Search this site

A Two-Spirit, neurodivergent teenager named Hucpiga (AKA Tyler LaMere) discusses his identity, culture, and experiences of gender. Two Spirit: A Spiritual Identity and a Reclamation Interview 2023 United States of America A Two-Spirit, neurodivergent teenager named Hucpiga (AKA Tyler LaMere) discusses his identity, culture, and experiences of gender. Watch. Available Summary: Two-Spirit Nebraskan Tyler LaMere discusses spirituality, culture, and family in an in-depth video conversation.. -YouTube. Jack's Summary: Hucpiga, who is from Winnebago and belongs to the Mille Lacs Ojibwe tribe, is interviewed about life, art, and identity. Remarking on the nature of being Two-Spirit, Hucpiga explains, "One thing that really gets on my nerves is that people just say that, "Two-Spirit is just Native American non-binary," or, "Two-Spirit is just a way of saying Native American transgender," when it's so much more than that. It's a whole spiritual identity as well as a cultural one. It's a reclamation from being a survivor of genocide. There's a sacredness that not other LGBTQ people would understand." Regarding Hucpiga's last point, I take exception to the broad generalisation that no other LGBTQ people understand having such a cultural, spiritual gender identity. Brotherboys and Sistergirls, in the land now known as Australia, have a very similar experience to what Hucpiga describes, including belonging to a culture which survived mass-killings, ethnic cleansing, and cultural genocide. While I understand the point that is being made, it is a continent-limited perspective which is exclusionary of other First Peoples. Obviously, this interview may have been conducted with a local/limited audience in mind, I don't know the prompt Hucpiga might've been responding to, and he may have not intended to exclude Brotherboys and Sistergirls in this way. But, for what it's worth, there absolutely are LGBTQ people who do not use the label Two-Spirit, and yet do have a very similar lived experience of sacredness and cultural survivorship. Moving on, Hucpiga explains, "The Mille Lacs Ojibwe is where the origin for Two-Spirit comes from, because they believe that two spirits exist in one body; the masculine and the feminine. In the Winnebago tribe, we have specific identities when it comes to Wakikanak, which is what I identify with, which means, "stand like a man." Those born in a woman's body, but take on the roles of men and have a man's spirit." Hucpiga describes exploring the term non-binary but, as he learned more about his culture, he felt more connected to "the binary trans male roles." Unfortunately, he has faced disgust and hatred from both Native and LGBTQ people due to his identity. "I don't conform to what a trans man should look like," he says, "I keep my hair long for my culture, I love doing makeup, I don't necessarily dress masculine or feel uncomfortable enough about my body. And, when it comes to Natives, they don't like when I try to engage in masculine terms, or don't necessarily respect my identity." These experiences are similar to struggles described in Transblack , with Aboriginal Brotherboy Max seeking approval from Elders to perform male roles in his community, and being denied because he is judged to be not male enough, despite the "boy spirit" he embodies. Hucpiga proceeds to describe being outed, relieved by the support he received afterwards, and the comfort which prayer rituals provide. He cites Native American activist and politician Frank Lamere as having had a significant, positive impact on his life, and on the lives of people he loves. Note from Jack: According to his Instagram account in 2026, Hucpiga uses they/them, he/him, and she/her pronouns. Entry last updated: 11 Apr 2026 Related Media Culture-Specific Media Browse

Emil, a teenage trans boy played by Danish actress Laura Emilie Hancock, binds with bandages, presents masculinely, cuts his hair with house scissors, and is mistreated by his mother when he comes out. BOY Short Film 2014 Denmark (Danmark) Emil, a teenage trans boy played by Danish actress Laura Emilie Hancock, binds with bandages, presents masculinely, cuts his hair with house scissors, and is mistreated by his mother when he comes out. Watch. Jack's Summary: This is about as stereotypical as FTM representation gets. Emil, born Emilie, is a young trans man played by a light-skinned, slender actress. He binds his chest with bandages . He gives himself a choppy haircut at home. He endures transphobia from a female relative who randomly deigns to abandon hate and bigotry, in contrast to everything she's done prior, thereby allowing the trans man a happy ending. Isn't she generous! The description above perfectly describes 3 Generations , funnily enough. Both of these films made me cry like a baby, when I was earlier in my transition... so, yeah, I'll admit that these tropes come from somewhere. That doesn't mean the experiences in this short film are universal, or that oft-repeated stereotypes aren't harmful in reducing trans men to one physical ideal... not to mention the harm of depicting bandage binding in an uncritical way. When I first watched this short film, I wondered whether Emil's actress might have been trans as well, given that her middle name is Emilie; perhaps this film was expressing a personal gender non-conformity or a desire to transition. Over a decade later, Laura Emilie Hancock is still labelling herself as an actress, so (insofar as we can ever know what's happening in an actor's life) this does appear to be yet another young trans man played by a young actress. This is not always a bad thing, as Facing Mirrors proved, and sometimes allows for trans stories to be told where trans actors cannot be involved... You can make up your own mind about these casting choices, and form your own opinions. Side note... In the 2018 film Girl, Belgian actor Victor Polster plays Laura, a trans girl whose birth name is Victor. It's curious that both BOY and Girl gave their trans protagonists deadnames based on the actors' names. I'm not sure why this choice was made in each instance, and I find it interesting. Entry last updated: 23 Mar 2026 Related Media Trans Male Media Browse

Masaki, a Japanese trans male bartender in Tokyo, is interviewed about his life and experiences. We Went to an FTM Trans Bar in Tokyo Interview 2020 Japan (日本), Canada Masaki, a Japanese trans male bartender in Tokyo, is interviewed about his life and experiences. Watch. Available Summary: Tokyo BTM go to a Trans bar for the first time and talk to its owner, Masaki-san, about life as an FTM trans person, marriage, kids, and the current state of transgender issues in Japan. -YouTube. Jack's Summary: In this video, Meng and Andrew, cis gay men from China and Canada, visit an FTM/LGBT+ bar and speak to the owner; a Japanese trans man named Masaki. You can visit the bar's website here. The pair have a very lovely interview with Masaki, who says that he wants to share his experiences with others. Andrew chides Meng at one point, when Meng asks Masaki why he wanted to become a man. "It's not that he wanted to become a man," Andrew interrupts, "I believe he has always been a man in his heart." Although Masaki did not seem offended by the phrasing, it was so sweet to see Andrew making this distinction. Later, Masaki says he does not mind very personal questions about his private life and transition, explaining, "Had I minded, I probably wouldn't have started an FTM bar... I want people to know more about us. Feel free to ask a lot of questions, so you can share the knowledge with others... Because I was helped by other people who shared information with me, I would like to pay it forward, and share this knowledge with others in the hope that it helps people". Masaki explains that, when he was young, he struggled to figure out if he liked women "as a man, or as a woman". He figured out that he was trans when he started to go through puberty, and realised that what he was experiencing had a label; gender dysphoria. Fittingly enough for this website, Masaki talks about the importance of TV shows with trans male characters, specifically Kinpachi-Sensei , which featured a trans male character named Nao Tsurumoto. He also talks about his wife, who he married two months after their first meeting, and about their two children, who were conceived with a sperm donation from Masaki's brother. The interview also includes discussions about language preferences within the trans community, and the fact that all trans people use different terms to describe their experiences. Masaki also talks about participating in Tokyo Pride and Taipei Pride. It's so wonderful to hear Masaki talking about his life, and to get a window into his experience. Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026 Related Media Fatherhood and Parenthood Browse

Francis, a 47-year-old Russian trans man living in Spain, is interviewed about his transition, family, and experiences of discrimination. Trans and gender-diverse rights in Russia are also discussed. Being Transgender in Russia Documentary, Short Film 2024 Russia (Россия), Spain (España) Francis, a 47-year-old Russian trans man living in Spain, is interviewed about his transition, family, and experiences of discrimination. Trans and gender-diverse rights in Russia are also discussed. Watch. Available Summary: In July 2023, Russia passed a new law banning transition for transgender people - they can no longer get medical help or change their documents. Then, in November 2023, the international LGBT movement was legally defined as an "extremist organisation" by Russia's Supreme Court. BBC News Russian interviewed two transgender people from Russia, for whom leaving the country was a matter of safety. Ada, a young trans woman, says a close relative tricked her into so-called conversion therapy in a remote village in Siberia. She claims she spent nine months there and was forced to do manual labour and participate in activities, such as castrating pigs, intended to humiliate her. By the time she escaped, Russia had changed - the invasion of Ukraine had begun, and a new anti-LGBT law was about to be passed. She stayed in Russia for as long as she could helping other transgender people, but, eventually, she felt she had to leave because of the "extremist" law. Francis, a middle-aged trans man, left Russia because, he says, the state threatened to take away his children. In 2017 he underwent a mastectomy, which attracted the attention of child protection services. As a result, two of Francis's adopted children were taken away from the family. He says he began to receive threats that the authorities would terminate his parental rights to his other three biological children. -YouTube. Entry last updated: 4 Mar 2026 Related Media Trans Male Media Browse

Leslie Feinberg, a pioneering American butch and trans activist, is interviewed about gender and identity. Outlaw Documentary 1994 United States of America Leslie Feinberg, a pioneering American butch and trans activist, is interviewed about gender and identity. Watch. Available Summary: Leslie Feinberg, a self-identified "gender outlaw" who has spent much of zir life passing as a man, speaks with passion and intelligence about zir experiences in this video manifesto. Raw and confrontational, this film asks its audience to examine their assumptions about the "nature" of gender and calls for more sensitivity and awareness of the human rights and the dignity of transgendered people. Feinberg is the author of Stone Butch Blues , an account of a working-class lesbian who passes as a man. -Vimeo. Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026 Related Media Butch Media Browse

Seu Franco, a 67-year-old Brazilian trans man, is interviewed about his life, transition, and aspirations. He discusses having a mastectomy one year ago, being inspired by trans male trailblazer João W. Nery, and pursuing his manhood in defiance of both family and partners. LGBT+60: Seu Franco, A 67-Year-Old Trans Man Interview 2025 Brazil (Brasil) Seu Franco, a 67-year-old Brazilian trans man, is interviewed about his life, transition, and aspirations. He discusses having a mastectomy one year ago, being inspired by trans male trailblazer João W. Nery, and pursuing his manhood in defiance of both family and partners. Watch. Available Summary: Seu Franco, a 67-year-old trans man who had to live on the streets at the age of 13 because he didn't feel accepted by his family. His testimony reveals the process of his long-time-dreamt masculinizing mastectomy, carried out at the age of 66. -YouTube. Jack's Summary: Seu Franco, a Brazilian trans man, discusses growing up, being unsupported by family members, experiencing homelessness, binding with bandages when no other method was possible, and eventually finding his chosen family. He talks about seeing an interview with Brazilian trans male pioneer João W. Nery on Programa do Jô, and realising his identity. At 50 years of age, he started to consider having a mastectomy, in defiance of partners who discouraged him from surgically transitioning, and finally had the operation at 66. He says that he was surprised to become an inspiration for younger trans men, and has aspirations to further his education in the future. He discusses providing end-of-life care for an elderly mother who never accepted his gender identity. I highly recommend watching this video. It's beautiful. Entry last updated: 6 Apr 2026 Related Media Trans Male Media Browse

Kai, a Brotherboy trans man, is interviewed alongside his family, discussing his culture, identity, transition, and goals. I Am Kai Documentary, Short Film 2023 Australia Kai, a Brotherboy trans man, is interviewed alongside his family, discussing his culture, identity, transition, and goals. Watch. Available Summary: Kai Clancy is Brotherboy; an Indigenous transmasculine person. Kai navigates traditional roles and his identity within his culture and shares his life now, nine years after his top surgery and transition. -ABC News (Australia). Jack's Summary: Kai Clancy, the subject of this documentary short, has long been an advocate for First Nations gender-diverse people, in the land now known as Australia. For those of us who have seen his videos in the past, when he was much younger, it is wonderful to witness him as his bearded, older self. This short film opens with the words of Kai’s father. He says, “Kai is a strong First Nation warrior. Wakka Wakka, Wulli Wulli.” He goes on to say, “Amongst our tribe, the wedge-tailed eagle is one of our totems. It means guardian and keeper of the law, for family and language. And Kai does that well. He is a great warrior.” It was so beautiful to hear Kai’s father speaking those words, and to watch as he ceremonially painted Kai. Kai speaks about his relationship with his culture, how his gender is received by his community, his marriage and relationship, and his transition. All in all, a very sweet and sensitive portrayal that I wish was longer! You may need an Australian VPN to watch this short film. It was available on YouTube, but has been taken down now. Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026 Related Media Culture-Specific Media Browse

Fred Rococo, a trans man played by American trans comedian/actor/performer Murray Hill, is an emcee and professor of agricultural sciences. He gets married to a woman in the show's second season. The series itself is a comedy that has been very well received, and does a wonderful job of humanising both cis men and trans men. Somebody Somewhere Show 2022 United States of America Fred Rococo, a trans man played by American trans comedian/actor/performer Murray Hill, is an emcee and professor of agricultural sciences. He gets married to a woman in the show's second season. The series itself is a comedy that has been very well received, and does a wonderful job of humanising both cis men and trans men. Season 1 Trailer. Season 2 Trailer. Season 3 Trailer. Available Summary: Sam is a true Kansan on the surface, but, beneath it all, struggles to fit the hometown mold. Grappling with loss and acceptance, she discovers herself and a community of outsiders who don't fit in but don't give up. -IMDb. Jack's Summary of Seasons 1 and 2: Fred Rococo is introduced in episode 1 as the emcee of a church “choir practice”, which is actually largely a gathering of LGBT+ people, sharing stories and singing and doing spoken word acts. Sam, the protagonist, is invited there by her friend Joel, who also encourages her to sing onstage. Fred is an enigmatic, smooth, well-dressed guy, played by Murray Hill. Hill is a comedian and trans pioneer of drag king performances, and I'm so glad he was included in this series. I'll be honest... I cried at the end of the first episode, which is not a common occurrence for me. Having experienced discrimination and isolation in my hometown, Sam and Joel's song about not giving up really left an impact. And I'm not alone in recognising the profound emotion and brilliant quality of this show; the first season has a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 92% average audience score. Even aside from the trans inclusivity, this is an awesome show. Fred talking to a waiter. In S01E02, Sam attends brunch with her new friends. Fred is among the group. When a visibly anxious waiter approaches the table, asking how the meal was, Fred confirms that it was good. "Thank you, sir," the waiter says, hurriedly correcting himself and instead saying, "ma'am." "Hey, you got it right the first time," Fred responds with a smile. At the end of the meal, after Fred has left, Sam notes aloud that Fred is a very good tipper. Joel agrees and says, "Especially for waiters who feel uncomfortable." This is a very sweet, understated moment. In Fred, Hill brings to life an older trans guy who has decided not to transition medically ( as discussed by Hill in real life ) and lives his life as his most authentic self. He understands that sometimes strangers will perceive his gender incorrectly, but that doesn't stop him being who he is. When the waiter next appears, in season 2, he refers to Fred correctly, as "sir". These quiet interactions offer hope and positivity to trans men who live similarly to Fred. Fred and his friends playing poker. One reason I love Fred is that he feels real, like a guy I might encounter at a local trans gathering. He's wise, funny, and self-assured. When a main character references a song during a poker game, saying, "put your dick away," apropos of nothing, Fred replies, "I already did, it's under the sink," without missing a beat. This quick, blink-and-you'll-miss-it reference to packing is exactly the type of joke I've heard made by my FTM and transmasculine friends. Fred and Ed. Fred is a Professor who specialises in agricultural sciences, and intervenes with his students to help Sam's father (Ed), whose farm is struggling financially. Ed is also struggling personally and refuses to confide in anybody, including his daughters. In a beautiful scene, he tells Fred that he finds it very difficult to work through emotional issues, and he doesn't know how to talk to people. Fred is supportive of him and, when he pats Ed on the arm, Ed reacts with surprise at being treated in such a supportive way. It's a gentle, simple, very tender portrait of solidarity between men and the masculine-identified, which emphasises that men need support too. While at his own wedding, Fred toasts Ed: "I'd like to say a few words about our host, who's not here. About a year ago, Sam asked me to come out on the farm to help her out. And, from the moment I walked in, I felt such a deep connection with Ed. Y'know, we were just two guys who shared a love of the land. It wasn't about him accepting me. It wasn't about being nice. He just saw me. That's a rare thing, no matter where I am. So, if he were here today, my friend Ed would be my best man. So, raise your glasses, everybody. Raise' em high!" I so appreciated Somebody Somewhere for treating a masculine cis man as the source of such connectedness and friendship, because I have found such blokes to be some of the most kind, calm people when it comes to my own identity. And, when they open up and seek comfort, it feels like a privilege to be the person that they turn to. Fred and Susan. In the show's second season, Fred introduces his fiancé, Susan, to his group of friends. "It's always been Fred, for me," Susan explains, "He didn't want me to hide, so I had to come out to my dad. I said, I'm dating someone who is important to me. He's trans, and I want you to know." It's established that, prior to Fred, she dated numerous men. Somebody Somewhere is set in a conservative area where many townspeople view LGBT+ identities as sinful, so it makes sense that Susan might have to "come out" as a woman in a relationship with a trans guy (even if she's heterosexual), especially since that trans guy is not medically transitioning and therefore has less opportunity to live low-disclosure. Interpreted that way, her comments reflect a determination to be respected as a woman who loves as trans guy, and a determination to ensure Fred's gender is respected. Fred and Susan's wedding. What Somebody Somewhere offers, perhaps most importantly, is a trans guy getting his happy ending. Fred is middle-aged, he's qualified and employed as a Professor, he has friends who love and respect him, and we get to watch as he settles down with a woman who is attracted to him. This show isn't about early-transition conflict or angst, and doesn't centre on the experiences of trans youth. Fred shows trans male viewers that something comes next, that life continues once you're no longer freshly out of the closet and trying to navigate the earliest stages of your transition. That is hugely important. We need more older trans guys in films and shows! WARNING: Potentially confronting themes. The show overall explores heavy and serious themes, often in lighthearted ways. Sam herself experiences depression following the death of her sister, and works to overcome social anxiety, low self-esteem, and hopelessness. While the subject matter in Somebody Somewhere can be sad, it's never sad to the point that it's unwatchable (in my opinion). Humour, brilliant acting, and solidarity between misfit characters makes for a touching series. The show also deals with the following: Bullying and humiliation. Possessiveness and jealousy in a friendship. Persistent insults and put-downs directed at Sam, usually by her female family members. A mother being cruel and aggressive towards her children. Alcohol Use Disorder leading to aggression, denial, rehab, family dysfunction, and the physical endangerment of family members. Trauma from negative school experiences. The impact of a stroke on a family. Homophobia and lesbophobia. Anti-LGBT+ bigotry under the guise of religion. Infidelity. Body image struggles. There is also crude and vulgar humour that might be uncomfortable (depending on your standards), especially in season 2. Entry last updated: 23 Feb 2026 Related Media Trans Male with Female Browse

Paul Millander, an intersex trans man played by cis male actor Matt O'Toole, is a serial killer who embodies harmful tropes about trans men and people who are born with innate sex variations. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (S01E01, E08, S02E13) Show 2000, 2002 United States of America Paul Millander, an intersex trans man played by cis male actor Matt O'Toole, is a serial killer who embodies harmful tropes about trans men and people who are born with innate sex variations. Jack's Summary: Thank you very much to Buck for reaching out and letting me know about this show's incredibly transphobic caricature of a trans man. Paul Millander, the highly unrealistic FTM character, is also an intersex serial killer whose gender-ambiguous childhood is framed as the root cause of his aggressive and anti-social characteristics in adulthood. Violence and murder are baked into the foundations of why he transitioned and chose to "become a man". He embodies many harmful tropes in one messy, lazy jumbling of poor writing, including a laughable scene where he enters an elevator as Pauline (played by a feminine actress) and exits as a fully-transitioned man named Paul (played by a masculine actor), having undergone that magical all-at-once sex change which we all definitely have... that apparently changes every single one of our facial features, too... and causes years of testosterone to take effect all at once... Millander's final episode is titled "Identity Crisis". His story ends with him violently murdering his mother before killing himself. His birth certificate, with his previous name on it, is placed near his corpse in an appropriately tacky, cheap way which sums up the character's entire being; he exists only to be intersex, trans, violent, and doomed from the start because his parents forced gender ambiguity onto him. In that way, he is similar to the trans male character in Private Parts (1972). And, beyond the transphobia, this is a horrific depiction of an intersex person. You can learn more about intersex people here . Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026 Related Media Intersex Media Browse

Sam, a masculine-presenting teenager played by American actress Linsey Godfrey, endures bullying, sexual assault, and shock aversion therapy before being killed in an act of assisted suicide. His death is investigated years later, by police officers who mock his masculinity. Cold Case (S05E09) (2004) Show 2004 United States of America Sam, a masculine-presenting teenager played by American actress Linsey Godfrey, endures bullying, sexual assault, and shock aversion therapy before being killed in an act of assisted suicide. His death is investigated years later, by police officers who mock his masculinity. Available Summary: In 1963, a teenage girl caused a stir by dressing and behaving like a boy. She was found dead and considered a suicide victim, but the team wonders if the girl was actually murdered. -Prime Video. Jack's Summary: Take note of the wording in the episode's synopsis; it accurately reflects how Sam's identity is framed. This episode is split into two parts; in the modern-day, police derisively and condescendingly discuss Sam's life and death, mocking his masculinity; in the past, scenes of Sam's life are shown, with his friends, teachers, and family treating his masculinity as a problem, and ignoring the abuse he experiences as a result. It is unclear what Sam's identity is but I believe him to be a trans boy. He presented and passed a boy at school, and would have continued doing so if he hadn't been outed in an act of sexual assault. He feels that his masculine gender is innate, and insists that he is just trying to be himself. Though he is addressed with lesbophobic slurs, he is not attracted to girls at all. He is only ever shown being attracted to boys. His father refers to him as, "the son I never had". Of course, he could be a transmasculine person of another description, or even a heterosexual tomboy. To me, this character reads like a trans guy. You are free to make up your own mind. Sam crying after seeing "QUEER!" graffitied on his school desk. This is a pretty horrible episode. Sam's masculinity is largely treated as a joke, and Sam himself is a poor martyr whose sole purpose is to be victimised and overcome by tragedy. He starts the episode being groped in school, after which he is hauled into the principal's office and admonished for presenting masculinely. "You will dress like a girl because you are a girl, Samantha," the principal says. "It's Sam," the teenager snaps immediately. "Sam is a boy's name. Let's get that straight," the principal responds, "You'll go by Samantha at this school." Sam in the principal's office. After some more shaming and puritanical hand-wringing from the adults in the room, Sam demands to know, "Why can't I just be who I am?" The principal coldly asks, "And who, or what, exactly, is that?" Sam falls silent; he does not know. This is the 60s, and he does not have a label to explain what he feels. All he knows is that he is masculine, he did not choose to be, and presenting as a girl is uncomfortable. In the future, Sam's father regretfully recalls, "I used to tell her it's a phase. When you're older, you will look back and laugh at yourself for acting this way. Guess I was wrong." As the episode proceeds, Sam continues to be bullied by those around him and defends himself as much as possible, developing a friendship with a boy named Dom. The pair bond over cars, and Sam helps him win a drag race. When Dom asks Sam why he doesn't act like a girl, Sam answers, "'Cause this is just the way I am. I don't know what that makes me. It just feels right... I'm not trying to be anybody else. Just me." Assuming that Sam is a lesbian, Dom asks whether he likes girls. Sam says no, he doesn't. He says that he likes Dom, and kisses him without consent. Dom, disgusted and clearly viewing Sam as something other than a girl, jumps away and yells, "I'm not some queer!" He threatens to bash Sam's head in, and then leaves. Sam being cornered at school. The next time Sam attends school, he is attacked by a group of boys, who pin him down and try to smear lipstick on his face. Dom sits nearby, and does not intervene. Sam is then institutionalised, strapped to a bed, screaming for his father to get him out. His resistance to "treatment" results in him being subjected to electric shock aversion therapy which leaves him with a brain injury. Sam in the correctional institution. Dom finds him in the institution, dressed in feminine clothing and barely able to speak. Sam manages to say, "Make me free," which is apparently all of the encouragement that Dom needs to smother him with a pillow, killing him. How did Dom know that Sam was requesting to be killed, in this moment? Why didn't he carry Sam out of the hospital and at least try to get him medical care elsewhere, or take him to his father's home? Why not assume Sam was begging to be freed from the torturous hospital? Why assume his impacted speech and limited physical movements indicate a life unworthy of living, making death the only solution? Why assume he cannot live on as a disabled person, or possibly recover from the torture someday? Well, the answer to all of those questions is simple... Sam was brought into existence just to die. Specifically, to die in a traumatic, tragic way. He is a plot device, a source of mockery and disgust, with his gender condemning him to death. He never had a chance. Dom, who has supposedly come to respect Sam's masculinity and indeed wants him to be free, gives him a totally respectful death by dumping his body in a lake... as though he is a piece of trash... still wearing the red dress he would never have willingly worn in real life. This definitely isn't Vámonos . Entry last updated: 14 Mar 2026 Related Media Ambiguously-Gendered Media Browse

Shannon Minter, an American trans man, is interviewed about his life, transition, and pursuit of LGBTQ legal equality. Shannon Minter Interview 2016 United States of America Shannon Minter, an American trans man, is interviewed about his life, transition, and pursuit of LGBTQ legal equality. Watch. Available Summary: Shannon Minter was born on Valentine’s Day, 1961. He grew up female in a close-knit family and faith community in East Texas. In high school, Shannon came to the conclusion that he was lesbian, and eventually came out to his family as such. After graduating from University of Texas at Austin, Shannon attended Cornell Law School. During his last year there, he began to identify as transgender. He graduated from Cornell in 1993, and in 1996 began transitioning. Shannon thought that after being rejected by his family for being lesbian, coming out as transgender might somehow be easier on him and them. It was the opposite. The resulting rift in his immediate family and extended church community took decades to heal. Shannon has devoted virtually his entire career to the quest for LGBTQ legal equality. Many of his cases have set precedents that safeguard LGBTQ rights. In 2001, he successfully advocated for a woman named Sharon Smith to file a wrongful death suit after a neighbor’s dog killed her partner. In 2003, he defended the custody rights of a transgender father. In 2008, he was lead counsel for same-sex couples in the case that ultimately instituted marriage equality in California. In 2005, Shannon received the Ford Foundation’s Leadership for a Changing World Award. In 2009, California Lawyer named him one of their California Lawyers of the Year. In 2015, Shannon was invited by President Obama to interview and recommend potential candidates for senior positions within the White House staff. And when the world seemed to turn upside down in November 2016, Shannon rose to the occasion, securing an injunction to stop President Trump’s proposed ban on transgender people in the military. Today, Shannon serves as legal director for NCLR and on the boards of Faith in America and the Transgender Law & Policy Institute. He lives in Washington DC with his wife, Robin. OUTWORDS was honored to sit down with Shannon in August 2016, at the tail end of the Lavender Law conference in Washington DC. Shannon was clearly exhausted, and perhaps for this reason, very reflective. His stories of growing up surrounded by love in East Texas, and then having that love withdrawn, were told through lots of tears. Afterwards, Shannon quickly posed for a couple of portraits, then headed home to Robin. -OUTWORDS Archive. Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026 Related Media Trans Male Media Browse

Kotzebue, a male-presenting miner played by Canadian actress k.d. lang, annoys, harasses, and sexually assaults a woman named Roswitha. Salmonberries Film 1991 Germany (Deutschland), Canada, United States of America Kotzebue, a male-presenting miner played by Canadian actress k.d. lang, annoys, harasses, and sexually assaults a woman named Roswitha. Watch... But I Wouldn't Recommend It! Available Summary: A small-town Alaskan woman researching her roots becomes close with the librarian, an immigrant who lost her husband while fleeing East Germany. -Tubi. Jack's Summary: This film was highly recommended by multiple people, so I was surprised by how utterly creepy it ended up being, and how much I hated it. Kotzebue, whose gender identity is never labeled, presents as a man among her fellow miners and in her town. She describes herself as being an Eskimo ( read about that term here ). When the film begins, she is chiefly motivated by a desire to discover her parentage after growing up as an orphan, and unfortunately, she encounters a German woman named Roswitha while on this quest. I say "unfortunately" because Kotz treats Witha horribly. I was told that this is a trans male movie, but I personally disagree. To me, this seems like a butch lesbian movie, albeit one which (in my opinion) is butchphobic and portrays butch masculinity as being inherently predatory and dangerous. Of course, you may interpret Kotz as a trans man, a non-binary person, or whatever else. It's up to you. One of the first things that Kotz does, after Witha refers to her as "boy" and "young man," is undress and expose her nude body in a public place which children frequent. It's such a weird and inappropriate way to come out to someone you hardly even know. Her inappropriate behaviour is not limited to that one instance. When Kotz is annoyed, she throws books around in Witha's library. When she wants to make a point which could be communicated in one quick sentence, she instead cuts down and vandalises a public signpost. She stands in Witha's doorway, blocking Witha from entering her own home. She enters Witha's house without permission, causing her to tie up her robe in a frightened manner; Kotz then looks through her personal belongings (again, without permission) while she is getting dressed. When Witha refuses her offer of a snowmobile ride, Kotz persists until she gives in. After Witha discloses her life story, largely consisting of trauma and loss in Germany, Kotz buys two plane tickets to Berlin, pushing Witha to confront her pain and inserting herself into Witha's life with a shocking level of entitlement. Worst of all, in Berlin, Kotz sexually assaults Witha. Kotz starts kissing her, after which she says, "No," and abruptly moves away. Kotz continues to wax lyrical about how beautiful Witha is, moving closer and closer after being told to stop. Witha falls backward onto the bed, still unconsenting as Kotz climbs on top of her and begins kissing her cleavage and then kissing her mouth, until finally Witha yells, "Stop, stop! You need to stop now. Please." Straight up, this is sexual assault. No ifs or buts about it. Following this, there is a montage of scenes where Witha is seemingly apologising for not being attracted to Kotz... explaining why she's not attracted to her, why any love that she feels is platonic... feeling the need to provide excuses and justifications because she said no while someone was assaulting her. At the end of this awful montage, Kotz acts pitiable and pathetic, fainting from the overwhelming trauma of... being told no. Give me a break, mate! You're a creep! Why should I care how you feel? Why is Witha being framed as the person at fault? Get stuffed with the woe-is-me bullshit. Take your pity party and shove it up your arse. This isn't an unrequited love story, as I was previously told. It's an abusive relationship which, fortunately, didn't get properly started. A butch aggressively coming onto an unconsenting feminine woman is an incredibly lesbophobic trope, even seen in more recent media, such as Below Her Mouth . Butch masculinity, and the sexuality of masculine-of-centre females, should not be demonised like this... and sexual assault should not be romanticised. What is Kotzebue's gender identity? I dunno. Don't particularly care, either. What I do know is that this is a butch and/or trans movie, and it is lesbophobic, butchphobic, and/or transphobic. Between the creepy protagonist, indulgent and meandering writing, poor acting, and a half-arsed side story involving the sexual abuse of young girls, I really didn't enjoy this one. I encourage you to make up your own mind, and disagree if you see fit. Entry last updated: 22 Mar 2026 Related Media Ambiguously-Gendered Media Browse