
Keywords
- Doing Gender
- Gender
- Made in Germany
- Next Generation: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
- Queerness: Living Out Loud
- Screen: Germany
- Sooner Exclusives
- civil society
- coming out
- identity
- religion
- small town
- trans*
- women
Director
- Manuel Rees
Documentary, Queer
1h 6min
0 FSK
DE
Germany's only trans* pastor.
Germany's only trans* pastor.
What happens when a very popular village priest decides after 27 years of successful community work to finally face a lifelong issue and publicly announces his transgender identity?
The rumors that he was wearing women's clothes forces pastor Hans-Gerd Spörkel to take a break. Shortly thereafter, his wife separates from him, and the village turns their backs on him. Half a year later, she resolutely returns as Elke Spörkel and holds her first service as a woman. After a controversial discussion, the church accepts their transgender pastor and tries to get back to normal. But when Elke meets a new partner, Kirstin, and the two start planning a wedding, the mood changes again.
This documentary takes a balanced and respectful attitude towards all parties involved and presents the contrasting opinions equally.