In the 1999 film “Boys Don’t Cry,” Hilary Swank tackled the role of Teena Brandon, a transgendered girl in small town Nebraska who everyone thought was a kind and gentle boy. Brandon was dating another girl, Lana, but when news spread that he was biologically a female, violence ensued and Brandon was brutally murdered. Swank won an Oscar for the role. [IMDb]
I know it’s a pretty common usage, but using
“transgender” as a noun really bugs me. Something about calling someone “a transgender” just seems offensive to me, though from what I can tell it’s what people say - even people within the trans community. It’s the same way with “gay” for me. “Oh, he’s a gay.” just comes off to me as someone saying ‘oh, he’s one of them.’ Maybe I’m too sensitive, maybe not, but I’m rallying for them to be adjectives!
Please don’t get me wrong, I’m definitely not chastising or saying that you hate trans people or anything like that, I’m just curious if anyone else agrees.
Also, this post kicks ass and I am super excited to see the Nicole Kidman movie.
Milla wrote on September 18 2009 @ 10:07 am:
[report]
@J.D. Bauchery Definitely agreed. I believe the correct term is “trans man” or “trans woman” to describe someone who has made the transition. And I think that’s a pretty important distinction to make, since slurs like “tranny” are constantly seen and used as a way to devalue trans folks.
And while I think movies that draw attention to trans issues are important, I wish we could see some trans actors in these roles rather than cis actors. That seems to be the next big hurdle to cross.
Damnit! I was looking forward to a slideshow of transsexual people who have encountered success in the entertainment business. Instead I get this. *sigh*
Don’t forget Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a twofer! Miriam Shor, a female, plays Yitzak and spends most of the movie with facial stubble until Yitzak comes out in all his drag queen glory.
@Anniushka: I share in your disappointment. :( The title was misleading. :(
*sam* wrote on September 18 2009 @ 10:06 pm:
[report]
@J.D. Bauchery & @Milla: “transgender” is an acceptable term within the LGBT community. It refers to the trans community as a whole. I have a really good FtM (female to male) trans friend and he uses “tranny” all the time. I don’t think any of it is derogatory unless it’s obviously being used as such. Same goes for “gay” as well.
Anways, Kate Moennig (“Shane” on the L Word) played a MtF trans in an episode of Law and Order: SVU and Julie Andrews played a “woman pretending to be man, pretending to be a woman”, in Victor/Victoria
Milla wrote on September 19 2009 @ 08:56 am:
[report]
@sam From what I’ve seen, though, a lot of trans women find “tranny” derogatory and misogynistic, and find the use of it within the transgender community really problematic.
At any rate, I don’t think it’s ever okay for the cis community to use it.
And I think J.D. Bauchery was referring to the use of gay/transgender as a noun and not an adjective. I would take exception to someone referring to me as “a bisexual.” Uh, I’m a person who happens to be bisexual. And trans people are people who happen to be transgender. The point was that these terms aren’t nouns. They’re descriptors.
I Go To 11
wrote on September 18 2009 @ 07:19 am: [report]
No mention of Cate Blanchett playing Bob Dylan in “I’m Not There”?
bogart4017
wrote on September 18 2009 @ 08:04 am: [report]
Brandon Teena was the best movie!
karmakaze
wrote on September 18 2009 @ 08:09 am: [report]
Breakfast on Pluto was an excellent movie! Cillian was so damn PRETTY!!! It kinda made me jealous…
J.D. Bauchery
wrote on September 18 2009 @ 08:26 am: [report]
I know it’s a pretty common usage, but using
“transgender” as a noun really bugs me. Something about calling someone “a transgender” just seems offensive to me, though from what I can tell it’s what people say - even people within the trans community. It’s the same way with “gay” for me. “Oh, he’s a gay.” just comes off to me as someone saying ‘oh, he’s one of them.’ Maybe I’m too sensitive, maybe not, but I’m rallying for them to be adjectives!
Please don’t get me wrong, I’m definitely not chastising or saying that you hate trans people or anything like that, I’m just curious if anyone else agrees.
Also, this post kicks ass and I am super excited to see the Nicole Kidman movie.
Thanks for listening. </rant>
xoxo
-J.D. Bauchery
http://www.hotmoviesforher.com
Milla
wrote on September 18 2009 @ 10:07 am: [report]
@J.D. Bauchery Definitely agreed. I believe the correct term is “trans man” or “trans woman” to describe someone who has made the transition. And I think that’s a pretty important distinction to make, since slurs like “tranny” are constantly seen and used as a way to devalue trans folks.
And while I think movies that draw attention to trans issues are important, I wish we could see some trans actors in these roles rather than cis actors. That seems to be the next big hurdle to cross.
Anniushka
wrote on September 18 2009 @ 04:31 pm: [report]
Damnit! I was looking forward to a slideshow of transsexual people who have encountered success in the entertainment business. Instead I get this. *sigh*
amy1285
wrote on September 18 2009 @ 04:52 pm: [report]
Don’t forget Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a twofer! Miriam Shor, a female, plays Yitzak and spends most of the movie with facial stubble until Yitzak comes out in all his drag queen glory.
impoddity
wrote on September 18 2009 @ 06:43 pm: [report]
@Anniushka: I share in your disappointment. :( The title was misleading. :(
*sam*
wrote on September 18 2009 @ 10:06 pm: [report]
@J.D. Bauchery & @Milla: “transgender” is an acceptable term within the LGBT community. It refers to the trans community as a whole. I have a really good FtM (female to male) trans friend and he uses “tranny” all the time. I don’t think any of it is derogatory unless it’s obviously being used as such. Same goes for “gay” as well.
Anways, Kate Moennig (“Shane” on the L Word) played a MtF trans in an episode of Law and Order: SVU and Julie Andrews played a “woman pretending to be man, pretending to be a woman”, in Victor/Victoria
Milla
wrote on September 19 2009 @ 08:56 am: [report]
@sam From what I’ve seen, though, a lot of trans women find “tranny” derogatory and misogynistic, and find the use of it within the transgender community really problematic.
At any rate, I don’t think it’s ever okay for the cis community to use it.
And I think J.D. Bauchery was referring to the use of gay/transgender as a noun and not an adjective. I would take exception to someone referring to me as “a bisexual.” Uh, I’m a person who happens to be bisexual. And trans people are people who happen to be transgender. The point was that these terms aren’t nouns. They’re descriptors.
stringbeans
wrote on September 20 2009 @ 04:59 am: [report]
Missing ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’ and ‘Bad Education’. Gael Garcia Bernal was such a pretty woman.
stringbeans
wrote on September 20 2009 @ 05:02 am: [report]
@karmakaze definately agree on how pretty he was in that. so glad you guys included that film on this list. absolutely amazing.
retro chic
wrote on September 20 2009 @ 09:34 am: [report]
How ‘bout Vanessa Redgrave who played real-life tennis player RenĂ©e Richards in “Second Serve?” Eerily great in the role; two awards.
Yes! Brandon Teena.