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Alike, a butch played by American actress Adepero Oduye, in the film Pariah. She is sitting in a bus, looking out the window with a neutral expression. She is wearing a cap and a striped t-shirt. She has dark skin and dark brown eyes.

Pariah

Film
2011
United States of America
Alike, a butch played by American cis female actress Adepero Oduye, embraces her masculinity and attraction to women, in defiance of her bigoted and violent mother.

Trailer.


Available Summary:

"A Brooklyn teenager juggles conflicting identities and risks friendship, heartbreak, and family in a desperate search for sexual expression." -IMDb.


Jack's Summary:

To be clear: This is not a trans male film! But I feel it's important to include here, because the protagonist's journey will likely reassure some gender-questioning visitors to this site that, yes, there are people like you in the world. If you're trying to figure out who you are, this film will give you a window into Masculine-of-Centre (MoC), Boi, Stud, and Aggressive (AG) expression, and you may find yourself there.

Alike, a butch played by American actress Adepero Oduye, in the film Pariah. She is standing indoors, looking down with a neutral or sad expression, wearing a button-down pink sweater. She has a short, closely-cropped black afro, dark brown skin, and dark brown eyes. Captions visible in the image say, "This isn't me."
Alike, pressured into dressing differently.

Alike (pronounced ah-lee-kay), the protagonist of Pariah, expresses herself masculinely when able to, and is intensely uncomfortable when made to wear feminine clothing. When forced to wear a skirt and a pink shirt, she insists, "this isn't me". Throughout the film she tries to figure out who she is, and tries to live authentically despite an intensely homophobic mother who ultimately becomes physically violent when Alike stands up for herself.

Alike, a butch played by American actress Adepero Oduye, in the film Pariah. She is sitting indoors, looking at someone who is slightly visible in the blurred foreground. She is crying, her expression sad. She has black hair braided backward, dark skin, dark brown eyes, and a swollen cheekbone. She is wearing a black-and-white shirt. A corkboard with paper stuck to it is behind her.
Alike, scarred from her mother's violence.

There are certainly many warnings which apply to this film. Another AG is sexually harassed by men as Alike's father watches without comment, Alike faces merciless bullying and eventual physical abuse from her mother, and a minor character struggles with internalised lesbophobia. Additionally, the phrase "he-she dyke" is used to attack a masculine-presenting lesbian. Regardless, this is a beautiful and profoundly important film that deserves more widespread appreciation, with incredible acting, a happy ending, and nuanced characters. You just need to prepare yourself before watching.

There are so many complex identities in this world. There are lesbians who identify as transmasculine. There are butches who affirm themselves through low doses of testosterone, and sometimes even top surgery (including a butch in this video, and many butches photographed by Butch Is Not A Dirty Word). There is so much beauty and nuance beyond being a binary trans man, which does happen to be my label and where I have found my pride. If you don't see yourself in films about trans men, don't give up! See if you recognise yourself in Pariah.

Entry last updated:

8 Feb 2026

Please share this website with others, if you find it educational or helpful, so that we can increase awareness and visibility of trans male and transmasculine media.

Thank you so much to the trans men and gender-diverse people who have reached out with recommendations. Now that my health is better, I am working on the site again. Thank you for your patience!

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