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Kim, an American trans man, is interviewed as he begins testosterone and has top surgery in his 40s, with other trans men interviewed as well. Finding Kim Documentary 2016 United States of America Kim, an American trans man, is interviewed as he begins testosterone and has top surgery in his 40s, with other trans men interviewed as well. Available Summary: Filmmaker Aaron Bear follows three years in the life of a transgender man as he transitions from female-to-male. -Apple TV. Jack's Summary: Overall, I really enjoyed this documentary. It's so rare to get this extensive an insight into a middle-aged FTM transition. 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-American man. In a very beautiful (but sad) interview, he compared discrimination against trans people to his experience of racism. I loved his empathy. There is some misinformation from cis 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 It's worth noting that his opinions are outdated and incorrect. I recommend the book Top to Bottom, a Memoir and Personal Guide Through Phalloplasty if you're seeking an accurate and balanced perspective on female-to-male bottom surgery. Don't listen to Savage. There is a lot of stigma against phalloplasty, and trans male bottom surgery overall, and Savage happily perpetuates that. Savage also offers a perspective on coming out which doesn’t take into account abusive families who put trans people in genuinely unsafe (and even 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 in Finding Kim. Jamison Green (a trans male 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 in this documentary. 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 (beyond disagreeing with some of his views) I found his confrontational and aggressive manner quite anxiety-inducing... and his rhetoric has only gotten more hostile 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 that I will make is that not all trans men, contrary to some of Kim's comments, hate our chests. Whether for medical, personal, or trauma-related reasons, not all trans men desire top surgery, even some trans men with bigger chests. And that is totally okay. No two trans men are the same, and no two trans men have exactly the same feelings about their bodies. Trans men are a diverse lot, and that includes body diversity. Lastly... Kim says that he was inspired by Stone Butch Blues , which is wonderful in itself, but he does label it as an FTM book. I would say that's a misinterpretation of who Jess Goldberg is. WARNING: Graphic, uncensored footage of surgery being performed. The trailer, watchable here , also includes discussions of surgery and footage of blood. Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026 Related Media Gender-Related Surgery Browse

Cris Salamanca, an American trans man, is interviewed alongside his family members about his transition. El Canto del Colibrí Documentary 2015 United States of America Cris Salamanca, an American trans man, is interviewed alongside his family members about his transition. Watch. Available Summary: In an intimate and deeply personal documentary, immigrant Latino fathers across the U.S. recount the impact of their children’s coming out. Through raw, heartfelt testimonies, these families delve deeply into issues of immigration, prejudice, and isolation, while thoughtfully asking questions of their communities, culture, and even their religious beliefs. The result is a powerful lesson on solidarity and humility in a film that both heals and inspires. - Vimeo . Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026 Related Media Trans Male Media Browse

Ryan Cassata, an American trans man, created this song to capture his changing relationship with his father throughout his transition. Daughter Music 2018 United States of America Ryan Cassata, an American trans man, created this song to capture his changing relationship with his father throughout his transition. Watch. Available Summary: A song about my personal experience transitioning from female-to-male, and my transformed relationship from being my dad's daughter to being his son. -Ryan Cassata. Entry last updated: 24 Mar 2026 Related Media Trans Male Media Browse

Nick, a trans man played by American trans actor Scott Turner Schofield, has a minor recurring role in this drama. The Bold and the Beautiful (E7073 to E7140) Show 2015 United States of America Nick, a trans man played by American trans actor Scott Turner Schofield, has a minor recurring role in this drama. All Bold and the Beautiful Episodes. Jack's Summary: This show is terribly written, painfully cis-centric, and generous with its heapings of transphobia (mainly directed at a trans female character), but Scott Turner Schofield’s appearances as Nick (a canon trans man) are somewhat fun. He jokes about storing testosterone, at the expense of a clueless cis character who has no idea what that means. That gave me a laugh. Anyway, probably give this one a miss? Unless your tastes are drastically different to mine... which is absolutely possible, as I'm not a fan of soap operas in general, so it's probably not a surprise that I think this show is awful. I would say that Schofield’s acting is much better in other media, notably in The Conductor . I'd recommend that film for a better picture of Schofield’s skills. This show doesn't offer the best opportunity for actors to put on a great performance. Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026 Related Media Trans Male with Male Browse

Naveen Bhat, a non-binary person, is interviewed alongside their partner, their partner's family, and Indian LGBT+ activists, with the documentary focusing on the illegal detainment of Naveen in India by their parents, and their subsequent escape to the U.S.A. Escaping Agra Documentary 2016 India (Bhārat Gaṇarājya), United States of America Naveen Bhat, a non-binary person, is interviewed alongside their partner, their partner's family, and Indian LGBT+ activists, with the documentary focusing on the illegal detainment of Naveen in India by their parents, and their subsequent escape to the U.S.A. Available Summary: In Escaping Agra we meet Naveen Bhat, a non-binary UC Davis college student held against their will in India when their gender identity is discovered. Naveen must battle their parents in court and piece their life back together, in this short documentary about self-discovery and perseverance. - Frameline . Jack's Summary: In this short documentary, Naveen Bhat talks about their journey and hardships. From the age of three, Naveen lived in America. A few weeks after their mother discovered that they were trans, they were contacted by their family in India and told that their grandmother was sick. In actuality, their family wanted them to travel to India so that they could be "fixed". Once Naveen arrived, their family confiscated their phone, computer, and travel documents, effectively imprisoning them in India. They were expected to live as a woman, adhere to traditional expectations, and enter an arranged marriage. Naveen discusses enduring physical and emotional abuse from their family, particularly their mother, and eventually fleeing India with the assistance of Indian LGBT+ activists and their partner's family in America. In parts, this short documentary is 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. 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. Rituparna Borah, a queer feminist activist in New Delhi, refers to Naveen with he/him/his pronouns while discussing evacuating Naveen from India. In this 2015 article , and in other sources, Naveen identifies themself with he/him/his, so it is possible that Borah is not intentionally misgendering them, but rather, does not know that their pronouns are different nowadays. In a 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. This film was previously available on Vimeo, but has been taken down since I watched it there. Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026 Related Media Non-Binary Media Browse

Trevor, a trans man played by American trans male actor Elliot Fletcher, is a gay social worker who dates a main character in seasons 7 and 8. Shameless (US, S7, S8) Show 2016 United States of America Trevor, a trans man played by American trans male actor Elliot Fletcher, is a gay social worker who dates a main character in seasons 7 and 8. Scene. Available Summaries: Set in South Side, Chicago, this drama follows Frank Gallagher, a neglectful single father of six who spends his leisure time drinking at bars since his wife left the family due to bipolar disorder. Due to the absence of a parental figure, the Gallagher children try to get through their days by running countless scams, affairs, and petty crimes throughout Chicago. -Wikipedia. Trevor was the love interest for Ian Gallagher in the seventh season. He is a Social Worker at the local LGBT center and has a great taste in music. - Shameless wiki . Entry last updated: 22 Feb 2026 Related Media Trans Male with Male Browse

Eddy Leroy, a trans man played by French actress Catherine Frot, comes out to his bigoted husband after decades of marriage. Two trans male actors have minor roles. Un homme heureux (A Happy Man) Film 2023 France (Française) Eddy Leroy, a trans man played by French actress Catherine Frot, comes out to his bigoted husband after decades of marriage. Two trans male actors have minor roles. Scene. Available Summary: As a conservative campaigns to be reelected mayor of a small town in northern France, Edith, his spouse of 40 years, tells him a secret he can no longer repress. -IMDb. Jack's Summary: Serge, a trans man. Don’t get your hopes up; the trans man pictured above is a very minor character, whose touching and meaningful contribution is horribly overshadowed by the rest of the film. Serge, this minor character, is played by a trans actor named Kay Garnellen. He speaks very briefly with the protagonist about his experiences of fatherhood, pregnancy, and dysphoria, and has only one other (non-speaking) scene. The protagonist, contrastingly, is a trans man named Eddy, played by actress Catherine Frot... and not, in my opinion, particularly well. What frustrated me most about this film was the squandering of a very worthwhile concept, and the failure to treat the story of an older trans man with respect. Eddy supposedly transitions on testosterone throughout the film, but depictions of his facial hair are less convincing than the getups I've seen drag kings perfect with far less money than this movie had access to. This film is not a realistic depiction of what testosterone does to the body. Beyond that, much of the comedy in this film is derived from Eddy being mercilessly mocked (and, at one point, physically intimidated) by a transphobic, misogynistic, homophobic husband whose comeuppance doesn't begin to compensate for what an awful bully he is. Trans male bottom surgery is already degraded enough. We don't need jokes like this in movies. From the trailer, I got the feeling that this film would've been more appropriate about a decade ago and, what d'you know, I was right. There are some enjoyable moments, but not nearly enough to make this a recommended watch. This film could have redeemed itself if Eddy had been shown bonding with, communicating with, and seeking the insights of trans men who are further along in their journeys; trans men who could have taught him more about testosterone, surgery, and male socialisation. But Eddy doesn't seek out other trans men with any enthusiasm, and so all the film has to offer trans men is his deeply flawed storyline plus the token contributions of two minor trans male characters. Older trans men deserve better stories than this. Entry last updated: 28 Feb 2026 Related Media Trans Male with Male Browse

Drew Reeves, a trans man played by American actress Zelda Williams, faces supernatural horrors at a summer camp. He is attracted to men and gets a cis gay boyfriend during the series. Dead of Summer Show 2016 United States of America Drew Reeves, a trans man played by American actress Zelda Williams, faces supernatural horrors at a summer camp. He is attracted to men and gets a cis gay boyfriend during the series. Pilot Episode. Available Summary: Set in 1989, school is out for the summer, and a sun-drenched season of firsts beckons the counselors at Camp Stillwater, a seemingly idyllic Midwestern summer camp, including first loves, first kisses—and first kills. Stillwater's dark, ancient mythology awakens, and what was supposed to be a summer of fun soon turns into one of unforgettable scares and evil at every turn. -Wikipedia. Jack's Summary: In Dead of Summer , a group of former camp attendees return to a summer camp as adult counsellors, each with their own motivation for recapturing their youth. The episodes lean pretty heavily on horror tropes and cheesy themes, but most of the character stereotypes are subverted, making the show more substantial than it initially seems. The first appearance of Drew. One of the counsellors is a moody, aloof guy named Drew. He's a mysterious stranger who talks very little and doesn't seem at all interested in befriending his fellow counsellors. Blair, another counsellor who is an openly gay cis man, is immediately attracted to Drew and intensely curious about him. Partway through episode 1, Drew is distracted by a stereotypically spooky girl holding a red balloon, who lingers in the distance and stares directly at him, the apparition haunting him. This moment sets the tone for the rest of his arc. At the end of this episode, Drew is revealed to be trans when he sneaks away from the other guys and takes a shower in a separate building. Drew being blackmailed because he's trans. Over the ensuing episodes, we learn more about Drew. Unfortunately, some of what we learn is courtesy of Jessie, a cis young woman who deadnames Drew and blackmails him on the basis of his trans male status. She sneaks up on him when he's soaking wet and reeling from a supernatural vision. He's frantically trying to pull his shirt off his chest, dysphoric about his pre-op body, when Jessie throws a towel at him and says, "Dry off, Andrea". Jessie tells Drew that she has taken photographs of him showering, calling him a "freak" and threatening to out him to the rest of the counsellors. Despite how awful this is, she has a change of heart, later admitting that she never took any such photos. Jessie and Drew. As a trans man myself, I was surprised by how little I hated Jessie, following this conflict. For a cheesy show, some of the character exploration and acting is top-notch, enough that I was keen to continue watching beyond Jessie's transphobia. (Jessie actually turned into my favourite character.) Plus, Drew isn't helpless, and quickly gets over Jessie's bullshit. The pair become unlikely friends. With Jessie's encouragement, Drew remains at the camp and comes out to Blair, the cis gay counsellor who had been attracted to Drew from the very beginning. When this goes badly, Jessie is the one to comfort Drew and support him. Throughout episode 4, Drew has flashback scenes where we witness his childhood and adolescence. Viewers get to see a range of experiences, from the heartwarming to the bittersweet to the utterly devastating. (If you are sensitive to parental abandonment of trans men, or conversion therapy, you should proceed with caution.) The little girl haunting modern-day Drew, as it turns out, is a version of his past self. Specifically, the apparition is reminiscent of a photograph taken of him in his youth. Drew triumphs over the spooky vision pretty easily, and the show mostly moves onto other storylines. From that victory onwards, Drew is treated to some really sweet scenes of romance and friendship. He fares better than most of the other main characters, actually. Drew and Blair. One of my favourite pieces of dialogue occurs when Blair and Drew are walking through the forest together: DREW: I should probably be thanking you. BLAIR: For what? DREW: The way you looked at me when I first got here. It's how I've always wanted to be looked at. BLAIR: Like a hot guy? DREW: Like a guy. The scene that follows this conversation is even more sweet. Ultimately, I really enjoyed this show for the trans/gay storyline. If you want to watch it for that reason, though, there are a few things that you should prepare for. Beyond the gore, blood, violence, ritual sacrifice, zombies, and death (all of which are pretty typical for a horror show), episode 5 has some particularly confronting scenes. Joel, a main character, had a brother who committed suicide after experiencing hallucinations and delusions. In flashbacks, Joel remembers finding his brother's dead body, and recalls family discussions which frame his brother's death as the result of mental illness. Later, Joel began to experience hallucinations too, leading to a violent outburst and a graphic self harm incident. If you or a loved one has experienced hallucinations or psychosis, you might be uncomfortable with the conflation of these experiences with supernatural themes. I don't think the end result is particularly well handled, and could be harmful, although that's a matter of opinion. I'm basing that opinion on the fact that the show introduces a character as a sufferer of mental illness, and then reveals that his delusional beliefs and hallucinations were actually caused by real supernatural forces, external to his brain. While this is a fanciful concept for most viewers, it could be a dangerous concept for people who experience psychosis or fixed false beliefs as part of their mental illness. To understand why, consider this interview with a woman who lives with schizophrenia. She explains how harmful it is for others to legitimise her hallucinations, and how dangerous it is to believe that the hallucinations are caused by something external to her brain. She even shares that, before being diagnosed, she believed she was possessed, as nothing else explained the things she was seeing and hearing every single day. The storyline in Dead of Summer legitimises hallucinations, making them real things which are observable by others and can be interacted with, and supports that idea of sufferers being possessed or haunted by real things. I believe this storyline would have been better without the framing of mental illness. I don't think the showrunners intended to legitimise hallucinations in the way that they did. All that to say, if you're sensitive to potentially harmful depictions of suicide, self harm, or psychosis, episode 5 is best avoided... or just approached with caution. That said, this is all my interpretation, and you may not interpret the show as I do. My other main criticism of Dead of Summer would be the casting of Drew. Zelda Williams got the role, despite being aware that she wasn't the best fit as a cis female actress. That in itself isn't necessarily the worst thing, given how well she performed as Drew, but what really stings is that she was chosen over trans actors who also auditioned for the role. An interview with Zelda Williams. While I do like Drew, I would've liked him all the more if he'd been played by a member of the trans male community. We could've had a trans man involved in the publicity for Dead of Summer , and all of the trans viewers who connected with Drew would've then had a trans actor to follow and be inspired by. Connections like that can be lifesaving when you have no other trans men in your life. As nice as Williams's performance was, the impact ended there. And, beyond the impact that a trans male actor would've made both behind the camera and in front of it ( trans actors have been known to positively influence the trans storylines they're involved in ), it's also important to consider the context of anti-FTM transphobia. The idea that we're just women playing dress-up is reinforced, especially to cis audiences, by actresses playing trans men. I became pretty firm in that opinion when I saw pictures of Elle Fanning attending the 3 Generations (2015) premiere, regardless of Fanning's good intentions. Plus, in the interview above, it's exasperating to hear Williams say that the trans community wanted "a transgender actress" to play a trans man. ( The comment is made at 1:59 .) At best, this is a pretty awkward slip of the tongue. FTM actors are not actresses. So, taking all of that into consideration... Yes, I did enjoy Dead of Summer . It has plot holes and cheesy themes, but it's alright. If you want to see a trans man coming out on top, despite all of the challenges he faces, this show will provide that. If you want to see a pre-everything trans male character in a relationship with a gay man, this show will provide that. As a cherry on top, he also gets a happy ending, and triumphs over the supernatural horrors he faces. Taken in isolation, the casting aside, this is a fun show. I'm a man who looks critically at the media I consume, especially when it comes to trans representation. If you're a more casual viewer, Dead of Summer might just be the trans/gay horror series you've been looking for. After all, there aren't that many such shows in existence. One final note on the casting of cis actors in trans roles: There is always the additional factor that a presumed-cisgender actor might be a closeted trans person, and may have taken the role as a way to explore their own identity. I'm not ignoring that reality as I criticise Dead of Summer , and I'm aware that the public can never truly know what exists in an actor's heart. My criticism of Williams is based on the fact that, in the above interview, she resolutely labelled herself as a "cisgender actress", and spoke directly about choosing to take the role as a non-trans person. Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026 Related Media Trans Male with Male Browse

An American trans man named Jacob is interviewed alongside his family, discussing his transition and their reactions. Footage from his childhood and early-transition years is also shown. He is in a committed relationship with a woman. Coby Documentary 2017 United States of America An American trans man named Jacob is interviewed alongside his family, discussing his transition and their reactions. Footage from his childhood and early-transition years is also shown. He is in a committed relationship with a woman. Trailer. Available Summary: In a small town deep in the American Midwest, Suzanna begins a gender transition and becomes a boy: Coby. Coby’s transformation deeply impacts the lives the lives of all who love him, and each member of this tight-knit family must confront their own preconceived notions of gender and sexuality. Combining excerpts from Coby’s video dairy with candid, heartfelt interviews from his closet friends and family, Christian Sonderegger’s debut feature is an intimate and sensitive look at timely subject. Ultimately, Coby’s journey morphs into the transformation of a whole family compelled by love to modify their own perspectives. -Film Movement. Jack's Summary: Coby is about trans manhood, and features extensive interviews with the late Jacob Hunt, as well as his partner and 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 naturally very realistic to what many of us face from our own parents. My hope would be that parents 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 , with characters inspired by 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 really good in isolation. Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026 Related Media Trans Male with Female Browse

Zaid, an Afghan teenager played by Iranian actress Sadaf Asgari, lives and works as a man for his family (bacha posh). He finds that his identity goes deeper than this masquerade, however, and is unwilling to return to a female life when his mother demands that he get married. Determined to keep his secret girlfriend and finish his entrance exams, he tries to continue life as a man. Na Marei (The Invisible) Short Film 2024 Afghanistan (افغانستان), Iran (ایران) Zaid, an Afghan teenager played by Iranian actress Sadaf Asgari, lives and works as a man for his family (bacha posh). He finds that his identity goes deeper than this masquerade, however, and is unwilling to return to a female life when his mother demands that he get married. Determined to keep his secret girlfriend and finish his entrance exams, he tries to continue life as a man. Watch. Available Summary: Zaid, 15, lives near Kabul with his mother and sister, where they practice the bacha posh tradition. Between school, his friends, and his hobbies, Zaid seems to be flourishing in a city in ruins after the war. But when his mother tells him it’s time to get married, his ambitions crumble and the heavy secret of his freedom must come to an end. - NQV Media . Jack's Summary: The protagonist of this beautiful, heartbreaking short film is undeniably diverse in gender and/or sexuality, but the nature of Zaid's identity is up to the viewer's interpretation. This film is potentially relatable for trans men, masculine lesbians, oppressed women, and others, all for unique reasons. This is a film primarily about the practice of bacha posh, where a female child is raised/presented as a male for the benefit of the family, and is a portrait of the oppression of females in Afghanistan. The film opens with a shot of Zaid bandage binding his chest. This portrayal makes sense in context, although it is worth noting the lack of a post-film warning that such binding is unsafe. A street in Afghanistan. Moving on, footage of Afghanistan is shown, including acts of violence and vandalised images of women (also seen in Transition ). As this footage plays, Zaid reads out a poem about persecution and gender equality, noting the mistreatment of women and the othering of those with differences. Zaid in class. Zaid is reading this poem to a class of boys, and his male teacher. He is mocked for his message, and counselled by his teacher to be more cautious with his words; he puts himself, and his family, at risk with his provocative agenda. After issuing this warning, however, the teacher tells Zaid that he is ready to take his entrance exam. Zaid is then shown working, earning money for his family, before returning home to his mother and sister, Marjane. He has no male relatives. Zaid with his girlfriend. That night, he sneaks out to meet his secret girlfriend, the pair kissing and exchanging affectionate words before almost being caught by her family. It is clear that Zaid has found freedom, comfort, and identity within his male role, whether because he is a masculine lesbian or a female-attracted trans man. He hopes to continue living as a man, study, be with the young woman that he loves, and keep his male friends. Prior to sneaking out, however, his mother informs him that he must get married. He has reached puberty, therefore bacha posh is no longer appropriate or feasible. He refuses, saying that he is disgusted by the idea of marriage, but is ignored. When he wakes up the next day, his mother insists that he wear a dress. She also takes away Marjane's stuffed toy and cuts the young girl's hair short, saying, "We need a new man". Marjane cries, distressed by the loss of her female role, and by the new expectations of the bacha posh role. Unlike Zaid, she does not want to live as the male gender. Marjane reminds me of Hana in the 2015 film Sworn Virgin . Hana becomes Mark, adhering to the Balkan social role of a burrnesha, and finds this male role to be unwanted and restrictive. Much like Hana, and unlike Zaid, Marjane's transition to maleness is uncomfortable and undesired, illustrating the clear difference in Zaid's innate identity. Zaid does actually wish to live as a man. Zaid in a burqa. When Zaid next wants to leave the home, he must ask for Marjane's permission. Marjane, now being addressed as Merhan by her mother, is uncomfortable inhabiting this role and does not know how to act. In public, Zaid wears a burqa while Marjan presents as a boy. As soon as possible, Zaid ducks into an alleyway and abandons his female attire. Telling Marjane to wait for him, he sneaks off to attend his entrance exam. After seeing her stuffed toy in the hands of another child, Marjane begins to cry, lamenting the loss of her girlhood. Two men approach her, addressing her as "boy" and insisting that men do not cry. She cries out, "I don't want to be a man," ominously foreshadowing what is about to occur. She cannot maintain the ruse. Zaid losing his freedom. Interrupting Zaid's entrance exam, the men drag Marjane into the school, holding Zaid's female attire. "We have a situation with this student," one of the men yells. Gesturing to the attire, he asks, "Is this yours?" As Marjane sobs, and Zaid remains frozen still in horror, he continues, "Disguising at your age, shame on you! You deserve to be whipped!" Marjane cries out to her brother, using his male name in defiance of how he currently being gendered, but it is too late. A sister's love cannot stop what is about to occur. We hear Zaid being lashed before a yelling crowd, screaming out in pain. Even without visuals, this scene is gut-wrenching. The final shot of the film. Zaid is next shown unspeaking, traumatised, still physically healing, and being forcibly dressed in a wedding veil. He sits in silence as he is married to a much older man, and the film ends with a devastatingly silent shot. Confetti falls as the new couple sit emotionlessly beside each other, Zaid's face and identity erased. I find this to be a beautiful, and very progressive, portrait of innate non-conformity in a socially conservative context. As stated previously, that non-conformity may be centrally about gender and/or sexuality. We know that Zaid is attracted to women, and we know that Zaid wishes to live as a man. Zaid could indeed be a man... or a woman with no other way of loving other women. Either way, I view this as an important part of trans male and female masculinity-focused media history, especially as a way of highlighting the experiences of trans men like Arsham . Entry last updated: 4 July 2026 Related Media Ambiguously-Gendered Media Browse

Lou Sullivan, an American transsexual man, discusses his life, transition, sexual orientation, and aspirations with Dr. Ira Pauly. Female-to-Gay-Male Transsexualism: Lou Sullivan and Dr. Ira Pauly Interview 1988, 1989, 1990 United States of America Lou Sullivan, an American transsexual man, discusses his life, transition, sexual orientation, and aspirations with Dr. Ira Pauly. Part 1: Gender and Sexual Orientation (1988). Part 2: Living With AIDS (1988). Part 3 (1989). Part 4: One Year Later (1990). Available Summary: Gay trans man Lou Sullivan, a historian and community leader, is interviewed by Dr. Ira Pauly about his experiences. -Internet Archive. Jack's Summary: Lou Sullivan was a 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 a context where all trans individuals were expected to be heterosexual. He also discusses his childhood, his transition, living with HIV, and all aspects of his private life. Even as his health began to degrade due to AIDS-related complications, he continued to offer insights and engage in advocacy. 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! Many people have spoken up to credit Lou Sullivan's accomplishments, including trans activist Max Wolf Valerio, who wrote in 2007 , "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." This is a very Western/USA-centric statement, certainly, but Sullivan's impact should be recognised regardless. Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026 Related Media Trans Male with Male Browse

Yoseñio Lewis, an American trans man, is interviewed about his life, transition, trauma, and faith. Yoseñio Lewis Interview 2021 United States of America Yoseñio Lewis, an American trans man, is interviewed about his life, transition, trauma, and faith. Watch. WARNING: References to child sexual abuse. Available Summary: 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. One of Yoseñio’s early experiences as both an activist and writer came when he was asked to write a poem for Earth Day 1975 at the age of fifteen. As a teenager, he also wrote a letter to the governor of Providence when a fellow student was being bullied. These experiences planted the seeds for Yoseñio’s future as an activist and artist. It wasn’t until he was 33 that Yoseñio came out as FTM (female-to-male) 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. Yoseñio became involved in trans activism when his support group started producing conferences. His first focus was on policy changes in San Francisco to allow trans people to receive insurance without restrictions on transgender care. This was inspired by a significant medical issue of his own: Yoseñio’s body had been producing both too much testosterone and too much estrogen. After suffering from constant bleeding for a year and a half, being accused of faking his illness, and being passed from doctor to doctor, he was diagnosed with stage two uterine cancer, which he was initially unable to get insurance for. He got a friend to give him a job at a drug treatment program for three months before he could qualify for insurance and undergo a hysterectomy. Following his surgery, he underwent testosterone hormone replacement therapy and later had a mastectomy for breast cancer. 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. He is a founding member of “The TransAms,” an all-transgender barbershop quartet, and helps to train medical professionals on how to treat trans people. He also set up an HIV/AIDS education group at a halfway house for federal offenders. Yoseñio has struggled to reconcile his body with his religious upbringing, initially believing that he was an “abomination unto the Lord.” However, he now accepts that he was born exactly as he was so that he could use his experience to be a mentor and help others: "If I am a representation of God, how dare I say I can’t shine, I can’t show my light, I can’t be in the world, I can’t take up space? That is the abomination unto the Lord, when I don’t use the gifts that I’ve been given." -OUTWORDS Archive. Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026 Related Media Trans Male Media Browse