MITERLEBT: ENDLICH ALS FRAU LEBEN: PROTOCOL EINER GESCHLECHTS-ANPASSUNG {EYEWITNESS: LIVING AS A WOMAN AT LAST: PROTOCOL OF A SEX TRANSFORMATION} {IN GERMAN DUBBED IN ENGLISH} (TV)
Summary
This German documentary film, dubbed in English, follows Christine Stephanie Klee, born Christian Stephan Klee, as she formally transitions from male to female.
Born in Frankfurt and now living in Cologne, Klee explains that she is "fed up" with being viewed as a man when she has always felt herself to be female, though she is forced to endure a "daily life test" and live as a woman for many months before undergoing sex reassignment surgery. Her parents explain that she never seemed "masculine" and showed a preference for girls' clothes and activities, stating that they have gradually come to understand and support her identity. Klee spends time at Schulz, a local LGBT community center, and meets with various doctors for estrogen shots and psychological evaluation. Months later, she begins dating a young man named Wolfgang; he explains that while he accepts her as a woman, their physical life together is limited by Klee's discomfort with her pre-operative body and dislike of being intimately touched.
A psychiatrist confirms that Klee is definitely a candidate for surgery, as she is "psychically" female, and a date is set for the operation. An impatient Klee undergoes an interim review and explains that she has faced discrimination in the workplace and fears being arrested and searched by police, especially when crossing the border into East Germany. The surgeon explains the vaginoplasty operation in detail, noting that he has no ethical qualms about the controversial procedure because it has proven to be a "cure" for trans patients' unhappiness and psychological problems. Klee is thrilled to be "reborn" on Oct. 18, 1989 after a six-hour surgery as Wolfgang and her mother anxiously wait outside. The doctor admits that there are a variety of potential dangers in the operation, but the procedure goes smoothly and the doctor adds that Klee is likely to experience normal female sexual sensations.
Klee heads home after five weeks in the hospital and begins her epilation treatments, explaining that she will require twice-weekly appointments for a year to fully remove her beard and other body hair. She receives a new government ID with her female name; she and Wolfgang visit the Dutch coast on vacation several months later, admitting that they are still learning about their new sexual life together and have encountered various complications along the way. Undeterred, Klee adds that she plans to remain in Cologne and study hotel management, happy to be living fully as a woman.
Details
- NETWORK: ARD/WDR (Germany)
- DATE: March 22, 1990
- RUNNING TIME: 0:38:10
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:20483
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: International Collection - Germany; LGBTQ+ Collection; Public affairs/Documentaries; Transgender people; Surgery
- SERIES RUN: ARD/WDR - TV, 1990
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Felix Kuballa … Director
- Christine Stephanie Klee (see also: Christopher Stephan Klee) … Interviewee