Gender Studies

These three short documentaries explore the varied identities of trans and gender expansive youth and young adults.
In Tomgirl we meet Jake, a confident and lovable gender expansive seven-year-old who invites us into his world of hockey playing and skirt wearing to explore the transformative power of love and support from adults.
Next, experience the true story of a young Hawaiian girl who aspires to become the leader of her school’s boys-only hula troupe, and an inspiring teacher who uses traditional culture to empower her in A Place in the Middle.
Monica’s Story traces the journey of resilience and self-acceptance of Monica Rose, a strong young transwoman of color. Despite being rejected by her church and family, Monica sought out support from professionals in the LGTBQ community and today is a proud, confident person with a bright future.

Kristie Overstreet is on a mission to ensure that the transgender community gets their health care needs met. In this informative, myth-busting talk, she provides a primer for understanding gender identity and invites us to shift how we view transgender health care -- so that everyone gets the respect and dignity they deserve when they go to a doctor.

An outstanding and highly entertaining documentary that gives children and adult insights into what it's like to grow up in very diverse family structures.
THAT'S A FAMILY! Will stretch your mind and touch your heart, no matter what your age. With blunt and sometimes hilarious candor, the children in THAT'S A FAMILY! take us on a tour through their lives and speak movingly about their unique family experiences, explaining what it's like to have been adopted, be raised by a guardian, have parents who are lesbian or gay, have a single mom or dad, parents of different races and much more.

An inspiring documentary about the birth and life of the AIDS activist movement from the perspective of the people in the trenches fighting the epidemic. Utilizing oral histories of members of ACT UP, as well as rare archival footage, the film depicts the efforts of ACT UP as it battles corporate greed, social indifference, and government neglect.
The film takes the viewer through the planning and execution of a half dozen exhilarating major actions including Seize Control of the FDA, Stop the Church, and Day of Desperation, with a timeline of many of the other actions that forced the U.S. government and mainstream media to deal with the AIDS crisis. UNITED IN ANGER reveals the group’s complex culture – meetings, affinity groups, and approaches to civil disobedience mingle with profound grief, sexiness, and the incredible energy of ACT UP.

As conservative lawmakers push anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, new data from The Trevor Project underscores the mental toll on LGBTQ+ youth. In this NewsHour production, we hear from young people around the country about the challenges they face and their hopes, and John Yang speaks with Dr. Jack Turban, assistant professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco, to learn more.