Educational Media Reviews Online

In Other Words deals with the issue of growing up homosexual, with a particular focus on words associated with homosexuality. The film begins by defining some basic terms, including “heterosexual,” “homosexual,” and “bisexual.” It intersperses these definitions throughout excerpted interviews with young people who are homosexual, bisexual, and transgender. They talk about their experiences as teenagers, including such issues as cruel treatment by peers, depression, and thoughts of suicide. As they begin to talk about coming out, the film moves on to define terms such as “faggot,” “gay,” and “transgender” through short animated interludes. The segment explaining the origin of the term “faggot” is surprising and extremely effective, with a seriousness befitting both the film and subject matter. Some of the other segments are less effective. For example, the segment defining the word “gay” features two figures dancing around playing the flute, which comes off as silly rather than happy and lighthearted, and it seems out of place in the video.

As one interviewee says, “People throw around words they don’t know all the time.” This is true, and it is also true, as the interviews point out again and again, that words such as “faggot” and “dyke” are used to wound homosexuals, bisexuals, and transsexuals every day. In spite of its weaknesses, the film does an excellent job of informing its audience of what terms associated with sexuality and gender really mean and also the harm they can do. The film ends on a positive note, as interviewees talk about the happiness they’ve found after coming out and their satisfaction with their lives. Considering the shocking rate of suicide among homosexual teenagers, this film helps address a serious and vital issue. Recommended.