Do you complain about the quality and chores of your life everyday? Chances are you do to a degree. We write that off as ‘being human’ and perhaps it truly is, but have you ever paused to think about some of the less fortunate people, those that live in this very human society of yours and mine but are rejected, ostracised and labelled gender-blender trannies, Transvestite, Transsexual? You say you don’t know, don’t care or don’t hear much about them? Chances are you meet a few daily, totally unaware since they stay locked within their walls of fear of being ridiculed by the very ‘human society’ of yours and mine.
I had once read a short passage on the life of transsexuals in India and it had made me sad and depressed. If memory serves me right it was Dominique Lapierre’s ‘The City of Joy‘. This is not a book for the faint hearted… and it is not just about transgendered people but does open up a glimpse into their world…
We recently watched Kevin Zegers and Felicity Huffman’s beautifully starred Transamerica. In a nutshell this is great story about a pre-operative male-to-female transsexual who takes a rather daring and unexpected journey when she learns that she fathered a son, now a teenage runaway hustling on the streets of New York. The movie pays a lot of attention to minor details and is by no means a typical yet-another-run-of-the-mill hollywood slapstick. I’d strongly recommend it. Give yourself a little time to walk a few minutes in their shoes…
Reference: Find out more on transvestite, transgendered, transidentified, intersexed.
I saw Transamerica recently too, and yes, really enjoyed it. Will check out City of Joy as well – in fact have picked this book up a number of times but never got round to actually reading it.
A lifetime ago I used to work with a young maori guy who wanted to become a woman. I remember how shocked my feminist sensibilities were though by what his notion of being a woman was (pretty much being a housewife and having children)! Nowadays I would be much more forgiving
Anyway, I hope he found happiness.
hmmm.. i haven’t. Been rather behind is catching up with movies, but then, i am more of a fantasy/horror/action film person then a drama. Its rather rare for me to watch a movie like Transamerica.
Maxine, same here, thought it was a brilliant movie, almost too candid for most people to digest. I wouldn’t mind reading ‘The City of Joy’ again. Its an outstanding masterpiece though thoroughly intense. Hope the maori guy you spoke of found happiness too. Its definitely not an easy call.
Harry you might like to give it a try!
Try, to Wong Foo for insparation, and some insite,
Thank you for your understanding and insight.
Thanks Jamie, sure will look it up.
Thanks Arlene for your comment. It is good to see movies are being made and people seeming to be more open and accomodating. Stories like this need to be told more often in my opinion.
Hello to all, their are alot of newer and more open on the daily seen TV, and even on, disney chn with xdr seens. and sevaral movies white chics, big mama,and tootsie even,bird cage ,and meany more. these really help us because it makes the general public more aware of our type, and acceptance is more easlly gained by the GP. so time will provell, and life will get better in these areas, and have a smiling day,
Interestingly enough we just booked to see Shabnam Mousi. Between The Lines: India’s Third Gender would have been a great movie to watch too but we’d be away at Noosa then.
Well, how was it ? and did you see the Gender ID, docum. on ABC , the subject is more mainstream and the publics views are slowly changing with acceptance because we’re all humans and we all have deff. traits ,fillings,needs,veiw points ,and emotions,and self id, is the most importants to each of us as as individuals,the fillings of acceptance is second,the rest is astate of being happy within ones self,