Movies can be a cruel mirror. However, if the concept of transgender identity frustrates or confuses you in some way, then you probably haven’t considered the culprit in TV and movies. Many people who appeared in “Disclosure” shared how difficult it was to accept their identity because they could not connect with those who existed in movies and TV at the time

“When I play a trans woman, I don’t have to play a trans role,” Jen Richards said. Similar to disabled actors or actors from non-white cultural backgrounds, trans actors believe that they should be regarded as almost any role-although casting directors almost always consider white, able-bodied cisgender actors by default unless the role specifies otherwise. “Disclosure” achieved something rare in other films: by showing strong, confident trans celebrities, this film provides a stark alternative.

The film entitled “Disclosure” is about transgender people in today’s culture and their lives. Although i was only able to watch the trailer. Watching it reminded me one of the worst films i have ever seen. The name of the film is entitled “Boys don’t cry” is about a female who fail in love with another woman. However, one of them have decided to be a lesbian without the other partner knowing. Things took a different turn at the end when people found out she was lying about her sex. She had her girlfriend thinking that she was a man. She even changed her identity. When her lovers’ friends discovered this, she was raped and murdered. The trans man’s man in the movie was Brandon Teena and the girlfriend’s name was Lana. This movie is inspired by a true event that happened. After watching this movie, I am double sided because although i feel bad for Brandon for being raped, beaten and later murdered, I also don’t think she should have lied about her identity and pretended to be a man. I feel like this is what led to her death. Another person this reminded of is Jazz Jennings. Jazz Jennings is an American YouTube personality and LGBT rights activist. On her YouTube channel she describes how challenging it was for her to transition. 

I believe that sometimes the LGBT community forces people to accept them. Many people are not in support of lesbians, transgenders, and gays. I feel like the LGBT community is a little similar to what african americans because we were fighting for our rights, for our voices to be heard, and for the discrimination to end. Like the  LGBT community African-Americans also get treated differently from everyone else. Many of our black men get shot because of police brutality, get sentenced to jail for years while a white man would get a couple of years for committing the same crime. Therefore the LGBT community and the black community have a lot in common because both communities are targets. 

The film “Disclosure” is about the representation of transgender people in today’s culture and the community through the stories of transgender actors, thinkers, creators, and even educators. The first couple minutes of the film had already caught my interest when discussing what trans people were portrayed out to be on tv. For someone who was trans to witness that, it made them even hate themselves more apart from the mockery they experience out in the world. Transgender people will always carry a certain representation of themselves based on what they’ve seen. The idea of transgender was out there in the world. It helped create a positive discussion and outings for others: the more exposure, the larger the radar of being a target and sensitivity.

Sometimes when we watch documentaries or films that include the personal and outspoken people on what the film is about, we question our history and what we have been pushed to behave according to tv standards or America. If it doesn’t meet the standards of certain definitions and normal context, it is considered weird, freakish, disturbing, and even fearful, and that would only be an explanation of it because they are dangerous. It is difficult to find the right words to address transitioning because our only references are negative. Going back to the concept of how tv portrayed transgender people, they were placed in very violent and scary events that led them to their death. In a way, they were always victims because they weren’t accepted, which is all we could perceive. It is continuously produced because that’s what is seen in the media.

When I was growing up, of course, there were transgender people in the world, but it was not like I had a front-row seat to understand their community’s history. There weren’t even conversations about their origin in the world and how they impacted society. Even while I was getting older, I held respect and a neutral level of expression and acceptance because they are human beings, not freaks. Those who mistreat them are the ones who feel the need to obtain a sense of the power of what is right or wrong.

The film “Disclosure” brought up some interesting points about exploiting transgender storylines and where people can fit themselves and relate to while being transgender. Referencing back to the discussion of the film “Boys Don’t Cry,” there were a lot of mixed emotions based on the origin of the story. Mostly because Brandon, a white American transgender man, was the main character of the story who was a victim of hate in the film. But the storyline of his African American friend never made it on the film which who was also a victim of a hate crime. These two characters were not both portrayed in the film. It was one or the other because it was portrayed as though more than one concept could not be identified together, which really changed those who watched the film. It creates a diversity of does a person truly exists or can be defined as more than one thing, and that’s where the idea of misrepresentation comes from.

The DISCLOSURE film is a groundbreaking, eye-opening exploration of transgender representations in movies; demonstrating how Hollywood both reflects and manufactures our innermost fears about gender. What emerges is an enthralling narrative about the dynamic interplay between trans depiction on television, societal ideals, and the reality of trans existence. The embodiment of this time for transgender individuals and their representation is shown in DISCLOSURE. 

The growing visibility of transgender persons is exciting and signifies the start of constructive social change. Nonetheless, violence against trans individuals remains, as does an increase in efforts to limit transgender civil rights. There is an attempt to legislate trans individuals out of mainstream society, ranging from current bathroom laws that portray trans women as male predators to a potential military ban on trans service. DISCLOSURE investigates this anxiety by using history to illuminate the present.

One thing I took away from DISCLOSURE is that Trans people are often underrepresented or misrepresented because of the negative connotation of being Transgender.

Trans representation is important because the media’s portrayal of certain groups of individuals can reflect and influence society’s (perhaps stereotyped) attitudes of those individuals. In the media, the transgender community is frequently misrepresented. The transgender population as a whole experience a lot of prejudice in American society, and current media portrayals of transgender people have the capacity to reinforce negative preconceptions. 

Growing up, I didn’t realize transgender individuals or the Lgbtq+ community existed until I was in late elementary/early middle school. When I was younger, I did not consider being trans to be a terrible thing, but children are easily influenced at that age. However,  If I were to turn on the television at age eleven and saw that the Trans community was being poorly depicted, I would consider being Trans to be a terrible thing.

Since trans individuals are frequently portrayed in films as victims, murderers, or villains, and they frequently play the role of sex workers. Clearly, this is not the most positive look for the trans community, and part of society still views being trans as a negative or shameful thing. 

Furthermore, many individuals would be outraged if they discovered that their group or culture was being poorly depicted, especially on television or social media.

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When looking through the snapshots, one that stood out to me was posted by Lizbeth. The individuals are portrayed in a favorable manner rather than in a negative light. The attached article also discusses Trans visibility and why it is so important in so many different fields, from journalism to sports. 

Overall, how trans individuals are depicted is important, especially considering the state of the debate around gender. Trans individuals, in my opinion, should be more extensively represented, particularly in Hollywood, but in a positive light. It is necessary that our youth learn and comprehend that being trans is not such a negative thing and that we as a society should become more accepting.

As I was watching the film “ Disclosure” It really got me reflecting on how transgender people are projected in films and how Hollywood has influence and shaped how people view transgender people. It really gets one thinking why did we thought it was ok to make fun and laugh of a film that stereotypes transgender people in the wrong way. 

The film industry Hollywood has been shaping the history  and has given  misrepresentation of how transgender people really are and the way they live their life. Most of the films stereotypes them as monsters, lunatics, sociopaths, violent, serial killer.  With  television having such a big impact they have internalized the idea that trans people are wrong or less worthy and even hate towards them. 

In one part of the film Jen Richards says “ I kind of hate the idea of  disclosure, in the sense that it presupposes that there is something to disclose” explaining that it gives the assumption she has the responsibility to tell others and that presupposes that the other person might have a issue with what has to be disclose. It’s really unfair for Trans people to feel like they have to disclose themselves because people feel like they have the obligation to do so.

Growing up as a kid around 15 years ago I remember seeing men dress as women, I used to ask my mom why was he dress like that. I never really got answer from my mom I’m not even sure she understood or new about Trans people. The first time I heard about Transgender people I was probably around the age fifteen and I fully understood it till I was nineteen when I moved to NYC. After living here for almost six years I have crossed paths with several transgender people and made friend with one, she told me her story and all the process she went through, and all the struggles that they still face today. 

Disclosure reminded me of one of the first texts we were introduced to for this course, “Beyond the Gender Binary” by Alok V. Manon in the sense that as individuals who do not necessarily identify with the gender binary that society has set as the norm, are constantly perceived in all sorts of ways except for who they are and respecting their identities. Nancy Susano’s snapshot, which is from DISCLOSURE if I am not mistaken, serves as a quote that awakens the idea that others have always wanted to tell the story of trans individuals without pausing to ask what their narratives truly are.

I too have witnessed both examples of myself and distorted narratives of those who share how I identify. I think the entire concept of visibility and aiming to reveal the true narratives and stories of people triggered a memory for me. It reminded me of the many films I had seen as a child that did not portray the immigrant, undocumented, individual with indigenous features in a positive light, even when the producers were from those very same countries. I saw myself in these media stories as the child of the unfortunate immigrant who even in the “land of opportunity” cannot get ahead in the socio-economic aspect of life. It made me question what types of media was considered acceptable for my family and I to watch, to laugh about, and to never question or think about in any critical manner. 

Those who are determined to conserve social norms and identify with them benefit from the problematic depictions of transgender people as it gives them the power to dictate how the general public perceives them and how they should feel and act around them. They remain in some sort of control this way, similar to how individuals who strongly identify with patriarchal norms or enforcing discrimination, remain in control by dictating narratives and fear that they will lose this societal advantage. Although entertainment media can create positive change, simple actions that we can take to challenge misrepresentation, erasure, or invisibility is to educate oneself especially in a time in which there are plenty of resources in the form of texts, art, and video that are accessible. One has to put aside any preconceived narratives about a community and help amplify their stories and experiences. Recognizing the privilege that one may hold is another form of taking action to help amplify other voices. Media has influenced my own perception of my gender through its usual tropes — girls must be virtuous, delicate, and only lean towards female intended activities and colors. To go against any of this would mean that I would face many consequences from family, friends, and society. I have felt judged when expressing gender nonconformity at a very young age because I became aware of my own sexuality and feelings very early on. My mother would question my ever-changing choices in clothing and style, my friends would question my interests and hobbies and my teachers would force female activities and roles in plays onto me. I felt that this would continue in my life but I am grateful for the progress society has made although not everyone is accepting of it.

Watching Disclosure certainly opened my eyes to how we saw transgender in television and media when I was younger. We were shown transgenders as ‘plot points’ or a big shocker in a show or movie. They were used as comedy like Mrs.Doubtfire and Big mama’s house, It’s only recently that we are getting movies that are more about transgender people and the queer community like The Danish girl or Boys meets girl.

I remember when I was younger I didn’t understand the transgender community, like many others I wasn’t taught much about the LGBTQIA community. The concept of a woman or man wanting to change themselves, a concept I didn’t understand.

The only people who benefit from problematic depictions of transgender people are the people with an anti-LGBTQIA agenda, the ones who want to depict them as ‘crazy’. They use movies and media as examples of their rage to fuel their case. On the other hand, watching documentaries like Disclosure benefits the transgender community, it teaches many people who don’t understand them a little more about what they go through. Just how much what the media has out there isn’t what it’s really like.

If we want to challenge the misrepresentation of any race or group that is often the front for discrimination or hatred is easy, just don’t watch the movie, listen to the music, or read that book. Don’t give those people more money and show them it’s not okay and take a stand. Things are now changing when it comes to representation because we no longer have our mouths closed, we speak up about things we don’t like.

Personally, I’ve always been secure about my gender but as I grew up in the internet era I became more open and secure about my own gender. Growing up in a Hispanic household being a part of the lgbt household was something that was never spoken about, it was just something that wasn’t really discriminated against but also not talked about. It was only with the growing community online and finding friends who understood themselves more and helped me understand myself more was where I realized that I was also part of the lgbtia community.

I can confidently say that my awakening didn’t come from any form of movies or tv shows because growing up women were only shown as lesbian as a sexual fantasy for men. Which I never understood but it’s what sold tickets and got viewers.

The media has influenced the way I see gender expression in men specifically, again growing up in a Hispanic household men wore jeans and worked, had a beard and short hair. They either had a beer belly or wanted strong muscles. But nowadays seeing men become more gender-neutral, truly showing that clothing has no gender or painting their nails because nails also have no gender really opened my eyes. Because it’s true why must men be these ‘manly men’ beasts, why did we put gender on pieces of fabric?

In the snapshot that my class mate Junie Vallon uploaded, the actor Elliot Page is being depicted in an awards ceremony as he expresses himself as transgender. Page himself had received positive outcomes after being supported by LGBTQ rights advocates and other people in the film industry and they viewed him as a positive inspiration for transgender people in the community. The actor felt blessed for having such support during his transition and expressed as much in his letter. On the other hand in the documentary Disclosure, transgender people are expressing their issues about being judged in popular culture. One person who is being interviewed stated that a transgender woman will get arrested if she enters the women’s bathroom and yet the moment she enters the men’s bathroom the men start running away from her. I believe that people who falsely criticise transgender people for their choices gain benefits and getting them apprehended. For example, one of the old headlines from this film showed a description of an article of a transgender woman who was arrested by the police for dressing up in feminine clothing. This kind of treatment towards transgender people is a huge issue for the LGBTQ community because there are people who dislike the trend and lots of the male actors who wear in dresses as they are often being referenced in popular culture. I think that scene from one of the other movies depicting actors who play horribly parodied versions of African Americans, however there is a term for that known as blackface. For example, in the 1914 silent movie “A Florida Enchantment“, a white actor who plays a blackface crossdressing maid who was given the pill by the white lady, which caused the blackface woman to go on a rampage and the other woman joined in and they started attacking the man outside. The media made African Americans look bad because they view them as barbaric and it adds fuel to the fire when it comes to racism and hate groups. The most important thing about being denied and judged by strangers when it comes to gender identity is transgender people who prefer new pronouns based on their sex. For example, one person prefers to be known as “they”, “them” or “theirs” rather than “he”, “him” or “his”. Another example is when an androgynous person who wore clothes which has the equivalent of both masculine and feminine clothing, which they are subject of becoming prime targets of a dispute due to people viewing them negatively in public. I felt disappointed towards androgynous people because they are treated badly and it causes them to be in shame for the choices they make for themselves. People who have the right to choose and be what they wanted to become, the possibilities are endless. Don’t let people judge you from identifying your own sex. Nothing can take that away from you. Looking back from this film, it taught me how to accept my own gender and just because people say that I look like man doesn’t mean that can’t engage in feminine acts and having crushes towards men. No matter how or what people judge me, in the end, it’s my decision to love myself and accept for who I am.

After Watching the video and hearing what all these people had to say is interesting. Bianca Leigh who is an actress and writer said how during her time of year when she was a child she didn’t what transgender was. Laverne Cox mention how when she would get on the train in New York City and people would just laugh because of her identity. Which people think that it’s okay to see it as joke with people’s identity and honestly I just think it’s not right. Everyone should be respected as if who they are. After hearing some of these other actress base on what they have to say while acting in these different shows had me surprise by what they said after because of what occurred in each scene they showed. Like Laverne Cox said don’t they thing about before creating these lines for the scenes. A question I had in mind is, what do you do when your dealing with situations where people do support transgender in public? I feel like these people who identify themselves as transgender probably go through a lot each day because there people who don’t support it. But then again I think that people who are transgender are brave enough to go out there in the world and show who they identify themselves as. Which is good because there shouldn’t be an issue with being who you are. This whole transgender situation affects society because that’s where inequality is occurring. Also discrimination is most likely to occur on daily in their jobs, schools, family, and in many other places. When this discrimination occurs I feel like it’s affecting transgender people mentally and physically. Some things that we can do to support transgender people is by doing a LGBT community organization, voting, volunteer in a group, having a conversation with them or even just spending some time with them. Also making sure there’s a lot of information spread around the city and when I mean information I mean positive information about these people, so that they can be heard as of who they actually are.