Compelling Transgender Documentary Films To Watch
Wanting to learn something new or looking for something to help educate people about transgender people? No matter what the reason is, we’ve got you covered. Today, we’re going to share the most compelling transgender documentaries to watch. The best of all is that you can find all of these for free online.
Please know that these documentaries do not reflect the lives of all transgender people. These are just some of the most riveting ones that one doesn’t come across on a daily basis.
Koovagam: All The Way In by 101India
101India is a channel that was created to inspire the youth to embrace each other’s differences. Not only does it feature transgender documentaries, but it also talks about other cultural stuff encompassing Urban India.
Some of their videos are about food, city life, corporate, and more. Going back to Koovagam, this documentary is highly interesting as it is about a popular Indian festival. It’s one of the very few festivals made solely for transgender individuals held in the Ulundurpettai taluk in Kallakurichi district, Tamil Nadu.
It is celebrated by transgender people who worship Lord Aravan from the epic Mahabharata. It’s celebrated every March or April, depending on the Hindu Calendar dates. Lord Aravan sacrificed himself to win the Kurukshetra war by offering his life to Goddess Kali. But before doing so, he only had one wish and that is to experience what it’s like to be married just for a day—Lord Shiva transforms himself into a woman to fulfill his wish as no woman wanted to marry a man who only had one day to live.
In the documentary, the festival was shown but it also showed the dark side of transgender streetwalkers who take advantage of the occasion by selling themselves to the influx of male tourists.
Shinjuku Boys by Kim Longinotto and Jano Williams
In the 90s, the economy of Tokyo, Japan was booming and so were its red-light districts. Along the streets of Shinjuku were an abundance of hostess and host clubs. These clubs were created to entertain men and women through beautiful and handsome hosts in a scene of drinks and karaoke.
The documentary follows the lives of three transgender men, Gaish, Kazuki, and Tatsu. They all work in a transmasculine host club for rich female patrons. It deals with the club not allowing them to be in a relationship to remain more desirable. However, they were all in a loving relationship, including Kazuki who was dating a transgender woman.
Along with their love lives were the early stages of hormone-replacement therapy in Japan. It also discussed gender reassignment surgery plans, breast binding, and a lack of transgender rights and support from Japan at that time.
Growing Up Trans by FRONTLINE
If you’re a parent and you have a transgender child, this transgender documentary is for you. There are many documentaries about transgender kids online but this one shows the sentiments of the children from their perspective.
This will help you get a better understanding as to why your child is saying some things that may not exactly sound conventionally correct. This deals with their dysphoric emotions, their dreams, and how they want to live their life.
Most transgender people experience gender dysphoria at a very young age. It is just now that children are more free to express their real feelings about their gender early on with the help of more research and information available.
It will also give you some information on what to do as a parent of a transgender child. How to deal with it, which specialist to seek help from, and more.
Violence Against Black Trans Women Is One of the US’ Deadliest Epidemics by VICE
For a country that’s known for championing transgender rights, it’s surprising to know that a lot of crimes linked to transphobia still happen in the 21st century.
This kind of violence is more rampant toward trans women of color, especially black ones in America. What makes this documentary interesting is it follows the life of Kendall Stephens, a transgender woman who was fighting to seek justice for her transgender friend Dominique.
Her friend was killed and dismembered and she was determined to find the murderer. She walks around her neighborhood handing out flyers to make the killer pay. She was also doing it for her peace of mind as she was also attacked and called transphobic slurs in her home.
Apart from seeking justice for her friend, the documentary also features her life as a transgender activist.
Did we miss any of your favorite transgender documentaries? If so, kindly suggest them in the comments section below. Please share this article to spread awareness.
