Deep Dive: Leitis in Waiting (2018)
Film Lens
Leitis in Waiting is a feature-length documentary that focuses on the lives of transgender women, known as leitīs, in Tonga. The film follows LGBT rights activist Joleen Mataele, who founded the Tonga Leitis Association to provide support and shelter to transgender women. It centers around the Miss Galaxy Queen pageant, an annual beauty competition for leitīs, and a national consultation on LGBT rights initiated by Mataele, highlighting the opposition from conservative church groups.
Produced by Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson, and Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, the film aims to amplify Tongan voices in the discussion of LGBT rights, often overshadowed by external perspectives. The filmmakers document the ongoing existence of anti-sodomy laws in Tonga and the impact of rising religious fundamentalism on the transgender community, making the film a crucial tool for advocacy and awareness.
Why Watch
- •Meet Joleen Mataele, a key LGBT rights activist in Tonga.
- •See the Miss Galaxy Queen pageant for transgender women.
- •Find out about anti-sodomy laws still in effect in Tonga.
Did You Know
•The film was presented at the Documentary Edge Festival's DOC Pitch Competition in 2017.
•Leitis in Waiting won the 2018 Audience Award at the Festival of Commonwealth Film.
•The documentary was screened at over 50 film festivals worldwide.
•Joleen Mataele launched a national discussion on LGBT rights in Tonga in 2016.
Perfect For
Transgender rights activismPacific Island cultureLGBTQ+ advocacy