Interesting Program

[Guest Melanieshaman]

From Steven to Susan – CNN Documents an Extraordinary Journey of Gender Reassignment and Self-Discovery for Public Official

Her Name Was Steven premieres March 13 & March 14 at 8pm and 11pm ET & PT

Steven Stanton, former Largo, FL, city manager, appeared to have the perfect life: a loving wife and son, an influential job. Stanton described it as “paradise.” That dream world – “Steven’s World” - all changed when Stanton’s plans to become a woman were revealed. Stanton tells a dramatic story of public and private struggle during this transition. Interviews with Stanton’s wife, teen-age son and co-workers, along with childhood diaries, personal journals, and family films, take viewers into the world of Steven as he transitions to Susan.

CNN Presents: Her Name Was Steven is a compelling two-hour documentary premiering Saturday, March 13 and Sunday, March 14 at 8pm, 11pm, and 2am Eastern.

When local reporter Lorri Helfand, following a tip about Stanton’s cross dressing and explorations of gender reassignment, called Stanton to confirm her story, the city manager’s world came crashing down. Stanton, now facing a public professional and personal outing, was thrust abruptly into a media firestorm. A press conference and explosive community hearing ensued, ending Stanton’s Largo city manager career, fundamentally altering his family forever, and forcing Stanton to make decisions about how he would live the rest of his life.

“For me…I just knew that what was inside, this presence…this feeling of being somebody other than what I was on the outside, was real and it’s been something I’ve struggled with for many years of my life,” says Stanton in the documentary.

CNN followed Stanton’s life for more than two years. The resulting portrait is sensitively told in Stanton’s own voice, with arresting candidness and honesty, and produced using natural sound. Stanton also recorded video diaries throughout the transition. The film was screened at seven major American film festivals to appreciative audiences. March 13 will be the film’s television premiere.

Bud Bultman is the executive producer for Her Name was Steven. Rose Arce is the senior producer. Scott Matthews is director of programming for CNN Productions which includes the award-winning documentary series CNN Presents and the ground-breaking CNN Special Investigations Unit.

[Guest Donna Jean]

Wow, Mel........

Gotta see this...I had read a lot about her when it was all going down...

Thanks for the heads up, Hon!

LOVE

Donna Jean

[Carolyn Marie]

Thanks, Melanie. I will definitely watch. I feel particularly connected to this story, as I'm in the public sector myself.

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Good catch!

Thank you!

Lizzy

[Sally]

Thanks for the information - they are running it often enough that I am bound to be home for one of the airings.

I have been fascinated by this story from the beginning but as things began to sort of smooth out the media sort of lost interest n it.

I am glad that someone followed through.

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest Melanieshaman]

you all are very welcome, i wasn't really paying attention at first, then i heard the title and was like "WHA!?" so i had to get the info out for those who didn't know (I watch CNN every morning and watch the situation room almost every afternoon.)

Melanie

[Guest Cris]

Thanks Melanie,

I got the DVR set.

Cris

[Guest ChloëC]

I just found a site that says they have an 'assignment' for ts people

http://www.examiner.com/x-12237-Transgende...on-rss-National

Something about logging onto CNNiReport and leaving messages, questions etc.

Is anyone here going to be doing this?

If I have time, I will watch at least parts of it.

Chloë

ps I saw it advertised on CNN this past Tuesday as I sat in a terminal awaiting my flight. I don't think many other people around me were paying much attention. I checked out the story, and apparently there was a time after transition that Susan sort of thought it was all a mistake as she was unemployed, her family except for the son had deserted her, and that's where the story sort of ended. But later she did find a job, and last I read, felt a little better.

I guess I'd like to hear some feedback from people here about the story, after it airs, and what it all means.

[Guest Melanieshaman]

While I am not gonna hit all my thoughts at the moment on this program (just finished watching it), I have to say i am very torn over my feelings about Susan, and how she approached her transition, and how she handled the after effects or coming out and being fired... On one hand she seemed very sympathetic, but on the other, she seemed to thrive on the attention, and i was sorely disappointed in some of her statements and views of the LGBT community.

Melanie

[Guest ~Brenda~]

While I am not gonna hit all my thoughts at the moment on this program (just finished watching it), I have to say i am very torn over my feelings about Susan, and how she approached her transition, and how she handled the after effects or coming out and being fired... On one hand she seemed very sympathetic, but on the other, she seemed to thrive on the attention, and i was sorely disappointed in some of her statements and views of the LGBT community.

Melanie

I know what you mean Melanie

Brenda

[Guest Maelee]

I just got done watching it. It was pretty good but there was a part talking about her supporting the HRC bill that was pushing to make it illegal to fire people based on sexual orientation but that offered no protection for transgender/transsexuals. Unfortunately, that was about the time my dad came home from getting dinner and just had to start talking all about his meal and I could not hear the tv (was watching it with my mom who stayed home).

Near the end of the show they showed Susan talking about an option c (ending her life) since she was not finding a job. As her son said, she should not be so down about not having a job. But at the very end they showed some writing that said she had gotten a job as city manager in 2009 in florida again. Contemplating suicide over not finding employment just seems so silly to me. Of course, that is after the fact for me but suicide just should never be an option for anyone.

All and all a pretty good show I think. It was amazing the transformation she went through from beginning to end. The only thing I would like to add though is running in t-shirts is a good idea, not just a sports bra.

Love and *hugs*

Mae

[Guest Melanieshaman]

Suicide is for thr weak.. there is NO reason for it.

Mel