Saturday, September 24, 2011

On the Male Side of Middle [documentary]

Check out this awesome short documentary by Paul Neudorf, aka pneudorf on the Tube in collaboration with the Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Interests.



The film explores body image, gender identity, masculinity, femininity, relationships, and religion and spirituality. You can check out more of Paul's documentaries here.

Traveling as a Transguy.

Traveling via airplane can be a nerve-wracking experience for any transguy, but with a little preparation and confidence, all should go well.

This video talks about body scans, flying with testosterone, packing and binding, carry letters, as well as flying before any legal changes have been done.



The following video goes into more detail about TSA body scans and flying with a packer:



In the video I talked about obtaining a “carry letter” to make your travel as smooth as possible. Here is a link to a sample carry letter from FORGE.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

The Silent Years [transition gives voice]

Recently, Forest (aka ClosetTransgender on the Tube) made a poignant video entitled "The Silent Years." Forest is transitioning without hormones and is having the experience of being somewhat of a ghost; his male identity is often invisible to those he encounters, which lead to feelings of invalidation.

I'm sure many who are early in transition or not using hormones at all can relate to this feeling at some time or another during their transition.



I can relate to where he is coming from and can only imagine how frustrating it is for him to have his male identity be constantly invalidated/challenged/gone unrecognized.

A main theme in my videos is the idea of "transition giving voice;" I feel this experience has empowered me and allowed me to find my voice in this world and speak from a place of great understanding (having embodied two genders in my lifetime).

Nothing is more frustrating than having this (male) identity I've crafted invalidated, so I empathize with Forest when his true self is "silenced" by others.






Wrong Bathroom [short documentary]

Check out this short documentary from YouTube user shanestar entitled "Wrong Bathroom."


short doc blending humor and formal interviews explores the under-reported problem of a lack of gender neutral restroom spaces. featuring lynn breedlove, bryan burgess and melissa lawton.

Written, Directed, Shot and Edited by Shani Heckman