CBS soap reveals character is transgender

[ImagineKate]

CBS soap reveals character is transgender

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2015/03/18/sole-transgender-character-debuts-on-soap/24819779/

By Maria Puente, USA TODAY 4:02 p.m. EDT March 18, 2015

"On soap operas everybody has secrets, but The Bold and the Beautiful's popular Maya Avant has a new one."

"Turns out, she was born a man".

"Not shocked? Well, join the crowd".

"The 28-year-old soap revealed in Wednesday's episode that Maya, a model now dating Rick Forrester, transitioned from male to female at a young age, after her sister confronted her with her birth certificate."


Edit to forum news format

[ImagineKate]

I have mixed feelings about this.

It could be good for us.

Then again this is a cis actress playing a trans woman... I don't know how I feel about that.

I haven't watched soaps since Y&R in the 90s so I'm not caught up on everything.

[ReDucks]

I think there was a trans character in General Hospital back in the 80's, but I didn't follow soaps closely back then except everyone followed Luke and Laura   I recall them being called 'left handed boy' but the character was named Sally and was played a male, but no idea if CIS or Trans.

[ainsley]

I am quite happy about because my mother-in-law watches that show and she has not taken my transition well.
At the same time I have trepidation about how they portray trans* people going forward with it because, as we all know, perception is reality to many people who do not come into contact with trans*.

[ImagineKate]

I think there was a trans character in General Hospital back in the 80's, but I didn't follow soaps closely back then except everyone followed Luke and Laura   I recall them being called 'left handed boy' but the character was named Sally and was played a male, but no idea if CIS or Trans.

Interesting.

I have seen trans on TV over the years. Most notable was Alexis Meade in Ugly Betty. I almost came out and transitioned then, but slunk back into the closet.

I'll have to do some research on the General Hospital scene. I don't think we got GH back then. We just got Y&R, Santa Barbara and the Bold and the Beautiful plus some Australian Soaps like The Young Doctors.

[Jill F]

Then again this is a cis actress playing a trans woman... I don't know how I feel about that.

This character has been around for 2 years already.  I'm sure this shocking plot twist was unforeseen when the character was introduced.   I suppose they could have introduced a new character played by a trans actress, but maybe this packs a bit more punch in our favor with those who have been following this character all along.

Right now we're sort of a hot topic and we need all the help we can get in the public eye.   Most people, after all, have no freaking clue about those who suffer from GD.  As long as they keep it positive and don't end up making her a psycho killer, bathroom boogeyman or Jerry Springer material, I'm good.

[awilliams1701]

If you can't get a trans actor/actress for whatever reason, then getting a cis female for a trans women is the next best thing. I would rather us be represented as how we can be in the end. Getting a man to play a women just contributes to the holywood stereo type and reinforces the whole belief that we'll never be women.

[ImagineKate]

If you can't get a trans actor/actress for whatever reason, then getting a cis female for a trans women is the next best thing. I would rather us be represented as how we can be in the end. Getting a man to play a women just contributes to the holywood stereo type and reinforces the whole belief that we'll never be women.

I've heard that charge being leveled against Transparent but to me it makes sense why they'd do it. Maura doesn't pass very well and it highlights the difficulties that some of us face.

[awilliams1701]

The problem I have with a man playing a transwoman is that hate us believe that once a man always a man. If you cast a man, you're effectively proving them right. If you cast a woman you're saying eventually this is what's possible. I'm more concerned with getting people to see what's possible for us than the difficulty in actually getting there. Typically transwomen are cast as manly men with beards. That is the holywood stereo types. Since most people know nothing about the truth (I should know before coming out I bought into that stereotype) then educating them about what's possible and ending the stereotype is more important.

[ImagineKate]

In the case of transparent though, it was designed to highlight the struggle of an older MTF, one not taking HRT even. Can't really do that with most cis women and probably not most trans women either for various reasons.

[mrs izzy]

Not sure if any of the newer ladies have seen the move Normal.

It was a hbo series and on dvd.

It is a good view of us older generations trying to come out in a heavy religious family. How it effects family but still holds a positive light.

So I as always scared when I hear these things. Are we going to be made seen in a good or bad light.

Will see how it plays out. Hope positive.

[big kim]

How many trans actresses out there?Apart from Laverne Cox I just can't name another right now.Walton Goggins performance as Venus in Sons of Anarchy was amazing,especially the scene where she and Tig told each other that they were in love.

[ImagineKate]

Calpernia Addams is another. I'm sure there are plenty of aspiring ones too.

Here's the problem though. Hollywood is a business in which you have to be more or less good looking. If you are good looking you should pass. Why out yourself if you are stealth? I suspect there are a lot more trans actresses and actors than we think.

[Ms Grace]

The Bold and the Beautiful: soap breaks TV sex taboo with plot twist

By Michael Idato/via smh.com.au
March 20, 2015

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/the-bold-and-the-beautiful-soap-breaks-tv-sex-taboo-with-plot-twist-20150320-1m3j02.html

In historical terms, the US daytime soap opera genre has been a trailblazer, tackling sensitive subjects such as abortion and homosexuality when they were still taboo in most popular media.

No surprise then, that the 27-year-old soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful has revealed that one of its established characters, the model-turned-fashion executive Maya Avant, is transgender.

=========
Personally I'd rather a genetic male played a trans woman before they got a genetic woman to do it. Preference of course is for that character to be played by a trans woman in the first place. Given this is just some crazy plot twist of the week on a show I don't watch I don't really care all that much.

Anyway, I came to this section to post this story but see that this thread beat me to it, so I'll post it here instead...

[chefskenzie]

I will be honest.  I like it.  I also don't care that it is a CIS woman playing the role.  Why should it matter?  Most Americans will see that the character is Trans, and automatically believe it to be 100%.  I think the sterotype for trans women is that we are manly, and not passable.  Look at the critique on Laverne Cox.  She is gorgeous, but VERY tall.  So many say she is clockable (Straights).  To have a "normal" (in society's view point) woman playing the role, I think it will do much good.

Wish more shows would add transgender characters, and use some of the trans women out there in those roles who are passable, as well as non passable to help educate others.  Maybe in 5 years

[kittenpower]

The soap All My Children had a trans character named Zoe who was played by a cis man...
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoe_%28All_My_Children%29

[cindianna_jones]

If you can't get a trans actor/actress for whatever reason, then getting a cis female for a trans women is the next best thing. I would rather us be represented as how we can be in the end. Getting a man to play a women just contributes to the holywood stereo type and reinforces the whole belief that we'll never be women.

One of the reasons I liked Transparent so much was because it portrayed an older father who would never look like anything else, as someone making the change. Yes there are many beautiful trans women and handsome trans men. But you know what? Most people, regular people, normal (I use the word in jest) people, are just not all that attractive. I've felt like an ugly duckling all my life. I think it's also healthy to show real trans people. Not all are beauty queens. People need exposure to us across the spectrum. But of course, movies and tv need ratings, so they will show beautiful people.

Cindi

[ImagineKate]

One of the reasons I liked Transparent so much was because it portrayed an older father who would never look like anything else, as someone making the change. Yes there are many beautiful trans women and handsome trans men. But you know what? Most people, regular people, normal (I use the word in jest) people, are just not all that attractive. I've felt like an ugly duckling all my life. I think it's also healthy to show real trans people. Not all are beauty queens. People need exposure to us across the spectrum. But of course, movies and tv need ratings, so they will show beautiful people.

Cindi

You know what? I hear you.

I'm not pretty by any stretch of the imagination.

But I am a normal person, and I'm a trans woman too. In fact being ordinary looking is very much an asset. I don't get a second look and I have pretty much confirmed that I don't get clocked unless I have bad facial stubble (pre electrolysis or post laser) or my voice outs me, and even then not always. Pretty women both cis and trans are heavily scrutinized. I'm not. I'm happy to be mostly left alone by the public at large. And I'm fixing the voice very soon so I can just go on with my life.

So yes I'm happy that the public sees us. I like transparent. Maura just wants to be herself. That's the important thing.

[Yukihime]

Personally, I've always loved soaps and I've been watching Bold and the Beautiful, Y&R and others on and off since my childhood. This new arc sounds quite interesting and I enjoyed hearing the different opinions from you guys so far. I think to weigh in myself, I like to see a broad spectrum of possibilities, be it showcasing the struggle, the beauty, the average, it's all good as long as people gain better understanding and the writers handle this well. I like Maya Avant as a character too, this is a really neat plot twist, so I'll be trying to watch more =)

[cindianna_jones]

Real beauty has never been the same as being attractive in my mind's eye. Beauty comes from the soul. I try very hard not to make first impressions of people until I know them. That's why I like films made with real people that don't stand out from the rest of the crowd.

Cindi