The murder of 20 year-old Brandon Teena brought transgender issues to small town Nebraska in the winter of 1993. Brandon, born Teena Brandon, was a normal young man in a small town before his female identity was revealed. On Christmas Eve, two former friends raped him and threatened his life. When Brandon went to the police, they did nothing to protect him and did not take his complaint seriously. Seven days later on New Year's Eve, the same two men shot and killed Brandon, a young mother, and another man.

The Brandon Teena Story seeks to understand who Brandon was, the town where he lived, and the motives that drove his killers. PlanetOut's reviewer writes:

"Deftly unveiling the culpability of the police, the parents and the community, filmmakers Susan Muska and Greta Olafsdottir draw a powerful portrait of intolerance (sexism, homophobia and transphobia) in small town middle America. But as the film indicts it simultaneously reveals a deep sympathy for its subjects: there are no simple villains here.

"Beautiful videography (especially the lingering shots of the fields and streets of Nebraska), well-paced editing, and powerfully utilized archival footage complement the film's revealing interviews to create a must-see documentary that is both intimately personal and universally political."

This documentary will be shown in Olin 141 on April 3rd. While a grim look at reality, this film will be an introduction to the issues Kate Bornstein will address on April 4th and 5th.

For more information on Brandon Teena, check out this website.