I am the T is a new film that will highlight the stories of trans men from a variety of cultural backgrounds.
2014 has been a year of incredible visibility for the trans* community. Laverne Cox, Janet Mock, Jaime Ewing, CeCe MacDonald, and other transwomen are raising visibility for trans* issues in America.
Now a project is unfolding that will bring faces and voices to the transmen’s community around the world, highlighting previously untold stories. From director Tony Zosherafatain:
I am the T is a documentary that will captivatingly tell the stories of trans men (female to male people) in seven different countries. It will be directed, produced, and filmed by two trans men of color. This documentary will create bridges of understanding by giving cisgender people critical insight into the trans male experience.
The film is in pre-production as the makers raise funds and awareness. The idea behind the documentary was created 4 years ago after the Director began transitioning and realized that films featuring trans men were lagging in the media.
The central plot of the film is to show that each transmale story is unique and is contingent upon cultural influences, yet also united by the theme of overcoming familial, societal, and personal obstacles. The real-life stories of each participant’s journey to become their intended gender will be showcased. This documentary will therefore shift the gaze from one that views trans men as objectified abnormalities to a lens that humanizes and centralizes the transmale voice.
This is something that has been missing in the popular media. Transmen make appearances on talk shows and news stories and might be a part of a TV or movie plotline, but they are rarely a central voice or portrayed in a realistic manner.
Transmen are still an outside voice, but one that is increasingly coming into the mainstream, especially as perceptions of masculinity change. But for many trans men around the world, transphobia and discrimination are still prevalent, and healthcare and access to jobs and social support are lacking.
Positive depictions of trans men are also still lagging in the media. I am the T is a step towards changing this.
Below is a clip of one of our participants from Malaysia discussing why being comfortable in his body is a form of freedom:
Director Tony Zosherafatain is hoping to reach a broad audience of viewers who are unfamiliar with the stories of FTM (female-to-male) people and trans viewers who will gain from cross-cultural insight into the socio-political and cultural factors that influence the effect that transphobia has had during each participant’s transition.
In the end, I am the T seeks to leave a lasting impression: a desire to educate others about the transmale experience around the world, and the impetus to fight transphobia wherever it lies.
To learn more, find the I am the T’s campaign page at indiegogo.com.
I am the T Trailer:
Source material from I am the T, an FTM documentary and used with permission from Tony Zosherafatain.
This will be awesome!