After over three decades of friendship, Will Ferrell probably thought he knew everything there was to know about Harper Steele, a former SNL writer who collaborated with the comedic actor on some of his most iconic sketches and films.
Not the case. As seen in the vital new Netflix documentary Will & Harper, Steele came out as transgender during the pandemic and embarked on a cross-country road trip with Ferrell to get reacquainted — with each other and America.
Experiencing the United States as an out trans person is a far different experience than it was before Steele began living her truth. While she encountered hatred and ignorance on the road, wrestling with her “internalized transphobia” has been her year’s biggest obstacle. “I’m not sure I did overcome it. I think freedom overcame me, and we’re still working on it. The more work I do, the more free I become,” she says.
But she’s not backing down, and she has a strong message for her haters. “I’m queer. You’re queer. The world is queer,” she says. “Deal with it.”
