ññ supporting lgbtq+ people, their parents, families, and all ies, since 19 73. learn more at pflag. org. and by gender spectrum a national organizat ion helping create safe and equitable environm ents for transgender, nonbina ry and gender expansive children and tee ns. learn more at genderspectrum.o rg. >>ther funrs include. >> when was youn i play with rbies... and dolls. like, i collected do

lls. they were like my friends i guess, you k now,i didn have animaginar friend i had d ls. i uld rolelay antalk ani would the girand thensomebodyould be e bo nody actuay knows at. when was gting olderi knew i liked bs, but i so knew ere wassomethinel se. i st didn'kn what t. biologically i'm a boy but i'm gonna be a girl. like, i'm a rl. suer photo iss my favite backck too i was ynger,

it blue. ohere's e withe in a suitand w uncomftable i was weing it en i was young er i was really close with my mother and my sis ter, so i just felt like i was just one of the other gir ls. and i remember playing with my si sterand shing outfits and i thk that'shen started aliz in i got oer th this isho i a ani'm not e of theoys d i'm noth emi'm t a brother. myom was aittle mo on theenient s id and unrstand g. enever ias playi witholls, likeshe woul't think twiceabout e would ver li dge me f it. en as i got der, shstarteddisappving aut it. " m!""w t?" "i think'm g ay >>eah, i rember that.>> and answere

"no u're n ." >> i rember that oo. >> i said, "noyou're n u're conse " i s born iguatemalfrom family wh fourte kids. when we t pregna we aays sa "i'monna he a boy,i'm goa have gir l, u knowbut we d't choos that whyt's ha . i started seeing the behavior. i was thinking that, um, maybe it was my fa ult. but now i know that it's not my fault, you k now, thingsap pen. i uld caller a dierent na; i walike h mom, tt's nomy name". ke i wand to cl her ha nna,but i uldn'tit wasard for me. i sn't prepared. i wasn'trepa re >>et me ju give u a ttle hisry

of wt angelsf change is. it'shis beauful lendarand th the runway sh ow you will bwalking e runwayto rai f unds r our trsgender inic h e wi children'hospit los ange les.>> chiren's hoital ijustlike aery safelace for me toe, and bsurround by pple thatre like me. seng how cfortablehey werewith each other,r themse es umthat reay rubb off on me.>> so,he idea is r eachf youto work th the fashion s dent to wk on whais your yle,how yowant theorld see y . >> s's prettshy, bui wantedo bring,ou know, thbeauty o of itand makeer just ke fabulous, like classichanel kind

of lo ok i want pple to just themselves, true tohemselve and beautiful with th ke be coortablein youown sk . >> t first te i saw hanna aring a ouse andipstick, i rememb that i stood r aw ay ani was, omy g od >> oh myod, lookt her, oh my d. first ce all e prayer and en all t thepi sts thate visit,that we ma nyno, we wt all dierent erapis . >>i acally reay triedto have lks with oubut th never smed to work.i justanted tosomehow,make y kind of etor getow i feeli . >> setimes ii was laying dn in b d then s came an say "uh you' so ugly you're swrinkl you're sfat, youno your bath stinks."

d i sa "well,et away om m e. >> owell youbreath ds stk inhe morning.>> yeayou say at, wo . ing disrpectful m e... thatas not gng to chge me agr ee i alwaystt off go at eh school go, but then isss alwaystart pping . >> johanna was using the girl's bathroom and they caught her anyou knowthat's w he wassuspende she wasuspend . >> thetold me that i cant be gog to theirls bat oom, ani was rely upsetecause they keptelling t hat,"you're king a s ne," ey're teing me at i'm ming a sc ene. therwas no sne bere they t th er e princie tolde to "t up i'm gon call seri ty." ani was ke "no, u can ** yourself."

>> t police ficer caed me around, and i s work in d the lice sai "i haveyour kidere fromirmingham." and i s like so fed upof all t probl s d i said "well,ust keeper in th e". becausef that i got a ticket a i had tgo to court. >> ciente, tt's hot,aha. >>o i real need iton my neck? don't ha scruffl i'm st kidding atever, u call that. i've beeon hornes r two nt hs. it been gog goodlike, stoppe .. i don't ow how texplainall th, do i do rea ll ohwell my in got n er. >> ¡mo estam, buenasoc hes! w are weeveryb y? models,hree mines, thre minute

models,hree min es. she's n coming,my mom notom ing. she sente tohe mentahospital n-tun- n! i waed to te that on'cause at one w sev er thatas b ad at was hri ble. i s there r three ys. ey were t transgder iendly t re. they actlly forc me take me pills theyaid, takthe pi or ty're gon have torestraine to tak it. i did tngs thatthe thapist to me too as aar t. yh, you'rthe pare it your reonsibility. bause wasy responbility make su you werok ay. >>eah, whi you shod haveandl

ed >> well, i cldn't hale it.one dai went tchurch d i justneel dowand prayand i lked to e lord d i sa"you kw, i can do it y more, u kn ow i just c't do ." was tid of a the sitti on. and , so i kw the on one o can he is go >> dyou thinyour god gonna ange me? he is t only onwho kn s. >> are y hopingthat hchanges me?>> tt's a go quest n. it is, want youto ansr it, haha. you kno all my tions to godre in hea rt >>f there an oppounity to see ii can chge bac e would ve thato happen.>> afterohanna tns eightn, [sheis goingo be an ult, and doest matterf i agre or ion't

agree. >> we we arguingver who ts to wch what the tv. it was or like sething super petty, anthe lasttraw washen e put hehands on me. this hsehold ijust nota go thingor me. ese are e pictur of mfamily mbers ani live wh th em >> they ld me they hadhat gi anshe's goa be tnsgenderand i ll them don't mindbut wh they to mei was inkingbout other ki of girl.

t when i saw johanna, my god i was inki ng "whas so bad a little desoyed girl." i acceptg any pe le.my sons gay, and i ve himhe way h is ani don't re aboutt becae uhjust g is the e who kns whthey creed like at. >> it els moreike i ha a faly i gue. e boughte underwear, whh is lite thingslike that,or le dresse thated dress rht there.i got at. and thatewelry the red he ar whicis treatg me lik you ow, like me. don't kn howo explai it. johan's birthy. soe're celrating h eighteth birthday, d she's havi a poopa rty. she wand me thave a rthday partyso sheaid bringsome fen ds.

>> all mfamily gonna bhere. >> hi gu, i'm ge ge.>> hi, ne to mee you.>> i ce out when i w fourt n, the housold was ry accep ng. when hanna came they aeady hadhat mentitythat is justohan .we seeohannaas herersoli ty. d gave uanother ster so it'great, haha.>> i tnk the fst time reallyllowed h to know ike, "h, you kn, you'ream ily, we dot want y to feeluncomftabl e. and she blended ally wel withhe fam y,so i tnk that lped all of s. >>hey're rlly ni people,bu t... but thing, tse are ce peopl never mind. hell the la time i lked to mom wai think o mont a go. welleven then it w just really sll t al i woulreach outo her d ca her and ask she wand to do methinglike othe ween dsand th didn't pp

eni didn get a hpy birthy ony birthday i wajust likok, what er.>> onetwo, thr happy rthday t you. >> so this imy f orthis ithe lega name cnge fo rm mom actlly sign this, b i feelike afteshe did at li that's en sheeallyopped talking to me. 's more ke sheigned itto getid of me i g ss so i don't know. iteemed th w ay. >>appy birday, deajohanna,happy bihday to you. w oo! ha, all them! >>hat you ve in frt of youis callethe cast exercis ep ones you need to ad th to yourlv es. terwardswe're ing to b hang disssio

ns >> indepdence hi school a scol that rves stu nts th are at gh riskof dropping ou d not beg succesul in theirradition sch oo so we'rcomparin and ntrast g, and have torite out it r ht. >> nt's on you 're willg to worwith y .wh are youonna dto get yrself at high hool dip ma? alright,o get them.>> i wld say iwas a moh whe i did etty g d and en afterhat was ju b ad. >> we nt throu some rely rougtimes dung that ri od. >> was really just butting ads withvery on was like don't le thesestuden, i don'ke ... i don'like the new teaers, don'like any dy. anone ofhem askeme do t oppos e. >>he was tning inassignnts a daor two late. >> iould jusbe like pe i n't careand ** y ou. >> she wld not en intera withe in any way exce profanity. ose werehe only rds she everaid to ecomingnto scho goinout of s

ool. i wano longea princil,but noi saw it shifto wherei was li the parent.and the auoritariapa rent th you will abe byhe rul d this iyour curw, and u will dth is.>> the was likthis lovhate retionsh with b. she'd me dn asar as like e st getti my headout ofy aás. and iactuallyelived aot of t str es cause w it wasery clea thiss what'sxpec te so tre was kd of a pce white fl, a tre call .i've had the opportunity to open for johanna avenues and doors that a in the mmun it becae i am part of that mmun it it ieasy fore to givher cess to fferent nds ofouth formsthingshat the gay andlesbian ceer is offeri ng >>aybe youl be little ls shy ne y ear.ha

>> m be. >> she'slway s. >>hat fa >> y h. >>ea lly?>> whener deb ok me anythinthat was ike mmunitbased, like i eoyed t t. very ne to seeo many pple th are p eers anare gointhroughwhat i agoing th ugh. >> psexual y. >> y eah. >> she impro d. now signments armuch better.i seher workg on holarships. i seher writg thin . theris a dratic change.>> she gon be fine anshe goa make it.we're nna ke sure t hat. >> tod is moer's day i needo gedeb some ing,and i ne to get llie soth ing.or i canust get self a gift. gestar ars. look at it. "im your fhe r." i'm pretty nerdyhen it ces tohings i ke. ok, so we' gonna t to find somhing

foril lie. these arso cute. i gonnaind someing for deb. she'my princal that ve knn for a uple of ars. most likmy wle hi school ars. this is e cutest thing ever. ha, i'm rry fo .. so motheelp us to spreaour wingand fl>> h come yore not bing a ft for yr bio m?>> wel the thi is becae i n't kn en i'm gon see her and don't know. i'm st realing that life like mong for rd d i'm a reallgood place. and if were totay th my m, don't thk all thpositivethings'm doing now would ha happe d.or thewould ha happene but ter on ili fe. >> so u want tsee what got thear for ther's day.she wre: "overhe past

uple ofears youatched mgrow th u've seeme throu diicult trulatio . one ofy hopes lif wille to one daybe ablto repayou foyour lovand pati ce. althgh i don say it chi love y and hopyou'll stay iny life alifeoes on. ve, joha a." then cried and m not nna cry now. and johaa was cr ng. ah, so iwas verypeci al wonder man. shwas probly like my favite d.c.haract . i stard readg her cocs and hestoryl e. even tugh w li her sto line islways go back anfo rt whetr she's incess dna ansomethg el se or le everyby, soo one kns her id tity and metimes e has a secretdent itwhen was sti jonatha i... i ways lood to cract er whether comibooks or what men are ke o are spiringlike wonr wo

ma characts frommarvel uni rse thatre stron liketrong won, stng charaers with backb one,with le personity d everyt ng. anof coursbeautifu so for me,like she was t epitome of perct ion of wt everwomanshouldook li . . hi, howre y ou>> g d. >>o nice tmeet y . >> ne to mee you. >> we' done abt a thound ofhese surries sin 2 003. far as know, i lieve wedo theost in nth ari ca. >> i trying get lik somehosave m eyor somow find nice docto or sethi ng you know'cause ictually nt my su ery. >> pients whe famili don'accept them they sayeligiouseasons for th . >> yh, that s actual at her ce is. that'shat sh is. >> s said that? hm. i d like aittle miature exorci . >> welto m e. what, pr the gayway sethi ng yeah, sething le th at was in mbed and woke upand therwas

likehurch people all ound m but youe a gift child not a. you knowyou're exception al. you have pts of bo that yo can offefreely tthe wo d. it'smpowerg to betranen de >> i'm lrning th n ow. >> t kids th do real wellthrougtransition thvast majity are pportedby theiramil ie en you pl mily's sport a y, it'seally, rlly, dficu lt yore goinggainst all the ds. >> y h. >>t's a lo road but you're you' gonnao we ll >> eah. >> in thlast foumonthstherwas thistressthat ce about ain. nflictstarted ming upacross t campus th teachers.>> i wasavina reallystressfuti me. i wahaving le so my peopletrying tcontrol me. was ke "no, ** all of u."

>>he has tgivee hepe assigent. i have to thank smithfor thbags und my eyes th was mlast reqrement:to finh a nineage es y.yeahnot co . so ... ok. >> o so you l undersnd throse cer ony anyou're hding ur own rose. >> i w late toy owngraduaon, for d's sake>> youpe assig ent.>> s fought ry hardto notet me he h er. thank u. and still n. pa in my arse! and it'sver no y. >> . >> y . i n thatne i n that r nd. >> y're gonnget a rose you' gonna wte your te d you'reonna givit to wever y w

ant. >> okay,'m gonnaine you in o er. >> o you misd it. won threthousandolla rs >> nice.>> scholarip, ye . lling inhe dou . >> i adme her coage not takno for aansw er>> thankou to althe parents focomingnd suprting your stu nts.>> shes not goa ac ce at the wld is no gonnaccept her. thworld isonna acct her and she'gonna do iregardss of whatthe wod do es just chesh that out her.>> graates find your mily member at you wouldike honor t ay.

>> wowi was waing r this dd i'm soappy n .i thout that d is ner com g, t she's de it. now e's a la a betiful lady. >> am excid fothe nexttep. m kind olike in e ght w. >>ello. , beautil, hohave you een? >> i've en g oofound a w place,everythi's goingreat so far, ill dati the sam guy. >> thas gr ea at is haening aroundurge ry i don know when therocedu is itust feel likeuper ted us. >> hing watcd her overhe last x ye ar ally gfrom a vy sortof scad, l t, dividualho was rlly ghtingor her

life. d she wafightingwith h fam il thpeople csest to her. the ople thawe all ceto hope e our biest allies anmany times are not. how'stuff gog withour family? uh, eve now a t heni get contactwith mlittleis ter. >> yeah. and i kw where eryone'sslight at like as f as like sibngs, t there'no conta rea ll theris reay no conct wi my moeith er i dot see thpoint going bk to talking to seone thadoesn' you ow, didn accept it doesn'tccept itor doesn acknowlge it, don't wanntalk abo it. so maybe'm just t lly open to,ou k no kindling some pe ofrelaonship wh her. >>his is aestamento the thentici of thisum an. is tt, "i wi go thugh allthat to the person that i am, anto walk the wld authticall "

>>omething realizes i cat changey mom. and do the roa if i wt her iny li fe i'gonna ha to acce h er bui'm happwith at i havnow. think it importa to showthat tre's tra kids who n actuly make it. and want to ove at i canake it

>> this ogram isade possible in pt by pfl national, supporting lgbtq+ peop le their parents, families, and alli es. learn more at pflag. org. and by gender spectrum a national organizat ion helping eate safe and equible envinm ents for transgender, nonbina ry and gender expansive children and tee ns. learn more at genderspectrum.o rg. other funding provided b y... to learn more about the film and purchase a copy vi sit youthandgendermediaproject .org

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announcer: funding for the kcet fine cut festival of films is generously provided by the bridges larson foundation and by the national endowment for the arts, on the web at arts.gov.