"We’ve been canceled!" AMC Theatres suspends release of “detransitioners” film after criticism from trans activists

The activist group QT Project welcomed the cancellation, saying it would create a "more inclusive and respectful environment."

Captura de pantalla de la web del film No Way Back, con un sello que dice — (Screenshot / Voz Media)

Published by

Santiago Ospital

18 de junio, 2023

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"Error 404. You've gone off script." This is the message from the AMC Theatres website for the film “No Way Back: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care.” Two weeks ago, however, the page announced that the documentary would be released on June 21. The explanation, according to production company Deplorable Films, is simple:

Intolerant, illiberal, histrionic IGNORANT loudmouths who have not even seen the film have pressured AMC theaters to make the hard decision to cancel our dates!

Screenshot of a movie theater website showing that a movie has been cancelled.

The AMC Theatres website before and after the cancellation of “No Way Back: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care.” While at the beginning of the month (image below) it showed the premiere information, on Sunday, June 18, it showed "Error 404." (Voz Media)

The production company spoke out against critics with a press release. It assured, first of all, that the film was not "right-wing," as, it said, its detractors claimed: "The filmmakers (some of whom are gay and/or have gay children) are dedicated, life-long, Liberal Democrats."

The feature film is not "anti-trans," they claim, nor is it against all transition surgery. Although:

There are trans people in the film speaking against the sudden rush to powerful drugs and major surgeries that are have increased exponentially in the past decade, and which have statistically caused far more pain and suffering than they’ve prevented.

Then, the production company takes aim at the pro-trans collective The Queer Trans Project (or QT Project), wondering if it had abandoned its mission to protect the LGBT community and even if it was secretly funded by pharmaceutical companies and clinics.

QT Project not only ignored the criticism, but celebrated the cancellation. "We did it!" it posted on its official Facebook account, where it also thanked its followers, and noted unironically that banning the film would generate a "more inclusive and respectful environment."

Pushback on social media

The name of the documentary was trending on Twitter. One user, January Littlejohn, shared an email sent to her by AMC Theatres announcing that she would be refunded her ticket for the film. The reason: "scheduling errors."

Littlejohn wasn't buying it: "No, ⁦ @AMCTheatres I do not accept your apology or your pathetic lie you are telling consumers. This was not a 'scheduling error.' You caved to activist demands and now you are at their mercy and it will never be enough. Good luck trying to appease them."

Vera Lindner, the film's producer, asked fans to express gratitude to AMC Theatres for having even dared to show the movie. She further insisted that “the film is pro-gay & extremely sympathetic to #LGBWithoutTheT - that is, without 'transgender.’”

The film’s official account highlighted that the movie was among the most discussed topics on Twitter.

On the film's website, Panacol Productions and Deplorable Films also promised that the production will be available via streaming and on DVD "as soon as possible."

Trailer

“No Way Back” tells, in an hour and a half, the story of six “detransitioners”: Michelle, Laura, Cat, David, Joel and Abel. They, "without diagnostic clarity or mental health evaluations," were "mindlessly ushered them along the path of medical transition."

Twelve experts also discuss the effects that gender transition can have on patients.