Transphobic countries help highlight the trans-positive message of West Side Story

Nonbinary actor Iris Mena plays the role of a trans man in Stephen Spielberg’s new version of the classic musical West Side story.

West Side Story, which will arrive in theaters on December 16, has just been banned in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, due to the presence of a transgender character. 

So that’s bad news, right? 

For queer people living in those countries, yes. But elsewhere, I believe the effect might be positive.

Firstly because the media coverage draws attention to the fact that the movie includes a great transgender character.

Secondly because it becomes clear that transphobes world wide are part of a dark global culture of misogyny, homophobia and transphobia. Do you really want to be part of that family?

Thirdly because they forced Disney to take a stand. The company reportedly refused to edit the character out of the movie.

The musical is based on William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and tells the story of forbidden love, violence, and racial conflict in 1950s New York City.

Here’s Iris Mena (to the left in in top photo from the movie) talking about the the new version of the classic musical: