THE BRANDON TEENA STORY
"Having A Sexual Identity Crisis" In Rural Nebraska
The Brandon Teena Story is a 1998 documentary that centers on the chaotic life and murder of a 21-year-old trans man named Brandon Teena, who came from Falls City, Nebraska. This film shows the homophobia that Brandon experienced and plagued him for his entire life. He was raped and tortured for his self-image.
Authorities created controversy after they released the suspects. Police questioned them, along with Brandon. He was also violated by the interrogating officer, who wouldn’t stop pressing Brandon on his relationships with women. They blamed all the questions regarding Brandon’s on “[He was having] a sexual identity crisis.” Desperate to get away from this homophobic town, Brandon moved to Humboldt, Nebraska, 30 miles from Falls City.
Brandon Teena was murdered, along with two others–Philip Devine and Lisa Lambert. His body was mangled, stabbed, and shot. Teena died at the hands of John Lotter and Marvin “Thomas” Nissen. John Lotter is on death row, and Tom Nissen is spending his life, without a chance of parole, in prison. These murders drew attention to hate crimes and spread fear and terror in Falls City.
Susan Muska and Greta Olafsdottir directed this documentary released in 1998 and inspired the movie Boys Don’t Cry with Hillary Swank. PROVOKR fans interested in seeing The Brandon Teena Story can find the documentary on Amazon Prime.
