Film board recommending films about trans

[SarahGoode]

I'm intrigued about the idea of the British Board of Film Classification recommending films about trans people. I don't know the films involved and I'm not quite sure what to make of this. Would love to hear thoughts? www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/celebrity/arid-40248953.html

I saw this earlier.

It's not just that it's a recommendation but it's a recommendation for families and children. Only 1 is PG rated - the others are 12 and 15 but I feel they are pushing it to younger children, especially given the key image they are using to promote it.
www.bbfc.co.uk/about-us/articles/five-films-exploring-transgender-themes-for-families

The BBFC produces educational resources for schools and families - which I think is an over-reach of its role. The BBFC is a statutory body for classifying films and TV. This seems to breach its impartiality. I would also suggest that this goes against the government's revised guidelines for schools about teaching gender identity.
www.theguardian.com/education/2020/sep/25/government-issues-gender-identity-guidance-for-teachers-in-england

I feel a letter coming on ...

if they were recommending films on how parents can deal sensitively with children that are experiencing some sort of childhood dysphoria (of any kind), help them navigate through to adulthood while avoiding setting them on a path to hormones and surgery, that would seem sensible.

I fear however, that is not the theme of the films and it is exactly about encouraging parents to allow their children to think that they can actually change sex and set them on a path that will be very hard to turn back on.

Very bizarre that yet again, the BBC are going against government guidelines!!

Not sure what the link is with feminism?

I've seen the Seahorse documentary and would be happy for my kids to watch it. They're a bit young now but as teenagers they would probably find it interesting.

This is the BBFC not the BBC.

Huh?

Have they done this for any other groups?

Or labelled stuff as a no.. I'd love to be able to avoid films with random scantily clad women, sexual violence etc

On their website BBFC say:

We’ve picked five films for people who want to explore transgender experiences with their families, or educate themselves about trans rights and trans people’s journeys. We’ve partnered with All About Transns, a project by charity On Road Mediaia, to bring you this resource, who work positively to change how the media understands and portrays transgender people.

There is obviously nothing wrong with films about transgender people. Good that transgender people feel represented. I also don't have an objection to BBFC putting a collection of films together and promoting the collection eg Oliver Stone films or superhero films for discussion points.

But it's that word educate. Is it the BBFC's role to educate about anything other than how the process of certification is reached? (If I never hear the phrase educate themselves/yourselves again it will be too soon.) BBFC pride themselves on being impartial. Allegedly.

Couple this project with the equal opps policy and I think you can draw your own conclusions about how impartial they are:

The BBFC is committed to the development and expansion of positive policies to promote equal opportunities in life regardless of individuals’ gender, marital status, creed, colour, race, ethnic origin, religious or political beliefs, sexual orientation, disability or age.

This one should just play out. Why shouldn't someone who has a child in the middle of this mess seek out information and films. Better this where a regulatory body can be brought to account, than the sewer of social media. I am pro women's rights, not anti-trans

The BBFC is committed to the development and expansion of positive policies to promote equal opportunities in life regardless of individuals’ gender, marital status, creed, colour, race, ethnic origin, religious or political beliefs, sexual orientation, disability or age.

Ah, the penny drops. Stonewall (the trans charity) acting as 'equality experts' have written that policy if it's omitted sex.

Why does trans activism and misogyny ALWAYS go hand in hand?

Can you explain what you mean by 'not quite sure what to make of it'?

This is very vague, what are you getting at?

Didn't know they were stonewall champions, might have to amend my comment, as now realise they will be strongly biased and not working in the best interests of teens confused about sex

They don't have to be Stonewall accredited to have had their policies and equal opportunities statements written by someone who has been in contact with them. Stonewall and GIRES pretend to be experts but it is always obvious that their involvement has occurred when sex, one of the 9 protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 is omitted and 'gender reassignment', one of the others, is changed to some waffly identity thing.

A bit of a derail from the post but just wanted to highlight this as the collation of these 'educational' films is anything but benign.

sex-matters.org/where-sex-matters/the-workplace/