The increased visibility of female to male transitioning (FTM), there is even a transgender (FTM) character on the
popular prime-time show The L Word, seems to be taken for granted, or is it? Once, males transitioning to female
seemed a natural process for the overly or overtly effeminate male. Today the shoe -or heels are definitely not on
the other foot and women within the lesbian community around the country, are quite resistant to FTM
transitioning, referring to it as a 'trend', as a misogynistic anti-feminist act. Genuine concerns about the “disappearing butch“ are being expressed by female academics working in women/queer studies. Boy I Am, a
feature-length documentary genuinely gives space to this cacophony of voices who include three young
transitioning FTMs in New York City - Nicco, a queer trans male who began taking hormones five years ago and fully
passes as male, Norie, who identifies as a straight trans male was raised by his evangelical Haitian mother and is
currently saving money for top surgery and Keegan, who identifies as a straight trans male is about to have his
surgery yet mulls over whether or not to take hormones. Counter-balancing their points of view are lesbians,
activists and theorists. Is there truth to the notion of a disappearing butch? We cannot tell you here, but Boy I Am voted 2006 winner of the Best Documentary Feature at the Seattle Gay & Lesbian Film Festival tackles many
misconceptions stemming out of own South Florida community.
Preceded by
Wrong Bathroom,Dir. Shani Heckman, U.S. 2005, video, 11 min. FLORIDA PREMIERE. Unlike politics,
the closer one is to the center in the gender continuum the more problematic the most basic human necessities are.
A Nature’s Choice, Dir. Raquel de Antonio & Edgar Alcala, U.S, 2006, video, 7 min. WORLD
PREMIERE. Self defined local transgender-male Marc Cummings puts forward the concept that sexual dysphoria is
nature’s way of playing Russian roulette with your biology and not a choice, a behavior or a condition.
Kaden, Dir. Harriet Storm, U.S. video. 2006, 8 min. SOUTH FLORIDA PREMIERE. In this namesake short,
we follow Kaden Rushford a transitioning female to male, through the physical and psychological preparations for
top surgery (double mastectomy).
Total duration: 140min. (including Panel)
Career Synopsis
Sam Feder received her B.A. in Anthropology from Skidmore College in 1997, and in 2004 she received an M.A. in
Media Studies from the New School University. She currently works as Director of Marketing and Promotions with
Reeling, The Chicago International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. Her previous films include producing Versus, and Beyond Good & Evil; Media Children and Violent Times, Boy I Am is her first feature length film.
|
