All About Women: Dianna Boileau

Show: CBC series - All About Women
Release Year: 1972

In a deeply revealing interview conducted by Margo Lane, Dianna Boileau, a trans woman who became Canada's first recipient of sex reassignment surgery in 1970, offers insight into her experiences and the complex nature of transsexual identity. Boileau’s story is one of struggle, self-discovery, and triumph, shedding light on the early days of gender identity exploration and the emotional and physical transformations she underwent. Filmed in May 1972, this interview was considered too controversial for broadcast at the time. It, along with other segments on topics like sexuality, abortion, pornography, and feminism, was recorded for a CBC series called All About Women, which was ultimately never aired.

All Women Are Equal

Director: Marguerite Paris
Release Year: 1972

"All Women Are Equal" (1972) is a seminal 15-minute black-and-white documentary by Marguerite Paris, a veteran lesbian filmmaker. The film provides an intimate portrayal of Paula, a male-to-female transsexual, capturing her personal experiences with a depth and sensitivity rarely seen in films of the era. Shot in Nottingham, England, "All Women Are Equal" stands out for its respectful, non-exploitative representation of a transgender individual at a time when such subjects were often sensationalized or misrepresented in media.