What Parents Can Learn From HBO Max's Transhood Documentary
3 Ways HBO Max's Documentary Transhood Sheds Light on Issues Affecting Transgender Youth
Watch out! This post contains spoilers.
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Watch out! This post contains spoilers.
Several of the participants in the documentary are homeschooled due to bullying, including Phoenix, who is just 4 years old at the beginning of filming. Additionally, Jay's mom moves him to another school across town so he can start fresh as a boy.
Despite Jay's mom's efforts, some of his classmates discover that Jay was in the process of transitioning after coming across his old school photos. The entire situation comes to a head when Jay's girlfriend, Mildred — who does not know he's trans — asks him about the rumours during a phone call. Later on, we see Jay argue with his mom about coming out. While Jay is secure in his identity, he is very concerned about violence or retaliation.
Through Jay's experience, viewers learn that just because trans individuals may truly feel like their authentic selves, it doesn't mean they want to share their backstory with the world. While many people support Jay — he has a new girlfriend by the end of the documentary — others are less accepting.
It may be worth discussing the importance of keeping a friend or family member's confidentiality regarding when or if they come out with your kids. The decision to tell others about their transition or sexual preference should be left up to the individual, regardless of what other people think.