Ashlyn Fournier

Professor Horton

COUN-2000-002

Reflection 3

12 November 2020
Reflection 3: Disclosure Documentary

After watching the film "Disclosure: Trans lives on screen,” there were many things I had

to reflect on. Growing up in Alabama, there was a lot of knowledge that I lacked because certain

things were simply never discussed. My parents did not talk much about the LGBTQ+

community in our home, and when they did, it was based on their interpretation of the Bible.

As I got older and began to discover things for myself and form my own opinions, I

became an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community… or so I thought. I have always had friends

that were members of the community, and I have strived to be a voice and ally for them over the

years. That being said, I have never had a friend that identified as anything other than cis-

bgendered, and so after watching the documentary, I realized how misinformed I have been for

so long. One thing that stood out to me in the documentary was when someone clarified that

there is a difference between gender identity and sexual orientation. Gender identity refers to

how a person identifies, and sexual orientation refers to who a person loves. It makes perfect

sense to me now, but for many years I assumed that all trans people were lesbian or gay, when

that is definitely not always the case.

Another detail of the documentary that stood out to me is how trans people are, more

often than not, misrepresented in the media. Nine times out of ten, trans people are painted as the

villains in a film or made into the joke of the narrative. I grew up watching countless films that

made the very real lives of trans people out to be a joke, and that absolutely breaks my heart. The
only positive memory I have of trans representation in the media is watching “I Am Jazz” on

TLC. I wish that there were more shows like that on television now, because until there is more

accurate representation of trans lives, producers will continue to make disrespectful, falsified

films.

While watching this film, I honestly felt like I wanted to turn my television off, yet I felt

obligated to watch further at the same time. These feelings came from an overwhelming sense of

guilt that consumed my heart and mind. After watching this film, I believe that my ignorance had

led me to be transphobic for many years. How could I possibly claim to be an advocate for the

LGBTQ+ community without proper knowledge and understanding of each branch of the

community. I finished the documentary feeling a strange mixture of devastation and gratitude. I

felt devastated for all the horrible things I had laughed at in the media and appalled of some

horrible things I have said over the years without realizing how hurtful my words truly were. As

I have learned in this class, it does not matter if words were not meant to be hurtful, it just

matters that they were destructive, and I have to take accountability for them. I am incredibly

grateful to have watched this documentary, and to have learned so much. Thank goodness for the

ability to learn and grow; I will be so much more aware and educated moving forward.

As a cisgender, heterosexual woman, I never struggled to find people like myself represented in

the media growing up. There have been roles for cisgender women in film for as long as I can

remember, so there is not a specific instance that stands out for me. For a long time, my gender

identity has given me privilege that I have taken without any further consideration. As result of

watching this documentary, I feel like I can properly empathize for trans people, and although I

will never understand their struggles firsthand, I will always stand with them and for them. My
days of misinformed transgender prejudice are over, and I will strive to be a true advocate for

trans lives.
 Work Consulted

“Disclosure: Trans lives on screen”