TRINIDAD DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY PJ RAVAL & JAY HODGES Distributed By: Discussion Guide www.trinidadthemovie.com Table of Contents Table of Contents Page 2 About Trinidad How to Use This Discussion Guide Synopsis Page 3 Directors’ Statement Page 5 Trans Timeline Page 7 Key Terms Core Concepts Transgender Terminology Additional Terminology Page 10 Before Viewing Personal Reflection: My Sex and Gender Group Exercise: Gender and Media Page 13 After Viewing General Discussion Questions Specific Discussion Questions Page 15 Further Study & Exploration Suggested Resources Suggested Readings Suggested Films Acknowledgements 1 About Trinidad How to Use This Discussion Guide This guide includes general information on Trinidad (“Synopsis,” “Directors’ Statement”) and transgenderism (“Timeline,” “Key Concepts”) to contextualize the film, as well as classroom activities (“Before Viewing,” “Further Study and Exploration”) and discussion questions (“After Viewing”) to elicit active classroom engagement. Educators can follow this guide in a step-by-step fashion or can pick and choose the sections that best meet their needs. We do, however, encourage educators to screen Trinidad in its entirety and in one sitting, as key ideas and themes are woven throughout the film. If you have questions about this guide or have suggestions for future editions, please contact us at [email protected]. Synopsis Part intimate observational documentary and part educational essay, Trinidad acquaints viewers with three extraordinary trans women whose paths cross in an unlikely setting— the unassuming small town of Trinidad, Colorado. Located on the Santa Fe Trail, where the Rockies fade into the Great Plains, this one-time mafia-run, coal mining town is the destination of more than 6,500 transsexuals, who travel from all across the country with the same bold dream: to align their external bodies with their internal gender identities. Dr. Marci Bowers, a “rock star” in the world of genital reassignment surgery, relocated to Trinidad in 2003 to follow in the footsteps of legendary surgeon Dr. Stanley Biber. Two of Marci’s patients, Sabrina Marcus, an engineer and founder of the Southern Comfort Transgender Conference, and Dr. Laura Ellis, a family practitioner, have hopes of building a bed-and-breakfast recovery center for post-operative transgender patients in Trinidad, but face setback after logistical setback—and find themselves increasingly at philosophical odds with Marci. Against the backdrop of Trinidad’s remarkable history of transgender surgery, Trinidad invokes the passions and gender politics of these three women as they search for their place of empowerment and belonging in the “sex change capital of the world.” 2 Directors’ Statement We first learned about Trinidad at a friend's dinner party, from a guest who had recently driven through the town that she said was commonly referred to as "the sex change capital of the world." She had heard it was populated by cowboys and transsexuals that it had the biggest selection of size 12 pumps available anywhere in the nation, that it was a place where people arrived as men and left as women. Everyone at the table questioned her claim, assuming the majority of sex changes in the country took place in hospitals in large metropolitan cities like New York and Los Angeles, maybe even Chicago—not in a small town tucked into the southeastern corner of Colorado. The myth of Trinidad lingered. After a few Internet searches, we discovered that Trinidad's local hospital, Mt. Saint Rafael, was one of the few in the nation offering genital reassignment surgery (GRS). Through a unique set of circumstances, Trinidad's first GRS had taken place in 1969, performed by Korean War veteran and local rancher Dr. Stanley Biber. We discovered that, thirty-six years and more than 5,500 GRSs later, Dr. Biber was in the process of passing his GRS practice to Dr. Marci Bowers, an OB/GYN from Seattle who also happened to be a transsexual woman. A transsexual helping other transsexuals by performing their GRSs in the unlikely sex-change capital of the world, the one-time mafia-run, coal-mining town of Trinidad, Colorado? Suddenly we had turned up a few promising elements for a story. We called Marci, who was open to discussing more about the history of Trinidad and her practice—provided we talk to her in person, in Trinidad. Later, we realized she wanted us to experience the town firsthand, beyond the sensationalized articles. Several weeks later, after almost an hour-and-a-half drive from the Albuquerque airport along I-25, the barren landscape eventually gave way to the Rocky Mountains. Looming over the valley, Hollywood-style, a "TRINIDAD" sign indicated we had reached our destination. The locals take pride in the town's remoteness, calling it "an untouched gem" and "Colorado's best-kept secret." And to an extent they are right. Unlike most American cities, historic Victorian houses line many of the streets—and Starbucks and mini-malls are nowhere to be found, although Wal-Mart has managed to open a superstore on the edge of town. Walking along Main Street, a straight road bisecting the town and cobbled with "Trinidad"-stamped bricks, we passed boutiques, shuttered storefronts and a surprising number of bars. We weren't quite sure where to begin, and we were a little taken off guard when someone in a large truck called out, "Welcome to Trinidad!" 3 Directors’ Statement While we lingered over a late lunch at the Trinidad Diner, the waitress asked if we were new to town. Unsure how she would feel if we asked her to tell us about the town's transsexual history, we said we were just passing through. We eventually got up the nerve to ask her about Dr. Biber. She laughed and replied, "Well you know what he's known for . He's been my doctor all my life, and do you know about Marci? She just delivered my baby.” The next day, we interviewed Marci. There were no dumb questions. She willingly discussed who the people were who came to her, what they were seeking, and her role in helping them align their bodies with their minds. We realized the story of Trinidad and Marci's practice needed to be told. Eventually, we met Laura and Sabrina, two of Marci's patients, who had moved to Trinidad to open Morning Glow, a bed-and- breakfast/recovery home for post-operative patients. At that point, the documentary took on a life of its own. Many films dealing with transgender issues focus on "before and after" stories or the surgical aspects of the transition. While these are elements of any post-operative transsexual individual's history (and thus included in Trinidad), they are also the most sensational. We feel presenting the women in Trinidad in their everyday lives uncover concerns and challenges everyone faces: acceptance, sense of self and the need to be who you are. We hope Trinidad helps viewers witness the significance of these women's struggles and encourages thought about their experiences and respect for their differences. We hope viewers will see an aspect of themselves in Marci, Sabrina and Laura. Ultimately, we hope Trinidad helps viewers see beyond surface differences to the deeper elements of who we are as individuals. As Sabrina so eloquently states, "When people look at me, I hope they think, ‘If she has the guts to be who she is, then I should have the guts to be who I am.'" The experience of making Trinidad taught us this lesson. PJ Raval Jay Hodges 4 1910: Sexologist Magnus 1952: Trans 1876: Hirschfeld coins woman Christine Mining town "transvestite" to Jorgensen fosters Trinidad, CO refer to a variety awareness of trans established of trans identities issues 1889: Mt. 1930: Lili Elbe San Rafael becomes first Hospital known recipient opens in of transgender Trinidad surgery 1969: The Stonewall 1977: Riots kickstart NY court rules 1954: modern LGBT trans woman Dr. Stanley rights movement; Renee Richards Biber Dr. Biber performs has right to play arrives in his first transgender professional Trinidad surgery tennis as a woman 1966: 1972: Trans women Sweden protest police becomes harassment in first country Compton to legalize Cafeteria Riots transgender surgery 5 21 1998: Murder of trans woman Rita Hester inspires… 2003: 1986: Activist Dr. Marci Lou Sullivan Bowers takes establishes 1999: First over Biber's FTM Transgender Day practice in International of Rememberance Trinidad 1993: 2002: Advocacy Trans youth organizations Brandon Teena Transgender killed in Law Center and Nebraska Sylvia Rivera Law Project founded 2010: Employment 2014: Actress protections Laverne Cox 2008: Stu extended to becomes first Rassmussen transgender federal trans person becomes first employees under to appear on openly trans Equal Employment the cover of mayor in US Opportunity (EEO) TIME 6,500+ GRS performed in Trinidad 2009: Trinidad 2012: premieres on Miss Universe Showtime; opens Chaz Bono competition to comes out as trans transgender contestants 6 Key Terms Below are some key terms and definitions related to gender, sexuality and transgender identity—including several that are utilized in Trinidad. Educators should note that language is constantly evolving and is a contested terrain—especially within the trans community. Trans people do not necessarily agree which terms are acceptable and which are not. Trans people also self-identify in a variety of ways, and the general rule of thumb is to use the descriptor preferred by the individual. With this in mind, educators are encouraged to not only review these terms with students, but to engage them in a discussion of language, and the challenges of expression and sensitivity. Core Concepts Sex The classification of people as male and female—usually based on external anatomy. Sex is generally assigned at birth.