Gianna Toboni’s compelling documentary Just Kids focuses on several trans children and their families, who are struggling to cope with a United States that is becoming more antagonistic towards trans rights and gender-affirming treatment. This film, debuted at Tribeca, offers insightful and emotionally charged perspectives on a significant political matter.
In the early stages of my career, I found myself as a producer for Vice’s groundbreaking documentary series that aired from 2013 to 2021. There’s a striking similarity between this show and the narrative in ‘Just Kids’. As a filmmaker, I adopted a predominantly observational approach when capturing these families on camera, with Daniel Hollis handling the cinematography for shows like ‘Love on the Spectrum’. This method infused the documentary with raw realism and an unexpected energy that propelled it forward.
However, these aesthetic decisions do not exaggerate the struggles of these individuals, rather they emphasize the grim consequences of their ordeals. Importantly, “Just Kids” carries a compassionate essence: Its focus is less on the hardships endured by transgender youth seeking gender-affirming treatment, and more on their fortitude and the enduring love that flourishes amidst institutional hostility.
The book, “Just Kids,” commences with an interview from historian Susan Stryker, one of the few individuals providing commentary in this documentary. She provides an introduction to the challenges faced by transgender individuals in the United States. She discusses the current surge of restrictions on gender-affirming care and the abundance of knowledge available about trans people. The subject has transformed into a convenient target for those aiming to sway elections and steer public policy towards more conservative agendas.>
Discussions with Stryker are interwoven with those of Kelli Parker, a writer and activist, to construct a robust narrative that forms the backbone of the movie. They discuss how the progress made over the past two decades – from the election of Barack Obama to the legalization of same-sex marriage – provoked right-wing groups in the U.S., who felt marginalized due to losing what they referred to as cultural battles. In response, these groups increased their financial contributions, manipulated public officials through elections and think tanks like the Heritage Foundation, pushing them towards more conservative policies. According to Parker, this coalition aims to have the government represent them and their ideologies, and therefore, they are enacting laws as a means to advance their agenda gradually.
The impact of this intense activation has been noticeable across various aspects of American society, most notably concerning personal freedoms. Strict abortion regulations often coincide with unfavorable policies towards transgender individuals. In both situations, there’s a belief that government intervention is essential to safeguard the young ones. However, Just Kids questions: Who exactly are these children being protected?
Toboni’s paper focuses on a key argument: these policies determine which children have the right to be born. This distressing idea is emphasized through the stories of Rae, Alazaiah, and Tristan, three transgender teenagers living in conservative regions (South Carolina and Texas). Toboni also speaks with their family members, who strongly advocate for their transgender rights.
This unexpected bunch comprises parents and siblings who are advocates for transgender rights, defying conventional assumptions. Eric, a war veteran with a strong affinity towards firearm rights, is deeply committed to defending the rights of his transgender child, Rae. The book Just Kids portrays numerous instances of Eric and his wife, Jessica, attending various state legislature hearings and speaking out against proposed restrictions on gender-affirming care. After the tragic demise of Alazaiah’s mother, her brothers Zach and Raymond took her in to prevent her from becoming homeless. Their collective testimonies create a powerful depiction of resilience.
Toboni enhances interviews with family members by incorporating clips of trans children going about their everyday lives – such as Alazaiah happily sharing moments on TikTok and shopping for new clothes, especially pink ones, or Rae feeling empowered after getting a haircut.
However, these tales also underscore the hurdles that some families and adolescents encounter when trying to obtain state assistance and medical care in regions where their support is criminalized. In this regard, Toboni interviews Andrea Jenkins, a member of the Minneapolis City Council, and Dr. Elizabeth Mack, the head of the American Academy of Pediatrics, to delve into the increased risk of homelessness that transgender youth often face, as well as to shed light on the common misunderstanding about what constitutes gender-affirming care.
Mack’s interviews are notably enlightening as she explains this specific care as any adjustment that helps transgender kids feel more authentic to themselves. This clarification aims to highlight the fact that we all affirm our gender in various ways, such as through our choice of clothing, hairstyles, medications we take to balance hormones, and many other daily actions.
In a distressing turn of events, Tristan and their mother, Crystal, learn that their doctor must depart from Texas due to newly enacted laws, meaning she can no longer offer medical care. While Tristan’s mother had managed to secure a year-long prescription for estrogen prior to leaving, the sudden termination of her services leaves them in a precarious position. They are now faced with the difficult decision of whether or not to relocate, but their financial instability makes it challenging: At present, Crystal lacks the funds necessary to move to a more accommodating state. This tale poignantly illustrates that not everyone can easily find a new residence when confronted by inhumane laws.
The film Just Kids aligns with contemporary documentaries such as Preconceived and Zurawski v Texas, which debuted at Telluride, in exploring how the right has successfully dismantled civil rights advancements over the past 50 years. Similar to these other films, Toboni’s feature adopts a straight-forward method to reveal insights valuable to many viewers. One can only wish that it reaches the audiences who most require its crucial message.
Read More
2025-06-13 18:55