, from lawmakers and activists arguing over who they can and can't play against, it's remarkable how little we hearthem. Trans voices are so often silenced that the kids truly affected by anti-trans athlete legislation almost never get to tell their own stories., a documentary film out on June 1 on Hulu, is to give them the platform to do just that. The film tells the stories of three high school athletes: wrestler Mack , runner Andraya, and cross-country skier Sarah.
"It shows these kids as they are," said Alex Schmider, a producer for the film and the associate director of transgender representation for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation . By telling each athlete's unique story, we get to see them clearly and distinctly, separate from the"trans athlete" monolith. And the best part is that each of these stories is uniquely compelling and touching. We watch Sarah develop a passion for policy-making.
"So many trans youths have their childhoods taken away," Schmider told POPSUGAR. Their lives are politicized, their innocence tarnished. It's why the filmmakers took such pains to include those small moments of bliss, like when we watch Sarah ride up a chairlift with a young skier by her side, their skis swinging in tandem. Out of all the powerful moments in the film, that scene is Schmider's favorite.
Schmider said that any discussion of laws and policy around trans people needs to begin by recognizing their humanity. That first step was crucial for the filmmakers."We weren't in any hurry to put a camera in front of [the kids'] faces," he said, explaining that the filmmaking crew got to know each athlete and their families to ensure that their lives would be enriched by the documentary, that sharing their story would empower and not exploit them.