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Growing up isn’t easy—we
all know that. The potent mix of
hormones, peer pressure, self-discovery
and family expectations leads almost
every adolescent to look in the
mirror at some point and ask…
“Who am I?”
What if the overwhelming
question was more basic… more
disturbing… more life shattering?
What if ever since you were 5 years
old you looked in the mirror every
day and asked, “What am
I - a boy or a girl?”
— This is the life of a “Trans"
and the focus of the one hour documentary
Transgender Teens.
It
is a world where confusion reigns.
Even defining the topic can be confusing…
transgender, transsexual, transvestite…
they are not the same things.
The
simple definition of transgender
is: a condition in which the physical
sex of the individual does not match
their gender identity. In short-
their body appears to be one sex,
while their brain says they’re
the opposite sex. It's called gender
dysphoria.
It
is not a fetish. It is not a weekend
hobby. It is not a result of bad
parenting or abuse. It is not a
choice. It is a birth condition.
That is a fact that few understand.
Although there are families who
stand by their children through
their transition, many are thrown
out of their homes, often leading
to a desperate life of depression,
prostitution and even suicide.
Transgender
Teens tells the story
of two transgender teenagers. Sadaisha
and Katrina were born as males,
but now they want to live as females.
Sadaisha lives on the streets of
West Hollywood. Katrina lives at
home near San Francisco with her
mother. Both struggle for acceptance
and understanding.
Sadaisha
makes ends meet working as a prostitute.
Katrina is supported by her family
and is seeking counseling to help
her transition. As we follow them
from day to day, we meet the social
workers, family members and others
in the transgender community who
offers guidance and support.
We
meet Alexis, a smart, funny, attractive
24-year-old caseworker who counsels
transgender teens—a topic
she knows well. Alexis was born
a “boy.’ However, she
is one of the lucky ones. Through
the support of her family and her
tenacious will to succeed, she has
triumphed at whatever she’s
set her mind to.
Lavonna
also was born a “boy.”
In her early teens she tried to
deal openly with her problem. She
took a female name and began dressing
and living as a girl. For that she
was forced to leave her home. Thus,
she began her life on the streets.
She is now an outreach worker, helping
teens get off the street.
Transgender
Teens is gritty…
shocking… heart wrenching…
frightening… uplifting…
informative…. enlightening
and above all-- riveting.
The
viewers of this program may never
hear the words “boy”
or “girl” the same way
again.
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