Transformations: A review of "Our America with Lisa Ling - Transgender Lives"
http://sdgln.com/social/2011/03/09/transformations-review-our-america-lisa-ling-transgender-lives (http://sdgln.com/social/2011/03/09/transformations-review-our-america-lisa-ling-transgender-lives)
3/11/11
This episode was subtitled "Transgender Lives," and the promo said: "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."
I admire and respect Ms. Ling's skills as a journalist and as a great (unbiased) listener, and her episode spotlighting the lives of a handful of transgender folks (both MtoF and FtoM) did not disappoint.
Well, at least not too much ...
The show opened up to a bucolic scene in the Midwest (an exact location wasn't given for privacy's sake) and even though the program was well-done, the language (or, rather, the terminology Ling used) made me cringe just a tad.
When describing the first person profiled, she said, "A man who always thought that he was a she ..."
Glad to hear it was good. I recorded it on my DVR but since there were two transgender shows on that day I watched one and forgot about this one until now. I'll have to check it out later. As far as her terminology I would agree with the author but like Madelyn said about introducing people to it that language will better help someone understand.
I'm just grateful to see a well respected journalist caring enough to try to learn about it and help others understand :)