Search this site

Gil Kessler, a trans man played by American cis male actor John Schuck, is an offensive and ridiculous caricature of trans men. Golden Girls (S03E07) Show 1987 United States of America Gil Kessler, a trans man played by American cis male actor John Schuck, is an offensive and ridiculous caricature of trans men. Jack's Summary: Gil Kessler's transition and gender identity is played as a joke. From the beginning of the episode, a main character states that she could tell something was "wrong" with Gil, and this is apparently confirmed when he outs himself as a transsexual, needlessly revealing his birth name to a room of people and bringing up his surgical transition for absolutely no reason. He is characterised as wimpy and weak, the implication being that he is neither a real man nor a particularly impressive one. His sole purpose is to be the object of disgust, amusement, and mystery. After Gil outs himself, one of the main characters fixates on what bottom surgery Gil has had, with another character joking that his genitalia is made of "silly putty". This is an offensive depiction of a trans man. Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026 Related Media Trans Male Media Browse

Buck Vu, a teenage trans boy played by Vietnamese-American non-binary actor Ian Alexander, is a high schooler who befriends a woman that claims to be an inter-dimensional angel. The OA Show 2016 United States of America, Vietnam (越南) Buck Vu, a teenage trans boy played by Vietnamese-American non-binary actor Ian Alexander, is a high schooler who befriends a woman that claims to be an inter-dimensional angel. Season 1 Trailer. Season 2 Trailer. Available Summary: A woman missing for seven years turns up at a hospital with strange scars on her back, but can't (or won't) reveal where she's been. -Netflix. Jack's Summary: This is one of the most polarising, love-it-or-hate-it shows out there. I come down on the "hate it" side of that equation. Maybe avoid my review if you'd prefer to enjoy it. The protagonist, a woman who calls herself The OA (The Original Angel), was born in Russia and named Nina, then adopted by parents in America and renamed Prairie. As a young adult, she is abducted by a man researching near-death experiences, and imprisoned by him for seven years. She falls in love with Homer, a man who is also being held captive in the same basement. All captives are repeatedly killed and revived, with the torturer recording what happens to subjects' brains throughout. The captives come to believe that they are connecting with a celestial being in another dimension, and from her they eventually learn an interpretive dance which can open portals, resurrect people, and cure incurable illnesses. Eventually, the torturer decides he's gotten all of the information he needs (particularly this magical dance), and he abandons Prairie out in the world. She is hospitalised, reunited with her adoptive American parents, and connects with four students at a local high school. One of them, Buck Vu, is a trans boy who is accessing testosterone on the black market and lives with an unaccepting family. Main characters standing up and doing interpretive dance moves, with accompanying vocals, during a school shooting. Season 1 sees Prairie monologuing at the four students, interspersed with flashbacks and drama. The show takes itself (and its annoying characters) incredibly seriously, all for the finale of season 1 to throw Prairie's entire story into doubt by having you believe that she was making up this stuff all along. What the finale of season 1 also offers is a ridiculous scene where the main characters perform the interpretive dance moves to stop an out-of-nowhere school shooting, which doesn't work particularly well, because Prairie get shot and dies in the ambulance. All the dance achieves, seemingly, is bewildering the shooter so that a brave cafeteria worker (the only real hero in this story) can tackle him while he's distracted. ...And that's it. That's the ending of season 1. Utterly unsatisfying, and a trivialisation of school shootings. Any satisfaction could only come from watching season 2 to get some answers, which is not worth it in the slightest, unless you want to learn how truly over-complicated a show could possibly make itself. Homer being touched for the first time in years. In episode 5 of season 1, Homer (a man who has been tortured and kept in physical isolation for years) is mentally unstable and increasingly confused when flown by his abductor to Cuba. In a state where he cannot possibly consent to any sexual activity (he does not even know how old he is), he is forced by his captor into a room with a woman that wishes to have sex with him. He pleads with her to leave him alone, saying, "please go," and hyperventilating. She does not do as asked, proceeding to touch and kiss him. The pair have sex. Despite the fact that Homer was clearly unable to give mentally-coherent consent, the show prioritises the protagonist's jealousy and anger, framing the rape as an act of being unfaithful rather than an extremely traumatic experience for Homer. It all feels very victim-blaming and gross. In season 2, Prairie (after being shot) inhabits a different version of herself in another reality, transferring to that body after her death in the original reality. In this dimension, Buck's alternate self is still going by the name Michelle, and has not transitioned. Buck aside, season 2 gets very, very stupid, and I don't have any deep insights to offer about this self-indulgent mess which involves a giant octopus, a talking tree, and brain seeds. There are many, many analyses authored by people who liked this show, so I encourage you to read those, if you are actually interested. Or just watch it. Eventually, the dimension-hopping drama escalates to the fictional characters entering the "real world" and being addressed by the real actors' names. Michelle even finds herself in the body of Ian Alexander (the actor), which Alexander discusses in this interview , also admitting that the show's confusing plot affected filming due to actors and staff being unsure what was going on. Would I recommend watching this show for the trans male representation? Absolutely not. But I hated The OA , so of course I wouldn't. If you love this show, more power to you. Entry last updated: 25 Feb 2026 Related Media Trans Male Media Browse

Juan Scherer, an intersex trans man played by Argentine actor Guillermo Angelelli, offers advice to a man who is trying to support his child. XXY Film 2007 Argentina (República Argentina), Uruguay Juan Scherer, an intersex trans man played by Argentine actor Guillermo Angelelli, offers advice to a man who is trying to support his child. Watch. Available Summary: The difficulties of adolescence are particularly strong for the 15-year-old Alex, who was born an intersex child. As Alex begins to explore her sexuality, her mother invites friends from Buenos Aires to come for a visit at their house, with their 16-year-old son in tow… - MUBI . Jack's Review: This film includes confronting themes, such as animal abuse, slurs, objectification, anti-intersex bigotry, anti-XXY bigotry, non-consensual surgeries, genital mutilation, and the sexual harassment and assault of underage characters (played by adults). XXY is primarily about a teenager named Alex who was assigned/proclaimed female at birth and born with non-stereotypical genitalia. While Alex is generally referred to with she/her/hers pronouns and as a girl, Alex's gender is less clear to me. Alex's mother certainly wants her child to be a girl and to be female, to the point that she organises a surgical consultation without Alex's knowledge or consent. Alex's father, on the other hand, increasingly views Alex as his son. Alex's only direct statement about gender or sex is rejecting a binary choice, indicating that Alex is in a period of self-discovery and is escaping everyone else's expectations and assumptions. Ultimately, Alex's internal sense of gender remains unclear because everybody else tells the viewer who Alex is. Both parents are viewing Alex through a lens of sex being binary, and gender being determined solely by sex. Even Alex's most supportive parent (Alex's father) bases his judgement of Alex's gender primarily on Alex choosing to have penetrative sex as the dominant partner. Supposing that Alex were indeed a woman, the fact that she is using or enjoying her unique genitals would not negate her womanhood, if that were her identity. As discussed in my review of Willy/Milly , an intersex person's gender being doubted or analysed on the basis of their body parts is, in itself, an example of bigotry and social condemnation of non-stereotypical bodies. This film explores such mindsets extensively... without enough sensitivity, in my opinion. An intersex trans man named Juan Scherer has a brief role in this film, which is why I am reviewing it. About The Title... From what I understand, this film is a very flawed representation of a person with XXY chromosomes. Before I get to that, here is some basic information. People with innate variations of sex characteristics form a diverse population with many different kinds of bodies, sex characteristics, observed/assigned sex, genders, identities, life experiences, and terminology and word preferences. What we share in common is an experience of having innate sex characteristics (such as chromosomes, gonads, reproductive development or hormones) that differ from medical norms for female or male bodies... The term intersex is best described as an umbrella. - InterAction . 47, XXY is a genetic variation of the sex chromosomes. Sex chromosomes carry genetic information related to our sexual development. Sex chromosomes are typically XX (typically assigned female at birth) or XY (typically assigned male at birth). 47, XXY is commonly caused by an additional X chromosome on an XY pair, resulting in 47 chromosomes rather than the typical 46 chromosomes, which is written 47, XXY. - interLink . Chromosomal differences are given a variety of names, generally reflecting the surname of the first person to describe them. So, XXY is commonly thought of as being Klinefelter’s syndrome... In describing the people he was studying, Klinefelter was unaware that they had XXY chromosomes. Instead, he thought that some mystical hormone was responsible for their differences. When he did become aware that chromosomal variations were present in the individuals he studied, he did not change his diagnostic criteria. Not all people who have XXY chromosome fit Klinefelter’s diagnostic criteria, and so not all XXY people are correctly classified as having Klinefelter’s... Thus, all people with Klinefelter’s diagnosis have XXY chromosomes but not all XXY people have Klinefelter’s syndrome. - InterAction . People with XXY chromosomes are a diverse group. Often, such people are presumed/assigned male at birth by medical practitioners, although XXY chromosomes have occurred in some presumed/assigned female individuals as well. Gender is another matter; people with XXY chromosomes may be men, women, non-binary, etc. Many are cis men, including Seamus, interviewed here about his journey . People with XXY chromosomes are often diagnosed after experiencing tiredness, infertility, low testosterone, sexual struggles, reduced body and facial hair, unexpected breast development, etc. One option is to undergo hormone therapy to increase testosterone levels, which helps to improve bone density and alter certain physical traits if desired, noting that not all people with XXY chromosomes consider their external physical traits a problem; some may choose other treatments or none at all, depending on health and personal preference. Alex, by contrast, is prescribed corticosteroids to reduce testosterone levels. Viewers are directly told that, without any medical interventions, Alex would grow a beard. Alex's mother frets about Alex becoming masculine due to discontinuing testosterone-suppressing medications, and a doctor in the film implies that Alex's appearance will drastically change unless Alex's higher testosterone levels are kept low. Alex's hormonal balance is in direct contrast to how XXY chromosomes typically impact hormones. Genital differences which often occur for those with XXY chromosomes include smaller testicles, an impact on erections, and possibly a smaller penis. Given that this film brands itself as being about an XXY individual, I found it surprising that Alex is described as having been born with "both" a phallus and a vulva, which is not typical of bodies with XXY chromosomes. It is fine to explore genital differences alongside a chromosomal difference, of course, but given the context of Alex's hormonal balance and the fetishistic way Alex is depicted overall, I am not convinced that the filmmakers knew much about how XXY chromosomes typically impact physiology. It appears that the filmmakers did not consider, or perhaps did not care, that viewers may develop a wildly incorrect idea of how XXY chromosomes typically manifest, making self-advocacy and medical progress even harder for XXY individuals and their loved ones. If you are a person with the XXY variation, proceed with caution. You may feel misrepresented by this movie and consider it irresponsibly titled. Or you may love it, of course. Feel free to make up your own mind. Back To The Film... Néstor and Suli, Alex's father and mother respectively, begin the film by inviting family friends to stay with them. These family friends consist of Ramiro (a surgeon), his wife Erika, and his son Álvaro. In truth, Suli contacted the family because she wants Ramiro to operate on Alex's genitals to make Alex stereotypically female. Erika is surprised to learn that Suli has not told Néstor about the true purpose of the visit. The idea that Alex should have initiated this consultation, or even be informed of it, is given far less weight. From the very beginning of this film, what is prioritised is the perspective that Alex's functioning body, which poses no threat to life or physical health, is a problem which needs to be fixed. Ramiro, the creep. When Alex joins family and visitors for a meal, it is hard to miss the power dynamics at play. Ramiro is thinking about Alex's genitals and body. Alex just thinks this is a normal environment, and is unaware of being so intimately considered while kissing Ramiro's cheek in greeting. That night, lying in bed next to his wife, Ramiro looks at an obstetric ultrasound while he sketches diagrams of genitals. His most urgent question, directed at his wife, is when Néstor will be told about the surgery consultation... not when, or even if, Alex will be told. The consent of the intersex teenager who would be operated on isn't even an afterthought. It's irrelevant. When Ramiro sees Alex next, it is when Alex walks into the kitchen as he is chopping up food. The camera pans up Alex's body, lingering in a way which serves to emphasise how closely Ramiro is needlessly considering Alex's body. This shot, and the bizarre, messy way that Alex drinks milk, has disturbingly erotic overtones. Nobody in this film is objectified quite like Alex is. Suli discussing Alex's medications. Alex, who has been prescribed corticosteroids to lower testosterone levels, chooses to stop taking the pills. This, too, is something that Suli takes issue with. When Alex exists in an intersex body and allows bodily diversity to exist, that is a problem. When Alex tells a close friend about being intersex, and is harshly judged, that is Alex's fault. Suli is actively hostile toward her child's very existence. Lord forbid... When Suli struggles to reveal her true intentions to Néstor, Ramiro offers to help, suggesting that he "explain what we'd do to her". He later asks Suli about the medical decisions Alex is making (stopping corticosteroids), ominously informing Suli and Erika that (gasp) Alex might become... masculine...! Erika, standing with her hand pressed against her sternum as if in shock, chides her husband for saying these oh-so-terrible things. We have to mind Suli's delicate constitution, after all. That's what really matters here. Speaking to Álvaro, Alex asks about the surgeries Ramiro performs, curious whether Álvaro has ever been in the operating room "to see the butchering". Álvaro insists that his father does not butcher people, but rather, he "fixes" what Álvaro describes as "deformities". The example he gives is people born with six fingers on one hand, saying, "my dad takes off the extra one". The metaphor for viewing intersex variations as deformities is not particularly subtle. Being told "no" isn't something Alex accepts. When it comes to Álvaro, one of the first things Alex does is ask him whether he wants to have sex, which he does not. Later in the film, Alex asks a second time, and Álvaro again says that he does not want to have sex. Not knowing that Alex is intersex, but having noticed that people treat Alex oddly, Álvaro asks what is "wrong" with Alex. This, understandably, is very upsetting for the younger teenager. Alex runs home. Regretting his words, Álvaro follows. When Alex starts to kiss him, he is initially reluctant, but soon reciprocates. Álvaro is surprised and confused when Alex rolls him over onto his front, and he is suddenly anally penetrated without any emotional readiness, physical preparation, or permission. When he reaches back to stop Alex, his hand is held down. Alex seems to be completely apathetic toward Álvaro's needs or feelings, let alone any physical pain he is experiencing. Alex only stops after noticing that Néstor has happened across the teenagers, and is watching them. Álvaro after being assaulted. Álvaro runs into the wilderness alone, staggering to a halt and beginning to cry. Continuing to sob, he masturbates, evidently overwhelmed by frightening and conflicting feelings. I take no issue with exploration of different sexual roles and dynamics. What I do take issue with, regardless of the body parts or positions involved, is a lack of consent or indifference to consent. Without a doubt, Alex is indifferent to Álvaro's consent, and this attitude reframes Alex's earlier insistence that Álvaro agree to intimacy, making persistence look like predatory determination. I struggle to feel sorry for Alex when the teenager is shown crying after being caught by Néstor, when my main question is this... Was Álvaro relieved that Néstor appeared, because otherwise Alex would not stop? Did Néstor inadvertently save Álvaro from an assault? Alex is later shown standing in front of a mirror, nude. The lingering scene would surely invoke sympathy and compassion in me, because the plight of an unsupported intersex teenager is heartbreaking, but the implications of Alex's actions cannot disappear from my mind so easily. And, by now, this film is starting to feel like little more than a parade of scenes where Alex's nude body is exposed for the viewer's... enjoyment? Judgement? Scrutiny? Take your pick. Álvaro, who stumbles inside shirtless and saturated from the pouring rain, joins the adults for dinner and appears anxious. He feels like he is keeping a secret, afraid of what Néstor might say or do, all because of what was done to him without his consent. This is a dynamic that I find particularly awful. An adult behaving, shockingly, like an adult. Thankfully, Néstor (unlike Suli) is an adult who respects the boundaries of young people, and his values are strong enough that he pushes past any awkwardness he feels toward the boy. When Álvaro is pressured to drink alcohol by Ramiro, Néstor speaks up, saying, "Don't drink if you don't want to," adding, "It is a big deal. I can't stand bullying," as Suli tries to diffuse the situation. Álvaro, who had been afraid that Néstor would confront or punish him, seems confused that Néstor is the one to defend him over dinner. Great messaging in this film... Returning to Alex, who is sleeping over at a friend's house, the film continues to approach consent in a repugnant way. Roberta, Alex's friend, reveals that she has had sex with her cousin five times. "I didn't want to, at first," she says while smiling, "I didn't like it." She then reveals that her cousin coerced her into sex and went further than she had expected. She and Alex laugh about this before Roberta's father enters the room (followed by yet another gratuitous shot of Alex's exposed chest), I dislike how this film handles consent, especially because there is a violent rape which occurs later in the movie. What Roberta describes is also rape, and what Álvaro went through was rape as well... but you wouldn't know it from how differently the final violation is portrayed, compared to Álvaro and Roberta's experiences. The implication of this framing, intended or not, is that sex must be violent in order to be rape. Reading reviews of this film, I'm shocked by how many commentators disregard the fact that Alex did not care whether Álvaro was consenting or not. It was filmed romantically, so it must have been romantic... right? Néstor tells Suli that he saw Alex and Álvaro having sex, and reveals to her that Alex was penetrating Álvaro. "It was bound to happen," he says, "We knew this would happen. She can't stay a woman... She'll never be a woman, even if a surgeon cuts off what she doesn't need." He, unlike Suli, is coming to accept that his child has a unique body and wishes to use it, and he does not want to force Alex into irreversible surgery. But, as previously described, his judgement of Alex's gender is inherently anti-intersex in its logic. An intersex person using non-stereotypical genitals to have sex is not inherently a commentary on their gender identity. Alex having sex this way does not mean Alex is not a woman, and conversely, does not mean that Alex is a man. The phrasing, "even if a surgeon cuts off what she doesn't need," is also quite bigoted, unless we assume Néstor to be derisively using the normalisation language that his wife uses, to criticise her narrow expectations of what Alex should need and want. After all, what genitals does Alex need, beyond the genitals that Alex has? The functioning genitals that Alex was born with and enjoys using? Alex is the only one who can state that certain features are unwanted or unneeded, unless serious health issues need to be considered. Juan's first appearance. Néstor takes a drive. He stops at a petrol station, where the attendant cleans his windscreen. The man becomes uncomfortable after a while, because Néstor is staring intensely at him. Then, he notices the newspaper on Néstor's dashboard, with the headline reading, "At 18, Scherer Starts the Journey From Woman to Man". Alarmed, Juan Scherer asks, "What do you want? Are you a doctor? A journalist?" Néstor denies this, and helplessly says, "I have a daughter..." He pauses, and then says, "A son..." He cannot clarify further, but Juan understands. Juan, an intersex trans man who is married and has an adopted son, was born with non-stereotypical genitalia. When he was born, doctors mutilated his functioning anatomy to make him stereotypically female. Juan was raised as a girl, but as he grew up, realised he had been forced into a life which did not fit him, and eventually took social, legal, and medical steps to live as a man. Knowing Juan's story, Néstor sought him out for advice. Author's Note... To clarify the language that I am using, I refer to Juan as a trans man because he was assigned female (and socialised as a girl/woman as a result), later realising his identity as a boy/man and transitioning to male. He fits the definition of a trans man, insofar as a trans man is a man assigned female at birth, and I view him as an important part of media history for intersex trans men who may relate to him. I see value in placing this fictional character in the category of trans male representation. That said, please be aware that many real intersex people do not use words like "transgender" and may not identify as trans, even if their life story involves being assigned a gender which contradicts their actual identity. Some intersex people view themselves as trans, others do not. Some intersex people view their hormonal/medical choices as transitioning, some reject that term and simply describe themselves as accessing intersex healthcare, and some view themselves as healing from mutilation which they never consented to. Being intersex means something different for every person. Trans and intersex are not automatically synonymous. Back To The Review... Juan giving Néstor a childhood photograph. Juan, hearing that Alex is fifteen, offers to show Néstor photographs of himself as a teenager. As Néstor looks between the photo of a feminine child and the masculine man sitting before him, Juan says, "Keep it. Give it to Alex." He is giving a piece of himself, his history, to Néstor, in case Alex might want to know about the journeys of other intersex people. Despite fearing for his privacy, worrying about journalists and doctors tracking him down, he is generous with Néstor. Juan describing his transition. "I still wonder how my life would've been without the operation," Juan says, referring to the multi-stage surgery performed on him without consent. As soon as he could make decisions for himself, he took steps to regain control over his sex and gender; "When I was sixteen, I started taking testosterone. At seventeen, I had surgery. That same year, I changed my name. I met my wife six months later." Nodding toward the bedroom where his wife and son are sleeping, he says with a smile, "The rest of my life is sleeping in that bed." Néstor asks, "What if I got it all wrong?" Stunned, Juan asks, "By letting her choose?" When Néstor nods, Juan says, "Do you know what my earliest memories are? Medical examinations. I thought I was so horrible that, when I was born, I had to have five operations before my first birthday. That's what they call "normalisation". It's not surgery. It's castration. Making her afraid of her own body is the worst thing you can do to your child." Juan's role in this film, while brief, is incredibly consequential, and I am very glad that the filmmakers included an older intersex person who has found happiness despite the abuse he endured. Returning to Alex, viewers are treated to yet another lingering, gratuitous shot of the teenager's bare chest as Alex showers. When Roberta enters the shower too, it is hard to ignore the fact that Roberta's breasts are not shown to the viewer. The camera treats Alex entirely differently, not affording an intersex body the same politeness extended to a body which fits the medical and social norms of the female sex. In a quiet, tender scene, Alex sits beside Néstor. For a long while, the pair do not speak. Eventually, Alex asks why Néstor did not reveal the true purpose of Ramiro's visit, and believes Néstor when he replies, "I didn't know." Alex admitting to assault. Alex is shown shirtless once again. Then, for the first time since the pair had sex, Álvaro meets with Alex, who initially runs away when he approaches. He asks clumsy questions about Alex's sex and sexuality, conflating the two, his words ignorant but not malicious. In a moment which, by my reckoning, is incredibly damning, Alex says, "Sorry about what I did to you." Alex is aware, and has been all along, that Álvaro's consent was not considered when the pair had sex. This apology betrays an awareness that what happened was wrong. The fact that Álvaro responds by saying he enjoyed the sex and wants to do it again does not make Alex's actions any better, because his enjoyment and consent was considered irrelevant when it mattered. Is this teenage boy aware that physical pleasure can occur during rape, and that doesn't stop it being an act of non-consensual sex? Are reviewers of this film aware of that? Not enough of them, evidently. A mutilated turtle. At this point, a metaphor which has been building throughout the film comes to a terrible conclusion. Néstor is a marine biologist who works to save turtles and other animals which have been injured by fishermen. He was previously shown tending to the wounds of a turtle whose flipper had been amputated, with dialogue reinforcing the not-so-subtle allegory for the violation and mutilation of intersex bodies. Among the fishermen are Vando and his father. Vando, who used to be Alex's best friend, panicked when Alex told him about being intersex, which ended their friendship. Unfortunately, Vando's father found out as well. While Vando is portrayed as a regretful young man who wishes he had reacted better, his father is vicious and openly disgusted by Alex. Suli, Alex's mother, notices the body parts of dead turtles on the beach and sees a boat off in the distance, ominously foreshadowing what is about to happen. Vando, panicked, rides his bike up to the family's house, demanding to know where Alex is. Néstor, angry about the turtles, tells Vando to go away, not realising that Vando knows something terrible is about to happen. Vando intervening. Alex, walking down the beach, is attacked by four fishermen, who express disgust and fetishistic enjoyment when they see Alex's genitalia. This time, the act of rape is not romanticised. It is violent and it is horrible. Vando finally finds the group and interrupts, protecting Alex even though he was too late to prevent what happened. Néstor after the attack. Alex, back at home, conceals the extent of the attack from Néstor and Suli, refusing to discuss the sexual violence and not wanting to go to hospital. Néstor threatens the fishermen in retaliation, furious and desperate to protect Alex from further attacks. Ramiro intervenes, trying to hold Néstor back, at which point Néstor strikes him and says, "You're just like them. Worse. Stay away from my son." In a scene with symbology which is a little too direct to be elegant, Suli is shown chopping a carrot in the kitchen. She accidentally cuts her finger. Erika presses a paper towel to Suli's bleeding finger and says, "Just agree to the surgery. It's not too late. You can't hide her for the rest of her life." Suli, finally, shows a little bit of backbone and prioritises respect for her child over her own personal insecurities, criticising Erika for viewing Alex as a freak. Alex taking a stand. Alex, lying in bed with Suli, upends a bottle of pills and sends them spilling onto the floor. "I've had enough," Alex says, "Enough pills, enough operations, enough changing schools. I want things to stay the same." Suli, the primary source of long-term shame and pressure in Alex's life, manages to keep quiet and refrain from pressuring Alex further. Disappointing that it took a violent assault to make her more open-minded and respectful of Alex's autonomy, but there you go. Néstor recalling Alex's birth. Néstor, after driving off without Ramiro, picks him up again. They drive in silence for a while, and then Néstor speaks about Alex's birth, discussing how dehumanised his child was from the very beginning, and how doctors immediately wanted to amputate Alex's genitalia. "Suli was scared. I convinced her not to do anything. She was perfect. From the moment I set eyes on her. Perfect." Ramiro, witnessing Néstor's powerful love for Alex, does not react by reflecting on his own relationships and realising how much love he lacks. In fact, that night, he calmly tells Álvaro that he does not respect, like, or appreciate him, and that he believes Álvaro will never amount to anything. He asks whether Álvaro likes Alex and, when Álvaro shakes his head in false denial, coldly says, "Finally, some good news. I was afraid you were a fag." A seemingly radical suggestion. In the next scene, with the contrast in parenting very apparent, Néstor is sitting by Alex's bedside. Alex wakes up and asks, "What are you doing?" Néstor replies, "Looking after you." Alex rightly points out, "You can't look after me forever." Néstor, agreeing, says, "Until you can choose... Whatever you want." By this, he means that he will make sure nobody, Suli included, pressures Alex into surgeries or hormone treatments before Alex is ready to choose whether to live as a male or a female. Alex thinks about this and wonders aloud, "What if there isn't a decision to make?" This is, apparently, the first time that a conversation has ever been had about just allowing Alex to exist with an intersex body, with whatever gender Alex happens to be. Néstor, displaying further respect for Alex's autonomy, says that he has not yet gone to the police. He will support Alex in reporting the assault, but opening an investigation has to be Alex's decision. His only concern is that Alex risks being hurt even more if the assault is reported, because everybody will find out. "Let them," Alex decides. In the final scene, Álvaro and Alex both confess to each other. When Álvaro tries to kiss Alex, however, he is unsurprisingly pushed away. Alex, still reeling from the assault, asks, "What do you regret the most? That you won't see me again, or that you haven't seen it?" Álvaro does not answer. Alex asks, "Do you want to see it?" Again, Álvaro does not answer, but he does look down when Alex's waistband is lowered. He cannot restrain his curiosity. Alex takes this as confirmation that Álvaro was ultimately motivated by the same dehumanising interest as the fishermen. In the end, Álvaro is hauled away by his cruel father. By contrast, Néstor pulls Alex close to him, and the three family members walk away together. In Summary... I dislike the way that sexual abuse is depicted and discussed in this film. I dislike the implication that rape is only rape when it is accompanied by physical violence, as if coercion and disregard of consent is not also rape. I dislike the fact that Alex undeniably did assault Álvaro, but there is no room for that to be acknowledged by the end, because we have watched Alex be violated so horribly and can only view Alex as a victim. In truth, Alex is a victim of sexual violence, and also a perpetrator of it. Does this film offer worthwhile insights about intersex autonomy and human rights? Yes, absolutely. Did I enjoy Juan Scherer? Sure. Does this film depict XXY variations accurately? From what I understand, absolutely not. Does it handle sexual assault poorly? You bet. In the afore-mentioned interview , a man named Seamus discusses his experiences as a person with XXY chromosomes, saying that the "biggest misconception" he has been impacted by is the idea that XXY chromosomes inherently make a cis man more feminine than men with XY chromosomes. Hearing his perspective, I would certainly not want him to watch this film. For me personally, the negatives far outweigh the positives. You are free, as always, to make up your own mind. Entry last updated: 28 June 2026 Related Media Intersex Media Browse

Rio Guitierrez, a trans man played by American trans male actor Emmett Preciado, is discovered to be pregnant while in hospital. He is in an established relationship with a gay man. The Good Doctor (S04E09) Show 2021 United States of America Rio Guitierrez, a trans man played by American trans male actor Emmett Preciado, is discovered to be pregnant while in hospital. He is in an established relationship with a gay man. Available Summary: Lim is challenged by the unique circumstances surrounding a pregnant patient with an aggressive tumour; after misdiagnosing a patient, Claire makes a disconcerting discovery about certain practices at the hospital. -IMDb. Jack's Summary: This episode uses an autistic character as a vehicle to show what is, and isn't, acceptable to say to trans people (which is my observation as an autistic man myself). A trans man named Rio, who is in hospital to have a brain tumour treated, is discovered to be pregnant, which complicates the treatment options available to him and prompts some inappropriate comments by the autistic protagonist. I did like some aspects of the episode. The trans man is in an established relationship with a gay man, he is played by a trans male actor, he discusses his desire for fatherhood, and the seriousness of his dysphoria is addressed. The autistic protagonist overcomes ignorant views and apologises for sexually-inappropriate comments, which was nice. It was very sweet to see Rio say "we're going to be dads" to his partner. Rio's partner initially insists that it's impossible for Rio to be pregnant, because Rio is on testosterone. This is misinformation, as AFAB trans people could fall pregnant even while on HRT (though the chances are far lower), so birth control is still recommended. Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026 Related Media Trans Male with Male Browse

Oliver Jähnke, a Swedish trans guy, interviews Fredrik Stillerud, a Norwegian-Swedish transman, about his work as a fertility doula, a teacher, and an advocate. He also discusses his desire to carry a pregnancy, shares his thoughts on the healthcare system, and emphasises the importance of self-determination while pregnant. He is a QUEER DOULA Interview 2022 Sweden (Sverige), Norway (Kongeriket Norge) Oliver Jähnke, a Swedish trans guy, interviews Fredrik Stillerud, a Norwegian-Swedish transman, about his work as a fertility doula, a teacher, and an advocate. He also discusses his desire to carry a pregnancy, shares his thoughts on the healthcare system, and emphasises the importance of self-determination while pregnant. Watch. Available Summary: Fredrik Stillerud is a transman who's working as a fertility doula, mainly for queer people. In this video he describes what a doula is, why it can be beneficial to hire a doula, what he likes about his job, and what he thinks can be done to make health care for pregnant people more inclusive and queer-friendly. - Queers of the world, YouTube . Entry last updated: 5 July 2026 Related Media Trans Male Media Browse

Peter Alexander, a trans man from Aotearoa (New Zealand), is interviewed in Sydney, Australia about his transition. Meet The Girl Who Became a Man Interview 1937 Australia, New Zealand (Aotearoa) Peter Alexander, a trans man from Aotearoa (New Zealand), is interviewed in Sydney, Australia about his transition. Watch. Available Summary: Peter Alexander, interviewed in Sydney, speaks of his gender transition from female to male. He discusses the aspects of his personality when younger which influenced his decision, his view of women in society, and his plans for the future. The predominant voice in this clip is that of Alexander, dressed in jacket and tie, talking cheerily about his interest in sport, his awareness that his "male side and personality" were always dominant, his desire to marry and continue with his musical career. - Digital Transgender Archive . Related Material: Peter Alexander was discussed in a two-page sensationalist newspaper article on 20 November 1937, which derisively described him as a "Man-Woman" and "New Zealand's medical wonder", alongside quotes from his future wife's mother and ex-boyfriend, who were distraught and angered by Alexander. Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026 Related Media Trans Male Media Browse

Finlay Games, a British trans man, stars in episode 3 of this body positive series. He shows his post-phalloplasty and post-mastectomy body for the education of Lucian, a younger British trans man, and viewers. He shares his story and answers questions about how phalloplasty operations work. Naked Education (S01E03) Reality TV 2023 England Finlay Games, a British trans man, stars in episode 3 of this body positive series. He shows his post-phalloplasty and post-mastectomy body for the education of Lucian, a younger British trans man, and viewers. He shares his story and answers questions about how phalloplasty operations work. Watch. Available Summaries: Each episode, teenagers are educated about the human anatomy and the importance of body positivity, two people talk about their shared experiences, and the Naked Brigade help someone get over some of their body image issues. -IMdb (overview). Teenagers are taught about female anatomy. Two transgender men share their experiences with each other. The Naked Brigade takes Laura on a naked bike ride to help them with their confidence. -IMdb (episode three). Jack's Summary: This show aims to de-stigmatise and demystify human bodies. Each episode is split into three parts: Teen Talk, The Naked Brigade, and The Naked Exchange. In The Naked Exchange, "two people with similar body journey stories, who are at different stages on their journeys, meet up for a conversation and, if they wish and feel comfortable, share their naked bodies". After hearing that a post-phalloplasty trans man was featured in episode three's The Naked Exchange segment, I immediately rushed to watch it. The man in question is Finlay Games (AKA Finn), a post-transition English man, and he speaks with a late-twenties English trans man named Lucian. Finn listening to Lucian share his experiences. Lucian and Finn discuss their transitions, their differing backgrounds, and their experiences of manhood. Lucian talks about undergoing top surgery only six months prior to the episode, and says he wants to have bottom surgery in the future. Finn discusses coming out at thirty-seven years of age, the difficulty of transitioning, and the happiness that he now enjoys. All questions asked of the trans men, by the interviewer and by each other, were respectful and exactly what I would've wanted. A censored still from the episode. In a non-sexual, friendly context, Finn undresses and shows Lucian his phalloplasty result, prompting Lucian to say, "I'm so jealous, it's painful". Lucian asks questions about Finn's sensation, how the surgical result was achieved, how long the process took, and other particulars. "I can pee, get an erection, have pleasure, have sex," Finn explains, later saying, "I'm happy with it. Best decision I've made... Going through three years of surgery and six surgeries is actually less painful and hellish than gender dysphoria." Towards the end of the episode Lucian remarks, "If this is me 20 years down the line, then I'm a happy guy." He thanks Finn for sharing his body and his story, saying, "I feel like it's definitely given me a better perspective, seeing it in-person and being able to ask questions, so I really, really appreciate you doing that." I wish this kind of representation had been around earlier, and I'm so happy that it's here now. At a time when phalloplasty is still widely misunderstood, it's wonderful that we're able to see full-frontal nudity of a post-transition FTM guy. I'm so grateful to Finn for his bravery, especially considering the transphobia which abounds in his country. I can't comment on the other segments (Teen Talk and The Naked Brigade), as I only watched the phalloplasty/FTM-centric scenes. But, from what I understand, a disabled non-binary person participated in The Naked Parade and was affirmed by the other participants. The show also features cancer survivors, older people, post-pregnancy women, and quadriplegic people. I personally find the concept of the Teen Talk segments uncomfortable, though I rationally understand the logic behind it . Feel free to make up your own mind, on that front! A censored still from the episode. Prepare for anatomically-correct language when Finn and the interviewer are discussing his pre- and post-op anatomy. Also, be aware that Finn discusses disordered eating, alcohol use disorder, and other struggles which occurred due to his gender dysphoria going unmanaged. You can read about Finn's experience filming Naked Education here . He has also published a book about undergoing phalloplasty; more info here . Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026 Related Media Gender-Related Surgery Browse

Leo, a non-binary young person played by German non-binary actor Sky Arndt, is distressed when they have their first menstrual period, leading to them coming out about their gender identity. Weil ich Leo bin (I am Leo) Short Film 2021 Germany (Deutschland) Leo, a non-binary young person played by German non-binary actor Sky Arndt, is distressed when they have their first menstrual period, leading to them coming out about their gender identity. Trailer. Available Summary: Wide meadows, playing in the forest, and huts built from wood. Leo (12) spends the autumn holidays with their big sister Noémie and cousin Emil on Grandma Marlies's farm. However, when Leo is surprised by what Grandma Marlies says is great news, Leo falls into an identity crisis. I Am Leo delves into the emotional world of a child on their way to discovering their gender identity. It is a film about expectations that are passed on, about thoughts that constrict, and about the courage to find oneself. - Official website (translated) . Entry last updated: 1 Mar 2026 Related Media Non-Binary Media Browse

Jason Barker, an English trans man, shares his pregnancy journey. A Deal with the Universe Documentary 2018 England Jason Barker, an English trans man, shares his pregnancy journey. Watch. Available Summary: This is transgender filmmaker Jason Barker's debut feature. Autobiographical and made entirely from personal archive and home video diaries, the film follows Jason and Tracy's incredible story of how he came to give birth to their child, charting over 15 years of his and his partner's life. This film is groundbreaking in terms of its intimate insights into gender identity and new parenthood. -Peccadillo Pictures, Vimeo. Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026 Related Media Fatherhood and Parenthood Browse

Henry Rubin, an American trans man, discusses gender, feminism, and medically transitioning. Trans Interview 1994 United States of America Henry Rubin, an American trans man, discusses gender, feminism, and medically transitioning. Watch. Available Summary: Henry, a trans man, muses about the narrow definitions of gender, femininity, sexual politics and the joy of wearing a suit. -YouTube. Jack's Summary: This is an interview with a female-to-male transsexual named Henry S. Rubin, who identifies himself as previously being a lesbian 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, expressing frustrations also discussed in documentaries like Southern Comfort . Entry last updated: 27 Feb 2026 Related Media Trans Male Media Browse

Glen and Glenda, non-binary twins played by American non-binary actor Lachlan Watson, are the reincarnated soul of a murderous doll in this fantasy horror series. Chucky Show 2021 United States of America Glen and Glenda, non-binary twins played by American non-binary actor Lachlan Watson, are the reincarnated soul of a murderous doll in this fantasy horror series. Interview with Lachlan Watson. Compilation of Scenes. Available Summary: After a vintage Chucky doll turns up at a suburban yard sale, an idyllic American town is thrown into chaos as a series of horrifying murders begin to expose the town's hypocrisies and secrets. -IMDb. Note from Jack: The scene compilation includes a misuse of the term "psychotic". Pretty disappointing that any television show is still perpetuating stigma against that medical condition, regardless of the show's genre. Psychosis is a symptom, not a shorthand for being evil... whether an evil person or an evil doll... Fundamentally, it is a disconnection from reality, characterised by false beliefs, or a person experiencing things which are objectively not real. There are many different causes of psychosis, including dementia, encephalitis, stroke, substance use, and schizophrenia. It is quite common and does not mean someone is a villain. It means that they need support, and stigma can prevent that from happening. Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026 Related Media Non-Binary Media Browse

The bisexual protagonist of this film falls in love with Katie, a gender non-conforming barista played by American non-binary actor Ro White. Princess Cyd Film 2017 United States of America The bisexual protagonist of this film falls in love with Katie, a gender non-conforming barista played by American non-binary actor Ro White. Trailer. Available Summary: A teenager moves to Chicago for the summer and finds a poignant mentor in her aunt and a sweet love interest in a girl who works in the neighborhood. -Netflix. Jack's Summary: I really, really enjoyed this film. The protagonist is an initially headstrong, arrogant young woman who is beginning to explore her sexuality, and who is healing from trauma. I interpret her aunt as being asexual, although that is not canonically stated. The main love interest of Cyd is a gender non-conforming person named Katie, played by American non-binary actor Ro White. In this interview , the director said that he told White to, "rewind to a year or two before you fully acknowledged your identity as a non-binary person," explaining to the interviewer, "Katie is a girl in the film, but cut to two years later, I imagine they will have found themselves." An encounter where Katie is assumed to be a guy by strangers, and happily does not correct them, leads to a scene where Cyd and her aunt briefly comment on Katie's gender identity, unbothered and supportive in a way which I found wonderfully understated. I would say that Katie is potentially relatable for a wide range of gender-diverse and gender non-conforming people. The most confronting parts of this film involve an offscreen sexual assault (Katie texts Cyd, asking for help to escape the situation), and a discussion of unmanaged mental illness and domestic conflict which escalated into gun violence. Towards the end of the movie, Cyd reveals to Katie that her brother fatally shot her mother and then turned the gun on himself. Cyd also reveals that her parents had considered sending her brother to military school, as a solution for his mental illnesses and mood swings, which is hardly an appropriate response to someone who needs clinical help. This is one reason that I feel mental illness is not demonised by this storyline; it is clear that her brother did not get the help he needed, resulting in horrific consequences for his family and himself. Furthermore, Katie has self-harm scars which do not deter Cyd's affection and attraction. They are simply allowed to exist, without being stigmatised or questioned. There is a happy ending. Entry last updated: 9 Feb 2026 Related Media Non-Binary Media Browse