Friday, May 25, 2007

Media sympathetic towards trans people perhaps?

In my last blog post I mentioned my belief that Society is beoming more accepting of TG/TV people. I don't know whether my perception is just more tuned into transgender issues - the way that once you start thinking of a red Mercedes every other car seems to be a red Mercedes- but there have been at least two serial/soaps on UK television lately that have carried storylines of TG/TV men coming out to partners.

Did this end in sadness - divorce - trauma? Well, naturally wives were traumatised, which is entirely understandable when you discover that the man you married turns out to be someone else, but the storyline ended in both programmes with wives deciding that the relationship with their husband was too valuable to lose and worth fighting for.

Hopefully programmes such as these reflect a shift in social attitudes towards the issues of TG/TV. Soaps, although not popular with everyone are a fantastic way of influencing and educating the population and I hope to see more examples of positive storylines about people with TG/TV issues. TV Fictions ( along with other media and creative arts) are as powerful influencers of change, in my opinion, as documentaries if only because difficult issues can more easily be introduced as part of ordinary, everyday life - which of course they are.

But, of course,this is only my opinion.........

Lynne Paris
Diversity Coach

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