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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Well, hello Emma Watson

884 replies

crumpet · 24/09/2025 22:11

www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-15130209/Harry-Potter-Emma-Watson-treasures-J-K-Rowling-trans-rights.html

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31
RoyalCorgi · 01/10/2025 14:43

I've always wondered with actors, once they've made their first few million, why they bother after that. I think if I had, say, £10m in the bank, I'd give up acting and just enjoy my private swimming pool and holidays in the Bahamas. So, much as I'm not a fan of Emma Watson, I don't blame her for deciding to do a PhD rather than get on with her acting career.

You could probably say the same about JKR - she doesn't need to write, but presumably she keeps on doing it because she enjoys it.

Anyway, this is never a decision I'm going to have to make, disappointingly.

LaurelBush · 01/10/2025 14:46

JazzyJelly · 01/10/2025 14:43

I assumed that was suggesting J K Rowling has had experience of pregnancy and motherhood, which are things which rather hammer home the difficulties of some aspects of being female, and the differences between men and women.

It wasn't presented like that.

It was more like "Look how much JKR had done by that age! Look how little EW had!" which, I think, is an unhealthy and unhelpful way to weigh people's arguments.

Lalgarh · 01/10/2025 14:56

CleopatraSelene · 01/10/2025 05:05

Tbf Drew Barrymore did stretch herself in the 2009 TV movie of Grey Gardens, she was very good there. That seems to be it though.

Can you blame her? I think she could have done much more but after a childhood where she was horribly neglected, smoking and drinking while less than 10, and by many disturbing rumours, sexually abused by various male actors when she was 13(whose names may be revealed one day as Kirk Douglas' was), could you blame her for coasting & doing light-hearted things?

Someone like EW is very different. The worst she got was reviewers talking about her teenage breast developement, horrible but not anywhere near what Drew dealt with.

Edited
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!!!!! @CleopatraSelene Grey Gardens klaxon!

https://archive.ph/1Hz8y

WeeGeeBored · 01/10/2025 14:59

ShamedBySiri · 01/10/2025 14:26

Seems like she is leading a pretty empty life, a perpetual student but not really a student, cushioned as she is by her millions.
I remember reading an interview with her when she must have been about 14/15 and she talked about how she loved dropping into school when she had the chance, or going back after filming had ended and catching up with everything. At the time I thought "Ah that's nice and normal". Now I wonder if it went with a grand entrance, "Hello everybody, it's MEEEEE, yes it's Meee, I'm back, Meee is here, back to bring you crumbs of heavenly Meee and tell you all about my wonderful life". I wonder how her peers took it.

JKR had at least one old school friend at her 60th birthday party. I wonder how many school friends Emma is still in touch with.
At 35 JKR had a young child, was a published author though not yet super rich, and had various other achievements and life experiences, she had probably met, though not yet married her husband Neil.

Emma has acted in a few films, none since 2018. She doesn't appear to have had any major longstanding relationships and once described herself as being "self-partnered". Sounds so much more trendy than being a lonely spinster.
Possibly she does more philanthropic/charity work than we know about, maybe she keeps it secret. I feel pretty sure JKR also does far more than we know about, quietly supporting a range of individuals and charities via anonymous donations as well as the substantial charitable and philanthropic work that we do know about. Such a shame Emma couldn't look at her as a mentor and someone whom she could learn so much from.

I will lay a sizeable bet that in about 5 years Emma will seal her credentials as a woman who tramples on the rights of other women by having a baby through surrogacy.

archive.ph/5f8Op

This is a very mean post. You and I know absolutely nothing about Emma Watson's private life - if she has godchildren or nieces and nephews, is loved by her family. The description of her being a "lonely spinster" is vile and demeaning to all single women as though the crowning achievement for women is to have a man and a child.

As for JK having one old school friend at her 60th. I am in touch with many old school friends including some from when I was under 10, but what does that tell you about me? Absolutely nothing.

To compare young Emma Watson with JKR is so awful and I am sure that JKR herself would abhor that (surely?).

And imagining that she went back to school saying look at Meeeee! Even if she did do that as a youngster I would give her a pass on that because of the strange things that stardom does to the minds of the young (I knew a very "nice" girl from school who was a child star who became a drug addict).

Also, many many people can lay claim to having made EW wealthy - the person who cast her in the films, the scriptwriter on the film, the director on the film, the film production companies, her agent, her PR person. Yes, the films are based on JKR's books, but films are collaborations. For JKR to take all credit for them is arrogant beyond belief. In fact, the films added to her wealth and boosted sales. she will never want for money for the rest of her life. She should be grateful for that.

WeeGeeBored · 01/10/2025 15:02

LaurelBush · 01/10/2025 14:46

It wasn't presented like that.

It was more like "Look how much JKR had done by that age! Look how little EW had!" which, I think, is an unhealthy and unhelpful way to weigh people's arguments.

Totally agree with you! I have just posted on this. The pp really stood out for its meanness. Awful for women to judge each other like that. No wonder EW doesn't want to act anymore and face such awful public scrutiny.

LaurelBush · 01/10/2025 15:15

WeeGeeBored · 01/10/2025 15:02

Totally agree with you! I have just posted on this. The pp really stood out for its meanness. Awful for women to judge each other like that. No wonder EW doesn't want to act anymore and face such awful public scrutiny.

Yeah, it was really mean and unecessary. If you start a scale of "worthiness", where do we all stand on it? EW has certainly achieved many more things in life than I have. Does that make her opinions more valid than mine? If you start that game, then expect to be judged yourself.

CleopatraSelene · 01/10/2025 15:25

RoyalCorgi · 01/10/2025 14:43

I've always wondered with actors, once they've made their first few million, why they bother after that. I think if I had, say, £10m in the bank, I'd give up acting and just enjoy my private swimming pool and holidays in the Bahamas. So, much as I'm not a fan of Emma Watson, I don't blame her for deciding to do a PhD rather than get on with her acting career.

You could probably say the same about JKR - she doesn't need to write, but presumably she keeps on doing it because she enjoys it.

Anyway, this is never a decision I'm going to have to make, disappointingly.

Wouldn't you get bored. Having everything you want isn't all it's made out to be, we need challenge & purpose to some extent.

Some love acting, and so it even when very old just bc they want to.

worksineducation · 01/10/2025 16:02

I've been watching the Goblet of Fire.

At the end Dumbledore says 'soon we must all face the choice between what is right or what is easy' this is a change from the book where JK wrote 'Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory. "

But ultimately Emma and Dan chose what was easy. Not only that, they chose what was easy for them even though they knew that doing so would harm other people they must obviously think of as lesser. The victims of Katie Dolatowski, Karen White, Barbie Kardashian and the list goes on.

It's bizarre to me that they could act in those movies where the central theme is someone standing up and doing what is right against evil and protecting the vulnerable despite the awful difficulties for them personally in doing so and going against what is trendy and fashionable and in the news (the Daily Prophet's smear campaign against Harry and distortion of truth rings some bells) and wonder that JKR has taken the stance that she has. They must be very, very dim not to get it.

Men have 160% the punch power of women, even if they identify as trans. I hope Barbie Kardashian's mother is in hiding.

worksineducation · 01/10/2025 16:11

Oh and JK didn't say anything for YEARS about Emma's actions. She's only doing so now because there's maintaining a dignified silence and then there's allowing someone to harm you even when they're an adult and should know better. She's drawing a much needed boundary for a woman who is 35 but behaves like a child (see also: driving laws).

People who 'love' someone don't behave as Emma does.

Emma did what was easy, yes, but she could have just stayed silent on the issue (as many of the HP actors did) which would be slightly more uncomfortable and isn't doing what's right but also isn't throwing women and children under the bus to quite the same enthusiastic Umbridge-like extent.

JNicholson · 01/10/2025 16:28

worksineducation · 01/10/2025 16:02

I've been watching the Goblet of Fire.

At the end Dumbledore says 'soon we must all face the choice between what is right or what is easy' this is a change from the book where JK wrote 'Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory. "

But ultimately Emma and Dan chose what was easy. Not only that, they chose what was easy for them even though they knew that doing so would harm other people they must obviously think of as lesser. The victims of Katie Dolatowski, Karen White, Barbie Kardashian and the list goes on.

It's bizarre to me that they could act in those movies where the central theme is someone standing up and doing what is right against evil and protecting the vulnerable despite the awful difficulties for them personally in doing so and going against what is trendy and fashionable and in the news (the Daily Prophet's smear campaign against Harry and distortion of truth rings some bells) and wonder that JKR has taken the stance that she has. They must be very, very dim not to get it.

Men have 160% the punch power of women, even if they identify as trans. I hope Barbie Kardashian's mother is in hiding.

You’ve got no idea, really, whether it was easy for them to make those statements or not. You don’t know whether there are people in their private life who disagreed and cut them off for it. We do know that JKR did (which is her prerogative), and it has certainly done them no favours with the right wing press or with posters here.

worksineducation · 01/10/2025 16:40

All the mainstream media has been genderist until recently, all of Hollywood, all of the arts. They didn't suffer in the media for saying these things - they were lauded for it. They very much followed the rich crowd.

All the death and rape threats are one way only.

I think Emma's shown through her casual insults to JKR that she doesn't care much about the opinion of nor impact on middle aged women (in this case one who does suffer rape and death threats)

Beowulfa · 01/10/2025 16:48

Drew Barrymore has had a steady career as a producer outside of the acting limelight, and arguably with more power. She is credited as an executive producer for commercial hits like Charlie's Angels and the cult classic Donnie Darko. Whip It is a very enjoyable film (also go and see roller derby live if you get the chance- it's a great spectator sport). So she's actually a fairly good example of a child actor eventually finding their way in Hollywood. Shame about the Mulvaney episode of course.

CleopatraSelene · 01/10/2025 17:03

Beowulfa · 01/10/2025 16:48

Drew Barrymore has had a steady career as a producer outside of the acting limelight, and arguably with more power. She is credited as an executive producer for commercial hits like Charlie's Angels and the cult classic Donnie Darko. Whip It is a very enjoyable film (also go and see roller derby live if you get the chance- it's a great spectator sport). So she's actually a fairly good example of a child actor eventually finding their way in Hollywood. Shame about the Mulvaney episode of course.

Hmm, I didn't know she produced Donnie Darko! I love Whip It, I'd forgotten she directed it though. I agree the singling out of her as equivalent to EW is unfair. The Mulvaney episode was terrible but after reading her book Wildflower I've always been willing to cut her some slack. EW is a completely different case.

Thinking about it, I wonder if the Whip It connection with Elliott Page may have also influenced her views on trans.

JNicholson · 01/10/2025 19:03

worksineducation · 01/10/2025 16:40

All the mainstream media has been genderist until recently, all of Hollywood, all of the arts. They didn't suffer in the media for saying these things - they were lauded for it. They very much followed the rich crowd.

All the death and rape threats are one way only.

I think Emma's shown through her casual insults to JKR that she doesn't care much about the opinion of nor impact on middle aged women (in this case one who does suffer rape and death threats)

Edited

All the mainstream media has been genderist until recently, all of Hollywood, all of the arts.

This is total nonsense. The Daily Mail, Times, Telegraph, Spectator have definitely not been supportive of trans people. Hollywood actors recently, maybe, in terms of public statements, but the history of trans representation in Hollywood movies is awful, and Hollywood actors rumoured to have had affairs with trans women still treat it like something shameful and won’t admit it. When have you seen a mainstream successful Hollywood actor on the red carpet with a trans partner? The stigma is still significant.

worksineducation · 01/10/2025 19:07

JNicholson · 01/10/2025 19:03

All the mainstream media has been genderist until recently, all of Hollywood, all of the arts.

This is total nonsense. The Daily Mail, Times, Telegraph, Spectator have definitely not been supportive of trans people. Hollywood actors recently, maybe, in terms of public statements, but the history of trans representation in Hollywood movies is awful, and Hollywood actors rumoured to have had affairs with trans women still treat it like something shameful and won’t admit it. When have you seen a mainstream successful Hollywood actor on the red carpet with a trans partner? The stigma is still significant.

Only recently and most of these news outlets still use anti-safeguarding wrong-sex pronouns which is as genderist as it gets.

And it's a bit rapey to suggest anyone should force themselves to have sex with someone they're not attracted to 'support' a certain group politically. Just weird.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 01/10/2025 19:08

JNicholson · 01/10/2025 19:03

All the mainstream media has been genderist until recently, all of Hollywood, all of the arts.

This is total nonsense. The Daily Mail, Times, Telegraph, Spectator have definitely not been supportive of trans people. Hollywood actors recently, maybe, in terms of public statements, but the history of trans representation in Hollywood movies is awful, and Hollywood actors rumoured to have had affairs with trans women still treat it like something shameful and won’t admit it. When have you seen a mainstream successful Hollywood actor on the red carpet with a trans partner? The stigma is still significant.

Do you not think there is a more obvious explanation for why there aren't more trans people in major acting roles or dating Hollywood actors?

JNicholson · 01/10/2025 19:11

worksineducation · 01/10/2025 19:07

Only recently and most of these news outlets still use anti-safeguarding wrong-sex pronouns which is as genderist as it gets.

And it's a bit rapey to suggest anyone should force themselves to have sex with someone they're not attracted to 'support' a certain group politically. Just weird.

And it's a bit rapey to suggest anyone should force themselves to have sex with someone they're not attracted to 'support' a certain group politically. Just weird.

What on earth are you talking about? I’m talking about people being open and honest about relationships they’ve already privately chosen to be in, not about anybody forcing themselves to have sex with someone they’re not attracted to. Did you just copy and paste that from a Word document rather than actually reading my post?

JNicholson · 01/10/2025 19:25

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 01/10/2025 19:08

Do you not think there is a more obvious explanation for why there aren't more trans people in major acting roles or dating Hollywood actors?

You’re missing my point, it’s not about expecting large numbers, it’s about Hollywood actors not being open about trans partners when they are dating them, and a long history of trans people being portrayed as killers/evil/laughingstocks/freaks on the rare occasions when they did feature in mainstream movies. Yes there have been a few more positive portrayals recently, but to say ‘all of Hollywood has been genderist until recently’ implies a cultural memory of about five minutes.

CleopatraSelene · 01/10/2025 19:34

JNicholson · 01/10/2025 19:03

All the mainstream media has been genderist until recently, all of Hollywood, all of the arts.

This is total nonsense. The Daily Mail, Times, Telegraph, Spectator have definitely not been supportive of trans people. Hollywood actors recently, maybe, in terms of public statements, but the history of trans representation in Hollywood movies is awful, and Hollywood actors rumoured to have had affairs with trans women still treat it like something shameful and won’t admit it. When have you seen a mainstream successful Hollywood actor on the red carpet with a trans partner? The stigma is still significant.

Which ones are rumoured to have dated transwomen?

teawamutu · 01/10/2025 19:36

JNicholson · 01/10/2025 19:25

You’re missing my point, it’s not about expecting large numbers, it’s about Hollywood actors not being open about trans partners when they are dating them, and a long history of trans people being portrayed as killers/evil/laughingstocks/freaks on the rare occasions when they did feature in mainstream movies. Yes there have been a few more positive portrayals recently, but to say ‘all of Hollywood has been genderist until recently’ implies a cultural memory of about five minutes.

Whatever you think about portrayals onscreen, Hollywood and the arts have pretty universally been captured by genderwoo for years.

If that weren't true, JK Rowling and Glinner wouldn't have been such big news, would they?

The rare examples of other actors/stars hinting that it might be all bullshit and then having to undergo public struggle sessions (Margaret Atwood, Macy Gray, Patton Oswalt, I could go on) also show the extent of the capture.

I've no idea which, if any, slebs date trans people and unless you've got a scoop to share, neither do you so I don't think you could put that up as proving anything.

90% ish of the population are heterosexual. Of those, approx 5% of men would be open to dating a TIM. TIMs that aren't interested in women and aren't immediately obviously male are... Well, pretty unusual, wouldn't you say? So I don't think you need too much of a conspiracy theory there.

JNicholson · 01/10/2025 20:00

teawamutu · 01/10/2025 19:36

Whatever you think about portrayals onscreen, Hollywood and the arts have pretty universally been captured by genderwoo for years.

If that weren't true, JK Rowling and Glinner wouldn't have been such big news, would they?

The rare examples of other actors/stars hinting that it might be all bullshit and then having to undergo public struggle sessions (Margaret Atwood, Macy Gray, Patton Oswalt, I could go on) also show the extent of the capture.

I've no idea which, if any, slebs date trans people and unless you've got a scoop to share, neither do you so I don't think you could put that up as proving anything.

90% ish of the population are heterosexual. Of those, approx 5% of men would be open to dating a TIM. TIMs that aren't interested in women and aren't immediately obviously male are... Well, pretty unusual, wouldn't you say? So I don't think you need too much of a conspiracy theory there.

Whatever you think about portrayals onscreen, Hollywood

’Portrayals onscreen’ are what Hollywood produces, they’re the main point of the industry. Yes celebrities also make statements in their own voice, but to make big claims about ‘Hollywood’ and then dismiss the actual films that Hollywood makes as if they’re merely by the by is daft.

Re celebrities rumoured to date trans women - you’ve got access to Google. No idea where you’re pulling your figures about sexuality from and whether they’re accurate, but given you’re apparently willing to acknowledge that there are a minority of men who date trans women, it shouldn’t be a huge stretch to acknowledge that some of them will be celebrities. Lou Reed and Richard Gadd have both been open about it, but as I say, that’s unusual. Because there is still significant stigma attached, as Gadd discusses in ‘Baby Reindeer’.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 01/10/2025 20:09

JNicholson · 01/10/2025 19:25

You’re missing my point, it’s not about expecting large numbers, it’s about Hollywood actors not being open about trans partners when they are dating them, and a long history of trans people being portrayed as killers/evil/laughingstocks/freaks on the rare occasions when they did feature in mainstream movies. Yes there have been a few more positive portrayals recently, but to say ‘all of Hollywood has been genderist until recently’ implies a cultural memory of about five minutes.

OK, there's quite a lot to unpack there. Three main points I'd say.

Dealing with them in reverse order.

"All of Hollywood has been genderist until recently" doesn't mean actually doing anything meaningful to promote trans inclusion. It means parroting a party line. It means saying, "Of course trans women are women" even when, as a heterosexual man, you know full well you would never date one. It means all jumping on that bandwagon to denounce JK Rowling and her awful transphobic views because believing in gender ideology is fashionable and insisting on the reality of biological sex is not. I don't think half the people parroting these things genuinely believe them, but it certainly has been and still is the only acceptable viewpoint in Hollywood. I think this is particularly the case for women in Hollywood, most of whom are either so young that they're just starting out and desperately need to get breakthrough roles, or ever so slightly older and therefore need to still be considered young and fashionable and relevant otherwise they'll age out of the business even quicker than most female actresses already do. One ill-advised comment about how JK Rowling might have a point can easily see you consigned to the "has-been" heap and never get another role.

In terms of trans people being represented in films, I mean, yes, there are a few, but the reality is that there aren't that many trans people in real life as a percentage of the population and so most stories are not about them. You can't put a trans character in something like Shakespeare or Jane Austen without making a decision that you're going to "queer" the whole production, which many audiences will find off-putting. It's difficult to cast a trans person in a regular movie role involving a romantic storyline or a sex scene, because most viewers aren't going to relate to that, and people like to watch things they find relatable. There's also the issue of how you portray the relationship. If it's between a man and a trans woman, are you portraying it as a heterosexual relationship or a gay relationship? Because either way you risk offending someone. You could write a trans character into something like Emily in Paris, for example, in the role of "eccentric friend/sidekick". But ultimately it's going to be quite difficult to give a trans character proper character development (and avoid tokenism) unless they are the main character. It's much easier if you're making a series and the trans character can be one of many characters who get plenty of development over several seasons of the show. But in Hollywood, in a two hour feature film? Not so much. Either you're making a film about a trans person, or you might have opportunities for token trans people at best. This obviously has a big impact for trans actors, because trans actors are generally limited to playing trans characters. Elliot Page has only ever played trans characters since transitioning. A trans woman actor can't convincingly play a female character, and probably wouldn't want to play a male character. So opportunities are obviously going to be limited.

As for the dating trans people issue... Well, that's possibly the most awkward one.

I think Hollywood has reached the point where more, hopefully even most gay and lesbian actors feel comfortable being open about their sexuality and being seen with a same sex partner on the red carpet. (That said, we have no way of knowing how many actors are gay but not out.)

Dating a trans partner is on another level though. The uncomfortable truth is that most people do not want to date a trans person. Most of us are sexually attracted to people of one sex only, and we like the external presentation to match what is underneath. I would describe myself as a 95% straight woman (I have had experiences with other women but I am only really interested in men), and yet I would consider dating a woman but not a trans woman. Even though a trans woman may have all the same body parts as a man, and I am attracted to men, and even though I do actually believe that trans women are men, I am not attracted to men who present as though they are women. Nancy Kelley, the former CEO of Stonewall, who likened lesbians who would not consider dating a trans woman to "sexual racists", is not known to have ever dated a trans woman herself. Neither is Layla "I'm pansexual" Moran. They're all a bit "TRA in the streets, TERF in the sheets".

I think that if you are not trans and you date someone who is trans, it raises all kinds of uncomfortable questions about your sexuality. If you're a straight man and you date a trans woman, does that mean you're actually gay or bisexual but in denial? (In my opinion, yes.) If you're a gay man and you date a trans woman, does that mean you don't believe they are really a woman? (In my opinion, also yes.) If you're a lesbian and your wife, let's call her Ellen Page, transitions to become a man named Elliott Page, are you now in a heterosexual relationship? (In my opinion, no. You are still a couple of lesbians, albeit one of you is very confused.)

Do you not think it would be far more scary to step out onto the red carpet with a trans partner, knowing that the internet will be buzzing with people speculating about the quite literal ins and outs of your sexuality, when you may not really understand or accept it yourself? Much more invasive than press coverage of, say, Portia di Rossi and her wife both looking beautiful, or Neil Patrick Harris holding hands with his husband.

I can quite understand why nobody is walking down the red carpet with their trans love interest, and no amount of measures designed to promote the inclusion and acceptance of trans people are going to make much difference to that.

teawamutu · 01/10/2025 20:16

JNicholson · 01/10/2025 20:00

Whatever you think about portrayals onscreen, Hollywood

’Portrayals onscreen’ are what Hollywood produces, they’re the main point of the industry. Yes celebrities also make statements in their own voice, but to make big claims about ‘Hollywood’ and then dismiss the actual films that Hollywood makes as if they’re merely by the by is daft.

Re celebrities rumoured to date trans women - you’ve got access to Google. No idea where you’re pulling your figures about sexuality from and whether they’re accurate, but given you’re apparently willing to acknowledge that there are a minority of men who date trans women, it shouldn’t be a huge stretch to acknowledge that some of them will be celebrities. Lou Reed and Richard Gadd have both been open about it, but as I say, that’s unusual. Because there is still significant stigma attached, as Gadd discusses in ‘Baby Reindeer’.

MissScarlet's reply above made the points I was going to make far better than I can so I will refer you to her.

The study on dating percentages and attraction is here: www.researchgate.net/publication/325490626_Transgender_exclusion_from_the_world_of_dating_Patterns_of_acceptance_and_rejection_of_hypothetical_trans_dating_partners_as_a_function_of_sexual_and_gender_identity

CleopatraSelene · 01/10/2025 20:29

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 01/10/2025 20:09

OK, there's quite a lot to unpack there. Three main points I'd say.

Dealing with them in reverse order.

"All of Hollywood has been genderist until recently" doesn't mean actually doing anything meaningful to promote trans inclusion. It means parroting a party line. It means saying, "Of course trans women are women" even when, as a heterosexual man, you know full well you would never date one. It means all jumping on that bandwagon to denounce JK Rowling and her awful transphobic views because believing in gender ideology is fashionable and insisting on the reality of biological sex is not. I don't think half the people parroting these things genuinely believe them, but it certainly has been and still is the only acceptable viewpoint in Hollywood. I think this is particularly the case for women in Hollywood, most of whom are either so young that they're just starting out and desperately need to get breakthrough roles, or ever so slightly older and therefore need to still be considered young and fashionable and relevant otherwise they'll age out of the business even quicker than most female actresses already do. One ill-advised comment about how JK Rowling might have a point can easily see you consigned to the "has-been" heap and never get another role.

In terms of trans people being represented in films, I mean, yes, there are a few, but the reality is that there aren't that many trans people in real life as a percentage of the population and so most stories are not about them. You can't put a trans character in something like Shakespeare or Jane Austen without making a decision that you're going to "queer" the whole production, which many audiences will find off-putting. It's difficult to cast a trans person in a regular movie role involving a romantic storyline or a sex scene, because most viewers aren't going to relate to that, and people like to watch things they find relatable. There's also the issue of how you portray the relationship. If it's between a man and a trans woman, are you portraying it as a heterosexual relationship or a gay relationship? Because either way you risk offending someone. You could write a trans character into something like Emily in Paris, for example, in the role of "eccentric friend/sidekick". But ultimately it's going to be quite difficult to give a trans character proper character development (and avoid tokenism) unless they are the main character. It's much easier if you're making a series and the trans character can be one of many characters who get plenty of development over several seasons of the show. But in Hollywood, in a two hour feature film? Not so much. Either you're making a film about a trans person, or you might have opportunities for token trans people at best. This obviously has a big impact for trans actors, because trans actors are generally limited to playing trans characters. Elliot Page has only ever played trans characters since transitioning. A trans woman actor can't convincingly play a female character, and probably wouldn't want to play a male character. So opportunities are obviously going to be limited.

As for the dating trans people issue... Well, that's possibly the most awkward one.

I think Hollywood has reached the point where more, hopefully even most gay and lesbian actors feel comfortable being open about their sexuality and being seen with a same sex partner on the red carpet. (That said, we have no way of knowing how many actors are gay but not out.)

Dating a trans partner is on another level though. The uncomfortable truth is that most people do not want to date a trans person. Most of us are sexually attracted to people of one sex only, and we like the external presentation to match what is underneath. I would describe myself as a 95% straight woman (I have had experiences with other women but I am only really interested in men), and yet I would consider dating a woman but not a trans woman. Even though a trans woman may have all the same body parts as a man, and I am attracted to men, and even though I do actually believe that trans women are men, I am not attracted to men who present as though they are women. Nancy Kelley, the former CEO of Stonewall, who likened lesbians who would not consider dating a trans woman to "sexual racists", is not known to have ever dated a trans woman herself. Neither is Layla "I'm pansexual" Moran. They're all a bit "TRA in the streets, TERF in the sheets".

I think that if you are not trans and you date someone who is trans, it raises all kinds of uncomfortable questions about your sexuality. If you're a straight man and you date a trans woman, does that mean you're actually gay or bisexual but in denial? (In my opinion, yes.) If you're a gay man and you date a trans woman, does that mean you don't believe they are really a woman? (In my opinion, also yes.) If you're a lesbian and your wife, let's call her Ellen Page, transitions to become a man named Elliott Page, are you now in a heterosexual relationship? (In my opinion, no. You are still a couple of lesbians, albeit one of you is very confused.)

Do you not think it would be far more scary to step out onto the red carpet with a trans partner, knowing that the internet will be buzzing with people speculating about the quite literal ins and outs of your sexuality, when you may not really understand or accept it yourself? Much more invasive than press coverage of, say, Portia di Rossi and her wife both looking beautiful, or Neil Patrick Harris holding hands with his husband.

I can quite understand why nobody is walking down the red carpet with their trans love interest, and no amount of measures designed to promote the inclusion and acceptance of trans people are going to make much difference to that.

Tbf they could make a thriller, drama etc where the plot is not romantic so there's not that issue, & use a trans MC. I agree romance is an issue.

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