On April 4, 2019, RTVE, the Spanish national television broadcaster, aired the groundbreaking documentary Vida en trans, a powerful exploration of the lives and struggles of transgender and non-binary individuals in Spain. Scripted by Juantxo Vidal, this documentary sheds light on the realities faced by people navigating their gender identity in a society still grappling with issues of acceptance, visibility, and equality. The documentary introduces a range of personal stories, offering viewers a raw and intimate glimpse into the lives of transgender and non-binary people. It explores their journeys of self-discovery, the challenges they face in a world shaped by rigid gender norms, and the transformative power of visibility and community. Through the testimonies of individuals like Lucas, Mateo, Ana, and others, Vida en trans confronts societal norms and urges for greater acceptance and understanding of gender diversity.
At the heart of Vida en trans are the personal stories of transgender and non-binary individuals, each with their own experiences and paths toward self-acceptance. The documentary opens with a powerful statement by Lucas, who says, “Ya ha llegado el día en el que digamos abiertamente que somos personas transexuales” ("The day has come when we openly say that we are transgender people"). This statement sets the tone for the documentary, signaling a moment of collective visibility and empowerment. Lucas and Mateo’s story is one of shared experience and mutual understanding. The documentary captures their journey toward embracing their true selves in a society that often feels hostile or indifferent to gender diversity. They discuss their experiences with gender identity, openly addressing the struggles they’ve faced and the hope they hold for a more inclusive future. "Nos queremos sumar a su visibilidad para que algún día esta sociedad sea más libre y justa" ("We want to join their visibility so that one day this society becomes freer and fairer"), Lucas states, emphasizing their commitment to fostering greater acceptance and equality. The journey of self-discovery is not always linear, and the experiences shared in Vida en trans reflect this complexity. For many of the individuals in the documentary, the process of understanding and embracing their gender identity has been long and at times painful. Ana, for example, discusses her feelings of isolation during her adolescence, as she struggled to understand who she was in a world that seemed to offer only rigid definitions of gender.
The documentary underscores the importance of finding community and understanding through the stories of others who have faced similar struggles. "Fue conocer a otras personas trans y luego más tarde a personas no binarias cuando empecé a definirme como tales" ("It was meeting other trans people and later non-binary people that made me start defining myself as such"), Ana shares, pointing to the power of visibility and shared experiences in helping individuals navigate their gender identity. One of the central themes of Vida en trans is the ongoing struggle for social and legal recognition of transgender and non-binary people in Spain. The documentary does not shy away from addressing the obstacles that individuals face in accessing healthcare, obtaining legal recognition, and integrating into society. The road to legal recognition has been long and arduous for transgender individuals, with significant advancements only occurring in recent years. Historically, legal recognition in Spain was tied to medical procedures, such as gender-affirming surgeries. Vida en trans highlights the limitations of this approach, showing that many individuals were required to undergo surgery in order to have their gender legally recognized. In 2007, a landmark decision removed the requirement for genital reassignment surgery, but, as the documentary points out, other barriers remain. The need for a gender dysphoria diagnosis, age restrictions, and residency requirements continue to complicate the process of legal recognition. Lucas shares, “En algunas comunidades autónomas ya no es así, ya no hace falta pasar por ese diagnóstico de disforia de género” ("In some autonomous communities, this is no longer the case; it is no longer necessary to go through the gender dysphoria diagnosis"), highlighting the uneven access to rights across Spain.
The documentary also sheds light on the legal recognition of non-binary identities, which remains a significant challenge. Non-binary individuals in Spain are often forced to choose between male and female gender categories, despite not identifying strictly with either. This is particularly evident in the documentation processes, where gender categories are typically binary. The documentary’s subjects express frustration at this lack of recognition, with one individual remarking, “El mayor obstáculo que nos encontramos las personas no binarias es el hecho de no existir socialmente” ("The biggest obstacle we non-binary people face is the fact that we don’t exist socially"). This statement underscores the invisibility that non-binary people experience, both in legal systems and in society at large. The need for systemic change is another key theme explored in Vida en trans. Many of the documentary’s subjects discuss the lack of proper education about gender diversity and the challenges faced by transgender and non-binary people in accessing appropriate healthcare. Ana, a social worker, works in an organization called Trans Diversa, which focuses on providing education about gender diversity and supporting transgender individuals. She emphasizes the importance of creating a more inclusive educational system, stating, “Es necesario que a nivel educativo y sanitario se pongan las pilas y aprendan de esto” ("It is necessary for the educational and healthcare systems to get their act together and learn about this").
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The documentary calls for improved training for educators and healthcare professionals, as well as greater access to mental health services for transgender individuals. Transgender and non-binary people are at a higher risk of mental health challenges, including depression and anxiety, largely due to societal discrimination and lack of support. As Ana points out, "Los mayores obstáculos que nos encontramos las personas no binarias son la invisibilidad y el hecho de que continuamente nos encontramos con el resto del mundo identificándonos como un hombre o como una mujer" ("The biggest obstacles we non-binary people face are invisibility and the fact that we are constantly confronted with the rest of the world identifying us as either a man or a woman"). This highlights the need for societal shifts that recognize and validate non-binary identities. In Vida en trans, visibility plays a central role in the fight for equality. The documentary emphasizes that "lo que no se nombra no existe" ("what is not named does not exist"), a concept that resonates deeply with many transgender and non-binary people featured in the film. Through their stories, the documentary underscores the power of naming one's identity, whether as a transgender or non-binary individual, and the importance of being visible in a world that often seeks to erase gender diversity.
The role of activism in this visibility is also explored. Many of the documentary's subjects, including Lucas, are deeply involved in advocacy and activism. Lucas, for example, views his own visibility as an act of resistance and pride. As he states, “Mi activismo no lo puedo separar de mí” ("I cannot separate my activism from myself"), this sentiment speaks to the intertwining of personal identity and activism for many individuals within the LGBTQ+ community. For them, activism is not just a separate pursuit but a part of their daily existence - fighting for rights, dignity, and respect for themselves and others in the community. Vida en trans is not just a documentary; it is a powerful call to action for greater inclusion, visibility, and rights for transgender and non-binary individuals in Spain and beyond. It challenges the deeply ingrained norms of gender and offers a platform for voices that have long been marginalized.
Through the stories of Lucas, Mateo, Ana, and others, the documentary provides a comprehensive look at the lived experiences of transgender and non-binary individuals, highlighting their struggles, resilience, and hopes for a better future. As Spain continues to make strides in the fight for transgender and non-binary rights, Vida en trans serves as a reminder that the journey toward full acceptance and equality is ongoing. The personal stories shared in this documentary are not just individual accounts - they are part of a larger movement that seeks to transform society from the ground up, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of gender identity, can live freely and authentically. In the words of one of the documentary’s participants, “El hecho de existir y de visibilizarte como persona no binaria ya hace de tu existencia un acto reivindicativo” ("The very fact of existing and making yourself visible as a non-binary person already makes your existence a reivindicative act"). This powerful statement captures the essence of Vida en trans: the fight for visibility, dignity, and rights is not just about legal recognition or societal acceptance - it is about affirming the right to exist as one truly is, without fear, shame, or compromise.
Image credits: YouTube - RTVE
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