A TV opportunity

[Cindy]

I was contacted by SBS in Australia about being on a discussion panel for relationships between trans partner and cis partner.

After an hour discussion I have got the producer to open up to a program that transpeople would want.  My concern was programs tend to make us look like freaks, no matter how well intentioned. So I may have an opportunity to make a program that does place our issues forward.

So - your task; a large, non commercial  company may make a TV program about issues that concern us. I want it to have impact and I want it to force people to accept or at least understand.

So your input would be appreciated!

I have 48 hours.

Cindy

[Matthew]

If you've seen Boy Meets Girl, I'd say similar to that.

It's mainly about a transwoman in a relationship with a cis guy. He's curious, but asks questions respectfully. He doesn't treat her disclosing that she is trans a s a 'big deal' - as it should be. The show is more about other people outing her to his family (from what I've seen so far) and how his family will react.

If it mentions dealing with transphobia also, that would be ideal. Raising awareness of the struggles trans people go through in a lighthearted sense, when appropriate.

[Cindy]

I've been thinking of a reality program. Cis woman and man have to transition in the work place and socially. They are aware that they are fully cis, as does the audience, but their work and social networks don't. So people can, maybe, relate to our situations?

[Matthew]

I've been thinking of a reality program. Cis woman and man have to transition in the work place and socially. They are aware that they are fully cis, as does the audience, but their work and social networks don't. So people can, maybe, relate to our situations?

Sounds like an interesting idea. If done well, it could be really good. Finding people willing to do it may be tricky, especially cis guys. Maybe looking for SO's of trans people?

[Cindy]

I've been thinking of a reality program. Cis woman and man have to transition in the work place and socially. They are aware that they are fully cis, as does the audience, but their work and social networks don't. So people can, maybe, relate to our situations?

Sounds like an interesting idea. If done well, it could be really good. Finding people willing to do it may be tricky, especially cis guys. Maybe looking for SO's of trans people?

I'm toying with alpha males. A real kick in the gut. After all many trans girls try so hard to be alpha males to 'cure' themselves. SEALs, SAS, etc?

I'm more worried about the FTM? Women can be androgynous without comment. An alpha female group? Not sure who to suggest.

[Matthew]

I'd say very femme female - if it were to be a butch woman who passed as male, she'd probably face a lot less discrimination than a femme woman who could be identified as 'trying to look like a man'. While I hate the idea of passing and non passing, I think in a reality show, people who don't pass would demonstrate the point of the show much better.

FTM will be considerably harder though. Maybe getting whoever it is to try give herself facial hair? Discreet masc. contour? Binding, packing ect.?

[LizK]

Hi Cindy

Congrats on being offered the oppertunity

I am new to this community but one of the things I noticed when talking to cis-people is that they do not "get" that under that male exterior exists a real woman/female exterior beats the heart of a man  no different to their sisters/brothers or mothers/fathers. Not someone acting, not someone doing it for kicks but a real woman.

The only thing I could see possibly problem with the cis-people transitioning is that they are missing the key element of mental anguish which drives so many to suicide.

Getting them to even think about gender in the right context would also be helpful.

Now if we can just get across to them how it feels...that would be the kicker, hope it is of some help...just my 50 cents worth

Sarah T


 

[Asche]

I've been thinking of a reality program. Cis woman and man have to transition in the work place and socially. They are aware that they are fully cis, as does the audience, but their work and social networks don't. So people can, maybe, relate to our situations?

I'm not sure I follow this.

Is the idea that you'd have cis people transitioning to their assigned ( ="birth") gender?  E.g., cis man starts out living as a woman and having everyone around them (except the audience) believe he is a woman, and then transitions?

If it's cis people transitioning from their assigned gender, I don't see how it will come across as anything but yet another freak show.  Like 90+ % of all books, movies, etc., that deal with trans people.

[Cindy]

I've been thinking of a reality program. Cis woman and man have to transition in the work place and socially. They are aware that they are fully cis, as does the audience, but their work and social networks don't. So people can, maybe, relate to our situations?

I'm not sure I follow this.

Is the idea that you'd have cis people transitioning to their assigned ( ="birth") gender?  E.g., cis man starts out living as a woman and having everyone around them (except the audience) believe he is a woman, and then transitions?

If it's cis people transitioning from their assigned gender, I don't see how it will come across as anything but yet another freak show.  Like 90+ % of all books, movies, etc., that deal with trans people.

Very good point, that was my feeling as well.

[Laurette Mohr]

Sounds like an interesting idea. If done well, it could be really good. Finding people willing to do it may be tricky, especially cis guys. Maybe looking for SO's of trans people?


I'm toying with alpha males. A real kick in the gut. After all many trans girls try so hard to be alpha males to 'cure' themselves. SEALs, SAS, etc?

I'm more worried about the FTM? Women can be androgynous without comment. An alpha female group? Not sure who to suggest.

Google Matt "Kroc" Kroczaleski Janae Marie She's a former bodybuilder.

[Cindy]

Gone off that idea, Asche was correct. 46 hours   

[Asche]

I know this doesn't sound very original, but what about a show about two or three trans people (including both M2F and F2M) and friends going about life?  Sort of a soap opera where some people being trans is just part of the life.  Trans issues would come up naturally, along with non-trans issues.  The big win would be showing that trans people are just people, and while they're different from cis people, they aren't any more different than cis people are different from cis people.

However, I think the most important thing is to have trans people involved in it at a high level and with authority to get things changed as necessary.  If the writing, directing, and production are left to cis people, the trans people are going to get othered.  We've seen this again and again with marginalized groups.  Like "Stonewall", which gave a white- and cis-washed version of the Stonewall riots intended to not make straight audiences uncomfortable.

[Dena]

We all tend to come up with ideas from our own point of view and I am no exception. My idea would never fly for a number of reasons but very little is said about people a long time post transition. The problem we have in the community is the idea that that transitioning really changes very little in our life. It's one of the reasons CIS community gets very strange ideas about us. I have seen several long term post people and our world is greatly different and far better than before the transition. We end up in stable relationships with productive employment with friends and family liking the new and improved 2.0 version of us. The transition process gives us a new and better life. Something few CIS see unless they recover from a drug addiction or reform after going to prison.

You have to compare the old and new life to explain why the transition is so important to those of us who need it. I know in my life, I would not have reached the age of 30 had treatment not been available. Others might not have taken my path but would have used drugs or alcohol to numb the pain. Often we know what our life would have looked like without the transition but we need enough years of post living to show what our life post transition has become.

[cathyrains]

I've been thinking of a reality program. Cis woman and man have to transition in the work place and socially. They are aware that they are fully cis, as does the audience, but their work and social networks don't. So people can, maybe, relate to our situations?

I think the opposite might be more illuminating. Consider a program documenting transgender people living in their "assigned" rather than identified gender. Highlight why that is an untenable position for transgender. That cuts straight to the heart of the transgender experience. Why, or why not, rather than how is surely the key to understanding.

[Rachel]

I work with trans kits a few times a year. They are great kids, happy, imaginative, energetic and well adjusted. I go to group weekly and I see so many children that grew up without the needed interventions and support. I think seeing and hearing the kids and seeing and hearing what happens without support and intervention till way past puberty can highlight the stark reality of what happenes when people listen  and take action to correct a treatable issue. Then the next segment are men and woman post transition living their lives.

[Sarah82]

The reality TV idea is probably the right track. If I were making the show I would try to find several people at different stages of transition, someone post transition and passing, someone who doesn't pass, someone mid transition, someone starting their journey, and their significant others and family. I would also try to get interviews with Australia's top gender therapists and GRS/SRS surgeons.
It would probably need to be either a series or filmed over several months.
I would then highlight the different challenges, prejudices, and support for each of these people and allow them to tell their stories.
The aim would be to show what we think and feel pre, mid and post transition, to get the audience to feel empathy with the subjects and understand what we are people just like them.

I hope this goes well for you Cindy, I'll watch it
Hugs,
Sarah

[mfox]

Please please please try to get them to include/focus on the medical aspects (e.g. how a baby becomes trans).  So many people misinterpret transsexuals as indulging in a sexual fetish.  If they understood the medical side they would be more sympathetic.

[Sarah82]

Please please please try to get them to include/focus on the medical aspects (e.g. how a baby becomes trans).  So many people misinterpret transsexuals as indulging in a sexual fetish.  If they understood the medical side they would be more sympathetic.

This is an excellent idea

[cathyrains]

Please please please try to get them to include/focus on the medical aspects (e.g. how a baby becomes trans).  So many people misinterpret transsexuals as indulging in a sexual fetish.  If they understood the medical side they would be more sympathetic.

Actually I'm not sure that many people do "misinterpret transsexuals as indulging in a sexual fetish". Perhaps this is a transsexual misperception of cisgender opinion. Typically, at least in my experience, misunderstandings center around sexual orientation rather than paraphilia. That said, I would also find it immensely informative to learn: How DOES a baby become trans? 

[Cindy]

So many interesting replies. Thank you.

I'm not sure if it will come off. But we are talking and there is interest and now negotiation starts.

And of course we are now in a place where I cannot talk!

But think along the lines of from the womb to the grave, the science, sociology, practicality and life experience of being transgender in parallel to people who are not transgender.

I'm interested and cautious. The producer seems keen, respectful and she is going to take it to her production management team.

She has young children and excused herslf so she could go and collect them from child care/ school.

I asked her how she would cope if her little boy identified as her little daughter.

It shook her.
I'll see how we go.

Thank you everyone.

Cindy