This video captures a candid discussion around the experience of Harper, a trans woman embarking on a cross-country road trip. The main focus is on how her identity has altered her perception of such journeys, delving into personal and societal challenges faced as a member of the trans community. The conversation touches on Harper's advocacy goals in the face of increasing legislative challenges and public perceptions in the United States.

The participants explore nuanced topics such as the impact of social media negativity and the importance of supportive friendships. The discussion portrays the shared experiences during the road trip, addressing the broader societal dialogue on trans rights and public opinion as reflected in polls. The film aims to encourage deeper understanding and discourse on trans issues by focusing on the personal and communal aspects of identity.

Main takeaways from the video:

Please remember to turn on the CC button to view the subtitles.

Key Vocabularies and Common Phrases:

1. bumbling [ˈbʌmbl̩ɪŋ] - (adjective) - Acting in a confused or incompetent way. - Synonyms: (awkward, clumsy, inept)

And we leave that in the film, there's a bumbling nature to some of the questions I get around to asking.

2. lamented [ləˈmɛntɪd] - (verb) - Expressed sorrow, mourning, or regret. - Synonyms: (mourned, grieved, bewailed)

But she had lamented the fact to a friend that, you know, now, as a trans woman, she was thinking differently about what that would entail.

3. indulge [ɪnˈdʌldʒ] - (verb) - Allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of. - Synonyms: (spoil, gratify, satisfy)

I don't know if you would indulge me on it, and I'm not trying to exploit our friendship.

4. exploitation [ˌɛksplɔɪˈteɪʃən] - (noun) - The action or fact of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work. - Synonyms: (taking advantage, manipulation, misuse)

I'm not trying to exploit our friendship, but what if we took a road trip.

5. marginalized [ˈmɑːrdʒɪnəˌlaɪzd] - (adjective) - Treated as insignificant or peripheral. - Synonyms: (disenfranchised, sidelined, excluded)

I think anyone who's felt disenfranchised or marginalized, those things can hurt more.

6. toxicity [tɒkˈsɪsɪti] - (noun) - The quality of being toxic or poisonous. - Synonyms: (harmfulness, venomousness, harmful quality)

Is there a way of taking the toxicity out of these conversations, do you think?

7. hornet's nest [ˈhɔːrnɪts nɛst] - (noun phrase) - A situation fraught with difficulties or complications. - Synonyms: (trouble spot, mess, predicament)

I mean, you're asking me to walk into a hornet's nest there.

8. disenfranchised [ˌdɪsɪnˈfrænˌtʃaɪzd] - (adjective) - Deprived of power, marginalized, and diminished in rights or privileges. - Synonyms: (disempowered, alienated, deprived)

I think anyone who's felt disenfranchised or marginalized, those things can hurt more.

9. visceral [ˈvɪsərəl] - (adjective) - Relating to deep inward feelings rather than to the intellect. - Synonyms: (instinctive, emotional, gut)

When I said it, my whole body felt warm. Wow. And I was like, you literally had a visceral reaction.

10. advocacy [ˈædvəkəsi] - (noun) - Public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy. - Synonyms: (support, activism, promotion)

advocacy for a friend, regardless of what they're going through.

Will Ferrell and Harper Steele on “the trans conversation” in the US

In terms of the trans conversation, no matter how messy or sloppy or. And we leave that in the film, there's a bumbling nature to some of the questions I get around to asking. Harper, all of that is okay. Just start talking.

What are you feeling? What are you thinking? I'm nervous and anxious. Like, you know, I. I love these kind of places, you know, that I spent my life driving back and forth across the country, going to little towns like this, stopping in bars, drinking, meeting people, but I just don't know if I can anymore. Anyone who knows Harper knows how much she loves taking these cross country road trips. But she had lamented the fact to a friend that, you know, now, as a trans woman, she was thinking differently about what that would entail.

And I said, well, last night I just kind of came up with this idea. I don't know if you would indulge me on it, and I'm not trying to exploit our friendship, but what if we took a road trip where I could, you know, ask you all these questions that I have and what it means to her friendship. And Harper, why did you want to take part? What did you want to get from it?

Well, I had said no. And then I went back to my home in New York and part of the reason, probably the biggest reason, I guess I was I'm very hooked into what's happening with the trans community. And there's a lot of bills and legislation being offered up across the country in many different states that were sort of restrictive of our lives. And so, I don't know, at some point I sort of thought, I have this great opportunity with a really beloved movie star. But then Brad Pitt said no. Right. And then I.

I left that part out. It was. I pitched it for Brad and Harper to drive together, and then I chose Will Ferrell. And no, then I found it could. I just thought it could be useful in some way. Were you a little worried about how to talk to me when I came out to you? Yeah, probably a little nervous. There are no ground rules with friends. I'm telling you, I invite any friend of mine, ask me these questions I am not afraid to talk about.

There's a question. Do you think you're a worse driver as a female driver? One of the scenes in the documentary was when you were both dining at this big Texan steak ranch in Amarillo in Texas. And you show in the documentary some of the negative commentary that appeared on social media afterwards. And you said, harper, those tweets are in my head.

Yeah. What kind of effect do Those tweets have on you, those sorts of comments, they don't roll off. I don't think queer people. And it's not just a trans thing. It might not. I think anyone who's felt disenfranchised or marginalized, those things can hurt more. So, yeah, I don't know that I'm not hurt so much by that stuff now. I've been out for three and a half years. But yeah, that's torturous to go through that for many years.

And you will got upset because you said you felt guilt in a way for taking Harper to that place. Yes. Yeah. In the, in the aftermath, I had felt like I had, yeah. Put my friend in a situation that we really didn't need to be involved in. You will know that there is a lot of negative commentary, social media for people who also argue for single sex spaces or fairer sport for women and girls. People like J.K. rowling get death threats and rape threats, thousands of them, she says.

Is there a way of taking the toxicity out of these conversations, do you think? Sure, there's a way. But Yeah, okay, yeah, there's a way. How? There's a way. I mean, you're asking me to walk into a hornet's nest there. That's almost a got you question. I'm not going to comment on sort of toxicity on either side. I don't engage in it.

Yeah, yeah. Can I ask you about the politics in your country in recent weeks and months? A poll of 120,000 Americans by AP at the time of the U.S. election found that 55% of voters said support for trans rights in government and society has gone too far. Does that chime with your experience on the road? I think there's a lot of fear and unknowingness going into this. So what are they afraid of? What is that poll? How are they asking that question?

No, I've driven across the country by myself since the documentary. I talked to lots of people across the country. I don't believe that. I understand that I've been voted against on some level, but trans people have not been beloved by any administration, this one or the previous one. So, you know, I'm. I. But I feel in my heart of hearts that in general, Americans are kind and so that doesn't mean there aren't bad people.

I mean, you know, I think in our experience of, you know, traveling on the road for 17 days and yes, we're not blind to the fact that there is hate out there, but it's much harder to Hate up close. And when we really settled in with people and they got to meet Harper, and, you know, we really kind of just had a cup of coffee. There's a lot of space for conversation to. To happen out there.

How do you view the prospect of Donald Trump moving back into the White House? When there were adverts for the Republicans in the US Election, one particular Trump ad was, carmela is for they them. President Trump is for you. When I think about the trans story, it's a long march. I'm a minor or minuscule part of this battle in this history. People before me have gotten it to a place where I can enjoy my life. I think there's a lot of fight left in the queer community, whoever is sitting in the White House.

What is it that you want people to take from this documentary? I hope people take that the idea of being trans is a joyful one. It's that there's nothing. There's nothing sad or traumatic about it or anything. It's quite joyful. And the pursuit of your true self is a joyful one. Yes.

I started trying to, like, imagine other names. Like, I mean, I was thinking chandelier, and then I go, Harper. You love the name Harper. My mother went to school with Harper Lee. The person. The woman who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird. Right.

When I said it, my whole body felt warm. Wow. And I was like, you literally had a visceral reaction. I did. advocacy for a friend, regardless of what they're going through. Yeah. Is a huge theme in our film. The other thing is, no matter. In terms of the trans conversation, no matter how messy or sloppy or. And we leave that in the film, there's a bumbling nature to some of the questions I get around to asking Harper. All of that is okay. Just start talking. That's it.

TRANSGENDER JOURNEY, SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT, FRIENDSHIP AND ADVOCACY, INNOVATION, INSPIRATION, POLITICS, BBC NEWSNIGHT