The body and gender performativity
What does the film say about the body - gender performativity, binding, "passing", masculinity/femininity/androgyny, sexual ambiguity, identity transformation, violence, and intolerance... Does the film reinforce or complicate gender binaries?
I think the film illustrates gender binaries through the characters, but they are all complicated by the presence of Brandon. Especially because it is set in a small town gender stereotypes and expectations are very strict. Brandon is aware of this and to prove to himself and others he acts especially masculine. He smokes and drinks in excess, he fights in bars and does other dangerous things to seem tough and manly. Brandon's performance of gender is very important to him and his successful passing as a man. However, the other characters also perform gender to the extreme especially the other men who later rape Brandon. They rape him because they are proving their masculinity and are punishing him for threatening their maleness. The part of the film that most complicates gender is when Lana finds out that Brandon is a girl and loves her anyhow and even is still sexually attracted to him. The fact that gender doesn't matter to her and that she is attracted to Brandon as a person, not a man is important for breaking down binaries and heteronormative attitudes.