Stop Exploiting Transgender Women!

[Shana A]

Stop Exploiting Transgender Women!

https://www.change.org/petitions/stop-exploiting-transgender-women

For many years, producers of The Jerry Springer Show & The Maury Povich Show have shamelessly exploited Transgender women on national and international television. We demand they halt all production and re-airing of episodes that include content related to the exploitation of Transgender Individuals.

The Jerry Springer Show often features transwomen who are then ridiculed, called 'he/shes' (among other derogatory terms), and verbally and physically assaulted by other guests and audience members. Transwomen are told by stage security that they are not allowed to defend themselves against the vicious physical attacks of cis-gendered women because unlike the cis-gendered women, they are still 'men'. In many episodes, producers deliberately paint the picture of a man who is 'tricked' by a TGirl into having sexual relations with her, and turn him gay. They all end with a grand reveal in which the TGirl admits she was born with male genitalia. These (often scripted) story lines invite the misconception in society that transwomen should be feared because they are some sort of sexual predators. This content also erroneously labels men who are attracted to (or have sexual relations with) transwomen as 'gay'.

The Maury Povich Show continues to re-air episodes with titles such as "Man Or Woman?" in which cis-gendered and transgendered women are brought in front of a live audience who calls out "That's a man!" or "That's a woman!" judging by her physical or vocal features. After the audience has decided what type of women these guests are, the guests then reveal their gender with signs that read "I'm a woman" or "I'm a man". These episodes promote stereotypes about Transwomen's appearances and true gender. They also contribute to society's invalid belief that gender is defined by a person's masculine or feminine features.

[silly by the seashore]

Shouldn't some blame be put on the trans women who willingly participate in that stuff? They aren't forced to go on there and they certainly know what's going to happen for the most part since most of it is scripted.

[Joelene9]

  A lot of the participants on Springer are actors.  His and Povich's shows appeal to the lowest common demominator.  'Nuff said.

  Joelene

[markchicago]

If your a vegetarian, you don't eat meat.  If you are against handguns you don't buy one.  If you think sugar and fatty foods are unhealthy you don't consume them.  I agree that these shows are not flattering to transgendered people, but because you do not agree with them does not mean you can stifle free speech any more than someone who disagrees with the LGBT community and wants to shut down this website.
If you are asking other people to be accepting of your rights, how can you trample all over their rights.  What they are doing is not illegal, at the very worst it is in poor taste, and as others have said the transgendered who willingly participate are as much to blame.

[suzifrommd]

In my opinion, these are the modern version of the "blackface" acts that used to mock people of color. They are offensive. Free speech does not extend to acts of defamation.

[EmmaS]

I personally blame the transgender individuals who actively go on camera and portray us in a trashy and negative light. If they are actors....that's another story and that would be really sad honestly. This is just my personal opinion though; I think it's my own duty to present myself the best I can as possible when I finally go full time because I feel like that will help our image versus the opposite hurts it. I look at people like Jenna Talackova(Canadian model) and she presents so well and she sets a much better image than the people on Jerry Springer. Though I do realize that there are going to be trans men and women of all different walks and backgrounds, I guess I want the ones who portray us better to be in the spotlight and those who don't to avoid the spotlight. I know how bad that sounds, but it's honestly how I feel. 

[Laura91]

I personally blame the transgender individuals who actively go on camera and portray us in a trashy and negative light. If they are actors....that's another story and that would be really sad honestly. This is just my personal opinion though; I think it's my own duty to present myself the best I can as possible when I finally go full time because I feel like that will help our image versus the opposite hurts it. I look at people like Jenna Talackova(Canadian model) and she presents so well and she sets a much better image than the people on Jerry Springer. Though I do realize that there are going to be trans men and women of all different walks and backgrounds, I guess I want the ones who portray us better to be in the spotlight and those who don't to avoid the spotlight. I know how bad that sounds, but it's honestly how I feel.

Excellent post!

I see it as a bit of a double standard.

A Genetic Female could go out looking "trashy" or whatever term people choose to use and most times no one will say anything. (well, not to their face, anyway)

Speaking for myself, I just go for the "transgirl tomboy" vibe. It makes things easier and besides, I discovered very early on in my transition that skirts and all that "girly" stuff just didn't suit me.

Jerry Springer and their ilk is nothing more than a televised car crash and most people are simply too stupid to realize that what they are seeing is a total sham. When I have brought this to their attention they look at me as if I just grew a third eye.

Lets face the harsh truth here: The majority of people are morons and while it would be great for humanity as a whole to be able to turn the tide and get people to actually think for a change you can't break someone out of their pattern of "blissful ignorance" if they have zero desire to do that.

Just keep on keeping on and screw the idiots and their moronic points of view.

[Lyric]

I can't even stand to watch a clip from those types of shows. Ironically, these programs are a de-evolution from the TV shows that first introduced me to the realities of ->-bleeped-<-. Back in the 1980s the Phil Donohue show gave America the first serious national exposure to a number to transgender topics. I first subscribed to the Tri-Ess newsletter after seeing one. From what I've heard from others, that show initiated a major turning point for transgenerism in America.

These shows you mention are essentially the modern equivalent of the carnival freak show. They are designed simply to provide the crudest entertainment to the most unintelligent viewer. Sadly, smart people are increasingly abandoning over the air television for other technologies. We can expect old fashioned TV to get dumber and more repulsive in the future.

~ Lyric ~

[Lorri Kat]

I have never liked those types of shows  or "reality TV".  Sadly I was witness to the begining of the end for MTV and the viral onslought that followed it.  I know some will say this type of program started back in the 1950's but it was MTV that gave birth to the modern version we know and think of.  While shows like 'Springer' and 'Povich' are rupulsive to me and they further purpetuate a stereo typed portrayal of Transgender people in the negative; those that appear know full well what that show is all about.  Is it calumny?  I don't believe so, as repulsive as it is; no more so then any show that repersents,depicts, some demographic of the population engageing in certain practices.  These girls, if real, are not a representation of  'the cream of the crop'.   While it may be, is, as repugnant as 'black face' neither are illegal.   Resistance to change is most fervent when assailed.    Snickerdoodle I believe has it right.. "Keep on keepin' on."  ...Don't give these dregs of TV anymore publicity then they have to pay for.   

[Carrie Liz]

These types of shows are one of the biggest reasons why I never even looked into the possibility of transitioning at a younger age. Because since it's not like there were ever any honest local news stories about transsexualism, shows like Maury and this other one primetime show that only lasted for like one season where they dressed a bunch of cis-men up like women and the goal of the show was to make them look as passable as possible, to comedic effect, I spent my entire teenage years not only believing that changing genders would make me a freak, but also that the only way that I would ever be able to pass as a woman would be through extensive surgery based on the few trans-women on TV (who almost always had had facial surgery, implants, and stick-thin bodies,) or face a lifetime of being laughed at based on how ridiculous the cis-men looked dressed in women's clothes.

When I finally realized that this wasn't the case, and finally saw some true post-transition videos from everyday people on Youtube, and realized the profound effects that HRT could have, it was an unbelievable revelation, and I IMMEDIATELY knew that it was what I wanted. I've known that I wanted to be a girl since I was like 14 years old, but the potrayal of transsexuals in the media really was the thing that convinced me for so long that it was impossible, and that I was going to be a freak if I did. And now here we are, 13 years later, and I'm only just now finally realizing that it's not true. So thanks, American TV. And go f*** yourself.

[Lorri Kat]

These types of shows are one of the biggest reasons why I never even looked into the possibility of transitioning at a younger age. Because since it's not like there were ever any honest local news stories about transsexualism, shows like Maury and this other one primetime show that only lasted for like one season where they dressed a bunch of cis-men up like women and the goal of the show was to make them look as passable as possible, to comedic effect, I spent my entire teenage years not only believing that changing genders would make me a freak, but also that the only way that I would ever be able to pass as a woman would be through extensive surgery based on the few trans-women on TV (who almost always had had facial surgery, implants, and stick-thin bodies,) or face a lifetime of being laughed at based on how ridiculous the cis-men looked dressed in women's clothes.

When I finally realized that this wasn't the case, and finally saw some true post-transition videos from everyday people on Youtube, and realized the profound effects that HRT could have, it was an unbelievable revelation, and I IMMEDIATELY knew that it was what I wanted. I've known that I wanted to be a girl since I was like 14 years old, but the potrayal of transsexuals in the media really was the thing that convinced me for so long that it was impossible, and that I was going to be a freak if I did. And now here we are, 13 years later, and I'm only just now finally realizing that it's not true. So thanks, American TV. And go f*** yourself.

I thought the same as you.  With no internet all I saw growing up what was on TV, even in college there were no computers but for the  IBM DOS systems they were just starting to use in HR. Books with Transgender referance in the library and courses I took were relegated mostly to deviant behavoir,only a couple paragraphs or two pages long, and descriptions were not even close to being 'Me'.  I survived and lived thinking I was alone and a freak among freaks  for years although no one ever questioned my birth gender.   I gave up on trying to find information or others like me for decades. It was not untill a few years ago that I found this vast network of  groups, that are not  sex sites.  Choosing the wrong search term will send you results that are not pleasant to view!!!(Thank the old TV shows for that again.)    At least now the lights are on and there is a candle in the window so others can find the path home.  Better late then never.

[StellaB]

Most reality TV shows such as Jerry Springer use professional actors and hold auditions on casting websites. They are also notorious for hiring film extras as professional actors.