I agree with Amy, I don't think Katie was looking for shock value per se. I think it was honestly the question she thought people (her viewers) wanted to know the answer to. And it's not like people in general know much about the real issues we face, all they know is it's a physical process and maybe your loved ones reject you. But as Laverne said it can be much more serious than that. I also really like her response that was posted. She seems to not only have an educated view, but a compassionate view, and she saw the good intentions of those who invited her on the show even if they focussed on the wrong issue.

Quote from: caleb. on January 09, 2014, 06:03:45 PM
I agree with Amy, I don't think Katie was looking for shock value per se. I think it was honestly the question she thought people (her viewers) wanted to know the answer to.

I agree Caleb.

I'll go further though. If anyone of us is offended by the question, we have only ourselves to blame. We've done a TERRIBLE job of educating the public about our situation. We've more or less outsourced that to the media who spreads misinformation about us as often as it enlightens.

It does not help that the trans people who appeared on the old talk shows with such titles as Is she a man or a woman? Or I used to be a Man or whatever like The Jerry Springer show Or Maury Povich. Those shows were not very educational. And put a poor taste in my mouth. Just recently I was watching the Chelsea Lately and one of the comics made a bad joke on transgenders. It pissed me off.

Quote from: Amy The Bookworm on January 08, 2014, 09:12:35 AM
You ever have a moment when you're thinking something, and unsure of if saying it is a good idea or not because you just know you're going to anger some people by saying it?

I apologize in advance.

No apology needed Amy.  I was thinking the same thing.

Quote from: Amy The Bookworm on January 08, 2014, 09:12:35 AM
I didn't pick up on her asking the same question twice. I got the feeling she was asking the second time, "Why is this something she doesn't want to discuss? Is it just her, or did I cross a line"

And the answer she got was a very frank "Yeah... yeah Katie, yah crossed a line ... step back, and think." And hopefully a lot of people watching that show heard and understood that, because it may be the first time they ever thought about just how rude questions like that really are, and that in the grand scheme of things, there are far larger issues to discuss.

+1. 

(I had things to add, but I deleted them.  When I read over what I had typed, I realised that Amy had already stated it much better than I was attempting to.)

Both Carrera and Cox seemed very educated, tactful, and (most importantly) sane.  As someone who is finally finding the courage to have a voice after years of terror due to negative stereotypes and those horrible television shows from the 80s and 90s, to see those two speak with grace, turn the direction of the questions, and not come off as another crazy person... well it was inspiring.

Katie asked the typical ignorant question, yes, but to a lot of uneducated people I've had the opportunity to speak to (not come out to, just broach the subject in conversation) that's all trans is... nip, tuck, done.  Some very good points were made in the dress-down of Katie, and she as a host let them talk it out.

The way they got there did stink, but the positive message came out.  It really is a pity that it still has to be on talk shows.