Sometimes allies come from odd places.
Hillary Swank said nice things about trans people after she played Brandon Teena in Boys Don’t Cry, and tonight, when Felicity Huffman won the Golden Globe for playing Bree, a transwoman, in Transamerica, she said:
“I know as actors our job is usually to shed our skins, but I think as people our job is to become who we really are, and so I would like to salute the men and women who brave ostracism, alienation and a life lived on the margins to become who they really are.”
So, trans people: consider yourself saluted. As much as actors aren’t always the best spokespeople, and shouldn’t really be spokespeople per se at all, they do make terrific allies. Winning the Golden Globe for her performance means that many more people are going to see a movie about a trans person who isn’t psychotic, violent, or crazy – which is, right now, a huge leap in the right direction.
And probably still refer to the character as a man in a dress.
still I would prefer to be called a “man in a dress” than “the deceased”
Anything that shines the light on us as ordinary human beings deserves our support.
Cathii
Nevertheless, I’m damn proud to be a man in a dress.
Nothing puts a bigger smile on my face than positive publicity re: this subject. Another small step ahead………
Thank you Felicity
Steve
Bravo Felicity!!!!
Gracie
I think she’d prefer brava!
I too applaud Felicity’s portrayal of a M to F TS and I also applaud her makeup person. Great job! I thought the plot a bit contrived but it’s theater.
That said… and though in the main I feel she has been good for the community, I wish when Felicity accepted her Golden Globe Award and when she appeared on Larry King live recently, she could have at least once said the word “Transgender” or “Transsexual”. She always seems to refer to us as “those who have the courage to become who they really are”.
Mentioning us “obliquely” is a subtle form of prejudice, and a type of nod to general society’s distaste, I feel.
I could live without being referred to “obliquely”. Perhaps she feels she had to regain her place as a born female so that people would not think that she was actually a transsexual.