Teen Transsexual

In Teen Transsexual, part of the BBC's second Body Image documentary series, we meet 17-year old Lucy Parker (formerly Richard), as she goes through the process of gender re-assignment. In many ways Lucy is a typical teen- vulgar, insecure, utterly self absorbed. But she also happens to be intelligent, funny, and quite obviously courageous.

Lucy has a support system that includes Mom, aunt, and especially her teenaged cousin Betty. Even gramps seems to be on Lucy's side- though his accent his so thick and mumbly one can hardly understand him. Through a series of video diaries, Lucy details how she chose her name (after a Sandra Bullock movie character), and how she draws inspiration from British 2004 Big Brother winner and tranny, Nadia Almada. She also recounts the thrill of her first kiss from a guy she met online, only to be crushed later when he sends her a nasty text message. So very teen queen!

It is fascinating to see the hoops transsexuals must jump through in order to right what they feel Mother Nature got wrong. Lucy makes the medical rounds-therapy, hormones, surgical consultations, electrolysis. It's also a chuckle watching Lucy bemoan the fact that her surgeon is giving her A-cup breast implants. The girl clearly wanted big old jugs! Personally, her focus may have been better directed at some Proavtic - poor dear does not have a flawless complexion. Lucy gets drunk. Lucy turns 18. Lucy has pretty hands.

Ultimately, the film captures graphic footage of Lucy's breast implant surgery. It's not pretty, but speaks to the determination that Lucy and others like her possess- it's not a choice, they must align their outsides with their insides to live happily. Teen Transsexual ends somewhat abruptly, and is inconclusive- what happens to Lucy? Will she get the full 'sex change' or stop at breast implants? Whether or not she does, it's a powerful film about a young person who is at once quite special and also like every teenage girl you've ever known.