Ej heller skall en man sätta på sig kvinnokläder

Director: Bernt Bernholm and Lars Wallen
Release Year: 1970

In 1970, the Swedish documentary Ej heller skall en man sätta på sig kvinnokläder (translated as Neither Shall a Man Put on Women’s Clothing) was released, one of the first films to shed light on the early transgender movement in Sweden. Directed by Bernt Bernholm and Lars Wallen, the documentary also featured Eva-Lisa Bengtson, a pioneering transgender activist and lesbian who played a crucial role in establishing the country's first community for transgender individuals, Transvestia, in 1964.

 

Through her experiences and work, Eva-Lisa’s story reflects the struggles, obstacles, and triumphs of transgender individuals in a world often unwelcoming to those whose identities defied conventional gender norms. The information about the film itself is rather scarce. According to the article titled Resistance and Care - Kunstkritikk by Mariann Enge, Eva-Lisa Bengtson (1932-2018) was born in Stockholm in 1932. As a young child, she recognized early on that she was not simply a boy but identified deeply with her true gender: female. Yet, at the time, the concept of gender dysphoria was not well understood, and the word "transgender" did not even exist. Swedish society and its medical community had little to offer in terms of support or recognition for someone like Eva-Lisa. As a result, she was forced to live in a body that did not reflect her inner reality, struggling silently for years. In 1964, as transsexualism began to gain some awareness in medical circles, Eva-Lisa decided to visit a doctor to seek help. However, her experience was far from encouraging. The doctor rejected her request for gender-affirming treatment, citing her lesbian identity and labeling her as someone transitioning from one “delusion” to another. Instead, Eva-Lisa was prescribed medication that the doctor believed would cure what he thought was a psychological disorder related to “brain activity.” 

 

Devastated, Eva-Lisa took the train home, contemplating her situation. She swallowed the pill but ultimately decided to reject the doctor’s treatment, feeling it would erase her authentic self. After coming out to her family, Eva-Lisa quickly realized that the world was not ready to accept her as she truly was. Despite her determination, she was forced to hide her true identity in both her family life and her professional career. It was clear that she needed a space where she could be herself without judgment or fear. In the mid-1960s, there were virtually no safe spaces for transgender people in Sweden. One of the few ways to connect with others in similar situations was through niche publications, like Raff, a magazine that occasionally featured personal ads from transgender individuals. It was through one such ad that Eva-Lisa discovered Erika Sjöman, who had worked at sea and come across Transvestia, a magazine founded in the United States by Virginia Prince, a transgender activist. This was the beginning of a crucial connection that led to the formation of Sweden’s first transgender club, Transvestia.

 

As Mariann Enge writes, in 1964, Eva-Lisa and Erika published an advertisement in Piff, a sister magazine to Raff, seeking to connect with transgender people across Sweden. The response was overwhelming, with over eighty replies pouring in from all over the country. This marked the birth of Transvestia, a gathering space for people to meet, share experiences, and find solidarity. Through a series of informal gatherings, the members of Transvestia were able to secure a dance studio, where they began organizing events known as The Hall of Mirrors (Spegelsalen). The space was simple, with no restroom and heat provided only by a tiled stove, but it became a sanctuary for many. The mirrors lining the hall became a metaphorical runway for individuals who had often dressed in private, giving them the opportunity to express themselves freely and openly, at least for a short time. Though Transvestia became a safe haven for many, the club's members were primarily transvestites - individuals who enjoyed cross-dressing but did not necessarily seek to transition. The idea of living as one's true gender full-time was still largely a distant dream. The club also welcomed lesbians, people with diverse sexual orientations, and those with various fetishes and desires. This diversity helped to create an inclusive and supportive community. Eva-Lisa, who had a history of supporting others, even helped a man who was afraid of being arrested for wearing women's shoes by driving him into town, allowing him to walk around without fear of prosecution. 

 

Transvestia also attracted a wide range of individuals with different gender expressions, from the masculine butches to more feminine femmes. It was a space where these expressions were celebrated and understood as a natural part of the broader lesbian and LGBTQ communities, even if the words “transvestite” or “transsexual” were rarely used. Eva-Lisa’s work helped to create a vital community for people seeking to explore their gender identity. The early 1970s brought further changes to the Swedish LGBTQ scene. In 1969, Jerry and Märta, two prominent members of the LGBTQ community, took over a basement space in Södermalm, Stockholm, and opened Jerry's Ladies' Club. This became a new hub for LGBTQ individuals, where Jerry, who had taken on a feminine name, played a role akin to a mentor for many, including Eva-Lisa. The club became a safe space for transvestites and lesbians alike, though it too was short-lived - Jerry's Ladies' Club was closed down in early 1972. Following the closure of Jerry's Ladies' Club, Eva-Lisa joined RFSL (the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Rights), where she began to focus on her identity as a lesbian rather than as a transgender person. In 1972, Sweden became the first country to legalize gender transition, though Eva-Lisa never legally changed her gender, as she felt she could never live fully as a woman in everyday life. 

 

In the years that followed, Eva-Lisa continued to advocate for LGBTQ rights and trans issues, even as the lesbian movement began to take a more political stance. In 1975, the formation of Lesbian Front marked a new chapter in the feminist movement. Eva-Lisa and other lesbian activists used direct actions, such as a demonstration against the sexualization of lesbian women in the porn industry, to raise awareness. Yet, there was resistance within the feminist movement to recognize trans identities, with some refusing to accept the idea of a “third sex.” As the 1980s progressed, Eva-Lisa became increasingly involved in the feminist movement, including the establishment of Kvinnohuset (The Women’s House) in Stockholm, a space dedicated to supporting women’s rights. However, by the mid-1990s, some voices within the feminist movement began to question the inclusion of transgender women in such spaces. In one notable incident, Eva-Lisa was informed that she would no longer be allowed access to Kvinnohuset, despite her integral role in its founding.

 

Eva-Lisa’s death in early 2018 marked the loss of an important figure in Swedish LGBTQ history. After her passing, her archival materials - photographs, letters, meeting notes, and more - were passed to those who had worked with her over the years

 

via: kunstkritikk.com and peliplat.com

Image credits: kunstkritikk.com and saqmi.se