avatarStephenie Magister ✨

Summary

The web content discusses the representation of transgender individuals in movies and TV shows, evaluating them against the "May Test," a set of criteria for positive trans representation.

Abstract

The article "Are These Incredibly Offensive Trans Movies and TV Worth Saving?" delves into the portrayal of transgender characters in various media, using the "May Test" as a benchmark for assessing the quality and respectfulness of trans representation. The test, which requires trans characters to be portrayed by trans actors, depicted as stable and happy, and not solely defined by their transition or used for comedic purposes, is applied to several notable works. Some, like "Ace Ventura" and "The Simpsons," fail due to transphobic tropes or insensitive handling of trans narratives. In contrast, "Xena: Warrior Princess" and "Veronica Mars" are highlighted as passing the test by presenting trans characters in a positive light. The piece also touches on the broader implications of media representation for the trans community and provides further reading resources on the topic.

Opinions

  • The author suggests that some films and TV shows, despite being transphobic, may have elements worth saving, implying a nuanced view of media analysis.
  • There is a call for greater awareness and sensitivity in the portrayal of trans characters, emphasizing the importance of authentic representation.
  • The article implies that ignorance is not an acceptable excuse for transphobia in media, as seen in the critique of "Lost Girl."

Are These Incredibly Offensive Trans Movies and TV Worth Saving?

Forget the Bechdel Test, the newishly-minted May Test tells us whether trans representation is awful

Graphic by Stephenie, elements from photos by KoolShooters and Alexander Grey on Pexels

Welcome to Queer History with Step-Hen-ie. Today we’re asking whether we’ve unfairly judged a bunch of movies and TV shows as being so transphobic that they need to be wiped from the planet.

Big question! Can we answer it? We’re diving deep to find out if these horribly transphobic films and TV shows have anything worth saving. Fortunately, we’ve got a little test that’ll help us suss out which pass or fail for worthy trans representation.

The May Test

Do these movies and TV pass the May Test?

The emergence of the “May Test” (a transgender variant of the Bechdel Test for women’s representation) provides a simple test to determine whether a piece of trans representation is good or bad.

According to the test, a transgender character must be

  • portrayed by a trans actor
  • be depicted as “safe, stable, and secure,” “happy,” and “in love”
  • not be “a sex worker, dealer, or thief”
  • trans identity cannot be used to produce humor or generate a plot twist
  • gender transition should not be the focus of the story

Now let’s get into the movies and TV.

Ace Ventura: FAIL

Time to talk about one of the most infamous points in media when it comes to trans representation, a real bottom of the barrel moment that influenced many to come after it and shaped perceptions.

I keep meaning to reach out to the director Tom Shadyac for an interview about Ace Ventura and whether it’s possible to reframe the transphobia in the movie based on the fact that the villain is literally NOT a trans woman. The harm comes from the audience not seeing the difference between an innocent woman with a trans medical background vs a male predator using the disguise of a woman for revenge.

It changes a lot of other stuff in the movie. Now Ace is gagging and eating toothpaste because he’s horrified at the deception. Sort of like if you show up for a date and they look nothing like the picture they sent. Even if they’re super hot, the deception is too off putting to stick around IMO.

And yeah maybe he doesn’t like kissing 1) dudes 2) murderers, but instantly vomiting is like actually kind of a reasonable reaction given the second one?

Lost Girl: FAIL

The producers said they didn’t mean it, but is ignorance enough to excuse blatant transphobia?

Xena: Warrior Princess: PASS

Xena: Warrior Princess was a goddamn pioneer for LGBTQ+ activism. The series played with queer romance, the diversity of nearby weaponry, and why the patriarchy is obviously and utterly awful for everyone regardless of gender. Next, the show invited rising transgender star Karen Dior to play Xena’s newest ally — and Gabrielle’s worst enemy.

The Simpsons: FAIL

Audiences met tough-as-nails Brunella Pommelhorst as far back as season 3 in the only episode of the Simpsons to be banned from Disney+, but it wasn’t until the season 17 episode “My Fair Laddy” that the long-running show revealed even gym teachers are sometimes waiting to complete their transition.

The Crying Game: FAIL

Irish Republican Army member Fergus (Stephen Rea) forms an unexpected bond with Jody (Forest Whitaker), a kidnapped British soldier in his custody, despite the warnings of fellow IRA members Jude (Miranda Richardson) and Maguire (Adrian Dunbar). Jody makes Fergus promise he’ll visit his girlfriend, Dil (Jaye Davidson), in London, and when Fergus flees to the city, he seeks her out. Hounded by his former IRA colleagues, he finds himself increasingly drawn to the enigmatic, and surprising, Dil.

Veronica Mars: PASS

going back to 2004 to figure out some trans mysteries and crimes

Friends: PASS

Friends sure did have some queer stuff in it but was it actually any good?

South Park: FAIL

just a few short words about detransitioning, trans women in bathrooms, sports and lesbian spaces, cis kids, Ray Blanchard, transmedicalism… oh and I guess South Park.

Sex and the City: FAIL

More like Slurs and the City

Further reading

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Television
Movies
LGBTQ
Transgender
Diversity
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