Digital Transgender Archive

To Be a Man: "Boys Don't Cry" and the Story of Brandon Teena

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This text offers an in-depth analysis of the movie "Boys Don't Cry" and asks its audience to question the film's implications. Content warning: This item relates to the death of Brandon Teena, who was murdered and sexually assaulted as the target of gruesome anti-LGBT hate crimes. Brandon's death became a major news item, and the language used to describe his identity and depict the violence he suffered by contemporary press coverage ranges from insensitive to outright cruel.

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Item Information:

Identifier
fb494861v
Collection
Brandon Teena Collection
Institution
Digital Transgender Archive
Creator(s)
Steinberg, David
Date Issued
1999
Genre
Clippings
Subject(s)
Boys Don't Cry
Brandon Teena
Chloe Sevigny
Hilary Swank
Jeanetta Arnette
John Lotter
Kimberly Peirce
Lana Tisdel
Peter Sarsgaard
Places
Nebraska > Richardson County > Falls City
Topic(s)
Gender expression
Gender identity
LGBTQ+ films
Masculinities
Queer relationships
Resource Type
Text
Language
English
Rights
In copyright
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