First film, first face-to-face experience?

[anima-engine.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone. This is my first post to the transgender community. Very proud to be here! Instead of making a grand introduction (because I'm shy and have no idea how to introduce a "work in progress"), I would like to ask you an open question: What was the first film you have ever seen that featured a transgendered person in it? And, where did you have your first face-to-face encounter with a real transgendered person?

My first celluloid TG exposure was the movie that launched a thousand Outback steakhouses. If you don't remember that film, I'm not going to mention it because it is too stupid and embarrassing. HA HA HA, I WISH it would have been a cool film like Rocky Horror, but sometimes my luck doesn't pan out like that. Anyway, it was the first time I remember seeing a transgendered person. I was awed. Something *clicked* in my head, like the realization that I wasn't the only person like that on the planet.

Three years later, I had my first face-to-face encounter with a transgendered woman in an elevator at work. I entered the elevator backwards and didn't see her until I spun around to press the button, leaving us face-to-face. She was in her 40's, confident, and offered a polite handshake. "How are you?" she asked. I stammered, "I'm just... (long pause)... good?" and stood there like a fool with my mouth open. It seems so silly today. I was such a sheltered child. LOL

If you'd like, please share your first film & real-life experience with me. *waves* to you all & happy to be here. :)