In this alarmist and insensitive documentary, trans men Scott, Dirk, Ryan, and Jamison Green are interviewed alongside anti-trans doctors. Changing Sexes Ep.2 Documentary 2008 United States of America In this alarmist and insensitive documentary, trans men Scott, Dirk, Ryan, and Jamison Green are interviewed alongside anti-trans doctors. Watch... But I Wouldn't Recommend It! Jack's Summary: Oh, boy. So, I am an FTM transsexual. I am a man who was born female, and I live my life as a male as much as possible. I always like seeing media where transsexuals use that word, my word, because I feel represented and connected to transsexual men throughout history. This ain't it. The issue is not with the interviewees themselves. The issue is with the smooth, toothpaste-ad-esque voice which mislabels, misgenders, and misrepresents trans men. One of the first lines in Changing Sexes is, "In this hour, four transsexual women, and their quest to live as men; the ethics, the science, and the search for acceptance in changing sexes." Women, eh? Seems you've fundamentally missed the point. An interview with a trans bloke, who firmly and unambiguously asserts that he is a man, is preceded by the narrator saying, "Rachel has decided that she wants to become a man". I can understand such an explanation if merely referring to the social role that a trans person has decided they will inhabit externally, but this documentary seems unable to grasp that trans men are already men internally. This is particularly an issue with "Rachel," who is not real enough a man for the filmmakers to refer to him as such. In testament to the invisibility/erasure of trans men, particularly in decades past, the documentary asserts that three-fourths of trans people are trans women, and only one-fourth are trans men (you can learn more about this invisibility/erasure in Then and Now ). Non-binary and gender-variant people, of course, not existing. The filmmakers responsible for this documentary seemingly missed the decidedly binary-transcending butch/trans Leslie Feinberg... Within three minutes, and with barely any context beyond the invalidating narration thus far, the documentary launches into an attack on transitioning. Viewers are introduced to the idea of transition surgeries, particularly bottom surgeries, by a doctor who is staunchly opposed to them. Much like TRANS , this documentary asserts that transgenderism/transsexualism is a thing that "happens" to people. "It does happen, even in the midwest, to little girls with idyllic childhood memories," the narrator croons, while showing childhood pictures of a trans man whose interview is about to be played. In this interview, the trans man talks about how his "idyllic childhood" was plagued by dysphoria and distress at his changing body. So, not that idyllic, then... Heidi. This man, named Dirk, has a girlfriend named Heidi. In a complete contradiction of the film's framing thus far, Heidi says, "What people should know about Dirk is that he's just a guy. He's not a woman who wants to be a man. He's just a man, and that's the only way he can live." Seems the filmmakers completely disregarded Heidi's perspective when they were writing the narrator's script. Dirk holding his testosterone dose. Dirk talks about transitioning hormonally and legally, in terms of his name change. Dirk's appointment with his supportive doctor is filmed. The narrator claims that being on testosterone replacement therapy will increase Dirk's risk of uterine cancer, necessitating a hysterectomy. No evidence or study is cited to back up this claim. Almost immediately after this claim, Dirk's doctor frankly says that (back in 2008 when this film was released) doctors do not yet know the long-term risks for trans individuals using testosterone... which contradicts the narrator's claims of certain and foreseeable health risks. The doctor, far less alarmist than the narrator, talks about monitoring bodily functions which can be impacted by hormones in any human body (including cis people), to ensure they stay within a "satisfactory range". It goes without saying that I encourage you to speak to qualified medical practitioners if you have any concerns about the risks associated with HRT. You deserve up-to-date, evidence-based information. Here is a video where a trans man, who began testosterone in 1996, talks about his experiences with HRT, and urges caution before you believe alarmist rhetoric on the internet... or in sensationalist documentaries. Moving on from Dirk, the documentary proceeds to discuss "Rachel," who is one day away from his top surgery. Referring to this man's parents, the narrator says, "They are devastated by her decision to become a man". The documentary then cuts to an interview where his sister is saying, "It's like a death in the family, because it is". We finally learn, during this interview, that this man's chosen name is Ryan. He is not referred to by this name because, again, he isn't a real man yet by the filmmakers' standards. Ryan's best friend speaks negatively about his transition, saying that she has told him, "You're still going to be the same person inside," with this seemingly affirming statement instead meaning that he, in her view, is still a woman inside, and will be trapped in an unwanted body post-op. Again... the point has been missed! Dirk binding his chest. Dirk is shown binding his chest using a sports bra, on top of elastic bandages, on top of a velcro binder without shoulder straps. This is extremely unsafe, and the physical dangers of binding this way are not specified. Dirk discussing the danger of being a trans man. Discussing binding his chest, and struggling with the binding falling down, Dirk says: It's just a stop-gap solution, for now, and it's going to fail eventually. And I don't know when that's gonna happen. Y'know, as it is, the past few months, I've pretty much just stopped going outside whenever I could, because it's just not worth the binding, more than anything. I'm used to being very physical, I'm used to being an active person, I work outdoors. And I love the winter. But I can't do it. And I'm not gonna go out unbound with my family, in the stage I'm in, because it's just not safe... If I have these breasts, that's such a red flag to people. Like, that person isn't what they say they are. That person's pretending to be a guy, but really he's a chick, you can tell. And, y'know, there's a safety issue there. There's lots of trans people getting killed. There's lots of hate crimes against trans people. I don't... I don't want that to be me. He is trying to access a mastectomy, but it is prohibitively expensive, leaving him stuck between a rock and a hard place. His safety, and his family's safety, depends on him being consistently read as male. After this sensitive and revealing segment focusing on the struggles of a rural trans man in the early-2000s, the anti-trans doctor from earlier in the documentary returns. If he were posing his concerns as questions, and perhaps consulting empirical studies, his commentary would have more value than the unfounded assertion he makes that a persistent trans identity and gender dysphoria are comparable to... being anorexic. Ryan calling his mother. Ryan is shown prior to his top surgery, tearing up as he calls his unaccepting mother and says that he loves her, asking that she pass on his love to his father as well. Truly heartbreaking and important. Footage of Ryan's surgery is not shown, but his chest is shown immediately post-op, which could be considered graphic to some. Proceed with caution. Returning to Dirk, the narrator notes how Dirk's son refers to him as "daddy," and remarks about how male he seems, then musing about whether Dirk and other trans men are "impostors". With every ad break, this film really does feel the need to remind viewers that FTM transsexuals should be doubted, viewed with suspicion, and distrusted. Dirk and Heidi then talk about the judgement, rejection, and transphobia they have both experienced, with the documentary seemingly unaware that such views are being encouraged by the film itself. What we see in Dirk is a man who is helping to raise his girlfriend's child, and that child has accepted him as a father. That's wonderful, but you wouldn't know it from the way this documentary prioritises sensationalistic rhetoric. Jamison Green. Jamison Green, a bisexual pioneer for trans male visibility and acceptance, is introduced around 33 minutes into the documentary. Because he looks and sounds like the filmmakers' idea of a man, he is consistently referred to with he/him/his pronouns, and by his chosen name; a courtesy not extended to Ryan, because of how he looks and sounds. Jamison's commentary on trans people, as ever, is progressive, calm, and understanding of those who feel threatened by transsexuals. It's a shame his valuable commentary is bogged down by the majority of this documentary. The documentary then turns to FTM bottom surgeries. Jamison talks about his decision to undergo metoidioplasty. No notes, fantastic stuff, I really appreciate him sharing his experience. Scott's phalloplasty scar. Scott, another trans man, talks about having phalloplasty and feeling so overwhelmed afterwards by the magnitude of what his body had to go through in order to alleviate his dysphoria. He had just undergone a major surgery which, ultimately, did provide what he had wanted and did work the way he had needed it to, but it was a huge undertaking. That is entirely understandable; as Finlay Games explored in his phalloplasty memoir Top to Bottom , phalloplasty can be incredibly arduous, even for people who passionately want it and ultimately thrive post-op. It's a big deal. Like any major surgery, it's physically exhausting, which is what Scott describes. He's only three months after his most recent surgery. He's still recovering and adjusting. The way that the narrator frames Scott's experience, though, is by dramatically saying, "When he woke up, he was horrified at what he had done". Alarmist, to say the least! No need for nuance here! The anti-trans doctor pops up again to say, "The people who are gender dysphoric are truly suffering. They're not kidding anyone, they're not dishonest people, they're not bad people". They are, however, people whose strongly-felt sense of gender should be disbelieved and compared to anorexia, though, I guess. With the context of his earlier comments, this weak defence of transsexual people comes across as condescending because, of course, we may not be bad people, but we still don't know what's best for ourselves and our bodies. He does. Another doctor argues against hormones and surgery, suggesting that psychological interventions should be used instead. Now, I personally believe that, yes, psychological support is very, very important whenever anybody (trans or not) is considering irreversible medical treatments, but that support is not what the doctor is keen on. He's keen on conversion therapy to fix us. Once again, he knows best. We don't. Ryan on testosterone. With only a few minutes to go in the documentary, viewers get to see Ryan one month after his mastectomy. This surgery legitimises his manhood enough that the narrator deigns to call him Ryan. Wonderfully, Dirk's friend Heather lends him a large sum of money so that he can finally have top surgery, paying it forward after her brother lent her a similar sum of money in the recent past. Ryan's relationship with his parents is healing, and he is happy with his medical transition. So, the people in this documentary end on a happy note, in spite of the documentary's best efforts. Entry last updated: 23 Mar 2026

Andrea, a teenage trans boy played by Italian actress Luana Giuliani, tries to figure out his gender identity in this semi-autobiographical film, co-written and directed by Italian trans man Emanuele Crialese. He is called Andrew in the English version of this film. L'immensità Film 2022 Italy, France Andrea, a teenage trans boy played by Italian actress Luana Giuliani, tries to figure out his gender identity in this semi-autobiographical film, co-written and directed by Italian trans man Emanuele Crialese. He is called Andrew in the English version of this film. Trailer. Available Summary: In 1970s Rome, Clara is a nonconformist Spanish expatriate trapped in a loveless marriage to Felice, an unfaithful and abusive businessman, with whom she has three children: Adriana, Gino and Diana. Their eldest child, 12-year-old Adriana, experiences gender dysphoria. Adriana rejects girlhood and instead identifies as a boy, wearing boys' clothes and adopting the masculine name Andrea. One day, Andrea befriends Sara, a Romani girl who knows him as a boy. Upon a shared sense of being outsiders, Andrea and Clara grow closer. -Wikipedia. Jack's Summary: Emanuele Crialese, a trans man born in 1965, directed this semi-autobiographical film about a trans boy's relationship with his mother. Beyond the trans themes, the movie primarily deals with family dysfunction, misogyny, spousal control, domestic abuse, and infidelity. Andrea (alternatively called Andrew in the translated English version of this film) is the oldest of three children. All children are experiencing distress and mental illness due to domestic conflict, with Andrea's brother overeating, suffering from pica, and defecating indoors on the carpet. At its most disturbing, this film shows Andrea crawling into his parent's bedroom to save his mother from being raped by her husband. These darker themes are so central to the story that this attempted rape is included in the film's official trailer, linked above. Andrea's father speaking about him. The movie overall oscillates between lighthearted, idyllic childhood scenes and confronting instances of assault, harassment, bigotry, and mental breakdowns. Ultimately, this is a good film, although it did feel somewhat unfinished when I got to the end. I liked the explorations of Andrea's gender identity and frustration. He tries to figure out who he is through fantasies involving God, aliens, and adoption. He has a romance with Sara, a local girl who accepts him as a boy. They play games together and have their first kiss. The film touches on the experiences of Romani people and anti-Romani sentiment, but doesn't linger on that topic too much. You can learn more about anti-Romani prejudice in this article (please note that the article uses historical terms which are often considered pejoratives today, and shouldn't be used by non-Romani people outside of a historical discussion). In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Crialese discussed the film and his casting choices. He did not prioritise casting a trans actor to play this fictionalised version of his younger self, saying, "I searched among young girls who play sports considered "boy" sports. Luana [who played Andrea] races motorcycles". So, he sought a masculine energy, regardless of actor gender. Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026

An Iranian trans man is shown having an appointment with Dr. Mir Jalili, who performs transition surgeries. The pair discuss getting approval for surgery. Be Like Others: Transsexuals in Iran Documentary 2008 Iran An Iranian trans man is shown having an appointment with Dr. Mir Jalili, who performs transition surgeries. The pair discuss getting approval for surgery. Watch. Available Summary: In Iran, according to Islamic law, homosexuality is punishable by death. However, sex-change operations are not only legal, they are embraced by a society that accepts male or female, but nothing in between. -YouTube. Note from Jack: I have not watched this entire documentary, but there is at least one trans man in it. At the beginning of the film, Iranian doctor Dr. Mir Jalili is introduced as a practitioner who performs transition surgeries for both trans men and trans women. An unnamed trans man comes to see Jalili, pursuing a medical transition. This trans man explains that he is sexually attracted to women and wishes to be intimate with them as a man, and asks whether it would be possible for Jalili to operate on him without government permission. Jalili is firm in saying that no, government permission is needed before any surgery is performed, and the man needs a referral from a psychiatrist. In response, the trans man insists that the doctor must introduce him to a psychiatrist who is educated on trans identities, not one who will demean him or refuse to believe his male identity. Jalili, addressing the trans man, mentions that he does not think the man needs coaching on the correct things to say, in order to obtain permission. "You were like this since childhood," he confirms. The man agrees; "My mother tried desperately to put a skirt on me. But I resisted. I've driven tractors and motorcycles." Smiling, he adds, "Girls already like me. Imagine how popular I will be once I have a beard." At the end of the appointment, the trans man grasps the doctor's hand and says, "Doctor, I don't know what to say. I am so grateful. I'll do anything for you. I owe you my life. I'll give you everything I have." As the trans man leaves, the doctor dabs at his eyes with a tissue. Entry last updated: 4 Mar 2026

Lev, a trans boy played by Vietnamese-American non-binary actor Ian Alexander, is raised in a post-apocalyptic cult with strict beliefs, which he defies when he refuses to enter into an arranged marriage (as a wife) and shaves his head. After fleeing for his life, he joins other major characters with his supportive sister accompanying him. The Last of Us Part 2 Game 2020 United States of America, Vietnam Lev, a trans boy played by Vietnamese-American non-binary actor Ian Alexander, is raised in a post-apocalyptic cult with strict beliefs, which he defies when he refuses to enter into an arranged marriage (as a wife) and shaves his head. After fleeing for his life, he joins other major characters with his supportive sister accompanying him. Trailer. Available Summaries: Five years after the events of The Last of Us , Ellie embarks on another journey through a post-apocalyptic America on a mission of vengeance against a mysterious militia. -IMDb. Lev is the deuteragonist of Abby Anderson's story in The Last of Us Part 2 and a playable character in the No Return mode. A former member of the Seraphites, he and his sister Yara form a bond with Washington Liberation Front member, Abby... Lev is serious and pessimistic. Hardened by the harsh world he lives in, Lev is a capable fighter and killer. Despite this, Lev displays moments of wonder and innocence indicative of his age... He is also protective of those he loves, seeing it as his duty to take care of his family. - Wiki . Entry last updated: 24 Feb 2026

Adam, a trans man played by Canadian cis male actor Gavin Crawford, accidentally becomes pregnant with twins and has to figure out whether he wants to keep the babies, and who he might raise them with. Two 4 One Film 2014 Canada Adam, a trans man played by Canadian cis male actor Gavin Crawford, accidentally becomes pregnant with twins and has to figure out whether he wants to keep the babies, and who he might raise them with. Watch. Available Summary: Adam, a trans man who agrees to have a one-night stand with his ex-girlfriend Miriam, uses a mail-order at-home pregnancy kit to artificially inseminate her with donated sperm. However, an accident during the encounter leaves both Adam and Miriam pregnant, forcing Adam, who has not yet completed the surgical phase of his gender transition, to confront the ways in which the pregnancy will influence his sense of gender identity. -Wikipedia. Jack's Summary: Despite the tacky film poster, which may lead you to assume the movie is making a mockery of trans men’s ability to carry children, this film is actually pretty good. I wouldn’t say it’s my favourite (and the acting leaves something to be desired), but it does explore the dilemma of a middle-aged trans man accidentally falling pregnant and having to face the dysphoric choices therein. That’s a first, for a casual comedy! I feel the same way about Two 4 One that many cishet people (I have heard) feel about crappy romcom flicks. Don't expect anything super amazing, but it's fun, and there's a happy ending. Entry last updated: 28 Feb 2026

Six New Yorkers (a city in America) are interviewed about their identities, sexual orientations, backgrounds, and goals for the future. All six identify as aggressive, with the terms butch and transgendered also used. The Aggressives Documentary 2005 United States of America Six New Yorkers (a city in America) are interviewed about their identities, sexual orientations, backgrounds, and goals for the future. All six identify as aggressive, with the terms butch and transgendered also used. Watch. Available Summary: The Aggressives is an exposé on the subculture of masculine-presenting Black people and their femme counterparts. Filmed over five years in New York City, the featured subjects share their dreams, secrets, and deepest fears. -Wikipedia. Note from Jack: I have referred to documentary subjects with the pronouns used in this film release. Several used he/him/his pronouns at the time that this documentary was created, despite being misgendered with she/her/hers pronouns in the film itself. 2026 Update: I've just watched Beyond The Aggressives . Several interviewees, who used labels like "lesbian" and "Aggressive" in this first documentary, ultimately ended up identifying as trans men and trans guys. Several also chose new names, so I've used them throughout this review, instead of their original names. This first film is still an example of lesbian, transmasculine, butch, and trans male identities overlapping, if only in the sense that we have shared histories and can hold that complexity. Jack's Summary: I have long been fascinated by the crossover between lesbian and trans communities, and the complexity which has always existed in LGBT+ spaces. The Aggressives explores that complexity, making it fascinating and worthwhile in its own right. It was also an intriguing watch for me personally because Marquise Vilsón, now considered a spokesperson for trans men and transmasculine people in America, spoke very differently about his identity and life in this documentary. Marquise with his then-girlfriend, Aniche. "I'm comfortable being a woman who likes women," he says at the beginning of the film, "I live my life as a man, yes, but the reality does not change." He also identifies himself as being "transgendered" but specifies that he is not a man, and doesn't want to be one. He goes on, throughout the interviews, to say that he isn't "one of those dykes who has a complex and feels that I'm a straight man, or whatever like that, and, "I live my life as a straight man and I only date straight women." No. I'm a lesbian. I'm just very Aggressive." It seems that a young Vilsón was referring to straight trans men as "dykes" with a "complex" which, I won't lie, was pretty shocking. I won't defend that bigoted mindset. Having met some straight trans men in my life, a huge issue for them is people disbelieving their identities and instead labelling them as confused or deluded lesbians, their male identities therefore being deserving of mockery. I didn't expect that kind of rhetoric in this documentary. It's apparent that Vilsón was much younger and in a very different stage of life when he made those statements, so hopefully he has grown beyond such views. Vilsón being bound in duct tape. During the documentary, Vilsón discusses chest binding. He says that he wears a sports bra in daily life, but during ball performances (where Aggressives dress up in masculine attire) he is strapped down with an ACE bandage. Footage is shown of him being wrapped in duct tape, in order to flatten his chest. The documentary's cover art, and main promotional image, features him bound down in such a way. Please know that this is extremely unsafe. There are ways to flatten your chest without risking cracked/bruised ribs and other health impacts. Many trans and gender-diverse communities have come a long way since the early 2000s, and it's now more widely known how unsafe duct tape and bandage binding is. There are options which are far less likely to put you in the hospital. The unsafe chest binding shown in this documentary does not disqualify The Aggressives from being a recommended watch, and a treasured part of both FTM and AG (Aggressive) history. This documentary isn't just a film about gender roles and sexuality, it's also about poverty. I'm aware that, as a modern-day man who had access to binding information somewhat soon after coming out, I have a leg-up on trans men and MoC (masculine-of-centre) people who didn't have access to the same resources. I also recognise that many modern-day trans and gender-diverse people may struggle to access safer binders, meaning they might be tempted to follow Vilsón's example and bind with duct tape, so the consequences of unsafe binding do still need to be discussed. These dangers are not discussed in The Aggressives . Learn more about chest binding here. Chin and Vilsón. The complexities of identity go beyond sexuality and gender in The Aggressives . Racial identities and experiences are also explored. "I'm talking about Chin," raps a Trevon, a Black AG, "I'm talking about realness. I'm talking about acting Black. I'm talking about Chin." Chin Tsui is the only Asian interviewee, and describes himself as "the only Asian person on the Black scene". He also refers to himself with the n-word, despite not being Black. This is a documentary where slurs are reclaimed by those who have been targeted with such words, and are also claimed by others with differing backgrounds. One of the AGs, who is masculine-presenting and dates a range of people including trans women, identifies as a "faggot". I've seen similar community attitudes before, in documentaries including BloodSisters: Leather, Dykes and Sadomasochism (1995), as below. Robin Sweeney in the documentary Bloodsisters. To me, this is a fascinating thing to witness in non-fiction films from a social perspective, but I know some people are understandably very sensitive to slurs, so you should proceed with caution if that aspect of the film will upset you. Kisha. The documentary was filmed over five years, meaning viewers get to witness immense changes in the interviewees. Kisha, an young woman who works as a model and a messenger, speaks at the beginning of the documentary about how she experiences her identity; “Aggressive is your strength, your courage, your whole aura.” However, at the end of the film, she says, “Aggressive... I know I used to get excited about that word. But now it’s just a little bit different. I guess, maybe because I was categorised so much all my life… Just call me Kisha, man. Just call me Kisha.” The documentary doesn't put strict definitions on any labels, as a matter of fact. It's constantly emphasised that all the interviewees want to do is be themselves. What distinguishes one label from another (for example, an Aggressive versus a Butch versus a Stud) isn't really pinned down. The film feels as fluid, diverse, and complicated as real-life LGBT+ communities do, which is quite refreshing. I've watched LGBT-focused documentaries which have been far more limited in their scope. The Aggressives allows for unrestricted, spontaneous expression, and shows that labels can mean different things to different people. But what we see goes beyond introspective commentary and positivity; incarceration, bullying, drug dealing, financial hardship, immigration, insecure housing, AIDS, lesbophobia, and isolation are all tackled. Chin as a child. Chin talks about his background, saying, "My father, my mother, my youngest sister, and my younger brother, we came to this country in June of 1980. My mother left me when I was, like, nine years old. She just left us. So, me and my sister and my brother, we raised each other. Y'know, my father was too busy working. I got into a lot of criminal stuff. Right now I'm on probation for three years." Other difficulties he's faced include being chased out of the women's bathroom, and having the police called on him for trying to use female facilities. After that experience, he "never went back to the women's bathroom". Several of the interviewees have had negative experiences with homophobic and hostile women, including Chin and Octavio, who both had their identities questioned or mocked by their mothers. Crystal, Octavia's mother, recalls her reaction to Octavio's coming-out; "I said I was gonna find a boyfriend to take her out... I was upset. I said, you're not gay. That's a phase. You're gonna snap out of it, sooner or later. [She said] no it's not, no it's not. But I believe it is... I know that's not her. She had a lot of boyfriends, coming up. I don't think that's my daughter at all. I didn't approve of it. I still don't, because that's not how I raised her. But I accept her. She's gotta be her own person... But I still think she's gonna snap out of it, pretty soon. Hopefully." Rjai after his surgery. One of the most distressing moments in this documentary, for me personally, was when Rjai talked about undergoing a hysterectomy. "I'm having a problem where I'm clotting," he explained while in hospital, "You know how you sit on a toilet and just pee? Just imagine that being blood, and like, blood clots coming out of you. I'm becoming anaemic. And I thought it was just girlie problems, or whatever. But then I noticed that it was like that for a whole year. The first doctor I went to said it was hormonal, and that I had more male hormones than female hormones. And I'm like, what? He was like, all you need is birth control... And I'm like, no, there's something wrong. I'm bleeding ridiculously, like for months at a time. I got a new doctor, and he goes, you know what? You should just get a hysterectomy. So, I don't know what the hell that is. You would think I should know, because I'm a woman, but I just don't. So, we did it yesterday. No more period, hallelujah. Never again." This was utterly terrifying to hear. I really hope that I'm misinterpreting this moment, and Rjai's doctor actually told him what the surgery entailed before he went through it. This is one of the heavier interviews, as is an interview with Octavio, conducted while he is in prison on a charge of drug-dealing. He discusses the emotional hardship of being separated from his son. This documentary highlights the vulnerability of female-born people who are diverse in gender, expression, and sexuality. And, especially, the intersection of disadvantage experienced by trans men and AGs who are people of colour. From doctors dismissing serious health concerns to early-life trauma to all manner of other struggles, these interviewees had the deck stacked against them. And yet they flourish, with Trevon receiving his GED and enrolling in college, Octavio working as a security guard, and Kisha pursuing acting while continuing to work her other two jobs. The conclusion of Vilsón's story in the film. As for Vilsón, the documentary ends on a mysterious note. "During the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Marquise abruptly left the Army," reads the post-film update, "Her current whereabouts are unknown." We now know that (according to public appearances) Vilsón eventually accepted his trans male identity. From what I have read and watched, he refers to himself as both a trans man and a person of transmasculine experience. Vilsón talked about wanting to begin hormone replacement therapy in the documentary, but his then-partner discouraged this, speaking negatively about how his appearance would change and how "wrong" it would be. Transitioning is rarely simple, straightforward, or without ups and downs. Not only is this documentary a precious snapshot of AG diversity and perseverance, it also shows the struggles of people who ultimately come to identify as trans men, transmasculine, non-binary, etc. It is a complex, sometimes confronting, and beautiful film. I highly recommend watching it... as long as you don't expect the interviewees to use the same language, or have the same perspectives, as many modern-day LGBT+ people. Particularly when it comes to sex, gender, and sexual orientations. Trevon with Kelly. Trevon, an AG who frequently dates trans women, doesn't identify as a lesbian on the basis that, in Trevon's words, "I'm not a lesbian if I date transgenders and I have heterosexual sex with them". Although this is just one individual sharing a personal opinion and sexual identity, I know that many modern-day people, including trans women and the lesbians who date them (those two categories not being mutually exclusive), may understandably find this invalidating. I can confirm that there are many, many modern-day lesbians who have sex with trans women, just like there are many gay men who have sex with trans men, at all stages of medical affirmation. The views expressed in The Aggressives might be contrary to your own understanding of sexuality and gend er. For that reason, you should proceed with caution, but this documentary is still an important reflection of female-born gender variance, and is a part of masculine history. WARNING: Potentially confronting themes. In addition to the themes already discussed, The Aggressives includes hard drug use, sexual nudity in the form of a striptease, and rhetoric about Black women which could be considered racist (comments about all Black women being similar). Entry last updated: 2 Mar 2026

Tony Sawicki, a trans man played by Canadian actress Tatiana Maslany, embodies a harmful stereotype of manhood. Orphan Black (S02E08) Show 2014 Canada, United States of America Tony Sawicki, a trans man played by Canadian actress Tatiana Maslany, embodies a harmful stereotype of manhood. Available Summary: The series focuses on a number of identical human clones, all of whom are played by Tatiana Maslany: Sarah Manning, Alison Hendrix, Cosima Niehaus, and Rachel Duncan. This episode introduces a new clone, Tony Sawicki, a transgender man whose search for another clone leads him to Sarah's foster brother Felix Dawkins... The show's co-creators, Fawcett and Graeme Manson, along with Maslany and her hair and makeup artists, developed the character of Tony over a period of six months after deciding that the inclusion of a transgender character would fit well with the show's themes of identity, gender and sexuality. Overall, the episode received mixed reviews: critics praised Maslany's performance but found Tony's character underdeveloped and gimmicky, and found the plot disorganised. -Wikipedia. Jack's Summary: Orphan Black is a well-known science fiction show about autonomy, identity, and found family. The basic summary is that a group of clones, after finding out about their biological origins, work together to try and gain independence from their creators. The clones have all been created through a process of in-vitro fertilisation, with their genetic material sourced from one woman. Tatiana Maslany, a Canadian actress, plays many clones throughout the series, and her acting is genuinely mind-boggling. Every clone is vastly different, with unique personalities, accents, interests, and sexualities. Five clones appear in S02E08, titled "Variable and Full of Perturbation". Four of them (Sarah, Rachel, Cosima, and Alison) are cis women. The fifth is a trans man named Tony Sawicki. When I first watched this show, I remember being utterly delighted by Tony's inclusion. Here were the reasons for my joy: His presentation is quite masculine, especially compared to the other clones. He is shown wearing a tank top binder, and packing in his underwear. He is confident in his body and unashamed, happily taking a bath in a stranger's apartment. He is shown injecting testosterone, and discusses how important it is to affirm himself through hormones. After meeting Tony, Sarah (another clone) expects that he will have an "identity crisis", similar to other clones' reactions. He calmly denies this, saying, "I did all that work a long time ago. There's only one Tony, and you're not me, sucker." I loved that, even when confronted with the truth of his conception, he remained self-assured and secure. What I liked most about Tony was the implication that anybody could be born trans, however you conceptualise the reasons that we trans people exist. Whether you focus on scientific explanations like the development of the brain before birth, or you focus on the soul, or you believe in a complex combination of factors, anybody could be born with gender incongruence/dysphoria and anybody could someday make the decision to alter their sex. In a show which chiefly focusses on autonomy and individuality, specifically in defiance of biological expectations, trans themes seemed a no-brainer. I was glad they explored trans male self-determination through one of the clones. Rewatching this episode, though, I noticed a different aspect of Tony's characterisation which I now find deeply troubling. An uncomfortable scene, at best. I registered that Tony kissed Felix, a gay main character, of course. But what I noticed during my rewatch was a double standard which I've seen in other films and shows; LGBT+ characters ignoring consent in situations where cishet men (particularly) would be harshly judged for acting exactly the same way. Tony corners Felix and asks him a question. When Felix hurriedly answers and tries to move away, clearly uncomfortable, Tony refuses to let him walk past. He crowds Felix into a corner and kisses him, after which Felix shakes his head and verbally indicates that he doesn't want to kiss Tony. Viewers, of course, know that Felix is uncomfortable with the intimacy because Tony looks a lot like Sarah, another clone and Felix's adopted sister. But it doesn't matter why Felix is uncomfortable. It doesn't matter why people say no, it just matters that they do. If Tony had been a cis male character treating a cis woman exactly the same way, I guarantee that fans would've furiously criticised his actions. This is an example of sexual harassment occurring outside of a widely-believed, limited stereotype (a cis man abusing a cis woman), and therefore not being taken seriously. Jasmine trying to stop Dallas from touching her. I was similarly frustrated when I watched Below Her Mouth (2016), during which a masculine woman repeatedly ignores a feminine woman's protests and refusals, sexually harassing and sexually assaulting her (groping her inner thigh, kissing her on the mouth, touching her genitals). You can read a good review of the film here but, to paraphrase another review that I can't seem to locate now: arousal does not equal consent. That applies when any person corners another person and insists on kissing or touching, not just when a cis man does that to a cis woman. If someone is saying no, they're saying no. If someone is physically trying to move away and escape, forcing them to stay still is wrong. Just because you think they've flirted with you, or are attracted to you, doesn't mean you should ignore their refusals. No means no, whatever form that "no" takes. As LGBT+ people, we need to be on our guard for LGBT+ content which perpetuates dangerous stereotypes. Being desperate for representation shouldn't mean that we're content with characters who harass or assault people without any consequences. Masculine LGBT+ people shouldn't be portrayed as inherently predatory due to our masculinity. Masculinity does not mean ignoring consent. I can confirm that as a very masculine trans man myself, who fits into many norms of masculine presentation/identity, certainly within my culture. LGBT+ masculinity does not, and should never, mean forcing a more feminine person (whatever their gender) to submit to you. Not only is it an awful stereotype to perpetuate, it does a disservice to the reality of being a trans man or being transmasculine. According to the 2015 US Transgender Survey , trans men and presumed-female non-binary people experience the highest rates of lifetime sexual assault in the entire trans community; a struggle which is worryingly under-discussed and even ignored. Being masculine, or men, does not inherently make us predators. Being masculine often makes us vulnerable to assault, especially if we were born female... as was brutally explored in Stone Butch Blues . I would not recommend Tony Sawicki as an example of good representation, which is an unfortunate thing to say, because I really did enjoy his characterisation upon my first viewing. It felt like quite the betrayal to return to his episode as a more mature, deliberately masculine man, and to realise the misandristic stereotype which underpins who Tony is. As he only features in one episode, there's not any opportunity for him to grow beyond that foundation. What this episode offers is the sole appearance of a trans man, played by an actress who exaggerates negative attributes in order to make his maleness convincing. He's a token character that I previously enjoyed, but not anymore. As I only watched the Tony-related scenes again, rather than rewatching the entire episode (let alone the entire show), I can't comment on how well or badly other aspects of Orphan Black have aged. Please note: While I personally agree with lesbians and other female-attracted women who have criticised Below Her Mouth , I can see why it would be an enjoyable film for many, and it certainly offers some fantastic sex scenes. These reviews, as always, are my own opinion only. Lastly, if you are a man who has survived sexual abuse, I recommend the site 1in6 , which supports and advocates on behalf of men/boys who are survivors. It addresses the specific struggles faced by men. You are not alone. Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026

Volana, a transmasculine person played by trans actor Kalil Anaël Bat, is healed through dance with an interdimensional Spirit. Volana's Eclipse Short Film 2022 Deutschland (Germany), France Volana, a transmasculine person played by trans actor Kalil Anaël Bat, is healed through dance with an interdimensional Spirit. Watch. Available Summary: Volana (Moon in Malagasy) is a Black Transmasculine person who parties excessively to avoid feeling their emotional and physical pain. One night, when they are about to join their friends, they get stuck in another dimension where they are overwhelmed to meet TIA, a gorgeous and flamboyant Spirit. Their encounter makes them experience a whirlpool of emotions and an interdimensional healing dance. - Otherness Archive . Entry last updated: 18 Mar 2026

Parham, a teenage trans man played by an unnamed Iranian actor, begins this short film in a relationship with a girl, but she is ultimately unable to accept him as a man. He faces violence at home and judgement at school, and takes the risk of getting a job while presenting as a male. I Don't Like Her Short Film 2016 Iran Parham, a teenage trans man played by an unnamed Iranian actor, begins this short film in a relationship with a girl, but she is ultimately unable to accept him as a man. He faces violence at home and judgement at school, and takes the risk of getting a job while presenting as a male. Watch. Available Summary: A trans teenager seeks his true self despite rejection by Iranian society and the inability of his parents to understand. - Refugee Festival Scotland . Note from Jack: This film is also called I Don't Like Here in some sources, such as this article , where the director discusses being persecuted for his films. Here's something cool! This film mentions Saman Arastoo , who is a trans man I'd never heard of before. Entry last updated: 30 Mar 2026

Pierrot Lunaire, a trans man played by German actress Susanne Sachße, is a ridiculous, violent, and harmful caricature of trans maleness. Pierrot Lunaire Experimental Film 2014 Canada, Deutschland (Germany) Pierrot Lunaire, a trans man played by German actress Susanne Sachße, is a ridiculous, violent, and harmful caricature of trans maleness. Available Summary: Written and directed by Bruce LaBruce as an adaptation of Arnold Schoenberg's Pierrot lunaire , the film adds a transgender interpretation to the work, starring Susanne Sachße as a trans man Pierrot. -Wikipedia. Jack's Summary: Bruce LaBruce has made his name creating edgy LGBT+ films which fetishise race, neo-Nazi skinheads, sexual assault, incest, gore, necrophilia, terrorism, mummification, monsters, and more. To put his ethos in perspective, when he wished to draw attention to a purported prevalence of homosexuality among right-wing movements, he created the pornographic movie Skin Flick (1999), wherein a gang of neo-Nazi skinheads rape a mixed-race gay couple. Most of his films are deliberately disturbing, pretentious yet amateurish in quality, terribly-acted, and praised online as profound art. This film in particular is a mockery of trans male identities, bodies, and surgeries. It includes genital mutilation, murder, misgendering, bandage binding , and pathetic depictions of trans maleness. The trans male protagonist is a hopeless, creepy martyr who flashes bloodied genitalia at a poor cis woman and her father, to prove that he is a "real man". As a real trans man myself, I would not suggest watching this one. The director knows nothing about trans manhood, except how to portray a cheap and violent caricature of it. Don't waste your time. That being said, this film is a little better than most of LaBruce's offerings in terms of acting, but that's not a high bar to clear. Entry last updated: 9 Feb 2026

Zo Thorpe, an American early-transition man, is interviewed alongside his family about his childhood and journey. Change in the Family Documentary 2017 United States of America Zo Thorpe, an American early-transition man, is interviewed alongside his family about his childhood and journey. Watch. Available Summary: Follow the journey of gender-nonconforming Zo in his transition from young woman to trans man and the emotional process of coming out to his family. -TubiTV. Jack's Summary: This documentary is pretty tough to watch, because cis family members are allowed long monologues that involve misgendering Zo and using his deadname. That said, their perspectives are somewhat balanced out by scenes where Zo talks about what he went through, and is currently going through. The film feels messy, upsetting, difficult, and complicated in a way that is very authentic to the early-transition stages. I wouldn’t call it a cautionary tale, in the typical sense of the term, but it is a very unvarnished look at the ways a family can react when a trans man begins his journey. Ultimately, the documentary ends on a positive note, and you’re not left feeling depressed or hopeless. I almost view the film as gentle warning to early/pre-transition guys, who might not know what to expect from their family members, and may not be able to see beyond conflict to the more accepting feelings that cis people might struggle to express. Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026

Juani Santos Peréz, a mature-aged Cuban trans man, is filmed alongside two other Cuban trans people as the three apply to access transition surgeries. Transit Havana Documentary 2016 Cuba Juani Santos Peréz, a mature-aged Cuban trans man, is filmed alongside two other Cuban trans people as the three apply to access transition surgeries. Watch. Available Summary: Each year in Cuba, five people are selected for gender-confirmation surgery, leaving many more waiting for their opportunity. Daniel Abma’s documentary Transit Havana follows three Cubans over a year of anticipation and challenges, some related to the surgery and some related to daily life. In a distinctive environment, themes of self-acceptance and fulfillment are universal. Both celebratory and, at times, difficult, the film portrays the connected but vastly different lives of Juani, Malú, and Odette. Juani, the self-identified “first transsexual of Cuba,” was an original patient in the government-run program, but he hopes for an additional chance to improve his medical transition. Malú, a community advocate and educator for trans rights and inclusion, is known and largely accepted by her community, yet she has waited years to be selected. Odette, a former military tank operator who is now a goatherd, struggles to align her own sense of self with the vehement intolerance of her family and church—a conflict that threatens her chances for surgery. Transit Havana also touches on Mariela Castro in her role as Director of the Cuban National Center for Sex Education. Castro’s drive to integrate trans people into all aspects of Cuban society is the political force behind the surgical program, as well as a manifestation of her vision of inclusive human rights. Interspersed with shots of Havana life, this film explores the complexities of culture and desire as the three subjects wait to hear if this is their year. -Frameline. Jack's Summary: The three trans people followed in this documentary are Juani Santos Peréz (a trans man), Malú Caño Valladeres (a trans woman), and Giselle Odette Diógenes Domínguez Rodríguez (a trans woman). The trans women are both significantly younger than Juani, and are experiencing immense emotional difficulties due to lack of access to sex reassignment surgery. Both women are hoping to undergo vaginoplasty/orchiectomy, whereas Juani is waiting to undergo an additional stage of bottom surgery. Juani talking about Mariela Castro Espín, who facilitated his medical transition. It's clear from the documentary that, while Juani has a difficult life, he is positive, resilient, and joyful. He dances enthusiastically with others, describes falling in love towards the end of the film, and sings along with his neighbour's music rather than complaining about the unwanted noise. All in all, a beautiful portrait of an older trans man's happiness and second lease on life. Juani talking about his testosterone. In terms of FTM history, this is a crucially important and very touching documentary. I would highly recommend this film to trans guys who struggle to imagine life as older men, and may have been deprived of older role models who have survived and successfully tackled gender dysphoria. I would also recommend this film to older men who have not yet transitioned. There isn't an expiry date on being your true self! While Juani clearly still experiences hardships and doesn't have a perfect life, he was able to have sex reassignment surgery at an advanced age (in surgical terms, anyway) and consequently exudes a happiness that is quite inspiring. Giselle, who contemplates suicide several times. By contrast, the trans women in Transit Havana are in the thick of their struggles. Any abuse, discrimination, or suicidal ideation which may have occurred in Juani's past isn't a part of this documentary, whereas the trans female interviewees are filmed during what are potentially the darkest periods of their lives. Giselle's experiences are particularly heartbreaking to watch. She devotes herself to caring for her grandmother, who declares that Giselle isn't a real woman and insists that Giselle should not undergo surgery. Giselle's mother is similarly disapproving, and (for some bizarre, awful reason) she is let into Giselle's hospital room as the trans woman awaits surgery. She misgenders and demeans Giselle, while the doctors defend her attitude and speak about Giselle as if the young woman herself is not there. This, combined with a hostile phone call from Giselle's church, results in Giselle becoming so distressed that the surgeons will not proceed with her operation. It's an utterly shattering series of scenes. Malú and a friend discussing Giselle Odette. Malú, the other trans female interviewee, is not supportive of Giselle. After Giselle is refused surgery on the basis of emotional instability (caused by transphobic, religious bigots), Malú spreads the rumour that Giselle voluntarily walked out of the operating room, did not want surgery, and is a nutcase. This documentary shows the intracommunity conflict which is perhaps inevitable when desperate, dysphoric people are competing for limited surgery spots, with only five individuals operated on each year in Cuba (that may have changed since this documentary was filmed). Resentment and dismissiveness is evident in this film, alongside the solidarity which is apparent throughout other interactions. These are people who are suffering. Heck, even in my area (which is in a very different situation to Cuba), I have encountered intracommunity conflict and personal disagreements, so Transit Havana just lends credence to the idea that trans communities are not a monolith. We aren't all best friends, we don't all agree, and we don't always like each other. Malú talking about sex work. Malú herself is a former sex worker who had a traumatic start to life, suffering physical and emotional domestic abuse, being incarcerated at least once, and fleeing home at a young age. She has been waiting for sex reassignment surgery for years, and has no control over when she will be chosen for an operation. During the film, she is misgendered and deadnamed by her family members. As a resident of a developed Western country, I had access to sex change procedures after only a few years on waitlists. Getting to that point wasn't easy, and I did experience discrimination and hostility from healthcare workers along the way, but my circumstances are fortunate compared to those of Juani, Malú, and Giselle. I think it's hugely important that trans people in wealthier nations do not forget about trans people in less wealthy nations, or nations that are struggling. For that reason alone, Transit Havana is recommended viewing, to say nothing of how beautiful I find Juani's journey. I would love another documentary, dedicated to him. And I hope the two young women who starred in this documentary are happier, nowadays. I hope they're both still alive. Entry last updated: 27 Feb 2026