As a gay male I don't see why so many are offended...I feel like because Adam did a very bad thing by tricking his gf who's a self proclaimed lesbian doesn't make the entire film transphobic....the love interest doesn't become "cured" as so many have stated on here -she FALLS IN LOVE with (cis male) Adam so obviously she wasn't a lesbian to begin with but rather is a budding Pansexual and didn't realize it...the whole film is pretty straightforward and don't agree with the 1 stars or the offended people at all. Also being an actor I highly doubt the trans actors were unaware of what they were casted in lol if they read the script they'd know and would've dropped out.

I am not sure why there's such a virulent backlash against this film, especially as most of the negative reviews here are from people who have obviously not even see the film, but are jumping on some bandwagon. It's written by a lesbian, directed by a trans man and ALL the trans characters are played by trans actors (including MJ Rodriquez of POSE fame and first-timer Leo Sheng, who is a real find). The trans characters are treated with respect and sensitivity - no, they are not flawless, but that would make for a very dull film. As a cis gendered gay man, I came away with much more understanding and appreciation of the struggles in the trans community. It's not a perfect film, but I think it's heart is in the right place - and I enjoyed it.

In a summer before marriage equality, high schooler Adam gets permission to stay with his big sister, a college student in New York City. Unknown to their parents, she is a lesbian, and her social circle consists of activists in the lesbian and trans communities. Hanging around that group, Adam is mistaken for being a trans man. When he starts dating a women he met at a party, he does come clean about his age, but has to frantically study to keep up his masquerade as a trans man.

There is emphasis within the community that what matters is gender identity in the head, and not what is physically present "down below". There is a poignant scene at the Trans Camp swimming hole, where body-affirming participants go skinny-dipping, while Adam sits alone on shore, fully clothed. Adam is, effectively, fish out of water, as he lives a lie in order to pass as trans and have a relationship.

I saw this at the Inside Out LGBT film festival, with director Q+A. The screenplay was adapted from a novel by the original author, who then hired a trans director to direct it. Their toughest casting problem was for the title role. Because it had a sex scene, they could not cast an actual 17-year-old, but had to find someone who looked the part of one, who hadn't overdosed on "T".

This film is recommended for those who are not too disturbed by a cast full of trans and lesbian characters, while interested in knowing more about it.