Dallas Buyers Club Reaction Paper

With the media focusing on Caitlyn Jenner and the transgender community, Dallas Buyers Club was my first movie of choice for this assignment. This movie is remarkable; however, it is still outside of my comfort zone. The movie focuses around the topics of HIV/AIDS and transgenderism. I have never put much thought into either one of these topics until now. Thus, I assumed many of the stereotypes and myths surrounding these topics were true. As a counselor, it is our job to avoid biases and prejudices with all cost, especially in a therapeutic relationship. Watching the movie Dallas Buyers Club made me realize that I had many biases and prejudices towards the transgender community and people with aids. These biases and prejudices stemmed from the unknown. I did not know much about either topic; therefore, I judged a book by its cover before doing any research. Dallas Buyers Club is a movie about a cowboy, Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey), and a transgender woman, Rayon (Jared Leto), who befriended one another. The movie begins with Ron having
Ron truly reminded me of myself. Of course, I have never had AIDs nor have I ever looked that skinny. However, I grew up in the south with a few closed minded people that influenced my train of thought. Ten or fifteen years ago, I would have said mean and hateful things about AIDS patients or transgender women. Growing up and experiencing life made me realize that I was wrong. Although it is drastic, I think the diagnosis of AIDs changed Ron’s life and attitude for the better. He truly became a better person who was more accepting of others. By the end of the movie he was not using derogatory words such as “faggot”, instead he was defending Rayon. For example, Ron bumped into an old friend at a grocery store, whom he tries to introduce to Rayon. Of course, he is hesitant, thus, Ron forces him to shake Rayon’s