"The Silence of the Lambs" It’s not just a cult thriller—it has long since become a cultural phenomenon. But for a queer audience, it carries much heavier baggage than just a dark story about a serial killer.
In 1991, *The Silence of the Lambs* won five Oscars and became a legendary thriller. But for the trans community, it wasn’t just a movie—it was a blow. The main villain, James Gumb—aka Buffalo Bill—sews himself a suit out of the skin of murdered women, dances naked in front of a mirror, and hides a body. The film makes it clear: he wanted to undergo gender reassignment surgery, but was denied. And Dr. Lecter states unequivocally:
"Bill isn't a real transgender person. He just thinks he is. He's trying to... His illness is a thousand times more terrifying and horrible."
Director and writer Then they explained: "We didn't want to portray a transgender person; he's just a crazy man.". But it is precisely the words "not real" became the most toxic—they turned any desire to become a woman into a suspicious disguise for a maniac.
Personal Stories from Trans People: How It Hurt
Trans author Jos Truitt wrote in 2016: “The film taught me to understand my own gender experiences and desires — it took those moments from my childhood, when I stood naked in front of the mirror trying to see myself, and turned them into something monstrous, an example of perversion, rather than a little girl’s attempt to see herself in a world that told me I wasn’t allowed to.” She added: “I put off my medical transition because feminists said I was supporting a medical system that harms women… It was *The Silence of the Lambs* that prepared me for this.”.
Trans actress Jen Richards later said: "Trans people are portrayed only as killers or victims. This creates a framework where you're always associated with violence. It's very hard not to internalize that.".
She even appeared on the TV series “Clarissa” to give a voice to real trans people and dispel this stereotype. Many trans women still say: "If people see me, to most of them I'll be Buffalo Bill.".
In 2020, trans scholar Cáel M. Keegan called *The Silence of the Lambs* “one of the most significant and influential examples of transmisogyny in pop culture.” He writes: “Today, many trans people see the film as a narrative that relies on the pathologization of trans women… This is a shift from homophobia to transmisogyny, where trans identity is separated from gay and lesbian identities, and trans women become the ‘monster’ who is sacrificed so that other queer people can be accepted into society.”
Other trans voices from community discussions add: “Buffalo Bill is portrayed as trans, and that’s exactly what the average viewer sees. Two offhand remarks about him not being ‘real’ don’t change anything—the damage has already been done.” Another trans person shares: “The movie created a transphobic meme that lives on to this day and is used against us as a tool.”
Matthew O'Leary emphasizes in 2021: "The lecturer says that Bill thinks he's trans, but in reality, his condition is much worse. This basically says: if you're trans, you're most likely a dangerous imposter." These words reveal that the problem lies not in the character’s “authenticity,” but in the fact that any female desire or gender variation is associated with violence and psychopathy.
The creators admitted their mistake: the actor's words, 35 years later
For a long time, director Jonathan Demme defended himself, but then admitted his failure. And in February 2026, on the film’s 35th anniversary, Ted Levine himself—who played Buffalo Bill—for the first time said He said openly: “There are certain lines in the script that seem misguided today. We all know better now. I’ve become wiser when it comes to transgender people… It’s a shame the film portrayed it that way—it’s wrong and, damn it, it’s hurtful. You can quote me directly on that.” Producer Edward Saxon added: “We weren’t sensitive enough to how stereotypes can hurt people. We regret that.” Now even the filmmakers admit: the film didn’t set out to offend anyone, but it caused pain nonetheless.
🏳️⚧️ Conclusion: Criticism doesn't negate art, but it makes it more just
We can acknowledge the impact of *The Silence of the Lambs* as a powerful thriller and cultural artifact, while also recognizing the importance of taking a critical look at its portrayals. It’s important for queer magazines to talk about these issues because:
- It's not just a movie—it's part of society's collective memory;
- Movies influence perceptions of marginalized communities;
- Looking back at our old texts shows just how much we've learned and how much still needs to be changed.
Criticism of *Buffalo Bill* is not “hatred of the classics,” but a call for a healthier, more respectful portrayal that does not link trauma, violence, and gender identity.
We are not staying silent. We are rewriting our stories and speaking out: you were wrong, and now you realize it yourselves. “The Silence of the Lambs” is a great thriller. But for trans people, it’s also a reminder: when you’re portrayed as a monster—even with the qualifier “not real”—the wound remains.
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