Neighbours new trans character

They had an episode of Silent Witness a while ago which features a large trans cast. However, they had clearly been chosen just because they were trans because the acting was appalling. But yes, I of course think trans people should get acting jobs on the same basis as any other people- hopefully based on merit. Although it’s not quite the same as being BAME which is more comparable to age, height etc. Being trans is being one sex but identifying with the other. There is no consensus of what medical treatment is required to be considered trans. Many trans people have made very few modifications to their bodies. Therefore I see being trans as more of an experience than a state of being. I don’t think actors need to have experienced the things they are portraying. Therefore I cannot see an issue with someone who is not transgender playing a trans part eg Eddie Redmayne or Julie Hesmondhalgh.

Wow, Dr Karl Kennedy and Paul Robertson are still around? I remember them from the days I was skiving school and sitting round watching daytime TV.

Have to say that was my first thought too! Paul Robinson has been in it since the late 80s! I even remember the Stefan Dennis single.

I’ll wager a squillion Aussie dollars that there won’t be a storyline about how “Mackenzie” has no sexual function as a result of hormone treatment.

Wow, Dr Karl Kennedy and Paul Robertson are still around? I remember them from the days I was skiving school and sitting round watching daytime TV.

I have no idea tbh. I just thought I'd play it safe as I am already on my second strike.

I am just waiting for someone to come along and accuse me of misgendering Georgie Stone for referring to her as an actor...

I really thought you were admitting to watching your neighbours out of your window when you got in from work but won't be doing anymore after they adopted a school aged trans child.

I was a bit annoyed by a sitcom that had a transwoman being played by a woman

It was a repeat from a few years back

But the 10 year old on puberty blockers is just horrendous

I had no idea Neighbours was still on.

The actor who plays her is a trans gender rights activist.

Just saying...

I guess it's difficult to create that many interested or interesting parties if you're a bit of third rate non-entity of a programme. Guess it wont stop them trying. Bless.

I got to 173 and lost interest.

You'd think it'd be more, Lang.

Like Julie Hesmondhalgh playing Hayley Cropper?

Had to google those names, but yes, like that. Wikipedia says she played that role from 1998, so since many people will have seen this character on TV, they might think that 'transwomen' actually look like Hayley Cropper, who was played by a woman, and that's who they'll immediately think of when they hear about transwomen if they don't know any in real life. Presumably the programme makers' intent was to try to convince people that 'transwomen' really are indistinguishable from women.

I thought I'd look on Wikipedia and count the number of characters Neighbours has had over the years. I got to 173 and lost interest.

However the storyline goes, the reality is that the majority of boys who identify as trans have not suppressed puberty and who on the contrary are fully functional males identifying as trans and demanding access.

Nothing has changed the actual prevalence of gender dysphoria in homosexual transsexual males who are early-onset and who almost always go down the medical route by their mid-twenties at the latest. They are incredibly rare. And yet we suddenly have boys in almost every school identifying as trans, most of whom do not block puberty.

Which is why we now see girls being confronted by teen boys in their own changing rooms or toilets, boys who are straight. We've had incidents (most remaining private to protect the children involved) where such boys have been visibly aroused or stimulated themselves. And where some then "desisted".

I mean for boys so inclined this is the perfect way to harass girls with the perfect way in and the perfect way out. Considering that on average there is a rape on school premises in this country on every school day, why would such boys not take advantage?

Of course it's exploitative. This person was given puberty blockers at 10 years old. They have never matured beyond childhood in body or brain. That they consider this something to evangelically promote on a second rate drama with a young following of impressionable minds is evidence enough.

The fact that creepy twitter types celebrate it, also.

Amongst all the horror here, this line stood out for me, from the Guardian article:

"Being trans is also pretty cool, I think"

Then they wonder why so many people are going down the trans route

Do we think trans actors would really only want to play trans characters?

Or do we think what will really happen is that transwomen will want to be cast as actual women?

Oh, I thought they were saying it was a child actor - the actor is actually 19. Not as exploitative as I feared. From there it really depends what storyline they run. I'm not optimistic but not about to start watching neighbours to find out.

There is no such thing as a trans child-only adults telling children there is something wrong with them and they can change their body into something else-totally unnaturally.

I have no issue with adult transexuals but this is blatant toxic BS when aimed at children. The storyline should be pulled (though I know it won't.)

only if you realise at a trans acotr isn't playing being trans.

Bespin now you're making stuff up I never said. Go back and read what's written not without the prejudice.

And as long as Bespin realises a for eg a black actor isn't playing 'being black' -

only if you realise at a trans acotr isn't playing being trans.

It would be totally inappropriate for a woman to play a male transgender person, because that would give the impression that a man could actually make himself indistinguishable from a woman in real life

Like Julie Hesmondhalgh playing Hayley Cropper?

next they will be insisting that BAME characters are played by BAME actors next.

And as long as Bespin realises a for eg a black actor isn't playing 'being black' - they are a black actor playing a role eg doctor, so better represent our population reality and show that white is not the default.

But we would not require a role for a black doctor to only be played by an actual doctor who's black.