What draws the fuzzy line between one gender and another? Both When I’m Not Alone and Trans Francisco uniquely respond to questions about being caught between rigid stereotypes of gender identity and the real-world challenges of gender fluidity.

When I’m Not Alone is the unique story of Sam Durbin. Born female but raised as a male for twenty-eight years, he’s experienced unspeakable abuse, never learned to read or write and drifted in and out of institutions. When he found Integrity House, a clubhouse for people with disabilities in Orange County, he learned to read, write and advocate for himself, eventually becoming a published author and nationwide advocate for people with disabilities. Despite his successes, his past continues to affect him in profound ways‚ from how he trusts people to his own self-image.

What is life like for transwomen in the most liberal region of the United States? Trans Francisco presents an intimate discussion with trans women from the San Francisco Bay Area, covering a variety of issues like cultural acceptance, sex work, violence, HIV/AIDS and family relationships.

Women from various walks of life, including San Francisco Police Commissioner Theresa Sparks, readily and matter-of-factly discuss the challenges and advantages of living as a transwoman in the Bay Area. No topic is off limits in this poignant documentary, which unashamedly follows these women into their homes and out into the world. — ALEX CHOUSA

This program contains discussion and images of transphobic violence.