent Twitter/Youtube activities, certainly at the time of writing. There were some awesome interviews in Sexing the Transman that are really revolutionary, especially for 2011. Notably awesome, for me personally, were interviews with two trans men (Sean and Dan) in an ethically non-monogamous relationship. It was really cool to witness the pair's sexual energy and romance, and to see a t4t relationship that included a plus-size bear and a bloke who was non/pre-top surgery. Overall, the production quality is not great, and the editing is very poor. But I can see how this may have transformed the lives of trans men who watched it in 2011. Nowadays, if you would like to access inclusive, high-quality, trans-positive adult films with racially diverse performers, I'd rather recommend Crash Pad Series episodes instead. That'd probably be a better use of your money. I've included a link to their site below... while affirming, groundbreaking, and amazing, it is an adults-only space! You need to be 18 or older to watch Crash Pad Series episodes. They recommend www.scarleteen.com for young people seeking sex education.

REVIEW PENDING. I have a lot of complicated feelings about certain interviews and scenes in this film. Warnings aplenty. There are some great interviews with Masen Davis and Jamison Green, two FTM pioneers, and I liked excerpts of a speech that Zander Keig gave as part of his Phalloplasty educational talk. I wish we knew more about Yavante Thomas-Guess, a trans man of colour who is interviewed too.

NOT YET WATCHED. Self-Made Man explores the experiences and transition of Tony Ferriaolo, and follows his work as an advocate for trans youths.

Passing: Profiling the Lives of Young Transmen of Color (2015) features interviews with three men. Their names are Victor Thomas, Lucah Rosenberg Lee, and Sasha Alexander. They discuss invisibility, transitioning, sexuality, relationships, and feeling erased within LGBT+ spaces. It is an absolutely wonderful short documentary that I highly recommend watching. Everybody should connect with the insights that these men can offer, no matter your gender or sexuality or ethnicity. Trans men are historically (and currently) very erased, and this is especially an issue for trans men of colour. This documentary is an efficient and eloquent way to push back against that erasure, and dismantle limited rhetoric about what being trans looks like, and who has a voice in trans spaces. Trans men of colour, and all trans men, deserve to take up space and be listened to.

In this documentary, Naveen Bhat talks about their journey and hardships. As a non-binary teenager, they were illegally detained by their abusive parents in India, but fled with the assistance of their partner, their partner's family, and Indian LGBT activists. They talk about the physical and emotional abuse meted out by their parents, and particularly by their mother, so this short documentary is clearly confronting. But it's also very sweet, with Madi (Naveen's partner) and Madi's parents sheltering Naveen in the USA. It's clear that Madi's parents don't entirely understand Naveen's non-binary identity, but they hug Naveen and insist on protecting them regardless. Rituparna Borah, a queer feminist activist in New Delhi, refers to Naveen with he/him/his pronouns while discussing evacuating Naveen from India. It's not clear whether Naveen was previously using those pronouns or whether they are being misgendered in Borah's interview. Justice Vikramajit Sen, of the Supreme Court of India, speaks firmly and positively about the human rights of trans people, which I very much enjoyed. In a very touching moment, Naveen reacts with a delighted smile when they receive their first testosterone shot. Their partner is sitting next to them, a hand on their shoulder, supporting them while the nurse explains how a testosterone injection works. Overall, this is a very important and touching short film.

NOT YET WATCHED. The bio accompanying this interview begins thusly: "Kylar William Broadus was born on August 28, 1963 in Fayette, Missouri... Early on, Kylar experienced gender dysphoria. While his mother sought to protect her daughter by encouraging feminine mannerisms and dress, Kylar’s dad seemed to intuitively grasp that Kylar was, on some deep level, a boy... In the mid-1990s, after informing his employer about his gender transition, Kylar’s work environment became increasingly unwelcoming and unsupportive. After being forced to resign, and having realized it was (and still is) completely legal in Missouri for his company to discriminate based on gender, Kylar began a long, committed journey to use the court system for his own protection and on behalf of other trans people. He helped develop federal, state and local protections for people regardless of their gender identity or gender expression. His many scholarly articles on transgender advocacy in family and employment law have fundamentally shaped academic and legal discussions of gender. In 2010, Kylar founded the Trans People of Color Coalition (TPOCC) to fill a gap in the private and non-profit sectors. And in 2012, Kylar became the first openly transgender person to testify before the U.S. Senate in support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)."

Don't be fooled- this isn't just a documentary about clothing! It's about so much more than that. Filmmakers take the time to interview a range of trans people, who have different identities and are at varying stages of their transitions. Family life, transitioning, employment difficulties, gender dysphoria, and a huge range of subjects are discussed. The majority of the interviewees are transgender men and transmasculine people. Mental health, suicidal ideation, and bigotry are discussed, but nothing graphic or too confronting; just people sharing their life stories and struggles. One interviewee reclaims the f-slur, so if that will be upsetting for you, be prepared for that. A trans man is filmed as he goes in for his hysterectomy, and is interviewed while sitting in his hospital bed. Fair warning, he uses potentially dysphoria-inducing anatomical terms for his organs and genitalia. Overall, I'd say this is a pretty positive and diverse film! And I liked that the documentary concluded with praise and adoration of masculinity. That's shockingly rare in LGBT+ discourse, lately. It was nice to watch something which reminded me that being masculine is wonderful.

This documentary is pretty tough to watch, because unaccepting cis family members are allowed long monologues that involve misgendering Zo and using his deadname. That said, their perspectives are balanced out by scenes where Zo talks about what he went through, and is currently going through (good and bad). The film feels messy, upsetting, difficult, and complicated in a way that is very authentic to the early-transition stages. I wouldn’t call it a cautionary tale, in the typical sense of the term, but it is a very unvarnished look at the ways a family can react when a trans man begins his journey. Ultimately, the documentary ends on a positive note, and you’re not left feeling depressed or hopeless. I almost view the film as gentle warning to early/pre-transition guys, who might not know what to expect from their family members, and may not be able to see beyond conflict to the more accepting feelings that cis people might struggle to express. If you're in the mood for a sweeter, more comforting look at the early-transition period, I'd suggest watching Krow's TRANSformation instead. (Krow's mother mourns privately, while also actively supporting her son.) That being said, I'm always in support of films that show the journeys of trans men of colour, and that's what Change in the Family is.

This bonkers series is six episodes long. It follows best friends Twiz and Tuck as they embark on a chaotic, unpredictable roadtrip. Twiz is a masculine gender-variant person with Tourette's syndrome. Tuck is a trans man with a past career in adult films, who loves adopting dogs. They are both white. The series oscillates between crass, explicit jokes and activities, and softer, more meditative scenes. They talk about finding family beyond your biological relatives, affirming yourself through surgery, and being in the grey area between (and outside of) male and female. This documentary really allows the personalities of the interviewees to shine through, and is the furthest thing you can imagine from the sanitised, one-dimensional, stereotypical depictions of transmasculinity that movies like 3 Generations offer. The final episodes include some heartbreaking moments, particularly when Twiz discusses his father's transphobia and hostility.

NOT YET WATCHED. An autobiographical documentary about Jason Barker, a trans man, and his decision to carry a child. Reportedly, the documentary shows 15 years of Barker's life, beyond just the pregnancy.

This is a good documentary, and I say that as someone who has deeply negative relationship with the army. TransMilitary captures a key moment in history, and a struggle to defend the professional and personal worth of trans people who are discriminated against for no justifiable reason. If you believe in the mission of the military, you will likely be more moved by this documentary than I was, but even I was emotionally affected by the interviewees' struggles and victories. I am very glad this documentary exists, and I recognise its value. Beyond the reasons I struggled to watch this documentary, there are scenes which are undeniably beautiful. A trans man's deeply faithful mother describes seeking out a religious leader within her community and begging for guidance, and being told to love and cherish her son by that same religious leader. A trans woman's colleague defends her and recognises her plight. Senior officials take trans people's struggles seriously. Allies appear where they aren't expected. Cis friends passionately reject the oft-repeated cynicism about trans genitals, declaring that they don't need to see a woman's vagina to know that she's "really" a woman. A trans woman's wife tells the story of their relationship, and how they stayed together. Whether the military is good or not... that's an entirely different matter, I suppose.

In this documentary, Brit Fryer (a trans man of colour) reconnects with his ex (a White trans man) and creates an art project where they relive their earliest meetings and explore old conversations. It's a very unique and different approach, where the making of the documentary and the artistic process is part of the film itself. It's really fascinating and gorgeous to listen to these men telling stories of how their relationship ended, both men having conflicting memories of certain events, hugging each other tightly in response to a rekindled emotional connection. It's so humanising and real.

NOT YET WATCHED. The synopsis is as follows: "Best friends Jack (a trans man) and Yaya (a trans woman) celebrate their 30th year of friendship in their hometown in South Jersey alongside an eclectic crew of extended family and neighbors." This looks devastatingly sweet. Please go ahead and watch the trailer if you want to see cis family members sticking up their trans relatives. I know I'm gonna be watching this documentary as soon as possible. It looks gorgeous and very real.

Seahorse: The Dad Who Gave Birth is very beautiful and is wonderfully filmed, if a little slow-paced for my taste. It is a unique and very special look into the journey of a White British trans man who chose to carry his own child. I would personally recommend From Daddy's Tummy over Seahorse, but it's still an important and touching production.

Rather than a straightforward documentary about a historical figure, much of No Ordinary Man features auditions where trans guys read a script and put themselves forward as candidates for the role of Billy Tipton. It's not clear whether this hypothetical film will actually be made. No Ordinary Man tries to walk the line between this odd premise and a genuinely insightful commentary on transmasculinity and trans manhood. Much of the time it succeeds, although I think it's somewhat bogged down by the strange approach it took. I found it weird that many of the guys auditioning to play Tipton did not look like him in the slightest. But I think the inclusion of drastically different trans guys is more of a statement about FTM diversity than accurately portraying Tipton. All that being said, this is a film that features heaps of trans guys at many different stages of their transitions. It is unparalleled in terms of what it offers for our community. Marquise Vilson, Amos Mac, Scott Turner Schofield, Jamison Green, and Ryan Cassata are among the cast. Billy Tipton Jr. is interviewed, and he is very affirming of his father's identity.​ One thing is for certain; if filmmakers say they can't find trans male actors, No Ordinary Man is evidence that they just didn't try!

NOT YET WATCHED. The synopsis is as follows: "Real boys skinny-dip, fight with swords and learn to masturbate together. At least that's how the two young transgender men in 'Silence and Swords' imagine boyhood. With a tent and a slightly cliché list of all the things they need to experience, they explore male identity in the vast wilderness of Northern Europe. This educational journey puts their friendship to the test, and forces them into a modern existential battle."

NOT YET WATCHED. The bio accompanying this interview begins thusly: "Jude Patton was born in St. Louis, Missouri, assigned female at birth, and adopted at seven months old. Perhaps because his parents had experienced difficulty having children, they always treated Jude and his brother “like gold,” which in Jude’s case meant defending him as a teen when he cut his hair short and wore masculine clothing... Although Jude was a star student and a natural at sports, one high school PE teacher gave him an “F” because he refused to shower at school in the gendered bathrooms. Jude complained to the State Superintendent of Schools, which led to an investigation of his school; in retaliation, the school used the investigation to harass Jude further. This early experience of both transphobia and activism would herald things to come... He got gender-affirming surgery at Stanford University in 1972, one of the first trans men to do so. Almost immediately afterwards, he resumed the education he’d put on hold, becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Psychiatric Physician’s Assistant, and a certified Sex Educator and Sex Therapist."

NOT YET WATCHED. The synopsis is as follows: “A 45 year old Xicane trans man returns to his hometown, Albuquerque, New Mexico in search of the origin of a secret code he learned when he identified as a young dyke in the 1980s. The Whistle tells the story of a secret code created by and shared among young lesbians in 1970s & 80s Albuquerque, New Mexico as a means of self-identification and finding community.” The trailer, viewable via the link below, looks very sweet!

NOT YET WATCHED. Before I include the bio which accompanies this interview, you should know that it describes pregnancy, stillbirth, and incestuous child sexual abuse. Being a survivor is a large part of Lewis' story, as is his faith, advocacy, and experiences with cancer. The bio begins thusly: "Yoseñio Lewis was born in October 1959 in Newport, Rhode Island. A transgender man and Latino of African descent, he is also a trans rights activist, educator and musician. From the age of five, Yoseñio was sexually abused by five relatives, resulting in him becoming pregnant at age 13. He only found out about the pregnancy when he started haemorrhaging blood in his school’s Science class. Sadly, his daughter was delivered stillborn. This traumatic event had a profound impact on Yoseñio and he continues to commemorate his daughter to this day... It wasn’t until he was 33 that Yoseñio came out as FTM after a friend told him, “You’re trans.” Yoseñio denied it at the time but eventually realized that his friend was correct after attending support meetings and reading the FTM Newsletter. He was so overjoyed about finally having language for his experience that he told everyone, including strangers on the bus. Amidst the trauma he has faced in his life, Yoseñio remains a powerful voice for transgender rights. He has been recognized for his activism and contributions to the community, including being one of the inaugural members of the Trans 100 List."

This is a wonderful, relaxed conversation between 73 year-old FTM pioneer Jamison Green and 31 year-old Jaden Fields. I adore this video. I could watch it over and over again. I wish it was longer! I get the sense that a lot of conversation was cut to make the video shorter and more digestible, which I think is a genuine shame. This is a precious piece of FTM history. Jamison Green, a White bisexual trans man, speaks of his experience as an older man and the transition from a largely stealth FTM community to a more open community, and the complicated feelings that accompany such a change. Jaden Fields, identified as a trans man and a Black femme transboi on various social media profiles, talks about discovering his community and overcoming trauma.

The synopsis is as follows: "Profiles of two transitioning people attempt to answer if transgenderism is a choice or if some of us are simply born into the wrong bodies." I mean, I think we know the answer! But I get the sense that this was made with cis audiences in mind, potentially seeking to change hearts and minds, and I do see the value of a trans-positive documentary with such a description. One of the interviewees is Jessie, who was previously Jessica, and is transitioning hormonally with testosterone.

NOT YET WATCHED. The synopsis is as follows: "Marvin is a trans man living in Sweden, in a long-term marriage with his partner Ivan and their two children. His unexpected separation from his homeland for several months, as well as the slowing down of the entire process of physical and legal sex change during the COVID19 pandemic, intensifies the coexistence between partners and offspring, relationships with relatives and closest co-workers. The period of muted timelessness offers the film's protagonists a space to provide mutual support, acceptance of Marvin's gender identity, and a redefinition of roles within the family. Writing LGBTQ+ novels in which Marvin has created a male alter ego has played an essential role in his discovery and experience of his trans authenticity." In the trailer, Marvin mentions his mother's intense transphobia, and discusses her assertions that his transition amounts to selfishness and self-harm. NOTE: This documentary, as far as I can tell, is completely unrelated to Un Homme Heureux (2023), a fictional film which translates to A Happy Man and focusses on an FTM transition. They were released in the same year and titled the same thing, apparently by coincidence.

In this documentary short, a trans man named Neal and his daughter talk about Neal's decision to transition in his sixties. Among other things, he discusses the complexity of being attracted to lesbians, his struggle with internalised misandry, regretting not making changes earlier, and not communicating with his daughter enough throughout his journey.