tonight on OWN

[Christy Edwards]

Some may already know, but there's a special coming on TV tonight at 10 est. I think its called
Transgendered lives. Oh, on the new OWN channel...I have my DVR set....

[Melody Maia]

The name of the series is Our America. Here is the show description for tonight: "Transgender Lives - Lisa Ling explores the very private worlds of five different transgender people across America. Each is on a journey of transformation; from the sex they were born to the one they feel they really are." Set my DVR too.

[Nygeel]

I've seen the ads, and saw the interview the other night. I'm just cringing at the thought of watching it. The clips shown on The Daily Show make me not want to watch it.

[Sandy]

Without even seeing it or any ads or any other clips of it, I will state that if the need to show the MTF's putting on makeup or the FTM's pumping iron, I will scream.

I think there must be some part of some prodigious film school that requires that all trans documentaries show this.  I have not seen any documentary (and I've seen plenty) that did not have that in it.  Can you say cliche?  It gets to be a bit dreary after the first dozen or so...

I don't think I would make a good subject for a documentary because I would absolutely refuse to do any of those stereotypical things.  I mean if they have a documentary about breast cancer do they show shots of those women putting on their makeup?  Come on!

Someone else let me know how it was and I'll catch it on the re-run.

-Sandy

[Nygeel]

Sandy, there's one girl that's 6 years old on the show.

[Sandy]

Sandy, there's one girl that's 6 years old on the show.

Then they'll have pictures of her playing with dolls and showing off her pink room with unicorns and mermaids.

I'm not calling out the trans people in these documentaries, I'm all for them.  I'm decrying the bankrupt producers of these things that feel that they have to show some cross gender activity to show what a transsexual is.  I mean, come on now, I think that the viewing public is sophisticated enough to know basically what a male to female transsexual or a female to male transsexual is without having to show her putting on makeup or him doing sit-ups.  Or if she is a child, playing with dolls.

How about we get to the really hard part of transition.  The agony we live with, the terror, the taunting, the compassion-less family, friends, and co-workers or school mates.  How about all the hoops we have to jump through to convince government and society that we are who we say we are?

They don't, mostly, because it is not visually interesting.  It is more visually interesting to show a MTF putting on lipstick and have a VO that says "Robert was always an introverted child, but now Roberta is an outgoing and confident woman".  Pull-eeze!

-Sandy

[wheat thins are delicious]

I don't have that station but I hope someone out in the world of internet will put it up online.

[Nygeel]

Female firefighter, talking about everything she's lost in transition (although she kept her job). Eh, it's something but Lisa Ling is bothering me. The mispronouning and emphasis on "birth gender" is annoying.

[Just Shelly]

Even though it had the typical cliches, and wasn't much different then the other 50 or so trans shows. I thought it was done fairly well.

I cried every time they talked to the 6 year old parents. I just wish everyone could be as open to trying to understand transgendered people as the Father was.

Shows like this can only make things better for all if us.

YES it would of been nice not to see him working out all the time or all of the women putting their makeup on. Well you can't have it perfect I guess.

Shelly

[some ftm guy]

i saw it and liked it

[N.Chaos]

I saw a preview for it watching "An Idiot Abroad" this weekend, I'm curious but I don't get cable where I stay 99% of the time.
Oddly enough, my girlfriend really wants to watch it. If it shows up online, someone post it here please?

[Melody Maia]

Recorded it and watched it. Yes Sandy, full of those cliches, but they did show one of the ladies, Dielle, just before FFS, alone and without family. A point they did emphasize then and towards the end of the show. Also a young FTM getting his first testosterone shot NOT pumping iron, but putting on his binder. I liked those bits actually.

Dielle's story in particular hit VERY close to home. She is just about my age and speaks about how she had the American dream of a wife, kids and beautiful home and lost them. Since I am writing this from the 100sq ft with the four pink plastic boxes containing the things that my life has been reduced to, it hit me very hard. I actually found it nearly too painful to watch and it pretty much instantly turned on the water works. I can't say everyone would react this way, but I guess I am in a unique position to sympathize.

[Christy Edwards]

I did rec the show and watched it. I thought it was good. I liked the support and understanding of the mom and dad of the TG child..I also thought it so familiar, especially Michelle. It's wonderful with Michelle's remarks on how she loves the person...I was touched deeply..

[Christine Eryn]

It was one of those shows over the years that made me say to myself "hey, you're like that". I also think, hmm, if only we could have switched bodies (or minds) at some point. After I pondered that thought for too long, I couldn't watch it, but I do have it on DVR.

[Debra]

Anyone know where I can get this online?

Oprah had something on her site but it wouldn't play worth a darn.

[some ftm guy]

@ Jerica - i tried youtube but it was just an update clip of one of the people on the episode. i guess you'd have to see it on tv

[Melody Maia]

I just saw this posted on Facebook. It is only one segment, but it is a touching one.