Trinidad Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sex change capital of the world

Trinidad is a small city of about nine thousand, a population it has maintained for decades. It was a coal mining town for many years until coal lost its charm as an economic resource.

Sex change surgery was difficult to obtain. Insurance companies considered it an 'elective' procedure such as plastic surgery. Malpractice fees were among the highest for surgeons. The procedures were in their infancy and adamantly primitive. But most devastating was the objections by social, moral, and religious groups. That began to change in 1969 when Mt. San Rafael Hospital took on the groundbreaking challenge. According to one resident in the film the hospital would have been shuttered long ago without the income generated by its unique cottage industry.

Answer: Children defined male roles better than female roles

The brief interlude emphasizes the point that physical gender does not necessarily define mental orientation. Male roles in most societies are defined by strength, leadership, and provider while female roles are less defined by motherhood, nurturing, and passivity.

The women in this film had masculine roles, some were fathers, but yielded to the stronger gender to identify with their true feminine side.

Answer: Condescending and 'live and let live'.

The interviews were casual and lasted only a few seconds. The people were not oriented as to the psychological aspects of the surgery. Some thought the operations were part of some obscene sexual practice. There were few expressed major concerns and were indifferent or condescending as long as the situation did not effect them directly.

A service station operator was openly hostile and felt that these people had no right to be in the community with their low morals that would effect others.

A bartender at a local tavern where many of the patients found these patients no be well enough people but didn't understand why they would do that to their bodies.

A beauty parlor operator had simiar comments but added that some try to fool her but she could spot them all the time.

The Catholic Church ran the hospital and although it did not endorse transgender surgery, allowed it to continue as it did not involve life (abortion) and did no harm. This involved a disposition from the Vatican.

Answer: None, except general surgery

After getting his medical degree from the University of Iowa, he spent several years as a military doctor. He came to Trinidad to practice general surgery in 1954. In 1969 a social work patient approached him and asked about the possibility of transgender surgery. Dr. Biber took his request under advisement and began his research. He read all the literature he could find and obtained hand drawn pictures from Johns Hopkins.

Biber comments in the film about it being an ugly operation but he did no harm and the results were positive as everything worked. By word of mouth, his williness to perform this operation spread and "going to Trinidad" became a code phrase for planning among those contemplating sexual reassignment. Trinidad became a spiritual hope rather than a reality for many. An estimated 6,000 passed through the program.

As time passed, his surgical skills and techniques improved. A number of doctors came to study with him and he developed an international reputation. Biber limited himself to four such operations a day so the waiting list was months and years. It must be added that Dr. Biber continued with his general practice such as tonsillectomies and appendicitis.

Answer: High cost of malpractice insurance

Bieber was a community leader and owned a thriving cattle ranch, Although all the alternative answers may have played a part, this was his public statement. Biber was hospitalized in January 2006 with complications from pneumonia and died at the age of 82.

Answer: She had gender confirmation surgery

Bowers had desired gender confirmation surgery since a teenager. She married and fathered three children. After her surgery, she gave up her obstetrics practice in Seattle and moved to Trinidad to study with Dr. Biber. She was honored to take over the practice but added that Dr. Biber would never be 'replaced'. She established a regime of five surgeries per week and about 120 per year generating an income for the hospital of about 1.6 million a year.

In the film she describes these surgeries as more art than science. No matter how we plan and prepare, it is always an adventure.

Since leaving Trinidad, she has become a spokesperson for transsexual surgery, appearing on numerous talk shows including "Oprah". She also played a forensic physician on the television drama "CSI".

Answer: The first known transition house for post-sexual transitioners

Morning Glow was the dream of Marci Bowers and Sabrina Marcus that would provide a variety of supportive services to post-operative transsexual persons in Trinidad. The house was purchased by people who had passed through the program. It required substantial renovation that was estimated at six months but required a year. No public funds were involved.

The restoration work was done by women associated with the program using do-it-yourself techniques and paid for out of their own pocket.

Answer: 'Dad' in private; 'Sabrina' in public.

Sabrina Marcus is seen in the film "Trinidad" as a kind of spokesperson. She worked as an engineer on several NASA projects. After she made the decision to undergo gender confirmation surgery, she was fired from her job despite appeals to local, state, and federal levels. In addition the court ruled her an unfit parent. Although not required, her ex-wife allowed her reasonable access to her children.

The camera frequently focuses back to her on issues that arise in the film as a sort of Greek chorus. She headed up the Morning Glow project.

Answer: Physician

Laura Ellis came to Trinidad for the surgery but had difficulty adjusting to the role of a woman although it was her gender but not her biology. She attended Temple University School of Medicine. She lived in Trinidad, CO for 15 months. She moved to south east Alabama where she practiced at a VA outpatient clinic for four years.

Sabrina Marcus comments that when Laura came to Trinidad she wasn't sure who Laura was. She left knowing that Laura was a real and capable woman.

Answer: She was not replaced in her specialized surgery.

Although he is not interviewed in the film, his name is flashed in newspaper headline sequences. In 2005, Terry Keith, a pastor for the All Nations Fellowship Church, told The Pueblo Chieftain, "Our reputation as sex-change capital of the world has brought shame and reproach on the community." Then began a series of small and larger occurrences. These were either isolated incidences or carefully crafted events.

Marci Bowers joined the local golf country club. The club changed its rules so that she was denied participation in women's golf tournaments sponsored by the club.

A 30 year old study was circulated and parts were selectively used that indicated that gender surgery was ineffective. Marci Bowers was furious as the statements were taken out of context, was dated, and had been refuted by subsequent studies.

Marci Bowers was shocked when she found that her malpractice insurance had been cancelled due to pressure from religious groups. Fortunately, she was able to find another carrier.

A petition was circulated in the community demanding that the hospital cease these surgeries but was rejected by the hospital board.

The film ends in 2008. Marci Bowers left for California in 2010 and was not replaced and the program was abandoned.