LEITIS IN WAITING is the story of Joey Mataele and the Tonga leitis, an intrepid group
of native transgender women fighting a rising tide of religious fundamentalism and
intolerance in their South Pacific Kingdom. The film follows Joey, a devout Catholic
of noble descent, as she organizes an exuberant beauty pageant presided over by a
princess, provides shelter and training for a young contestant rejected by her family,
and spars with American-financed evangelicals threatening to resurrect colonial-era
laws that would criminalize the leitis' lives. With unexpected humor and extraordinary
access to the Kingdom's royals and religious leaders, Joey's emotional journey reveals
what it means to be different in a society ruled by tradition, and what it takes to
be accepted without forsaking who you are.
Leitis in Waiting. “Leitis in Waiting.” Accessed August 15, 2025. https://www.leitisinwaiting.com.