I remember going to that film alone and feeling like I was going to see a film men “shouldn’t see” unless forced by their female partner. I felt like I had crossed some unknown boundary by simply being in the theater.

The beauty of the Trans character was overwhelming to me at the time and I never imagined even that limited and abusive fantasy for myself.

You are so correct in your assessment of this movie and it’s horrifying that the director is so ignorant of his leading character’s status as a Trans woman.

The sad thing is that I celebrated the film at the time as groundbreaking, and a step towards a larger awareness of people like myself in our society. Looking back I’m almost ashamed for my joy and such a paltry and dismal portrayal.

It does however, speak to our progress regardless of how much farther we need to go.