Directors Jay Hodges and PJ Raval were intrigued by Trinidad's status as the "Sex Change Capital of the World" and the fact that Marci Bowers, the town's surgeon, had a transgender history. Neither director lived in the town, so they filmed in intervals of several months at a time.[3][4] In an interview with Queerty, Raval said, "Our intention was not to sensationalize or exploit but to create something where people can see the universal struggle for self-expression and give people an opportunity to explore these concepts of gender and gender identity."[5]
Trinidad received $4,000 for production and $7,000 for post-production through the Austin Film Society's Texas Filmmakers' Production Fund.[6]
Eric Campos, writing for Film Threat, gave the film 4 out of 5 stars and said, "Trinidad succeeds in presenting the materials for a better understanding of transsexual people and stands to be very instrumental in making the world outside of Trinidad, Colorado a safer place for them to live."[8]IFC's Stephen Salto commented, "Hodges and Raval arrive in town just in time to shoot the construction of Morning Glow, a recovery house that not only provides a dramatic arc for the story, but slyly demonstrates how post-ops are just like anyone else, in moments as simple as arguing over the proper trim for the doors of the house."[9]
