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mrbumblepantsOkay, found a thing while searching for trans news articles, I found this article about a new trans-related development on Glee. Something I think is exciting! I'm putting this behind a cut for those who want to avoid spoilers. I am excited, though, and thinking I need to try to catch up on Glee now.
So here is the article, with a video clip:
http://www.bustle.com/articles/59154-coach-beistes-true-identity-is-revealed-on-glee-with-a-powerful-emotional-confession
My first impression is that this is good. A little explanatory, but my impression of William McKinley is severely lacking in knowledge of trans people. So I think it's realistic. Reminds me of coming out before the transplosion last year.
I am both glad and concerned that Coach Beiste is the character they are using for this. Concerned because the sensitive portrayal of a butch cisgender woman almost never happens, and that was refreshing to find in Glee. I don't want this storyline to give the impression that all masculine women are actually trans.
Also, there are things I recall previously that make me concerned that this was not planned for from the beginning. I'm hoping that's not the case, and I think I'll see if I can find clips on youtube to review.
With all that said, I am glad that Coach Beiste is a transman. I like Coach Beiste a lot. I don't remember ever seeing an older transman character come out. In my memory, it's always been 20 something or younger transmen, and 40 something or older trans women. Very little inbetween.
I don't feel too worried that they'll screw this up. After the wonderful job trans representatives did last year, after Leelah Alcorn's death, and after the disgustingness of attacking trans children for using the bathroom has become apparent to a lot of people - I don't see any reason why the writers would think they can get away with anything less than a knowledgeable, well written storyline. There is no more room in this world for crappily done trans representation.
And it feels very good to have this news not be monumental. It has become unsurprising to find a trans character represented appropriately. It has become unsurprising that every time I turn around, some other law has passed to help atone for the damage already done. Last year was a transition into another world - a world no less awful, no less frightening and full of misery. But the change is that trans folk get to be human in it. I don't know what to do with this yet. I think just looking out at this world and seeing the possibilities is quite enough for the moment.
So here is the article, with a video clip:
http://www.bustle.com/articles/59154-coach-beistes-true-identity-is-revealed-on-glee-with-a-powerful-emotional-confession
My first impression is that this is good. A little explanatory, but my impression of William McKinley is severely lacking in knowledge of trans people. So I think it's realistic. Reminds me of coming out before the transplosion last year.
I am both glad and concerned that Coach Beiste is the character they are using for this. Concerned because the sensitive portrayal of a butch cisgender woman almost never happens, and that was refreshing to find in Glee. I don't want this storyline to give the impression that all masculine women are actually trans.
Also, there are things I recall previously that make me concerned that this was not planned for from the beginning. I'm hoping that's not the case, and I think I'll see if I can find clips on youtube to review.
With all that said, I am glad that Coach Beiste is a transman. I like Coach Beiste a lot. I don't remember ever seeing an older transman character come out. In my memory, it's always been 20 something or younger transmen, and 40 something or older trans women. Very little inbetween.
I don't feel too worried that they'll screw this up. After the wonderful job trans representatives did last year, after Leelah Alcorn's death, and after the disgustingness of attacking trans children for using the bathroom has become apparent to a lot of people - I don't see any reason why the writers would think they can get away with anything less than a knowledgeable, well written storyline. There is no more room in this world for crappily done trans representation.
And it feels very good to have this news not be monumental. It has become unsurprising to find a trans character represented appropriately. It has become unsurprising that every time I turn around, some other law has passed to help atone for the damage already done. Last year was a transition into another world - a world no less awful, no less frightening and full of misery. But the change is that trans folk get to be human in it. I don't know what to do with this yet. I think just looking out at this world and seeing the possibilities is quite enough for the moment.
