Your fave TV show/movie franchise etc has just outed a character as trans*...

[Ms Grace]

Well, I wouldn't consider Big Bang Theory a top fave of mine, but it is good for a laugh. Lately I've been wondering about the development of Raj's personality from awkward around all women to someone very comfortable around women he knows, up to the point of having a number of feminine traits, especially in how he is a better friend to those women than the lovers of those women ever would be. And I thought... what if Raj turned out to be trans*? I doubt BBT would make a good platform to raise the issue though, as a comedy much of what it does is based around ridicule and sexual stereotypes. But it did make me wonder about ongoing TV series and movie franchises. A few years ago characters would be revealed as gay (eg Willow in Buffy the Vampire Slayer) to "spice" things up. For the most part those characters were treated with the same level of respect as the straight ones so why not the same with a character outing as trans*? So if you had dibs on your fave TV show or movie/game franchise, whatever... which prominent character do you think would/should/could transition their gender? How would it go down with the other characters?

[Edge]

I've wondered the same thing about Raj, but the show seems like it's trying to suggest he's gay rather than trans. I don't like it due to the stereotype, but ah well.

Loki in Norse mythology has transitioned his gender and back. Marvel Loki did as well. (Considering our problems, I believe a cisgender man would be more bothered being in a woman's body for that length of time.) From what I've heard, the new comic is going to explore his genderfluidness a bit, but I'm not sure to what extent.

[Nero]

I've wondered the same thing about Raj, but the show seems like it's trying to suggest he's gay rather than trans. I don't like it due to the stereotype, but ah well.

Loki in Norse mythology has transitioned his gender and back. Marvel Loki did as well. (Considering our problems, I believe a cisgender man would be more bothered being in a woman's body for that length of time.) From what I've heard, the new comic is going to explore his genderfluidness a bit, but I'm not sure to what extent.

You mean when he gave birth to a horse?

[Ms Grace]

You mean when he gave birth to a horse?

I really hope they do that in the next Thor movie!!

[Tori]

I keep hoping Dr Who will regenerate into a female...

They wouldn't have to change the title. And the transition would be fast and complete.

Not quite what you asked... but still...

[Arcee]

I want to like BBT, but I'm not a fan of the jokes largely built around casual sexism and misogny, and the nerdy stuff strikes me as a bit exploitative, like blaxploitation shows in the 70's. The few times I've watched, though, Raj definitely seemed closeted gay to me.

As for Loki, MCU (movie) Loki is probably asexual, at least the way Hiddleston portrays him. But in the comics, a couple of years ago he was regressed to a teen (I think now a young adult), and the writer has definitely been writing him with more than a little hint of queerness. I plan on picking up the comic to see how well it comes across. Comics don't have a lot of finesse when it comes to trans characters, but a few writers are trying (Gail Simone made Batgirl's roommate a trans woman, for example).

As for Dr. Who -- not going to happen as long as Moffatt is in charge, I'm afraid. :/

[MadeleineG]

I suspect that it's unlikely that an established character would transition. However, I think we will see a fictional drama series starring a real life trans* thespian transitioning along with their character over the course of the show in the next few years.

[Tori]

ME!

Really, I am an actor. It would help pay for stuff too.

[RobinGee]

I actually think Marshall on How I Met Your Mother could be interpreted as a deep denial trans woman.

[MadeleineG]

ME!

Really, I am an actor. It would help pay for stuff too.

That was my thought. I'm sure there are lots of trans-people who'd be open to it.

[Tori]

I am better.

[MadeleineG]

I am better.

Call your agent! Pitch time! Crowdsourcing!? Let's get this show on the road.

[Edge]

You mean when he gave birth to a horse?

I was thinking more when he lived as a woman for a few years on Midgard. The horse thing was a trick to get out of paying the guy who was building their wall.

As for Loki, MCU (movie) Loki is probably asexual, at least the way Hiddleston portrays him. But in the comics, a couple of years ago he was regressed to a teen (I think now a young adult), and the writer has definitely been writing him with more than a little hint of queerness. I plan on picking up the comic to see how well it comes across. Comics don't have a lot of finesse when it comes to trans characters, but a few writers are trying (Gail Simone made Batgirl's roommate a trans woman, for example).

Loki is currently a young adult in the comics. According to the writer, in the new comic Loki will be bi and his gender stuff will be explored. I'm not sure what is meant by "explored" though.

[suzifrommd]

I've wondered about Raj too.

However it profoundly bothers me that a male showing female characteristics is considered "funny". It really shows how little people understand transgender and transgender variance.

[Tori]

Or how bad ABC, CBS and NBC have become by fighting for those add dollars as viewership drops and goes to cable, Netflix, and illegal downloads.

[Ms Grace]

I've wondered about Raj too.

However it profoundly bothers me that a male showing female characteristics is considered "funny". It really shows how little people understand transgender and transgender variance.

Yes, I agree. And certainly I hope he doesn't get outed as gay or trans* since I doubt BBT would be a very sympathetic platform to explore those issues. I do find his developing relationship with the women characters to be rather endearing though.

I keep hoping Dr Who will regenerate into a female...

They wouldn't have to change the title. And the transition would be fast and complete.

Not quite what you asked... but still...

Ah yes! That would be perfect!

Or how bad ABC, CBS and NBC have become by fighting for those add dollars as viewership drops and goes to cable, Netflix, and illegal downloads.

I guess if any character in an established show was going to come out trans* it would most likely be in cable or boutique productions. Buffy TVS was a cable show wasn't it (showed free to air in Australia).

[CalmRage]

didn't they tone Raj's tendencies down again during the last two seasons or so?

Actually both Raj and Howard show a lot of signs, but Raj takes the cake.

[Ms Grace]

I did think it would be interesting if Rocky (as in the Stallone boxer, not the squirrel) was to come out as trans* in her last pic... after years of denial Rockette realises the boxing scene was an elaborate hyper masculine attempt to bury her feelings that she is in fact a woman...!

Or one of the Star Trek characters, given how easily they fiddle with genetic sequencing and physical appearance it wouldn't be a stretch. Semi-covered with Dax symbiote that was transplanted between different gendered Trill hosts...

[Tori]

Buffy was Network. UPN and WB, it changed networks after season 5 but it was always free.

[Missadventure]

Or one of the Star Trek characters, given how easily they fiddle with genetic sequencing and physical appearance it wouldn't be a stretch. Semi-covered with Dax symbiote that was transplanted between different gendered Trill hosts...

It's been addressed several times in the Star Trek universe, only sadly in a mild "lets not piss off the sponsors" kind of way. But see:

TNG espisode "The Outcast"
DS9 espidodes "Rules of Acquisition" and "Profit and Lace"