New HBO Documentary 'Buzz' Explores Journalist Buzz Bissinger's Views On Gender Identity And Sexuality
It's now streaming on HBO.
instagram While there are plenty of documentaries to watch, no matter what streaming service you have, many of us are into biographical ones. Man on Wire, The Act of Killing, Amy, Dear Zachary — these documentaries have been lauded over the last decade, and deal with a variety of topics.
There truly is a genre for everyone, and for individuals interested in literature, a new documentary on HBO may just be what you’re looking for.
Who is Buzz Bissinger? The subject of the new documentary, Buzz, Bissinger is an author known for his books Friday Night Lights, which was eventually turned into a television series, as well as Three Nights in August, A Prayer for the City, Shooting Stars, Shattered Glass, and Father’s Day.
According to his biography, he’s won the Pulitzer Prize, the Livingston Award, the American Bar Association Silver Gavel Award, and many others. In addition to his novels, he’s also reported for esteemed publications such as Vanity Fair, Sports Illustrated, and the New York Times.
Though you may not recognize his name, you may be familiar with his other work. He wrote the bombshell article “Call Me Caitlyn” in 2015, which detailed Caitlyn Jenner’s transition. And while this article had a great impact on society, it also personally affected Bissinger.
Bissinger’s childhood friend, Andrew Shea, who directed and produced the documentary gives us a better understanding of “identity politics.” The documentary also explores “grappling with [Buzz's] third marriage straining under the behavioral/financial chaos of his quest for his authentic sexual self.”
In a 2015 interview with Huffington Post, Bissinger opened up about his thoughts on gender identity and sexuality, saying, “I hate this gender distinction. Difference should be celebrated. Difference should not be suppressed. Caitlyn [Jenner] said this — and what she’s gone through was much more intense — she’s not hurting anyone, you know? It’s great. She’s celebrating her identity. She is coming out and transitioning into what she always was.”
In the documentary, he also touches on crossdressing, domination, shopping addiction, and his obsession with wearing leather. Bissinger says that men, not women, stare at him, and questions why it's still not socially acceptable for a man to have interest in wearing women’s clothing: “What does it mean? Am I less of a man? Am I more of a man? What the hell does that really mean? What is it to be a man? What does it mean to be a woman? I think it’s whatever you want.”
Samantha Maffucci is an editor for YourTango who focuses on writing trending news and entertainment pieces. In her free time, you can find her obsessing about cats, wine, and all things Vanderpump Rules.