The Trans List (2016) Reviews

• It lets the transgendered speak for themselves

  AlsExGal2016-12-24

  This HBO documentary, although it has a small introduction, is almost exclusively the transgendered from all walks of life talking about their personal journeys trying to live out their lives in the body that matches their hearts and minds. Unless you believe in conspiracy theories on this subject, all of those speaking said that from their earliest memories, predating puberty, they just felt wrong in their bodies. Some were older - in their 40s - 60s. When they sought counseling in the 80s and even in the 90s they were told that their same sex attraction meant that they were gay, since many didn't even consider the fact that "transgendered" was a real identity back then. However, the transgendered knew instinctively that this was not the whole story. Some lived middle class lives, one guy was an attorney, several had been to prison as a result of addictions they had developed in trying to deal with being transgendered. They then had to deal with all of the problems of living day to day lives with people who are violent and predatory and at the same time dealing with their body issues. One thing that was not mentioned that would be a big issue in America was exactly how the interviewees managed to pay for the surgery and hormone therapy that finally allowed them to live comfortably in their own skin, but I don't think that was the point. The point was to show the transgendered speaking for themselves rather than having a stereotype do that speaking. I'd recommend this documentary if it comes your way.

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• The shared stories of trans people, both famous & not famous, and how they found their own unique path to have peace and stability in their life.

  Amari-Sali2017-02-28

  I don't want to say "I feel enlightened," but I must admit that the more I seek out LGBT productions, I more and more realize the power of media. As noted by a Vox video, "people do learn from film and television whether you want them to or not." And being exposed to something normalized it. Which is why I loved this film. Often times, when it comes to LGBT media, what is normalized is whiteness. An FTM or MTF white person. Yet, with seeing Black, Hispanic, Native American, and those who just don't identify with a gender, just imagine what that does for a kid. Take note of what characters like GI Joe, Pee Wee Herman, and others did for those who spoke. They gave them an idea, a goal to obtain, and with seeing someone like that accepted, they were able to reconcile complicated feelings and realize their thoughts and feelings were valid. They weren't strange because they weren't the first to feel a certain way, look a certain way or want to look a certain way. There was someone who paved a path already and they just have to be brave enough to stand in their truth and walk that road. Hence why this is marked Positive. For those who may think they are trans, they get shown all the various lives and paths they can take, no matter what they look like or what their socio-economic background. Then, for those who may not question or feel firmly cis, you get to understand what those who don't feel and think like you went through. Thus normalizing them, humanizing them, and stripping them of that "Other" label. For, at the end of the day, they are Janet, Shane, Caitlyn, Nicole, Amos, Caroline, Bamby, Buck or Miss Major.

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