Is Trans Community Ready for Its Closeup?

[Wynternight]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2015/02/05/is-americas-transgender-community-ready-for-closeup/22805587/

Maria Puente 5-2-15

"Bruce Jenner could end up being the new Will & Grace hero for transgender Americans.

Just as W&G helped familiarize Americans with gay people, proliferating TV shows and films about transgender people could help make those who have switched gender seem less like outliers"

Note: this is not all about Jenner so I feel it's general enough to warrant its own topic.

[suzifrommd]

I loved Boylan's comment about how being trans is just another way of being human and shouldn't merit a documentary or a reality series.

[ImagineKate]

I loved Boylan's comment about how being trans is just another way of being human and shouldn't merit a documentary or a reality series.

That's pretty much how I feel.

I am just a human.

[Elle.R]

I'm cautiously optimistic about the more media exposure leading to greater acceptance, gender I imagine is just a much harder thing to deal with in people's heads compared to sexuality considering up until recently portrayals usually obviously portray trans as borderline cartoon characters.

On the topic of the interview, a silver lining I guess is the media and people probably can't treat Jenner any worse than the Kardashians did on that show.

[Beth Andrea]

Television is an incredible tool in the continuing education of society. We could use a classy, well-written, well-acted show presenting TG/TS people as normal and nothing scary.

Have manly men whose masculinity isn't threatened by being friends with one of us, show families who may have an initial reluctance, but come to accept and embrace (not just tolerate) their husband/wife/mom/dad/child(ren)...

I think it'd be a good thing, at least until the culture accepts us to the point of not having to fear or endure random violence against us.

[Jill F]

I loved Boylan's comment about how being trans is just another way of being human and shouldn't merit a documentary or a reality series.

It would be nice if most people believed that being trans is just another way of being human, but the fact remains that we are the most misunderstood segment of society.   It seems most people still view transfolk as nothing more than a caruacture or stereotype propagated by Jerry Springer and the like.  The populace still needs educated properly about gender dysphoria and how serious and common of a condition it truly is. 

[Serena]

Yeah but it's not about if trans people merit a documentary or not... The Kardashians are just a family, do they deserve all those reality shows they are doing just for being a family? It's not just being trans, their family is obsessed with reality tv. And they are celebrities not common people like us, so there is that added to it.

I think it could be a nice thing if done correctly... Hopefully Kris Jenner is not going to be on it.

[ImagineKate]

Yeah but it's not about if trans people merit a documentary or not... The Kardashians are just a family, do they deserve all those reality shows they are doing just for being a family? It's not just being trans, their family is obsessed with reality tv. And they are celebrities not common people like us, so there is that added to it.

I think it could be a nice thing if done correctly... Hopefully Kris Jenner is not going to be on it.

I've met two Kardashians (Kim and Khloe). The Kardashians are all about GOSSIP. I don't see this ending well for us, sorry.

[Devlyn]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2015/02/05/is-americas-transgender-community-ready-for-closeup/22805587/

Maria Puente 5-2-15

"Bruce Jenner could end up being the new Will & Grace hero for transgender Americans.

Just as W&G helped familiarize Americans with gay people, proliferating TV shows and films about transgender people could help make those who have switched gender seem less like outliers"

Note: this is not all about Jenner so I feel it's general enough to warrant its own topic.

Sorry, what's that? I can't hear you over the roar of "It's a Jenner thread now!"

<fastening seatbelt for the quick trip to Lockville International>

[Wynternight]

Let's leave Jenner talk for the consolidated thread and discuss the other points this article brings up. OK, everyone?

Danke!

[Serena]

Let's leave Jenner talk for the consolidated thread and discuss the other points this article brings up. OK, everyone?

Danke!

The B. Jenner thread is locked so that's not possible, but what I meant is that this is not just a documentary about a transition, it's about the Jenner-Kardashian, who are reality tv stars, so it's not like people who share their transition on youtube for example, because they are already famous, and I don't see this as being just an informative thing.

Though, yes I think it's a great thing, the more trans people individuals on tv, the better. My sister who doesn't accept me actually told me that if would have been better if I was gay, because it's more normal, and she cited Ellen, as a normal gay person, while there aren't many trans individuals on television, and that she doesn't see me being successful because of that, and I think that the more trans people on tv, the most we will be seen as normal.

[mrs izzy]

This thread topic and its posts are being watched carefully.

As said in other topics about B. Jenner they are deserving of being stealth as much as you or i do if and i mean if they are truly trans*

Why the need to degrade someone for who they are?

Please respect the forum Tos.

Thank you,
Mrs Izzy
News Admin.

[Serena]

This thread topic and its posts are being watched carefully.

As said in other topics about B. Jenner they are deserving of being stealth as much as you or i do if and i mean if they are truly trans*

Why the need to degrade someone for who they are?

Please respect the forum Tos.

Thank you,
Mrs Izzy
News Admin.

If they are choosing to make a docu-serie it's not that they want to be stealth.

[Ms Grace]

Before the wider community accepts trans people we probably need to accept ourselves first - a lot of trans people loathe themselves. It's understandable because we are not in the body we feel we should be - but self hating and shame can drive a real wedge between us an wider society. Of course, some of it is a bit chicken and the egg in that the self loathing and internalise transphobia probably wouldn't exist if society wasn't so harsh on trans people in the first place. It seems same sex attracted people accomplished much more once they had gay pride, that positive self image washed through the cracks of straight resistance, homophobia and stereotypes to create an environment where shows like Will & Grace could exist and now same sex characters are more commonly depicted in many shows. Would Trans Pride do the same? I'd like to think it could.