Beyond the Opposite Sex

Director: Emily Abt and Bruce Hensel
Release Year: 2018

"Beyond the Opposite Sex", a 2018 documentary directed by Emily Abt and Bruce Hensel, provides an insightful exploration of the complexities that transgender individuals face while navigating their relationships and identities. At its core, the documentary focuses on the lives of Rene and Jamie, two individuals who transitioned years ago and are now living as their affirmed genders. However, both are far more than just their gender identities, offering viewers a deeper understanding of the multifaceted experiences of transgender people.

 

Rene and Jamie do not define themselves solely through their transgender status. Rene, a Mexican American man from Texas, sees himself as a Southern gentleman, while Jamie, a country singer and skilled craftswoman from Kentucky, identifies simply as an American girl. These self-descriptions reflect the way they experience the world beyond their gender transitions. Both individuals have undergone hormone treatments and gender-affirming surgeries, and have lived as their affirmed genders for over a decade. Their stories, as depicted in "Beyond the Opposite Sex", serve as powerful reminders that the process of transitioning is ongoing, a continuous verb rather than a fixed identity. 

 

This film serves as a sequel to Hensel’s 2004 documentary series "The Opposite Sex", which originally introduced Rene and Jamie to the public. In the earlier series, audiences followed the lives of Rene and Jamie as they dealt with the challenges of work, romance, and family while undergoing their transitions. Fifteen years later, Hensel, who had served as the chief medical correspondent for NBC, returned to catch up with the two, wanting to explore their lives further in a much-changed social climate. This time, the focus was not just on the difficulties of coming out or the medical processes involved in transitioning, but rather on life after transition - the complexities of living authentically, the emotional landscapes, and how society’s understanding of gender and transgender experiences had evolved.

 

In an interview, Hensel noted that "Beyond the Opposite Sex" is about more than just Rene and Jamie’s personal stories. It also serves as a reflection of the cultural and social shifts regarding transgender people, particularly in middle America. The film introduces a new generation of transgender individuals, many of whom enjoy strong support from their families and friends, thus redefining societal norms. Alongside Rene and Jamie, we meet other transgender individuals, each representing different aspects of the trans experience. For example, Maddie, a young trans student, sees activism as a central part of her identity, while Penny, a radical feminist, questions whether Jamie can truly be considered a "real" woman given her past as a male. 

 

These varying perspectives add layers of complexity to the discussion of what it means to be transgender. Hensel’s documentary emphasizes that the transgender experience is not monolithic. People like Rene and Jamie, for instance, have lives that encompass much more than their gender transitions. We see them in everyday settings: Jamie and her partner Lisa enjoy target practice in their backyard, while Rene pursues a psychology degree. These moments show that their struggles and aspirations are deeply relatable, not just to the transgender community but to people of all backgrounds. Their journey through life is one of love, loss, and the universal search for happiness. Hensel explains that both Rene and Jamie had to cope with the dissolution of previous marriages - Rene’s marriage fell apart due to infertility, while Jamie divorced after deciding to transition. Their desire for love, family, and acceptance remained central to their lives. 

 

The documentary underscores a vital point: while transitioning is undeniably a significant life event, it does not define a person. Instead, their character, their personal growth, and their relationships speak to the depth of their experiences. Despite the public focus on gender and sexuality, "Beyond the Opposite Sex" reminds viewers that Rene and Jamie are simply people trying to live their best lives, just like anyone else. Hensel reflects that both had suffered loss but found peace after transitioning, which allowed them to settle into a new sense of self. 

 

The documentary revisits Rene and Jamie’s lives more than a decade after their initial transitions. Rene, who had previously struggled with his infertility and the end of his first marriage, has now found a measure of peace. He drives trucks to support his family and is studying for a Ph.D. online. He has a new girlfriend who accepts him as a trans man, and his family, who once struggled with his transition, now offers full support. The film beautifully captures one of the most touching moments when Rene, hesitant about telling his girlfriend’s family about his past, eventually finds that their response is far more accepting than he anticipated. Meanwhile, Jamie, who lives in a rural area with her girlfriend Lisa, faces different challenges. The couple fears that their neighbors would ostracize them if they knew about their relationship, a concern that underscores the often hostile environments transgender individuals may encounter, particularly in conservative rural areas. Jamie, who is not particularly feminine in appearance, often clashes with Lisa, who desires a more traditionally feminine presentation.

 

Despite this, Jamie remains steadfast in her identity, openly refusing to define herself as anything other than a woman. She expresses this confidently when confronting a radical feminist blogger who tries to challenge her identity. Jamie’s unwavering certainty in who she is remains one of the most empowering aspects of the film. While Rene and Jamie’s lives may not have unfolded in the way they expected, the documentary emphasizes that their transitions have ultimately brought them a sense of peace and fulfillment. Interestingly, neither Rene nor Jamie expresses much desire to advocate publicly for future generations of transgender people, which some may find surprising. 

 

The film is not about presenting them as spokespeople but rather as individuals who have navigated immense personal struggles and found contentment in their own ways. One criticism of the documentary, however, is its tendency to focus too heavily on the societal obsession with genitalia and sexual performance. By making this a central theme, "Beyond the Opposite Sex" risks reducing the experiences of Rene, Jamie, and their partners to a narrow and reductive narrative. This approach might feel like a disservice to the subjects, as it somewhat diminishes the broader significance of their stories. However, the film includes one particularly insightful moment when Rene has a conversation with a young trans man named Adam. Adam succinctly articulates a poignant perspective on gender: "Sex is about who you want to sleep with; gender is about who you want to sleep as." This moment is powerful because it cuts through the superficial focus on genitalia, offering a deeper understanding of gender as an identity that transcends physical characteristics.

 

In the end, the decision to revisit Rene and Jamie’s lives in "Beyond the Opposite Sex" was an inspired one. It provides a touching update on their journeys, showing how they have grown and found peace despite the challenges they’ve faced. The film contributes meaningfully to the ongoing dialogue about the transgender experience, reminding us that the people we encounter are defined by much more than their gender identities, even as they continue to navigate the complexities of living authentically. Despite its flaws, "Beyond the Opposite Sex" is a valuable addition to the conversation surrounding transgender lives and experiences, offering a nuanced and compassionate portrayal of two remarkable individuals.

 

via: youtube

 independent.com and queerguru.com

Image credits: YouTube