Jordan Bryon, a 39-year-old Australian trans male journalist, hides his transness while living with the Taliban and documenting the 2021 takeover of Kabul, later traveling to Iran to have top surgery. Transition Documentary 2023 Australia, Afghanistan (افغانستان), Iran (ایران) Jordan Bryon, a 39-year-old Australian trans male journalist, hides his transness while living with the Taliban and documenting the 2021 takeover of Kabul, later traveling to Iran to have top surgery. Watch. Available Summary: Filmmaker Jordan Bryon from Australia is followed as he goes through a transformation while working with Taliban soldiers. -IMDb. Jack's Summary: To manage your expectations, this documentary does not profile Afghan or Iranian trans and gender diverse people, which I had hoped it might. That said, given the circumstances it was filmed in, the film's focus makes sense, and this is still one of the most unique documentaries you will ever watch. I was happy to see an Arab trans person appear, albeit briefly, towards the end of the documentary, after having top surgery. At the beginning of the documentary, Jordan Bryon, a 39-year-old Australian trans male reporter employed by the New York Times, is living and working in Afghanistan. It is one year before the Taliban take control of Kabul, and he has just begun testosterone thanks to a doctor he describes as "a fantastic human being, very open-minded, very progressive," who has prior experience with the gender diverse community in Afghanistan. Jordan's doctor. When Kiana Hayeri, an Iranian-Canadian photojournalist who travels with Jordan, later asks the doctor about this community experience, however, he firmly says that he has only ever met one trans person; Jordan. The three of them, gathered around a table after Jordan's testosterone injection, discuss whether the doctor intends to flee Afghanistan, or whether he will stay. He states that he will stay despite being afraid, but that silence is very important and he needs to live carefully, otherwise he will be "disappeared". Jordan, accompanied by Afghan journalist Farzad Fetrat (Teddy), asks a Taliban commander for permission to live alongside a Taliban fighter unit for some period of time, to film them as a journalist. For context, at this time the Taliban were establishing severe laws preventing the free movement and expression of women, making the stakes incredibly high for Jordan, given that he joined the unit prior to top surgery, had to bind 24/7 around the Taliban, and had not been on testosterone for long. "I am absolutely playing with fire, every time I go to the village," Jordan explains, "If the Talibs knew about my physiology, that I have breasts packed under this binder, that my bottom half... was my bottom half... I mean, it's absolutely possible that they would kill me." He tells Teddy that, if he is found out as a trans man, Teddy must pretend that he did not know, because he risks being killed as well. Jordan and Kiana. Kiana, who is shown interviewing women and girls following the Taliban's takeover, becomes intensely worried about Jordan throughout the documentary. "As a trans man, you ending up in a prison cell scares the fuck out of me," she tells him, "And it's not only me. It's going to be Brianna, it's going to be your mum, your dad, anybody who loves you." Despite their shared concerns, he stays in Afghanistan and continues living among the Taliban. Throughout the documentary, Jordan is conflicted by how normal Taliban fighters seem while he is living alongside them, struggling to pair that sense of friendliness with the violence that he witnesses. "Going to the village is always so mind-bending," he says, "Last time I was there, a villager was asking why I don't have a beard. And one of the Talibs said, 'There's more to being a man than having a beard. Manhood comes from within'. And then the same Talib, moments later, said that, if he heard a woman's voice coming from the kitchen when there were male guests around, he'd cut her throat." Compared to such extreme danger, Jordan's transition-related steps seem far less stressful, from starting testosterone to having his mastectomy... to a viewer, at least. Woman asking about Jordan. I really loved the glimpses into normal conversations and casual interactions, where they were able to be found amongst the more extreme realities of 2021 in Afghanistan. A young Afghan woman, Kiana's interviewee, asks about Jordan, wondering if he is a journalist. Smiling, Kiana confirms that he is, and says, "What else? Do you have another question? You can ask anything you want." The woman admits, "I was wondering if they're a male or female? I was confused about what I should say." She then says that she thinks Jordan is male, happily smiling all the while. I found this interaction utterly beautiful. I would love a follow-up documentary where Kiana and Jordan (a few years into his transition by now) interview Arab trans and gender-diverse people. The rest of the documentary, honestly, is worth watching for the full picture of what happens with Jordan, Teddy, and Kiana. I don't think I can do this film justice with my summary. Jordan after taking off his binder. WARNING: Unsafe chest binding. Obviously, Jordan is not able to take off his chest binder around the Taliban fighters. He is shown removing his binder when in the privacy of his own home, grimacing in pain and inspecting his torso in the mirror. This documentary does not glorify unsafe chest binding, unlike other documentaries, and I have no problem with how binding is depicted in such a unique situation, where passing meant staying alive. I appreciated that he is filmed removing his binder, clearly experiencing discomfort, so that viewers at least consider the physical consequences of being bound for so long. Learn more about chest binding here. Entry last updated: 27 Feb 2026 Related Media Gender-Related Surgery Browse

Oliver Jähnke, a Swedish trans guy, interviews Dan Avangard, a Latvian trans guy. Dan discusses initially identifying with lesbians, figuring out his trans identity, being an activist, being visible for early-transition Latvians, and his social-political aspirations. He is a TRANSGENDER ACTIVIST in LATVIA Interview 2022 Latvia (Latvijas Republika), Sweden (Sverige) Oliver Jähnke, a Swedish trans guy, interviews Dan Avangard, a Latvian trans guy. Dan discusses initially identifying with lesbians, figuring out his trans identity, being an activist, being visible for early-transition Latvians, and his social-political aspirations. Watch. Available Summary: Dan Avangard is one of the few transgender activists in Latvia. In this video he talks about the situation for transgender people in Latvia, how to transition, about when he realized he liked girls and later on that he's also trans, about the messages he's sharing through his activism and about his recent involvement in politics. - Queers of the world, YouTube . Entry last updated: 5 July 2026 Related Media Trans Male Media Browse

Barney Guttman, a teenage trans boy voiced by American trans male actor Zach Barack, explores friendships, crushes on other boys, and battles supernatural forces in this animated series. Dead End: Paranormal Park Animated Show 2022 United States of America Barney Guttman, a teenage trans boy voiced by American trans male actor Zach Barack, explores friendships, crushes on other boys, and battles supernatural forces in this animated series. Trailer. Available Summary: The series follows Barney and Norma, the newest employees at their local theme park, Phoenix Parks, a Dollywood-esque park created by the famous celebrity Pauline Phoenix. Joined by Pugsley, Barney's childhood dog, and Courtney, a thousand-year-old demon, they discover the world of the Paranormal as well as learning new things about themselves. -Wikipedia. Jack's Summary: Zach Barack, a trans actor, stars as Barney, a gay trans boy and the protagonist of Dead End: Paranormal Park. This show is groundbreaking in that respect. It's a light, childish, humorous animated series which reminds me of Gravity Falls . Miss Coco Peru, a drag queen I've adored for a long time, voices the show's fabulous antagonist Pauline. The show has a talking dog, demons, cartoon-typical antics, and found family themes. Beyond Zach, there are heaps of LGBT+ characters and people of colour. My review is based on season 1, and I haven't yet watched season 2. Based on everything I've seen though, this is a very sweet option for people who enjoy animated shows and want lighthearted representation. Through Zach's parents and grandmother, the show tackles transphobia and abandonment themes, but in a very sweet way. Entry last updated: 8 Feb 2026 Related Media Trans Male with Male Browse

59-year-old Two-Spirit educator Marcus Arana is interviewed about his life, transition, advocacy, culture, and health. Marcus Arana Interview 2016 United States of America 59-year-old Two-Spirit educator Marcus Arana is interviewed about his life, transition, advocacy, culture, and health. Watch. Available Summary: Born in Anchorage, Alaska in 1957, Marcus Arana was given the name Mary by his parents. As one of three children in a working class household, Marcus moved around a lot, going to San Francisco and then to Fresno, where he spent most of his childhood. After his parents divorced in the early 1960s, Marcus and his brothers lived alone with their mother, surviving off of welfare and suffering from daily abuse and neglect. Marcus left this dysfunctional home at 14, moving to a cooperative farm outside of Fresno, where he worked to pay his way through a private “hippie” high school. At this school, Marcus found a supportive community of like-minded queer kids, and at 15 he came out as a lesbian. This got Marcus started as an activist, as he was soon speaking on panels before college psychology classes, describing what it was like to be a young lesbian. In 1976, Marcus moved to the “queer paradise” of San Francisco, falling immediately in love with the City’s vast array of queer bars and its grassroots organizing. Moved by Harvey Milk’s call to be out and proud, Marcus never hid his queer identity. During the 1980s, he helped produce women’s music festivals in rural northern California; and in 1994, Marcus finally began his transition. Since then, he has done vital work for the transgender community. During 10 years with the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, he trained over 2,000 San Francisco police officers in transgender community awareness, integrated transgender women into women’s shelters, and helped draft protocols for the fair treatment of transgender inmates. Marcus authored two reports for the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and is an expert witness in police protocols on treatment of transgender people. In 2004, Marcus met two-spirit people for the first time. This helped him to connect with his Blackfeet and Ohlone heritage, embrace his indigenous two-spirit identity, and find a deep, spiritual balance to all the different elements that add up to Marcus Arana. Marcus was one of OUTWORDS’ first interviewees. He immediately invited us to call him Tio (Spanish for ‘uncle’). In his personal life, Marcus has battled cancer, physical disabilities, and homelessness. But his spirit, warmth, and wisdom always shine through. -OUTWORDS Archive. Entry last updated: 12 Apr 2026 Related Media Culture-Specific Media Browse

Mac, a butch played by Puerto Rican non-binary actor Vico Ortiz, is dressed femininely after death by intolerant family members. Hope, Mac's partner, breaks into the funeral home prior to the funeral, dressing Mac's body masculinely so that Mac's identity is respected in death. Vámonos Short Film 2015 United States of America, Puerto Rico (Borikén) Mac, a butch played by Puerto Rican non-binary actor Vico Ortiz, is dressed femininely after death by intolerant family members. Hope, Mac's partner, breaks into the funeral home prior to the funeral, dressing Mac's body masculinely so that Mac's identity is respected in death. Watch. Available Summary: Vico Ortiz and Jessica Camacho costar in this beautiful story about what it looks like to show up as an ally for our gender-nonconforming loved ones. When Mac, a young butch Latina, dies, her girlfriend, Hope, must overcome both personal grief and homophobic hostilities from Mac’s family in order to respectfully send Mac off into the afterlife as she would’ve wanted. -Criterion Channel. WARNING: Confronting themes. This short film prominently features discussions of death and Mac's dead body. Central themes include lesbophobia, butchphobia, bigotry under the guise of religion, family conflict/rejection, and erasure of masculinity. There is also a discussion which (depending on your interpretation) might be referring to a past sexual assault. Entry last updated: 28 Feb 2026 Related Media Butch Media Browse

Ocean, an English trans man, discusses being six months post-metoidioplasty, stage 1. 6 Months post Metoidioplasty Talking Head 2017 England Ocean, an English trans man, discusses being six months post-metoidioplasty, stage 1. Watch. Lower Surgery Playlist. Available Summary: Talking about willies and such. - Ocean Grove, YouTube . Jack's Summary: Ocean, a gay English trans man, gives a 6 month update after having stage 1 of his buccal mucosa metoidioplasty operation. (Note: Ocean introduces himself using his previous chosen name. In this video , he clarifies that he has since changed it.) Ocean explains his current experiences and state of mind, and describes the process he has gone through thus far. He explains that surgeons took a graft from his cheek, and used this to lengthen the growth which he achieved using testosterone. He shows non-graphic footage of the inside of his cheek, revealing healed scar tissue. He clarifies that this scar tissue does not cause him pain, or restrict actions like eating or speaking. Regarding the actual surgery site, he says that it has healed as expected, although he notes that his current genital configuration is still uncomfortable for him (assumedly due to dysphoria), so he does not look down there very often. He notes that the somewhat larger bulge at his groin has changed how he exercises (for example, cycling), since it now requires a different approach and different padding/protection from pressure and friction, just like a larger phallus typically would. He says that this makes him feel good. Regarding the future, he cites surgeons' weight guidelines as preventing him from having any further operations within a year. He defends his desire for metoidioplasty, in response to commenters who have pointed to phalloplasty as better option due to the likelihood of gaining a larger phallus. "The whole bigger-is-better penis culture is not something that I fully relate to," he explains, adding that he fundamentally does not "believe in" this rhetoric either. "I know that small penises are not just a trans thing and, even if they were, I think I'd be okay with that, because I'm not ashamed of my transness... and I'm not having surgery to be cis, I'm having surgery to feel comfortable. My goal isn't to have a massive penis, it's to have a functioning penis, and that's what metoidioplasty will give me, so... thank you for the concern, but I'm alright with what I'm going ahead with." Entry last updated: 14 July 2026 Related Media Gender-Related Surgery Browse

Ryo Watari, a teenage trans boy, struggles with gender dysphoria and a lack of acceptance, but befriends a teenage cis boy through their shared fashion sense. Written and illustrated by Japanese trans man Keito Gaku. ボーイズ・ラン・ザ・ライオット (Boys Run the Riot) Manga 2020 Japan (日本) Ryo Watari, a teenage trans boy, struggles with gender dysphoria and a lack of acceptance, but befriends a teenage cis boy through their shared fashion sense. Written and illustrated by Japanese trans man Keito Gaku. Read. Available Summary: High schooler Ryo knows he’s transgender, but he doesn’t have anyone to confide in about the confusion he feels. He can’t tell his best friend, who he’s secretly got a crush on, and he can’t tell his mom, who’s constantly asking why Ryo “dresses like a boy.” He certainly can’t tell Jin, the new transfer student who looks like just another bully… The only time Ryo feels at ease is when he’s wearing his favorite clothes. Then, and only then, the world melts away, and he can be his true self. One day, while out shopping, Ryo sees someone he didn’t expect: Jin. The kid who looked so tough in class has the same taste in fashion as him! At last, Ryo has someone he can open up to—and the journey ahead might finally give him a way to express himself to the world. -Google Play. Note from Jack: The protagonist is shown binding with bandages early in the first volume of this series. I haven't read much further, so I don't know whether the dangers of bandage binding are eventually addressed. Entry last updated: 16 Mar 2026 Related Media Trans Male Media Browse

A trans man's critique of chest binding in movies, shows, documentaries, from bandage binding to open chest binding. Chest Binding in Movies, Shows, Documentaries, and Other Media What is Chest Binding, and Why Do People Bind? Put simply, chest binding is the act of flattening your chest. A wide range of people flatten their chests. Here are some examples: Cis men with gynaecomastia (increased breast tissue). Trans men. Non-binary people. Gender non-conforming women. Lesbians and butches. Drag kings. Cosplayers and crossdressers. Here are some motivations for binding: Reducing body dysphoria toward one's chest, and/or experiencing the gender euphoria of a flatter chest. Reducing social dysphoria which may result from being misgendered. Being safer in public, if being read as male will protect a person from harassment or violence. For example, see the documentary Transition (2023) . Temporarily presenting in a masculine, male, or androgynous style, for identity or fandom or fashion purposes. Is Binding Safe? Binding comes with risks, even if a reputable, well-designed, properly-sized binder is used. In this study , 97% of respondents had experienced at least one negative symptom caused by binding, including minor symptoms like temporary skin irritation. This study found that most symptoms will become apparent quickly, with more serious symptoms (such as rib fractures, which are rare) taking many more years to develop. This emphasises the importance of taking symptoms seriously when they do appear, rather than pushing through pain or discomfort. For many people, if they take minor symptoms seriously and proceed with caution, binding will be relatively safe. For me, however, binding was not sustainable or painless, even when I wore binders which were advertised to me as being absolutely safe. Ultimately, more research is needed into chest binding, so that we have a more robust body of research to be informed by. Binding is a huge part of many people's lives, especially those who bind for safety reasons, and those people deserve empirical evidence. You can learn more about chest binding here . Some methods of binding are safer than others. Unfortunately, more dangerous methods dominate media depictions of trans men, non-binary people, and gender non-conforming individuals assigned female at birth. Disclosure (2020), a documentary purporting to thoroughly analyse trans representation in the media, failed to offer an in-depth critique of chest binding depictions, despite how widespread harmful binding depictions are, which is one of the reasons I created this site. Safer binders are typically stiff/taut at the front, to flatten the chest, while being looser across the back. The safest binders also have shoulder straps, as that extra support helps take pressure of the ribcage and back, compared to wrap-around binders which apply consistent pressure around the entire torso, just like bandages. Denny, a non-binary person in the 2023 film Under My Skin , binding with bandages. Bandage Binding in Media You might think bandaging your chest flat is an ideal, consequence-free way to alleviate your dysphoria and otherwise affirm your gender. Nobody could really blame you for having that belief; films and shows continue to reinforce this false, dangerous myth, despite resistance from our communities. The truth is that binding with bandages is unsafe, difficult, painful, and potentially injurious. That is why misrepresentations of bandage binding are so important to criticise. Plus, not all trans men are slender, small-chested people who have someone to help us wind bandages around our ribcage. Bandage binding isn't just painful, it's impractical. In reality, a person binding with bandages is more likely to get this kind of outcome: James, a trans man in the 2013 film 52 Tuesdays , binding with bandages and duct tape. To my immense disappointment, genderfluid star Ruby Rose perpetuated the myth of easy bandage binding in her video Break Free , which has been watched over 55 million times. Her video, much like other media depictions of bandage binding, cuts from footage of her manually wrapping herself in bandages, to footage of bandages perfectly wrapped around her and neatly clipped down behind her back. Folks and fellas, believe me, she did not accomplish that by herself. She had a team of people to help wind the bandages around her, keep them straight and untwisted, and clip them down where she couldn't reach. I don't need to guess whether that was the case, because the behind-the-scenes footage proves as much: Ruby Rose being bound in bandages for the 2014 short film Break Free. Break Free gave, and is still giving, millions of people the impression that bandage binding is an easy, safe, and accessible way to flatten your chest. Trans men, questioning people, non-binary individuals, butch lesbians, cosplayers, and others are harmed by Rose's video, and by all media which depicts bandage binding in a similarly unrealistic way. Break Free is, therefore, a notable example of irresponsible media depicting chest binding unrealistically. Alexia/Adrien, a crossdressing woman in the 2021 film Titane, binding with bandages. Ironically, the most accurate depiction of bandage binding (in terms of how much pain it can cause) comes from Titane , a 2021 body horror film where a woman assumes the identity of a missing man in order to escape arrest. While it is not a trans film, I consider it valuable because it does not glorify, idealise, or promote bandage binding as an easy method of chest flattening. In that department, though it's a gruesome movie, I consider it less harmful than idealised depictions like Break Free . Nobody walks away from Titane thinking that bandage binding is safe or comfortable. A drag king being bound in duct tape, in the 2002 documentary Venus Boyz . Duct Tape Binding in Media Duct tape binding is even more dangerous than bandage binding, with a higher risk of serious or lasting symptoms. One of the most dangerous depictions of this practice occurs in Venus Boyz (2002), when a drag king is shown being tightly bound by another drag performer. Clearly in pain, the king admits that the binding is hurting his body, but this is not taken seriously by himself or by anybody else, and his group proceeds with the plans they'd scheduled, this king accompanying the group while wrapped in duct tape beneath his clothes. The Aggressives (2005) also features a performer being bound in duct tape, with the documentary's promotional material featuring that same king with a duct-taped chest. Such documentaries are crucially important to illustrate what our communities have been through, and how we used to bind, but modern-day media needs to set a safer example for vulnerable and dysphoric viewers. Disclaimers are the bare minimum, if binding practices like this are being depicted. Chevy, a trans man in the 2019 short documentary Girlz to MEN , revealing his duct tape chest binding. Chevy, a trans man in the short documentary Girlz to MEN (2019), revealed to interviewers that he binds with duct tape, believing that this harmful practice makes him more "real" than trans men who opt for less dangerous methods of chest flattening, or who do not bind at all. I found this very concerning, especially because viewers are not informed how debilitating duct tape binding is, and his interview is shown with no disclaimers. Trans men and gender-diverse people sharing their life experiences, and filmmakers not considering the safety of viewers when representing such experiences, is one thing. A whole other issue is the thoughtless misrepresentation of duct tape chest binding by cis-centric media. Lam Chi-wing being bound in duct tape, in the 1994 comedy film He's a Woman, She's a Man. 金枝玉葉 ( He's a Woman, She's a Man ) features a woman being bound in duct tape in order to crossdress as a man for the majority of the film. This is egregious, certainly, but that film came out in 1994, when knowledge about chest binding was far more limited than in the modern-day. The Assignment , released more than two decades later, is another matter entirely. Frank Kitchen, a cis man who transitioned unwillingly, binding his chest with duct tape in the 2016 film The Assignment. While much of the trans community's backlash focused on the movie's forced transition plot, its depictions of duct tape chest binding were what I found truly alarming. The director Walter Hill defended his film and insisted that he "wouldn't make a movie that hurt transgender people", adding, "some of them have had a tough time of it, and the last thing I want to do is make anyone's road harder". I would say that depicting duct tape chest binding is just about as harmful as you can get, and romanticising that practice could indeed make viewers' lives harder... to the point of injury and illness, no less. If Hill couldn't depict duct tape chest binding realistically, perhaps showing how harmful it is (à la Titane ), he shouldn't have introduced it into a pulp film where nothing is taken seriously. Vincent Lamarre in the 2018 documentary Ti-gars , putting on a chest binder. Modern Binders in Media Commercial chest binders are certainly a step up from bandages and duct tape, and I am always glad when a film, show, documentary, or another piece of media shows gender-diverse and gender non-conforming people flattening their chests in that safer way. That said, not all binders are made equal. Denny, a non-binary person in the 2023 film Under My Skin , using a clasp binder. In the film Under My Skin, the non-binary protagonist stops using bandages to bind their chest, and switches to a chest binder instead. This choice is not presented in the context of bandage binding being potentially painful and dangerous, and a viewer who is inexperienced with binding may not grasp that at all from this movie, instead assuming that the switch is a mere preference motivated by convenience rather than safety. And the binder itself looks very similar to the cheap, poorly-designed binders which are, at the time of writing, widely available on sites like Amazon. Many manufacturers who produce clasp binders offer, essentially, wrap-around binders which apply consistent pressure all around the ribcage (just like bandages or duct tape), with shoulder straps doing nothing to alleviate that pressure through structural support. The shoulder straps, in many clasp binders, are either for aesthetic purposes or intended to deceptively mimic the appearance of safer binders. Ari, a non-binary person in the 2021 film Make Me A King , using a wrap-around clasp binder without shoulder straps. Now, if a binder is designed as safely as possible (taut across the front, looser across the back, with shoulder straps that actually provide structural support), and clasps are just taking the place of seams on the side... that would be a safer binder design. But most clasp binders are very unsafe, making their appearances in media dangerous, where such appearances do not equip viewers to understand that a clasp binder should be viewed with suspicion unless manufacturers specify the safety of its design. In the case of films like Under My Skin, the safest approach to binding (if considering the example being set for viewers) would be to promote a binder without clasps, or to somehow note that the protagonist's safe clasp binder is an exception rather than the rule. Cris Salamanca, a young trans man in the 2012 documentary TRANS . Even "safe" binders can be worn unsafely. In TRANS (2012), for example, a trans man is shown putting on two chest binders in order to achieve a flatter chest. Double-binding effectively eliminates any safety measures by compressing the chest, back, and ribcage too much, meaning that there is no area of alleviated pressure. Tosiek, a teenage trans man in the 2023 film Fanfik , binding for the first time. Alternative Binding Methods in Media While I disliked Fanfik (2023), chiefly for filmmaking and writing reasons as opposed to issues with representation, I appreciated its depiction of chest binding. Tosiek, a trans man who is newly exploring his gender identity and has seemingly never bound his chest before, watches educational videos about open chest binding and tries that method, rather than using bandages. Filmmakers easily could have followed a long, long history of newly-exploring trans men and gender-diverse people wrapping themselves in bandages. Fanfik avoided that trope. I didn't like the movie, but I was thankful for that. A trans male weightlifter in the 2018 documentary Man Made . Open chest binding is a method of chest flattening where people use tape to pull their chest flatter and to the side, with the tape (importantly) not being wrapped around the back. The goal is to not use too much tape, and not to compress the tissue too much, meaning that some experimentation is required before people can figure out whether it is sustainable or comfortable for them. If it works for people, it has the advantage of not compressing the ribcage (unlike binders) and restricting movement far less. This method tends to work better for people who are smaller-chested, it absolutely doesn't work for everyone, and it is not risk-free. It can come with skin irritation and other symptoms. That said, I felt it was depicted well in Fanfik. I also liked the fact that the educational video Tosiek is watching is partly shown, emphasising to viewers that such videos are available, and there are many community members who have discovered what is safe and unsafe for them personally, encouraging people to seek out those insights. Finn, a trans man in the 2020 film Unsound , lifting weights while binding. Exertion While Binding in Media More research is needed to thoroughly explore the impacts of chest binding while exercising or exerting yourself. The research that does currently exist , however, shows that breathing is shallower while exercising in a binder, and that there is increased risk of other symptoms, such as pain. There is even research that improperly-sized sports bras can impact breathing ; this is not just a binding issue, but binding is notably more unsafe. Looser support or compression of the chest may alleviate or lessen breathing difficulties, and reduce the risk of other symptoms. The advice typically given to community members is to wear an appropriately-sized sports bra or a looser binder (for example, one size larger) while exercising. Dominic lifting weights in the 2018 documentary Man Made . While, again, more research and evidence is needed, one thing is for certain; media which depicts people exercising while binding, without any caveats or warnings, is potentially harming community members who may follow that example without realising the dangers. I was particularly disappointed that Man Made, a 2018 trans-directed documentary, showed footage of a trans man weightlifting in a binder, without a warning to viewers that this is potentially dangerous. Page last updated: 8 March 2026