Being a transgender actress?!

[leareed]

Okay, reading all of your stories on living full-time and having success in your workplace inspires me and really makes me feel warm with hope!
I thought I'd share my current triumphs, but I thought to myself.. "I don't have a job, and I'm pre-hrt" but I do have something similar to a job that I do.

I'm a community theatre actor, I'm a member of a really prestigious acting troupe in my area (which is somewhat religiously based, might I add) and they adore me, before and now that I started my transition.  I still get male roles whenever I do shows with them though, which is a bummer, but when you're an actor, it's to be expected.  My recent success though, was a recent audition I went to that wasn't associated with this troupe I'm in.

A really renown theatre in my area is doing 'Hairspray' and I went to the auditions..dressed as a full female. This was my first time ever auditioning as a female.  I was so nervous, I almost walked out because I thought I might get outed or puke or something!  I nailed my singing audition (My voice, luckily, is in a female register, I'm a contralto) and the dancing part was okay, but then came for the script reading.. the director asked all of us "Are there any other guys left in the theatre?" I sat there nervously and waited. Then he said "Okay! Looks like we'll read the script with just girls then." I was SO happy that I passed that point and I was now for sure auditioning as a woman.

So later on in the week, my friends whom I auditioned with didn't get a part, so I figured I wouldn't either. Well, I eventually got a call from the music director and he said "Hey! We would love to have you as the part of a FEMALE chorus member, you're vocal audition blew me away. Congrats!"  I was SO elated that I couldn't even speak, all I thought about was "wow, my first role as a woman.  a woman.. A WOMAN."

It hit me that not many transgender actors get roles as woman or men UNLESS the character is actually transgendered or in drag.. but my character is 100% female.  I actually think I'm the first transgender actor in my area, maybe even state, to get a role as a real woman.  I'm so excited, and it's such a fun experience, we open in July also.  Rehearsals are a blast because I get treated like a woman, I grouped as a woman and I even dance with a boy!

Sorry for the essay! :p

[Carbon]

Just so you know, employment discrimination as handled by the EEOC now protects transgender people under the Civil Rights Act, on the basis that discrimination based on gender identity necessarily includes discriminating on the basis of sex. If you DO have problems or they try to get rid of you because you're trans it is now illegal, regardless of the laws in your state.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/24/transgender-employees-anti-discrimination-law-eeoc-_n_1449282.html

I'm kind of surprised by how little attention this has gotten, even transgender people don't know about it.

[Alainaluvsu]

Just so you know, employment discrimination as handled by the EEOC now protects transgender people under the Civil Rights Act, on the basis that discrimination based on gender identity necessarily includes discriminating on the basis of sex. If you DO have problems or they try to get rid of you because you're trans it is now illegal, regardless of the laws in your state.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/24/transgender-employees-anti-discrimination-law-eeoc-_n_1449282.html

I'm kind of surprised by how little attention this has gotten, even transgender people don't know about it.

I'm surprised about it too. You would think that some certain politicians would be raising hell about it. I guess it's gonna take somebody to actually bring it up through the court system and to the SCOTUS to get it the attention it needs.

Also, their wording of why they came to the verdict sounds like it would possibly stick in a court of law. Basically they are saying if you were discriminated against, you were discriminated against because the discriminator had a stereotypical view of how a certain gender should act. Since it's illegal for employers to discriminate against, for example, a female who wants to be a construction worker because "stereotypically" females cannot lift stuff, the same principle is theoretically in place when saying a male has to wear a certain subset of clothing, talk with a certain deepness, etc....

[auburnAubrey]

Well, I eventually got a call from the music director and he said "Hey! We would love to have you as the part of a FEMALE chorus member, you're vocal audition blew me away. Congrats!"  I was SO elated that I couldn't even speak, all I thought about was "wow, my first role as a woman.  a woman.. A WOMAN."

Congratulations!  That is wonderful.  I am (Well, was) an actor, appearing on TV, in indie films, and on stage.  Talking to a big casting director, I spoke about wanting to continue after I was done with FFS an BA.  She said she'd love to have me read, and is looking forward to it.  So, I hope that day will come..

Just so you know, employment discrimination as handled by the EEOC now protects transgender people under the Civil Rights Act, on the basis that discrimination based on gender identity necessarily includes discriminating on the basis of sex.

Just so ya know (And I am involved on both sides of the camera in production), the acting world is one of the few worlds that there is no discrimination protection.  It is one of the only businesses that can be very specific on what they want. (Casting for an early 30's hispanic female.  Cannot be overweight, and has to be taller than 5'6").  Ultimately, it is up to the director who they choose for a project, and they don't have to prove why to anyone.  If they need a particular "role", then they fill that role.  And when it comes down to the final few up for the spot, the director usually has the last say. (This can be different with large studio movies, where the executive producers may have that last say.) But once they say it, they don't have to justify it.  Just part of the biz.  If someone said "Hey, you didn't hire me because I'm black!"  They can just say "Yep, I wanted a white woman in this role."  Sometimes it doesn't matter, and castings go out as "30-40 male, any ethnicity... blah blah blah".  Sometimes it is very specific. "Need 30's balding men".  Anyway, I think you get the picture....

[Carbon]

That's not really true because she auditioned and was accepted. If they accepted you for a role as a white person and then fired you when they found out one of your grand parents was African American, then that would still be discrimination on the basis of race because they had already decided that you looked White enough to play that role. It wouldn't be about what you look like, it would be about what you are even when no one can tell.

This person auditioned as a woman and was accepted. They saw what she looks like and heard her singing and acting voice. So yes, if they found out she was trans and decided to replace her that would be discrimination because it wouldn't be about her appearance, voice, etc, but because they had a problem with trans people. If she starts getting harassed or something for being trans the same thing applies.

[Carbon]

By the way, there is a movie called "Showboat" that you can see on youtube:


This is a spoiler, but the move is a musical about a touring showboat and eventually it is discovered that one of the main actors on the boat has partial African heritage that she has been hiding. There is a big reveal and she is declared a Negro and therefore barred from acting (under the so called "one drop rule"). It's based on a novel that begins in 1880, during the Jim Crow era. Do you really think something like that could happen today because it's acting?

[leareed]

Luckily they now know I'm transgender and they're still completely fine with it
The main worry I have now is when it comes time to change in the dressing rooms, because I know at least ONE girl will be uncomfortable with me changing in there. (When it really shouldn't matter because it's theatre and everyone sees everyone naked) but still.

[Carbon]

Luckily they now know I'm transgender and they're still completely fine with it
The main worry I have now is when it comes time to change in the dressing rooms, because I know at least ONE girl will be uncomfortable with me changing in there. (When it really shouldn't matter because it's theatre and everyone sees everyone naked) but still.

I'm glad. I have a tendency to derail topics by accident so I'll try to pull out of this but I'm really happy for your success. I'm an aspiring musician so I hope I can achieve some of what you have in my own venue.

[auburnAubrey]

That's not really true because she auditioned and was accepted. If they accepted you for a role as a white person and then fired you when they found out one of your grand parents was African American, then that would still be discrimination on the basis of race because they had already decided that you looked White enough to play that role. It wouldn't be about what you look like, it would be about what you are even when no one can tell.

This person auditioned as a woman and was accepted. They saw what she looks like and heard her singing and acting voice. So yes, if they found out she was trans and decided to replace her that would be discrimination because it wouldn't be about her appearance, voice, etc, but because they had a problem with trans people. If she starts getting harassed or something for being trans the same thing applies.

Well, I didn't see anything in her post about her getting fired, so I wasn't talking about that at all.  I was talking about the process of selection.  And honestly, if they did find out and decide to fire her, they would never even hint that it was because of that... because directors have the creative control to replace someone if they don't feel it is working out.  Happens all the time....  That would be the excuse...  However, on that note, if a man dressed as a woman (or vise versa), or even if someone made themselves up as a different race to audition for something, and then they found out that they weren't, it would not be discrimination to fire them.  If the role calls for a woman, and it's a man acting as a woman (Not transgendered with the required paperwork on her stage of transition), then yes, that contract can be nullified.  It's not discrimination if you lie on your application.  You are correct, however, that if a transgendered woman, who is living as a woman, with her paperwork saying that she has met the requirements to transition to the female gender auditions for a female role, and gets fired strictly for being transgendered, then yes, that would be discriminatory.

Not sure why there was talk about being fired and discrimination, however,  on a post where we should all be congratulating her!

[Carbon]

Not sure why there was talk about being fired and discrimination, however,  on a post where we should all be congratulating her!

I guess I'm a pessimist.  You're right though.

[leareed]

Speaking of races and all that, it's quite a funny story because I've done Hairspray before (Last year) but before I started transitioning.
I performed it as a white male.  Now I'm performing as a black female.
The abilities of being bi-racial

and thank you lovelies!

[auburnAubrey]

I performed it as a white male.  Now I'm performing as a black female.

Now THAT'S range!!   

[Nov413]

Wow, this is really cool. I am so happy for you! That is a very good accomplishment.
That kinda gives me hope, although I'm sure nowhere near the same level of singing, though. But anyway, congratulations!

[leareed]

Haha, yeah, I'm biracial with black and white so in the summer I'm darker and look more black and in the winter I'm lighter and look more white 

That kinda gives me hope, although I'm sure nowhere near the same level of singing, though.

I'm glad! I'm lucky enough to have the voice of a counteralto/contralto but I'm sure with lots of practice you can be a great singer, I would recommend practicing in falsetto but making it sound more natural? There are low sounding female singers though.  I wish you luck in your future endeavors! 

[barbie]

Encouraging story. Enjoy your new life!

Barbie~~