“Born to Be” documentary gives a humanizing look into the world of transgender medicine

by Alexandra Aguirre – February 6, 2020

A doctor receives a call in his car. He picks up his phone and hears a shy, young voice inquiring about the age at which you can get gender reassignment surgery. The doctor replies that in New York City, you have to be 18 years old. The young voice belongs to a 14 year old.

“Do you think that’s going to change anytime soon?” they asked. “I’m just very impatient.” And the screen goes black.

This Wednesday, The Undergraduate Committee on Global Thought, in collaboration with GS Alliance and the Columbia University Science Journal, hosted a screening of “Born to Be,” a documentary that chronicles the work of Dr. Jess Ting at Mount Sinai Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery in New York City. The screening at Fayerweather Hall was followed by a Q&A panel with the film’s director Tania Cypriano, producer Michelle Koo Hayashi, and Ting, the star of the film.

Originally published in the Columbia Daily Spectator. Read full article here