Neighbours new trans character

[GillyWeasel]

So, this is my first ever post on MN. I have been - what I think it is referred to as - lurking for some time. I was peak transed many months ago but have been prompted to share my frustrations this week after something that has particularly riled me.

I watch Neighbours and have done for years, yes I know, what an admission. It is pretty cheesy but for me it is a bit of escapism at the end of the day. However, I will no longer be watching it since their introduction of a new character, Mackenzie. What has enraged me most is that this is a school age child. I had a whiff of how the wind was blowing on the show a while ago when one of the characters decide that their inspirational for international women’s day was Laverne Cox
As soon as Mackenzie was introduced, my heart sank. I had my suspicion confirmed by the following two articles, both of which have made my blood boil.

inews.co.uk/culture/television/georgie-stone-neighbours-actor-mackenzie-hargreaves-transgender-character/

www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/aug/30/neighbours-first-trans-character-might-not-change-the-world-but-she-could-change-lives

inews, reporting that Georgie Stone is youngest person in Australia to have been given hormone blockers at age 10. Not just reporting but gloating that this contributed to changing the law there, which previously ‘compelled’ children wanting drugs having to apply to the family court. Wow, what an achievement, actually making it easier for young kids to access life changing, debilitating medication. I presume this family are the Australian equivalent of a certain CEO’s family of a certain British organisation which I will not name.

Then, the Guardian, again gloating that ‘trans actors will replace cis actors’, thank goodness, all will be right with the world now
They report, spoiler alert, and the reason I am writing now, the upcoming story line. Fellow pupils demonstrate, demanding that this character be given use of the female bathrooms.

FFS, I find this so irresponsible and damaging when, in the UK, sensible parents are battling against the nonsense guidelines pushed onto schools, gaslighting young girls into believing they are wrong for recognising male bodies in their changing areas.
This is mainstream tv, being shown twice a day, what a message to reinforce to school children. I will be complaining to channel 5 and they have lost a viewer. I can’t watch this woke BS, and who knows what the story line will be in a few months time.
Paul Robinson (most evil character) misgendering Mackenzie and being forcibly arrested? Mackenzie breaking the girls sprint record at Erinsborough high? Dr Karl Kennedy prescribing hormone blockers and carrying out top surgery at Erinsborough hospital?

I’ve watched neighbours since it was first shown on British tv and rolled my eyes at the trans character, but being fucking lectured by actors to be nice and told that people have no right to wonder if the character has intact male genitalia, pushed me right over. They were light entertainment, but are suddenly so woke that they’re fucking insomniacs, so they can fuck off.

Eerie mix of looking female at first glance but there being something ‘off’ about them

Yes, I agree. The profile, nose, jaw and hairline are all wrong for a female.

They would never pass a screen test for casting a part. Georgie got the part because both parents were in Neighbours. Georgie apparently wrote in to the producers and suggested that they do a trans storyline and they gave them the part. Georgie has basically written the script.

The acting is wooden and the face of Mackenzie doesn't change.

I feel sorry for the person trapped in what must feel like no-mans land. The fact the parents gave puberty blockers to their child at age 10 is horrendous to hear.

It's concerning that this storyline is being pushed to impressionable kids watching thinking they can become whoever they want at the pop of a pill.

Mckenzie has one facial expression. All the time. just one. Fucking irritating.

As usual it is being presented as the trans character being demonized and discriminated against by bigots. Nobody is reasonably arguing that letting this person use the toilets designated to the opposite sex blurs boundaries and potentially allows any person to argue that use anyone can use any toilet. These facilities are segregated for good reason.
It is bizarre over on the neighbours thread that Mackenzie just doesn't get a mention

I agree boob and it’s shocking that parents would allow this to happen to their child at such a young age. And for what? Georgie does not pass at the moment - presume more surgery on the way to try to help with that? It’s sad that children are being led down this path and effectively sold a lie

Did somebody really have their post deleted on this thread for misgendering a fictional character? Seriously!

I stopped watching EastEnders when they brought in the trans character. I was interested in how it would be done, but as soon as I heard the first bit of sexist shit I switched off. They'd already ruined Stacey's character and the storylines were getting so weak anyway.

I haven't watched Neighbours in years...I definitely won't be starting again now. I cannot deal with any more of the regressive, feeling like the opposite sex, "move aside women" bullshit being pumped out as if it's equality in action. It's really not and I don't know why so many people think it is.

It baffles me how an ideology that is so deeply entrenched in toxic stereotypes of masculinity and femininity can present itself as being enlightened or modern in any way. It would be much more progressive to get rid of the stereotypes altogether, so someone can wear what they want, like whatever colour they want, choose whatever career, hobby and sport they want without those things having labels attached to them.

Why can't we let people be comfortable in their own skin, without needing to take drugs that will make them sterile and have surgery that mutilates their bodies?

Sorry - preaching to the choir, I know.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius I agree completely. You've expressed perfectly how I feel. It's depressing because I was brought up like this, to be an individual with no labels. I don't understand how it seems to have gone backwards.