Let the movie JUNO speak for trans men and non-binary people
Elliot Page is non-binary (he/they), so here we go
I have been thinking a lot about Juno and how it now speaks to people differently after Elliot Page came out as a non-binary person with transgender experiences.
On my journey to understand Elliot and how he’s impacted the rest of us, I came across an article encouraging women to celebrate the movie despite feeling abandoned by Elliot’s revelation that the main character in Juno wasn’t played by a woman after all.
And no, if you are a tough, smart, wise-cracking teen girl who fights through all the obstacles in life… that doesn’t mean that you are actually secretly a man. That is not Juno. That is an actor who is not the same person. Women and teen girls need to stop feeling abandoned because Page transitioned to being a man. — PHOEBE COHEN
My circle just doesn’t include women who felt abandoned because they discovered that Elliot is non-binary, so I am grateful this person’s article helped increase my awareness for what other women are experiencing.
By the same token, I think we need to let trans men and non-binary people feel seen through this movie for the same reason the author said some cisgender women felt abandoned. The story is powerful for different reasons now that we know the main character was played by a non-binary person.
It’s fantastic that the movie speaks to men and non-binary people. It’s fantastic that it speaks to anyone who has had transgender experiences (as well as those who haven’t). You don’t even need to be trans to have had transgender experiences.
TRANSGENDER SOAPBOX RECOMMENDS: Losing Lesbians: Elliot Page isn’t confused, you’re just a TERF
TRANSGENDER SOAPBOX RECOMMENDS: Lesbocalypse now? Elliot Page, and other trans men, take nothing away from cis lesbians
I am a woman, but I appreciate to my very core that Elliot Page coming out empowers more people to feel seen and heard.
Particularly those who are facing the same struggle of a young pregnancy that now places them straight in the path not just of all the regular obstacles that come with pregnancy regardless of gender, but the specific bigotry trans men and non-binary people face when they get pregnant.
PS. If you are a queer person with thoughts on how Juno speaks to you differently after Elliot came out, I’d love to hear from you!!!
Co-lab articles welcome (obv I get a say in which I can accommodate). I do as much of the heavy lifting as you need. Let me use whatever privilege I have to empower your voice, your experience, your insight ❤
THE END (DAMN GIRL, THAT’S DARK)
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