What is broadcast in the UK reflects on you as a trans*person. Every month it is a case of spot the positives. Almost all television featuring anything remotely associated with trans*people is negative, comical or are negative stereotypes.
So if we do not list them they go unchallenged as evidence is needed to effect change! Or even give awards.
It is a thankless and time-consuming task - as you can imagine especially when a trans character is introduced ... Nevertheless rest assured someone is watching even if you can't.
High Points
Eastenders
Victoria Derbyshire with Dr B
Low points
Jerry Springer (as always).
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ALL MONTH
(Add a still image)
Well South Park series 19 was something to behold. It heavily features a rather lopsided (faced) Caitlyn Jenner with Mr Garrison (who himself had GRS at one time (hey it is SP!) The pair then take on political correctness and ads! Well I guess you will have to watch the show for more. Suffice it to say. They were a bit cruel with Caitlyn's appearance. But she actually was a power figure in the series. So that's fine eh?
Check it out if you can.
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Futurama
30/12
Pick
'Proposition Infinity'
Animated comedy sci-fi. Bender begins a campaign in favour of making robosexual marriage legal on Earth.
Comment
This is an old episode #OBVS. At a Gear Pride event (get it) the robots that want to get married (also to humans) are severely stereotyped. It is kinda funny as Futurama is a soft soap and does not dwell on these issues. The trans* moment came when a Hot Dog stall (read into that what you will!) changes into a robot with a deep voice and earrings.
Fry - "Cool! Can you change into a race car?"
Robot - "No, I am just a preop transformer."
Fry - "Awww."
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Luke Kempner's Impression of 2015
30/12
ITV2
Comedy impressionist Luke Kempner takes a cheeky look back at the year's most noteworthy events in a series of fast-paced sketches featuring some of the year's biggest celebrities.
Comment
his was pretty dire tbh. In general I mean. I just think this has all moved on since the days of Mike Yarwood, and dare I say it Keith Lemon who has twisted all this into something else. Comedy impressions need to be perfect to work and he just needs to work on his act a bit longer. Anyways onto the trans element. During the show he does a grotesque Kim Kardashian impression, and then does a voice over, similar to a charity appeal.
TRANSCRIPT
"At this difficult time of year spare a thought for the Kardashains!"
"The Kardashain crisis began in 2015 when Bruce Jenner became Caitlyn Jenner, here was a strong and fearless woman, who made a difference to the lives of millions of people, how her children suffered in comparison."
The problem with this is positive discrimination to the point of it actually becoming comical in itself. It is all now becoming a tad tongue-in-cheek. A bit like saying to your worst enemy, "Yeah you are brilliant, you are the best I love you!!!" Then as you walk away under your breath you say what a w*nker!"
We have to question why the positive part is being said at all? Personally, I'd rather people organically change over time and adapt to a trans* 'normality'. But whilst transgender people cash in on trans* currency with the media (tokenism), this will not change. If praise is insincere then don't bother raising it at all in shows like this. As for changing the lives of millions of people? Has Caitlyn directly changed your life since last week? Or is your life still a mundane drudge it always was. Millionaires eh? I think maybe just drop her off in a taxi somewhere miserable with £200 bucks and call back in 6 months and then applaud her? Cos that is the reality for most. And that is where change really happens - from the 'bottom' up!
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Victoria Derbyshire
14/01
BBC
What can be done about 'transphobia'? Transgender people in the UK face "high levels of transphobia" on a daily basis and they have "a long way to go" to achieve equality in the UK, MPs say. The Commons Women and Equalities Committee urged ministers to draw up a new strategy to tackle discrimination. The NHS and prison service need urgent reform, its MPs said, and there should be more training for police officers and teachers in handling trans issues. Victoria Derbyshire presenter Joanna Gosling spoke to Conservative MP Maria Miller, who heads up the equalities committee as well as transgender filmmaker Fox Fisher and specialist Dr James Barrett.
Comment
Good to see James Barrett on the show. Nice chap and helpful.
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Alan Carr's New Year Specstacular
31/12
Channel 4
Funnyman Alan Carr throws a New Year's Eve party to remember. Guests include David Guetta, Danny Dyer, Mel B, Greg Davies, Kelly Brook and Nish Kumar. Music from Ellie Goulding and The Vamps.
Comment
Alan Carr is a prime example of someone because they are gay being able to get away with transphobia. And it is sadly on Channel 4.
He opens the show with this line:
"This show has more packed into it than Caitlyn Jenner's Spanx!"
The joke actually goes down like a lead balloon! To which he replies:
"Eh? Oh you lot have changed!"
No Alan they are shocked you are being transphobic and refrained from laughing.
This is basically saying that Caitlyn Jenner has a penis stuffed into her underwear and isn't that funny!
This reminds me a bit of a 1970s club comic making racist jokes, then the 1980s brought us 'alternative comedy' and suddenly the old racists had to change their material. Alan at that moment looked old and out of touch. Lesson learned, so pack it it in Alan, later he went on to mock Lady Colin Campbell in a similar vein. Channel 4 need to find fresh new talent, Alan is just predictable and dull these days. By contrast Graham Norton had a tonne of A-listers and not one transphobic joke. He did one once (a few years ago) and we wrote to 'So Television' and he seems to have stopped - just shows
it is possible.
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Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie
31/12
BBC ONE
In this big-screen spin-off there are car chases, ninjas and outdoor musical numbers as Mrs Brown battles to save her market stall. Contains adult humour and strong language. Also in HD. [AD,S]
Comment
This is very old fashioned (probably why older people like it), even 'Morcambe and Wise' had more taste than this in the 1970s, lazy and I am amazed that the BBC have anything to do with it. It is nonsense, that suffers a bit of a problem in that, it uses minorities (hires them) and then mocks them by impersonating them, trans* aside, in this we had Brendan pretending to be Japanese? Seriously, "Me so SOWWY!"
REALLY?!!! It is just unbelievable! The irony is if you mock the Irish and look out! A one way stream of trash that the sooner is finished the better. This has happened for years - 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum' (Also BBC) did the same with Asians in the early 80s. This is the era that Mrs Brown belongs.
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The Graham Norton Show
31/12
BBC ONE
New Year's Eve Show: The guests on Graham's New Year's Eve sofa are Jennifer Lawrence, Eddie Redmayne, Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg.
Contains some strong language. Also in HD. [S]
Comment
Well obviously it is Eddie Redmayne and the 'Danish Girl' promotion.
Sad that they could not find one trans*person on the whole planet of billions of people to play this role other than Eddie.
However, if Lili has to be 'sexed up' and history rewritten, Eddie is a fine candidate. That aside, it was all very nice and amicable. And unlike Alan Carr, no transphobia.
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Greatest Stand Up Comedians
01/01
Channel 5
A rundown of the nation's all-time favourite stand up comedians, from Tommy Cooper to Victoria Wood, Robin Williams to Joan Rivers and Jo Brand. [S]
Comment
Dame Edna, Lily Savage were among the numbers who since have openly been transphobic when off stage in their male privilege. Again Gay Licence rears it's ugly head.
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CSI - Celebrating Vegas
01/01
5 USA
The Case of the Cross-Dressing Carp: Crime drama series. The CSI team works to solve the death of a transgender teenager. (S8 Ep 4) [AD,S]
Comment
Spoiler alert -
Spoiler: show
Billionaire Boy
01/01
BBC ONE
One-off family comedy. Father and son Len and Joe Spud have very little, but they become overnight billionaires when Len invents a new toilet roll. Also in HD. [AD,S]
Comment
A shameless cheap (you could have made this on your Iphone!) and poor sibling knock off of 'Richie Rich' ( see - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110989/ ).
Of course as the author Walliams has to write himself a part, and in this he plays a female dinner lady in his usual one dimensional performing style.
One word, watch Richie Rich instead. The BBC need to wake up out of their cross-dressing (Mrs Brown) coma and start over! How do you scare the BBC? "NETFLIX!"
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Weekend Woman's Hour
02/01
BBC Radio 4
Sara Pascoe, Shappi Khorsandi and Helen Lewis in a quiz, plus a discussion of nudity, whether 2015 is the year transgender joined the mainstream and how to embrace change.
Comment
Jack Munro, Paris Lees, and Natalie from 'On Road Media'.
Usual stuff, shame the BBC are so London centric, there are other transgender people in the UK. But their lack of energy in sourcing their opinions speaks volumes.
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Marriage Boot Camp
02/01
ITVBe
The Confession: Reality series. Hank finally breaks his silence regarding his alleged infidelity with a transgender model. Travis crumbles when hit with harsh criticism.
Comment
[YAWN!]
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Shocking Celeb Moments 2015
03/01
Channel 5
The most outrageous antics by the rich and famous, including repeat offenders like Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus, and new faces like Tom Jones and the Duke of Edinburgh's F bomb. [S]
Comment
At Number 2 was Caitlyne Jenner. The talking heads invited to comment.
American talking head - "The Caitlyn Jenner story was the biggest clebrity story to have ever happened in the celebrity world!" I would have thought it may have been Marylin Munro and the Kennedys.
But hey.
Michelle Visage - RuPauls Cis female judge who calls herself the mother of the GLABT community [GROAN!] said - "who? never heard of her."
"His face..."
"Bruce was going to become a woman..." [Bruce was always one I suspect, IM].
"It was brilliantly kept secret..."
"There was no one that famous who has made the transition before..."
I think social media and the endless TV channels work for this.
Caroline Cossey came close and at a time there was no twitter and just a few TV channels.
The most telling comment was from a Gay man who said, "Caitlyn has become a voice for the transsexual community - not that they wanted it!" LOL
And Michelle Visage said that whilst she wishes her well, "will Caitlyn continue with her activism when the cameras finally switch off?" I think that's a bit like calling the kettle calling the pot black. (is that racist?).
What was number one I here you ask? Well Madonna falling over with her cape wrapped around her throat at the O2 at the Brits of course?!
:\
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Tattoo Disasters - UK
04/01
Spike
Documentary series. Transgender taxi driver Melissa who, now that her hopes of being part of the project to colonise Mars have been dashed, wants her space tat scratched. (S1 Ep 2)
Comment
Doh!
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This Morning
04/01
ITV1
A look at the day's news and headlines presented by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
Comment
Eddie Redmayne (in a hotel Junket) promotes his film 'The Danish Girl' for a few moments.
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Gadget Man
05/01
Channel 4
Richard Ayoade looks at gadgets that can help in everyday life.
Richard investigates whether he can make himself a brighter, better man with the aid of gadgetry. Firstly he tests his reactions against the TV anchorman Eamonn Holmes ((with his old hips (see later)), before taking on actor Richard E. Grant in a series of concentration challenges.
Comment
They try on a head device that can control some software on a computer screen. Eamonn Holmes remarks. To turn it on..."Let's engage with our transgender, trans.... what is it (called)?"
Richard replies - "I don't think there is any gender reassignment (involved with this device)."
Eamonn continues... "Trans-Cranial!"
Richard - "(Yes) Trans-cranial."
Scripted it seemed?
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Reggie Yates' Extreme UK- Gay and Under Attack
05/01
BBC One
1/3. How young black and Asian gays and transsexuals meet hostility from their own communities. Contains some strong language. Also in HD. [S]
Comment
It was clear from this that very little has changed in the last 20 years in regard to transgender confidence and the public.
Sad to see. But the trans*person in the programme was welcomed by her father, and of course we must ask the question, if transgender is something temporary during transition and now they are all men and women, so why would they self-describe as transgender at all? So a programme like this would struggle to get participants as they should be looking for men and women with a trans history?
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Snapped - Killer Couples
07/01
YourTV
Jennifer Henderson and Skylar Deleon: A devout evangelical housewife and a former child star devise a murder plot that ends with a bizarre attempt at a sex change operation [SIC].
Comment
(Repeat).
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The Film Programme
07/01
BBC Radio 4
With Francine Stock. Eddie Redmayne reveals the research he undertook for The Danish Girl, a new drama about transgender pioneer Lili Elbe.
Comment
More promotion (and repetition obviously).
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New - Celebrity Big Brother's Bit On the Side
07/01
Channel 5
Rylan Clark-Neal is joined by a variety of celebrity panelists and an audience of CBB fans to debate hot topics, reveal exclusives and go behind the scenes of the main show. (Ep 3)
Comment
Lady Colin-Campbell gets a little spot to talk about the housemates and also appeared on the panel on a few shows.
At least Rylan treats her a bit better than the other hosts!
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Newsnight
08/01
BBC2
Elderly transgender people Debate
Comment
Important and something I have championed since my research in 2000 with over 100 national UK Health and social welfare charities which kicked off the debate.
The main change is that it is never too late and there is joy to be had in old age.
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The Voice UK
09/01
BBC ON
1/14. Blind Auditions 1: The singing talent series returns. Superstar coaches will.i.am and Ricky Wilson welcome Boy George and Paloma Faith to the panel. Also in HD. [S]
Comment
Paloma Faith (to Boy George) - "You know I used to be a man right?!"
Audience laughs...
This gag has been said for as long as I can remember, and it still gets the same laughter and trans*mocking reaction.
Just saying...
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EastEnders
11/01
BBC ONE
Martin grows concerned about Stacey's whereabouts and soon receives help from Nancy and Tamwar. Phil makes a shocking confession. Also in HD. [AD,S]
Comment
Transgender Actor see
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/3 ... television walks into the Queen Vic. And is later described by mentally ill Stacey as the devil. Probably because she is confused as he was her 'sister'.
I suggested that Eastenders do a Transman storyline 10 years ago (publicly posted it) to combat Hayley in Coronation Street, as they could boast a first...
The trouble is I fear they will milk transgender issues, rather than him as a man now. So this would be a step backwards, and exploiting trans*currency... A step forward would be he walks in as a man is treated as a man and gets storylines any male actor would get despite the viewing public being fully aware the character is trans. So I have said it, call me in 10 years when you do that BBC. Some may say they were cowards to wait this long, when it's value is greatly diminished.
The problem with this I can see is Luke Anderson in Big Brother in 2010 has already done it. And live to the nation 24/7 finally winning the show.
Then 'Hollyoaks' (Channel 4) had a go with their 'Jason' Character who was a young trans man. I mean Stephen Whittle OBE was presenting BBC TV shows in the late 90s. What this character could bring is to actually move away from trans*issues and just be the man he is. Unless the trans* issues complicate something, like fertility or meeting a new partner... If they dig down into a transphobia storyline (THIS IS ALL THEY KNOW) despite having plenty of Gay characters over the years to soften up the public it might be nonsensical and a retrograde step.
So BBC step forwards and just treat him like any other man. But some may say, "well what is the point of hiring a transgender actor if we cannot exploit his trans*status???!!!!" - and that my friends is what they call missing the point completely!
Watch this space! See if I am right?
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Benidorm
11/01
ITV1
The Spanish resort-based sitcom returns for an eighth series. Tiger brings along a new pal, Joey - who has never been abroad. Troy, Jacqueline and Kenneth say goodbye to Donald.
Comment
Les/Lesley played by cisgender actor Tim Healey is back again.
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Jerry Springer
13/01
Pick
Outrageous Guilty Pleasures: Outrageous American talk show in which Jerry Springer and his guests engage in lively - and sometimes heated - discussion about relationship issues.
Comment
Trans*men described in the title as 'Pretenders exposed!'
[Sigh!] Still a long way to go state-side eh? But as it is shown here it will no doubt influence similar opinions in the UK as acceptable.
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Jerry Springer
13/01
Pick
Outrageous Guilty Pleasures: Outrageous American talk show in which Jerry Springer and his guests engage in lively - and sometimes heated - discussion about relationship issues.
Comment
And what is a Guilty Pleasure for this show? Trans* of course...
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Followed by!
Jerry Springer
14/01
Pick
Outrageous American talk show in which Jerry Springer and his guests engage in lively - and sometimes heated - discussion about relationship issues.
Comment
The title of the show is.... Wait for it....
"It is Raining Trannies!!!"
Nuff said! MTF and FTM fight fest...
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The Wright Stuff
14/01
Channel 5
Matthew Wright and guests discuss the topical issues of the day.
Comment
The panel discuss the headline that, "No male of female option on passports, to prevent upsetting transgender people."
Matthew suggested why not have no gender options.
While to quote panelist Alexis Conran - " I dunno how you do it with the sporting bodies, if you are a man who has done the sex-change into a woman, can you compete with other women?...
I think again most would say they are women who had some correct genital surgery. Rather than 'done the sex-change!'
LOL
Hearts were in the right place. He meant well.
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Channel 4 News
14/01
Channel 4
Jack (Gender Non-Binary) vrs TERF
Interesting exchange and a rather trans exclusionary one.
The argument is an old hackneyed one based on. "If transgender women do not have to have surgery and can simply 'say I am a woman today' and recognised officially as such, they can then enter women only spaces and sexually assault them with their male genitalia." She cited one example from a few years ago whereby a man gained access to 'women only spaces and went on to violate the women they were with. However, this argument can be applied to anything. A prime example is US gun laws and young people and school massacres. A minority or dangerous people should not be setting the agenda for the majority. And stating examples like this just adds to the trans*panic that some use as an excuse to abuse transgender women (in particular). What I find more interesting is they did not use a trans*man in this same argument violating 'men only' spaces. I can only suppose because as far as she is concerned they ain't really men so it is OK?
Bit of a mess really and a tired old argument that I first witnessed on talk shows in the 80s.The fact this is still happening and NHS services are at breaking point suggests this maybe not the new dawn that so many hope is here! A few trans actors (and Eddie Redmayne) and Caitlyn Jenner is laughable on the scale of things. Like just because a few more faces are on the telly (already been done for decades) it is all well and good. For them maybe. But as Dr James Barrett stated on the BBC, "Trans*people are people first and foremost, and live ordinary lives and work in ordinary jobs (for the most part). Yet we see very little of them in the media. Just those promoting themselves.
It is those ordinary folk that will make the difference. The telly can act as a barrier sometimes.
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CSI - New York
15/01
5 USA
The Lying Game: The team investigate the murder of a transgender showgirl, but find the case complicated by the sheer number of
suspects. (S3 Ep 14)[S]
Comment
This is not bad considering the title and she being murdered - every cloud n all that! It feature a wealth of transgender actors and stars Candis Cayne, last seen with Caitlyn Jenner
Worth watching.
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8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
15/01
Channel 4
Jimmy Carr hosts the comedy version of the quiz show. Sean Lock and Jason Manford go up against Jon Richardson and Roisin Conaty. Sam Simmons joins Countdown's resident lexicographer Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner, while Rachel Riley looks after the numbers and letters.
Comment
This was more visual than verbal
Channel 4The gag goes thus...
Sam Simmons (Man on the right) - This started out and nothing to do with trans* yet halfway through... "Hey wait a minute, this is like if I was transitioning! Coz well it is poular now!" Gets a laugh.
Popular? In the snse that Air is popular or water is popular cos we need it maybe? But it is the laugh after it that bothers me really.
They are talking about something that potentially destroys lives. And it is stuill treated as funny. And in this context they can't cite this is a drag joke either.
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American Dad
18/01
BBC Three
14/20. Stan Goes on the Pill: Stan volunteers to take an experimental drug being tested by the CIA. Contains adult humour. Also in HD. [S]
Comment
And every trans*woman's dream? Stan wakes up a woman... Then Bullock Stan's Boss tries to seduce Stan, and it basically is built on the idea that the moment Stan becomes a woman - no one will listen to her apart from when it comes to sex.
BBC Three---
UK Border Force
24/01
Pick
Observational documentary series. Officers stop a Nigerian with a forged passport who insists he is 15 years old. A transgendered [SIC]woman suffering from terminal cancer and with just $10 to her name finds out if she qualifies to get into the country. A criminal is caught in Calais.
Comment
Regularly repeated for many years, one may ask what happened to her and is this a legacy she wanted?
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New- Celebrity Botched Up Bodies
24/01
Channel 5
Reality TV star Alicia Douvall, 36, has undergone 350 cosmetic procedures. Now she is looking to have her body returned to its natural state. (S1 Ep 3)[S]
Comment
Transgender woman Chelsea visits Chritopher Inglefield to have her vagina 're tailored' as she said it looked like an 'old granny's'.
The surgeon addressed this by injecting fat into the majora (as she was very thin) and hooding the clitoris.
This is something that the NHS should offer after surgery as it really does need a second op for many such as an episiotomy, as no amount of trans* girls suffer from pooling urine and penetration pain on that webbed skin. That should be an automatic follow-up service.
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Botched
27/01
ITVBe
Vagina Bomb!: Reality series. A transgender star asks doctors to fix her botched breasts, nose and vagina. Meanwhile, Paul tackles a deviated septum. [S]
Comment
Gilding the lily, she looked amazing when she went in and looked no different when she came out. Couldn't see the point other than to promote her porn films.
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This Morning
29/01
itv1
Eamonn Holmes is about to have a hip replacement and invites his surgeon to discuss this.
Comment
This is an under the radar moment, as the surgeon in question was the Queen Mother's Hip Surgeon Sarah Muirhead-Allwood, but back then was living in the male role as William. And came out in the Telegraph (where else?) a long time ago now. I am so pleased that this was not a topic of conversation and they focused on Eamonn's Hips. Since then he was successfully treated and is on the roead to recovery. If you want to find out more go shck on his progress at @EamonnHolmes. Sarah ius a prime example of a workaday woman who pops into the media now and again for all the right reasons (as the vast majority of transgender people live their lives, 'normally'. But not because they have a new frock or want to show off a selfie. Great stuff! And a good role-model to medics who want to transition.
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New - Videogame Nation
30/01
Challenge
The spotlight falls on the iconic Resident Evil franchise this week as Dan, John and Aoife take a look at what makes Capcom's survival horror series so popular. (S4, ep 3)
Comment
They look at the history of gaming and in a quote from the show...
"And female gang members who Capcom later identified as transgendered [SIC] because it was Japan in the 1980s and they didn't want people to get offended while they punched ladies in the face! No seriously! Look it up!"
The sad thing is this is being broadcast daily with actual transgender people. Daily on Pick via Jerry Springer (recent ones see above). [Shrugs].
But it shows that if you are a trans* woman then men can beat you up as ...well... (as they may say) you are not 'REALLY' a woman eh? :\ So you are fair game!
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Now You See Me
30/01
Channel 4
Thriller. Four illusionists perform a huge stunt during their show in Las Vegas: in presence of the audience, they rob a bank in Paris.
Comment
Whilst being interviewed by the FBI we hear this - sorry Channel 4 but it is on your channel.
"My deepest appologies to your colleagues out there, I'm really sorry about this whole Tranny Tuesday thing, I was out of line."
"Tranny Tuseday?"
"Well it is an arrangement, he and his wife have, or not have, if you believe everything agent fuller is saying to be correct. Isn't that a proud tradition in the FBI of men wearing dresses? OK agent Fuller?..."
(And then does a camp wrist gesture...).
What they mean is J.Edgar Hoover and you can read about them here...
http://library.transgenderzone.com/?page_id=2425
If you read our page you will see the more sensitive side of the issue. In this film it is used to comic effect, and that all the FBI are limp-wristed, dress wearing weirdos...
Good film and unnecessary dialogue that if removed would have no effect on it whatsoever. Leaving it in tarnishes Channel 4. This was made in 2013 not 1993! So really NO excuse for this transphobic dialogue whatsoever! Shame on the script writer/s. After all would they use the N-word to mock Morgan Freeman as he was in it too? It is just so old fashioned, old skool transphobia and spoiled an otherwise great movie!
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Don't have nightmares - see you next time with more of the same I guess?
What is your qualification to do so? I at least have archived trans media for 20 years and reported on it and its data for that time. That is better than most who do not dedicate anything like that time to their columns.