Most significant event in LGBTQ history in my lifetime (and why)”


    The movie A Fantastic Woman was a significant piece of media that affected my life; the film premiered on March 28, 2017, in Santiago, Chile. The story of the film is based in,

“Santiago, Chile. In a dimly lit nightclub, Orlando, the well-off owner of a textile company, locks eyes with hopeful singer Marina, the roughly half-his-age future love of his life. But no one knows what tomorrow has in store for us; after an unforgettable night of passion, Orlando falls gravely ill and dies in the hospital. Now Marina must face the harsh reality; from now on, everything is under intense scrutiny, including Marina's involvement in Orlando's death, their unconventional relationship, and her right to mourn the beloved deceased. But what was Marina's crime?—Nick Riganas”

The film is a social commentary on the oppression of transgender people. Overall, this film made an impact on my life and others' lives around the world. 

    The film impacted my life by enlightening me on the harsh realities of being trans today. Watching this film during my senior year English class was my first time discussing and being taught about people in a formal setting. At my private high school, there was this habit of canceling anyone who said anything too “extreme,” no matter what side of the political platform you were on. No one ever talked about anything that held any significance, like talking about transgender people. Through watching this film, I could finally discuss and learn with my classmates in a safe environment about the oppressions associated with transgender people. 

Not only did A Fantastic Woman inform me of what it is like to be trans today, but it helped the social revolution in Chile and became the first film to win an Oscar with a trans lead, Daniela Vega. Chile was typically a very conservative place to live–divorce was only made legal in 2004. By having a trans lead it brought attention to the changing times and helped speed up trans rights in Chile.

 “After winning the Oscar, Lelio and his team were invited to the presidential palace by Chile’s then-President Michelle Bachelet, who wished to congratulate them. Just before the meeting, Bachelet had taken steps intended to speed passage of a long-stalled gender-identity bill”(https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/12/a-fantastic-woman-had-a-role-that-went-beyond-the-big-screen/  ).

Not only did it affect trans rights, but it also brought more realistic attention to the trans community. The film shows the hardships and pushback from the hegemon groups. Yet the film was accepted by society, and you can tell because, in 2018, it won an Oscar.


Oscars, 2018 
Daniela Vega 





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