Growing Up Coy

Growing Up Coy is a poignant and thought-provoking 2016 documentary directed by Eric Juhola. The film sets its foundation on one of the controversial issues of our time - trans rights for children. It captures the story of a young girl named Coy Mathis and her family's brave and relentless stand for her rights. The title character, Coy Mathis, is a 6-year-old transgender girl from Colorado, living in a society where understanding and acceptance for people like her are unfortunately still far from the norm.

The documentary introduces us to the Mathis family, particularly three characters - Jeremy, Kathryn, and Auri Mathis, who play critical roles in sharing their unique perspectives and concerns in Coy's case. Jeremy and Kathryn Mathis, Coy's parents, found themselves entangled in an uneasy and complex fight for their child's right to be herself – a fight that eventually went on to receive national attention across the United States. Amidst these ground-breaking court cases and societal challenges, Auri Mathis, Coy’s older sibling, often provides heartwarming moments of familial affection and support, giving the audience a glimpse into the importance of understanding and acceptance within the family unit.

Structured as a family drama against the backdrop of civil rights cacophony, Growing Up Coy takes on an intimate tone, bringing the audience closer to the lives and emotions of the Mathis family. The complexity of their uphill battle is depicted through their passionate legal fights, emotional turmoil, and their determination to ensure Coy can lead a normal life.

The film of Coy’s life unfolds through a series of masterfully interwoven events, beginning when Coy was identified as male at birth but started to express herself as a girl at a tender age of 18 months. Over time, her expressions became more pronounced, with her preferring pink over blue, dresses over pants, and dolls over trucks. Early on, the parents dismiss these as mere childhood inclinations, but as Coy's insistence and discomfort within her assigned gender intensified, Jeremy and Kathryn realized their child was expressing something larger, something more true to her identity.

Growing Up Coy takes the viewer on an enlightening journey, portraying the strength of the Mathis family as they navigate the quagmires of the legal, educational, and health systems in a quest to secure Coy's rights as a transgender student in the public education system. It provides critical insight into Coy's elementary school’s refusal to allow her to use the girls' bathroom, a decision that triggered intense media scrutiny and eventually, a historic discrimination lawsuit.

Throughout the narrative, director Eric Juhola adroitly brings out the bravery of the Mathis family, capturing their emotional upheavals and persistent fight, while also emphasizing the challenges they face as they are thrust into the national limelight. Simultaneously, the documentary doesn't shy away from showcasing the painful reality of being a member of the transgender community in an unsupportive and discriminating society.

Growing Up Coy is all the more impactful due to its seamless blend of family dynamics, school adversity, societal discussions, legal battles, and the overarching theme of fighting for one's rights and identity. The film subtly amplifies the vital discourse of elementary understanding of human sexuality, the pressing issue of gender dysphoria, and the rights of transgender children.

The film is a portrait of courage and resilience as much as it is a catalyst for societal conversation. With an objective lens, the director pays tribute to the spirit of a family standing up for their child's identity and rights, and in doing so, draws attention to the urgent need for society to embrace, and not shun, the transgender community.

In essence, Growing Up Coy is an exceptional documentary that tackles a profound subject with the deftness it deserves. It mirrors the present societal ethos on transgender rights, and leaves the audiences impacted with its thoroughly researched narrative, heart-touching moments of the Mathis family's journey, and the titular character - Coy's - resilience at its fulcrum. It underscores the importance of acceptance, support, and love in the lives of those grappling with gender issues, primarily when it revolves around the young and vulnerable.