User Reviews

Narrated by ex-British serviceman and trans-gendered host Abigail Austin, My trans American road trip follows the plight of trans-gendered American citizens as they try to keep their LGBT protection rights. Something as trivial as going to a restroom while keeping your dignity shouldn't be an issue and definitely shouldn't be stigmatized but following the bathroom bill it has become yet another barrier of divide for the perhaps 'un- United' States.

Abigail Austen starts her journey in the state of North Carolina which first passed the proposed bathroom bill - a law stating that transgender individuals have to use the gender restroom of the gender in which they were born and is published on their birth certificate. Abigail meets with a plethora of pro-bill individuals - most of which were conservative and fundamentalist Christians spouting hateful and intolerant views of LGBTs. Maybe the most disgusting interview within this expository documentary is an interview with a pair of highly successful twin property developer brothers - who claim they only regret their decision to publicly support the bathroom bill because of the financial decay their business suffered as a result. Many of the interviews we witness in this documentary are sickening and frankly hard to stomach, but we do get a chuckle when Abigail visits the ladies in a church where the pastor swears no transgender will ever use the female toilets in his parish as long as he is alive. This documentary echoes to us how ignorance can be so dangerous for those are misunderstood.

With Trump now announced to be president elect following his shocking US presidential election victory, the audience are only left to fear how else Trump will let the LGBT community be victimized, ostracized and degraded. God bless America - they need it.

My Trans American Road Trip follows the journey of narrator Abigail Austen, as she travels around America exploring different views upon the LGBT community and the issue they face with the 'Bathroom Bill'.

Our trans-gendered host Abigail Austen enhances the audiences' knowledge of the bathroom bill through travelling to different states, and interviewing local American's views upon this law. For instance North Carolina was the first state to pass the proposed bathroom bill - the law which stated that "transgender individuals have to use the gender restroom of the gender in which they were born and is published on their birth certificate".

The United States is known as 'the land of the free' but whilst watching this documentary, I questioned whether this was actually a true representation of America. Many people within Abigail's journey questioned her decision, as well as verbally hating on the LGBT community- which I believe made me look at Abigail with much respect and honour. Abigail Austen was able to take on criticism and judgement throughout the filming of the documentary, whilst accepting and listening to what others were saying- and yet by the end still remains as a strong, confident and empowering individual.

In My Trans American Road Trip it gave a very eye opening experience on the pain and the abuse that many transgender people suffer. In this TV show it highlighted the struggles that transgender people face on a daily bases. It was very shocking to see the true impact of the Bathroom Bill. In America it is shown as predominantly Christian state and due to this many of the American citizens are against the idea of a transgender person as many believe that it is inhumane and goes against Gods plan. We are all created by God; He has not made any mistakes and you should not change yourself, this is what they believe. Another very disturbing scene shown is the outburst by a mother in Walmart. She made an outrages statement: "Are you going to let the devil rape your children" she screamed angrily in the store. This was a clip that was uploaded to YouTube. This is very distressing and leads me to believe that throughout the media transgender people are marginalized. In addition to this there is a belief/a rumor that all transgender people are sexual predators and that is why many people fear for their children when they have to share a toilet with them. This is a very harsh statement it is wrong to just stereotype a group of people. America is becoming a segregated society especially since the election of the new president: Trump. There will be many changes, not all for the better. Also Trump supports the bathroom bill so things will defiantly get harder. Although there are many disturbing representations in the media of transgender people there is also a good representation in the media, this was created by a Broadway production group called Kinky Boots. The producers Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper rewrote lyrics to their musical's finale. The song they created was called "Just Pee (Where You Want To Pee)"supporting the transgender community. This song defiantly raised awareness as currently it has 185035 views and 3033 likes (13.11.16). This TV show encourages you to think before you speak and to take into consideration others thoughts and feelings. It is a must see show and I think it will change your perspective. Watch it to find out if your opinion changes.