q 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. >> whei was yog, i pled with rbies... and dolls. like, i collected do lls. they were like my friends i guess, you k now,i didn have y imaginy friend i had d ls.

i uld rolelay antalk ani would the girand thensomebodyould be e boy. nody actuay knows at. when was gtinglderi 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. here'one withe in a suitand

w uncomftable i was weing it en i wasoung 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 ster and sharg outf sand i ink that when i starterealiz g as got old thathis is w i am, ani'm not e of theoys d i'm noth emi'm t a brother. my m was a ltle moreon the lient s id and unrstand g. enever ias playi witholls, likeshe woul't think twiceabout shwould 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 remember that

oo. >> i said, "noyou're n u're conse " was bornn guatema from a familyith fouren kids. when we t pregna we aays sa "i'monna he a boy,i'm goa ve gir l, u knowbut we d't choos that why is ha rd 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, things h 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 prepa d. i wasn'trepa re >>et me ju give u a ttle hisry of wt angelsf change is. it's ts beauful

candar and thenhe runway sh ow. you will bwalking e runwayto rai f undsfor our ansgendeclinic here 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 eacother,r themse es umthat reay rubb off on me.>> so,he ideis r each o youto work th the fashion s dentto woron what your style,how yowant theorld see y . >> s's prettshy, bui wantedo bring,ou know, e beautyut of it and ma her juslike fab ous, like classichanel kind of lo ok i wanteople 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 and was, oh 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 ny , we wt aldifferent erapis . >>i acally reay triedto have lks with oubut th never smed to work.i justanted tosomehow,make y kind of etor getow i'm feeling. >> setimes ii was laying dn in b d then s came an say "uh you' suglyyou'reo wrinkledyou'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... th was notoing to ange meto agr . i alwaystt off go at eh school go, buthen 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 sfed upof all t probl s d i said "well,ust keeper in th e". becausef that i got a cket 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 kiddingwhateveryou call hat. i've beeon hornes for 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 tranender iendly t re. they actlly forc me take some pil. theyaid, takthe pi or ty're gon have torestraine to tak it. i did tngs thatthe thapist to me to do as a p t. yh, you'rthe pare it your reonsibility. becse was mresponsility toake sureou were 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 god a in hea rt >>f there an oppounity to see ii can chge bac e would ve thato happen.>> after johanna tns eightn, [she] is goingo be an ad ult, and doest matterf i agre or ion't agree.

>> we we arguingver who ts to wch what the tv. 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 nna beransgenderand 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 right there.i got at. and thatewelry the d he t, which treatinme like,you kn, like e. don't ow howo explai it. johanna birthda soe're celrating h eighteth birthday, anshe'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. >> iame outwhen ias fourteen, the hoehold wavery accti ng. so whejohanna me theylready h that meality thatt's justohan nawe seeohanna as her psoli 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 ended rely 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 en.i 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 th at li that's en sheeally stopped lking to me. it's morlike sheigned itto getid of me iue ss so i don't know. iteemed th w ay. >>appy birday, deajohanna,happy bihday to you. w oo! ha, all them! what yohave in ont of y is cald the cale exerce. ep ones you need to ad th to yourlv es. terwardswe're ing be havingiscussions. >> indendence gh schoois a hool thaserves sde nts th are at gh riskof dropping

ou d not beg succesul in theirradition sch oo so we'rcomparin and ntrast g, anwe have write about itig ht. >> n it's onou wee willinto work th y ouwh are youonna d to getourselfthat higschool dlo ma? alright,o get them. >> i wou say it s a mont wheri did prty g oo and en afterhat was ju b ad. >> we nt throu some rely rougtimes dung that ri od. >> ias reay justutting hes with ery one. i s like ion't likthese studen, i don'ke ... i n't likehese neweachers, i don't li anybo . anone ofhem askeme do t oppos e. she wasurning i assignnts a daor two late. >> iould jusbe like pe i n't careand ** y ou. >> sheould notven intect wi me in a way exce profanity. ose werehe only rds she everaid to ecomingnto scho goinout of s ool.i was longer principabut 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'come dn as far 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 doorsthat 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 nter is feri ng >> mbe you'll 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 e her woing on scholars ps. i see r writinthin gs. there a dratic change.>> she gon be fine d she nna make it.we're nna ke sure t hat. >> tod is moer's d. i needo gedeb some ing,and i ne to get llie soth ing.or i canust get self a gift. gestar wars. look at it. "im your fhe r."i'm prty nerdyhen it ces tohings i ke. ok, so we' gonna t to find somhing foril lie.

these e so cut am 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 mom? >> wl, the tng is beuse don't ow 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 uld haveappe ne or they uld haveappened,but lar on in 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 diffult tribatio

. one ofy hopes lifewill bto one aybe ablto repayou foyour lovand pati ce. althgh i don say it chi love y and hopyou'll stay iny life alife gs on. ve, joha a." then criedani'm not nna cry now. and johaa was cr ng. ye, so it s verypeci al wonder man. shwas probly like my favite d.c.haract . i stard readg her cocs and hestoryl e. evenhough 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... always lked to cract er whether comic oks what won are like o are spiringlike wonr wo ma or charaers frommarvel uni rse thatre stron liketrong won, stng

charaers wi a backbone,with le personity d everyt ng. anof coursbeautifu so for me, ke she was t epitome of perct ion of wt every womanshouldook li . . hi, howre y ou>> g d. >>o nice tmeet y . >> ne to mee you. >> we'veone aboua thousa of tse surgees since 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 actuly 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 u and the was li church ople all ound m but you're a gied childnot .. you kn, you're excepti

al. you have pts of bo that yo can offer eely to e wo rl it'smpowerg to betranen de >> i'm lrning th n ow. >> t kids th do real wellthrougtransition thvast majity are pportedby theiramil ie when youull mily's sport a y, it's rlly, reay, dficu lt yore goinggainst all the ds.>> y ea >>t's a lo road but you're you' gonna dwe 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 peopletryingo contro me.i was ke"no, ** all oyo u." >>he has to givee hepe assigent.

i have to thank smithfor thbags und my eyes at was mlast requiment: to finisa nine-pe es y.yeahnot co . so ... ok. >> o so you l undersnd throse cer ony d you'reolding your own ose. >> i w late toy owngradtion, fogod's sas.>> youpe assig ent.>> s fought ry hardto notet me he h er. thank you. and still n. painn my a e! d it's or now. y. y . >> y . i n thatne i n that r nd.>> youe gonna get 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 the thousa dolla . >> nice.>> scholarip, ye . rolling the dough. >> i adme her coage not takno for aansw er>> thankou to althe parents focomi and suprtingyour stude nts.>> shes not goa ac ce at the wld is no gonnaccept her. the rld is gna accepher d she's 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 dand i'm

soappy n .i thout that d is ner com g, but she'made i noshe's a dy a autiful dy. >> 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. >> tt's gr t. at is haenin aroundurge ry i don'tnow en the pcedu is itust feel likeuper ted us. >> hing watcd her over the last x ye ar ally gfrom a vy sortof scad, l t, invidualho 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 tim are n . how'stuff gog with your fa ly? uh, eve now and heni get conta withy littleis 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 , didn accept it doesn'tccept itor doesn acknowlge it, don't wanntalk abo it. maybe i just not lly open t you k w, 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 am, anto walin 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.