Jump to content
  • Welcome to the TransPulse Forums!

    We offer a safe, inclusive community for transgender and gender non-conforming folks, as well as their loved ones, to find support and information.  Join today!

LGBT in media, an observation


KymmieL

Recommended Posts

  • Forum Moderator

Moderators, I hope this is the correct area.  Well I have been noticing that some of the shows on TV have delved into the LGBT arena. A lot of shows that I watch or have seen ads for have a Lesbian or gay couple or romance in them. With that segment growing. But I have noticed that the  transgender spectrum is lagging miles behind.

 

Some series have had one or two shows on a transgender woman. (Law & Order, SVU 2. CSI 1)Then there is transparent which is almost a comedy.  I just looked at the list of the 8 top transgender movies available on streaming services. it seems that only 2 of the 8 only deal with the trans woman. the rest are trans men. While some media have brought trans parts into the mix. there are few compared to gay and lesbian. I can only hope that transgender starts making more inroads.

 

These are my observations and opinions.

 

Kymmie

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

Nia Nal (Nicole Maines) on the CW's Supergirl (I'm a comics geek, shush) is a trans actress playing a trans character who is also a superhero, so that happened. It's getting better!

 

I agree you you on Transparent though. It's pretty heartfelt and treats the subject matter carefully, but it's totally a comedy.

 

Hugs!

Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...

There was an Australian detective series called "Deep Water" that had a trans woman as a supporting actor/actress. However, the character was murdered about halfway thru the series. However, the character also was glaring non-passing, not that it's wrong to not pass very well, but it's like they made her out to be an object of derision. Large breasts (I'm told simply being on hormones for a year or 2 won't get you there), manning figure, a walk like a football halfback, and bright red lipstick against yesterday's 5 o'clock shadow. It's possible they intended to make her an example ("it's okay to be trans") but the character was acted well, and came across very sincere, even if the appearance seemed clowning and designed to mock.

Link to comment

Unfortunately there are too many in various media venues that thrive on creating sensationalism at the expense of all of us.

Link to comment

I know about one or two but I'm not personally aware of many TV shows or films that approach the transgender subject. Gotta fix that.

I saw a lot of short films on youtube though. Of course, these don't reach many people. But they are still nice to watch. Although, most of them are incredibly depressing. Well, at least they're not offensive (well, the ones I saw that is). 

 

Discrimination agains't gay people has lessened immensely over the past years. It's still there of course and it remains quite serious in some parts of the world but it's getting better. Trans people have it much worse. There are even cis homosexuals that fall into the transphobic category. And they're not the only ones who have been discriminated against that happen to act this way. There's a cis theatre director (won't say names) whose work approaches racism. As a black man, he feels the need to continue a quest for equality. However, even though he himself has struggled with being discriminated against, he still made one of his actor's life miserable, forcing him to quit the show (this actor just couldn't handle the horrible way he was being treated during rehearsals). This only happened because the director found out the bloke hadn't been born in a male body and was actually transgender. 

I find this horrifying, the reality that even people who have suffered the horrors of discrimination discriminate just like others did to them.

 

I'm getting a bit off topic here. Sorry about that.

 

Continuing:

It's true that I do believe there are many series/films which use trans characters as if they were a fashion accessory that's selling at the moment but I also believe the fact that addressing this matter, no matter the reason, is important (if respectful that is). I mean, many series/films are made with the objective of making money anyway, doesn't matter the subject. Just look at the avenger movies. The importance thing is: not representing trans folk in a comedic and also offensive way. The story could be funny yes, it doesn't have to be depressing just to be respectful. I'm just hoping for cis people to start watching and also enjoying these series/films without the purpose of mocking. I believe this might help end the "abnormal" or "freak" (shiver) words that many associate with transgender people. Cis people should be aware that the truth is we are all human beings looking for happiness in life, no matter the gender we identity with. 

 

I'm not an expert on the subject, so I apologize if my words didn't carry much knowledge. Even though I've been experience body dysphoria ever since the age of 12, I've only recently accepted the rather probable possibility of me being trans. 

It's scary as hell and the cause of this is the ignorance of the "normal" ones. Media is a powerful tool and it might be a way to lessen/stop transphobia.

 

Let's hope for a better future.

 

 

 

Link to comment

Wonderful post Oliver Perry! I find that the most transphobic types are the one that claim to be liberal that claim and prove to be otherwise. Things are never as they seem!

Link to comment
  • Admin

I am actually on the margins of the Trans acting community out here in So Calif and have an Artists Manager through a Trans owned agency  I did background artist work in one Transparent episode and have auditioned for a couple of Trans produced, directed and acted short feature films that will come out after the first of the year.  In one of those films, Trans people are playing Cis people.  I did not get either part but knew both of the people who did,.  I have had on-stage time with my Trans Chorus group, and they have an impressive list of singers they have backed over the last four years. They have also done work in a commercial recently but I can't say much about it.  Add to my personal list are a couple of documentaries on Trans life. , I can say that we are making inroads.  I recently posted a link to a U-Tube interview here about a series on people coming out.  Look for a film entitled Death and Bowling In Los Angeles after about February.  If you are over 18, look for Tangerine which is a story of Trans life on the streets of L.A.  It is rough but beautiful.

At he minute we do not have a big library of major producer films, but the documentaries I was in won prizes and have been seen in about 6 countries.  The Chorus is up to six countries for its work, so stuff is out there but I agree not from the BIG international producers as a rule.  When the 2020 awards season begins, you may see more.  One of our Trans children has also gotten recent awards for a short film they were in.  I had a movie camera on me at TDOR last night, and it was fun but ho hum.  . 

Link to comment
  • Forum Moderator

That is great to hear, Vicky. That we as transgender are finally getting time in front of the camera we need to help us as a group.

 

There is a documentary about a transgender woman and her struggle. called Prodigal Son. In internet searches only thing that comes up is the TV series. Can anyone post up a link so I can view it. 

 

Kymmie

Link to comment

I don't know if I this counts. While watching a 1980s sitcom called Gimme A Break staring the late Nell Carter herself a lesbian at the time of her passing I stumbled on a 2 episodes that pertain to LGBT. As if Gimme a Break wasn't forward thinking enough with a African American women caring for a Caucasian Widower and his 3  daughters they touch on LGBT in two episodes. The one that comes to mind is an Episode titled Melissa. Nell must find a women to accompany her employer at an evening ceremony as he receives Man of the Year by his Peers at the Police station. She walks in to a Store that sells and rents suits and Tuxedos. The Women at the counter introduces herself as Melissa Winningham. Nell Sets her up with The Chief. It is only found out that she is transgender and has had reassignment surgery after a deputy comes in and recognizes Melissa as his old Karate instructor a man by the name of Harvey Wallace.  She and the Chief begin dating.  When she learns from Nell that the Chief plans to propose to her, she comes clean to Nell. She then leaves. The Chief ask Nell where she went and Nell then tells him that Melissa was born a Man. The chief at first takes it badly. Then he mellows and says he really felt something for her. The other one is when Carl finds out that one of his men is gay.

Link to comment
  • Admin

Jazz Jennings has recently appeared in a short film named Denim according to her mother. 

Link to comment

Face the fact the population of transgender people is extremely small when you gauge it against a population in general. Where homosexuality is far more represented Because is is far more widespread. The amount of television and cinema gauged at the transgender community reflects the statistics.

There is not many because there is not many so to speak.

 

However. In the UK there has been some very good documentaries regarding transition etc. Done with taste and dignity.
"The making of me" being one of them.

 

Another contributing factor is perhaps those who have completed there transition no longer want to be known as trans. There was a very good television comedy a few years ago that starred  actress Rebecca Root. It was called boy meets girl. Who had completed transition The fact that she had once been male was perhaps mentioned once or twice in the series and only when it was needed.
Rebecca has been in a few UK television series. But the trans side wasn't even mentioned.

Also a Dectetive series called Baptiste which had Talisa Garcia. Very gritty and quite a good watch.

 

Also. Perhaps the people that produce these shows are maybe not as proactive at seeking Trans actors and actresses to appear. Unless it is a documentary regarding real lives and not a drama or such like. I can't say I have ever seen a call for aspiring trans people on any forum or indeed anywhere which I ever visited asking for people from the community to try out for a show. I know a few actors that I have met at functions and dinner parties. Who are tried out for roles overlooking anyone else who may consider themselves for the part because of there popularity If they were trans they were very good at hiding it. Let's face facts. There are many aspiring actors or actresses among the trans community who will never get their chance. Therefore the pool of trans actors or actresses is very shallow. Also, as a rule, they will only use established actors or actresses for such roles for there scripts. because they can potentially make more money from those and not someone new and unheard of

 

It is mainly all about the money. Not because they want to promote the community as a whole.

 

Personally, if the money was right I would try acting as a career. But I doubt anyone would want a Miserable old drama queen like me on there set.?

Link to comment
  • Admin
10 hours ago, Maid In Bedlam said:

Personally, if the money was right I would try acting as a career. But I doubt anyone would want a Miserable old drama queen like me on there set.

 

The two parts I auditioned for were the parts of Cis women in their late 60's on up and were both bossy old girls.  My friends who got the jobs were type cast, since that is what they are IRL, but I love them anyway!!

Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Who's Online   7 Members, 0 Anonymous, 85 Guests (See full list)

    • Ali_Genderlfuid
    • April Marie
    • Birdie
    • Ashley0616
    • Betty K
    • Petra Jane
    • Susie
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      80.8k
    • Total Posts
      769.5k
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      12,071
    • Most Online
      8,356

    Ran91
    Newest Member
    Ran91
    Joined
  • Today's Birthdays

    1. Caridad
      Caridad
    2. Certbunnie
      Certbunnie
      (25 years old)
    3. EstherElle
      EstherElle
      (43 years old)
    4. Juliet
      Juliet
      (43 years old)
    5. MelissaAndProudOfIt
      MelissaAndProudOfIt
      (59 years old)
  • Posts

    • Vidanjali
      @FelixThePickleMan your post reveals a lot of insight, but also mixed with denial. Your desire to strengthen your relationship with your mother is admirable, but it cannot be the sole motivating factor to your giving up an addictive behavior. However, your love for your mother and desire for her love will help strengthen your resolve. But that resolve needs to come from your own will. You say you smoke because you have nothing else to do and you believe you are a better person when you're high. You must come to understand that the creative and charismatic energy that drugs seem to unleash is potentially in you at all times. Make it your project to figure out how to tap into that and channel it without using drugs. Make that your thing to do. It's a challenging and exciting thing to do.    I started smoking cigarettes at age 15. In my late teens, a good friend observed that smoking was the only time she ever saw me calm. That was profound for me. It took a few more years, but eventually I had the epiphany in which I saw my life as nothing but a string of tedium in between each cigarette. It seemed so pathetic to me and that motivated me to give up smoking and learn to live life differently. My story of addiction is much longer and more entailed, but I will focus only on smoking here as it is relevant.    And as I reflect on it, I also should comment on your belief that you have to stop liking the habit before you can quit. That is not a necessary condition for one to quit. In fact, if that were so, hardly anyone would ever quit any bad habit. More accurately, you come to dislike the person you have become while in the grip of the bad, addictive habit. Not in a self-loathing kind of way, as that will not motivate you, but rather depress you. In other words, you come to a place where you are able to take a subjective view of yourself and your life and decide that you want something else, something better. And sometimes that only happens when you hit the lowest point in your life and there's nowhere to go but up. Don't let yourself get even close to that state, if you can help it - and you can help it.   Weed seems to imbue all your activity with a kind of a magical quality. This makes the world, your activities, and yourself much better with weed. But all that is an illusion. Your proof is that it's artificially invoked, only temporary, and destructive to your relationship with your mother. If I may be so bold, frankly, it is a cop out. You have the potential in you to see your life, the world, and yourself as beautiful, captivating, and wonderous without altering your mind. In fact, it is in clearing your mind that you are able to glimpse this. You want something productive to do? Develop a workout routine. Take up meditating. Learn mindfulness techniques which you can practice throughout the day. The magic is in quieting the mind and being present. There is no instant intensity like you get with weed. But you gain power within yourself, and you are the very source. Become addicted to that - that is a good addiction and you will progressively see your life and relationships in a new and brighter light.    
    • EasyE
      I had a pretty serious porn addiction for awhile (thankfully broken about 12 years ago), and so my wife sees my "trans-ness" tied into that ... to her, it is all one ugly thread of sexual sin and dysfunction... sometimes, I do struggle with it, too. Is this just another branch of a sexual addiction thing? Am I looking for a substitute for the porn?   When I sift through everything it seems much deeper than that. And if anything, the HRT has lowered/changed my libido and it hasn't lowered my desire to move in a more feminine direction with dress, etc. It can be confusing, especially when you are in a very religious/moralistic environment...   To get back to the main topic, the fear of change and the unknown is huge. And like others have said, folks on the fringe of just about any cause tend to be what gets played up in the media and what folks see the most. Not many people see good ol' regular transgender people who are just trying to live their lives, hold down jobs, take care of their families, etc.  
    • Mmindy
      Welcome to Transgender Pulse Forums @Kait   Best wishes, stay positive and motivated.   Mindy🌈🐛🏳️‍⚧️🦋
    • Mmindy
      Good morning everyone,    Coffee and Birds all in one meme.   Hugs,   Mindy🌈🐛🏳️‍⚧️🦋
    • Kait
      Isn't it illegal to be examining people's genitals without their consent?    Could've sworn that was some sort of law already.
    • Ladypcnj
      Hi Vidanjali, both of my parents had pasted on in their lifetimes.
    • Charlize
      Oddly i often feel i pass but then bump into someone who reads my past attempts at maleness.    Last week at the market a man spoke me as i went back to my car.  I heard "You are beautiful"!  Odd!!!!!  Then he said something about marriage and i started to get worried.  Turned out he is married to a trans woman.  He was sweet and probably is tuned to trans folks but it was a bit disquieting.     Hugs,   Charlize
    • April Marie
      I decided to power wash our back porch and the porch furniture so the uniform of the day is a skort, t-shirt over a sports bra and flip flops with my hair pulled back into a ponytail.
    • Mirrabooka
      It's been touched on in another thread, the perception that the folks who scream loudest in favor of free speech are also the loudest in wanting to stifle the freedom of people not like themselves.
    • Mirrabooka
      I wonder if the LGBTQI+ umbrella should be split? Create separate entities for LGB and TQI+ folk?    I have no doubt that some cis het people probably think that sexuality and gender identity are the same thing, for whatever the reason, not necessarily willful ignorance. It would be natural for such people to observe that both LGB and T folk are under the same umbrella, so they must be the same, right?   Just as (and I know I'm making some pretty big assumptions in this post) some cis gay folk would think that the LBGTQI+ umbrella is pie - give trans people a slice, and somehow, they will miss out. Just like cis het folk might also think that their lives are somehow being diminished by allowing trans people to have basic human rights.
    • Heather Shay
    • Heather Shay
      Some anxiety is building up inside.
    • Heather Shay
      Suppressing your emotions because you’re afraid of them can be bad for your physical and mental health. Here’s what to do instead. When a toddler feels a “big” emotion, like anger or sadness, they tend to have a big tantrum on the floor. And these tantrums can be a lot to observe, full of thrashing, screaming, and tears. But a child reacts like this because the emotion they’re feeling is uncomfortable, maybe even painful.   Of course, as adults, we feel emotions too, and those feelings can be just as overwhelming, uncomfortable, or even painful as they were when we were children, even if we don’t let ourselves react in such a big way. But, sometimes, in our attempts to not give in to our emotions, we go too far: we run from them or suppress them — even if that harms us in the long run. Although there are many reasons we might suppress our emotions, one of them is that we are afraid of our emotions. Fear of emotions is called “animotophobia. It is not an official term in the DSM-5-TR. Still, fearing your emotions can have a significant impact on your well-being.      
    • Heather Shay
    • Heather Shay
  • Upcoming Events

Contact TransPulse

TransPulse can be contacted in the following ways:

Email: Click Here.

To report an error on this page.

Legal

Your use of this site is subject to the following rules and policies, whether you have read them or not.

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
DMCA Policy
Community Rules

Hosting

Upstream hosting for TransPulse provided by QnEZ.

Sponsorship

Special consideration for TransPulse is kindly provided by The Breast Form Store.
×
×
  • Create New...