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Glee and a "Transgender Character"?

Posted by Transgender Education Collaboration on April 18, 2012 at 9:05 PM

By M Kelley

In case you haven't heard, all the news sources seem to be buzzing with the news that Glee now has a transgender character. This could be an exciting opportunity, right? Especially because the actor is also a person of color!


Well, I used to be a huge Glee fan. I believed that it had amazingly huge potential to showcase the Queer/LGBT community to the mainstream in a way that empowered young kids to have role models to look up to. From what I have heard though, it has gone horribly wrong.  And to me it sounds like Glee has taken a wrong turn with this "transgender character". 



From what I have gathered- the actor who plays the character is not transgendered. He seems firmly male identified, and simply enjoys doing drag.  Drag Queens are not always Transgender. Many are gay males who are thoroughly happy in identifying as male. This character seems to identify as male outside of performing.  (Correct me if I am wrong!)


Why can we not have an actual transgender actor or actress play a role on Glee? Young Transgender and Gender Variant youth need a character who they can relate to. Someone who is struggling to figure out what their gender identity is. Someone facing pressure to conform to a role they are not comfortable with. Someone considering transitioning. Someone facing homelesness or losing their family support.


Glee- Give us a real transgender character. Not a caricature. 

Categories: Personal Thoughts and Stories, Rant

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3 Comments

Reply Jena
09:19 AM on April 21, 2012 
Interesting POV M. I am not sure I am 100% in agreement with you on this however. Using Transgender as an umbrella term this character would fit firmly under that transgender umbrella.

Drag performers and gender impersonators do have a space within our community, and I for one am extremely excited that this character even though not perfect is a much better representation than the usual ways in which Trans people are portrayed in media. This person is not a prostitute, a drug addict, or a victim of a crime, which are the roles which we trans people have been limited to in story lines of the past. That is a huge step forward. Even if it is an imperfect step at least this character is not being seen as a victim.

Now in all fairness I do not have a regular TV so I will not be seeing this episode until it is available on HULU. But from what I have read the story line fits well with how the Queer community doesn't entirely understand the needs of Trans people. From what I have read this person comes to Kurt for help, and Kurt in turn has no clue of what the person wants and or needs and is way off the mark in the help given. That is very much true for the trans/LGB communities.

Although I am not entirely happy with the fact that Glee boils every different demographic down to stereotypes, I do think they are being bold and somewhat of an Ally to ours and many other communities by just giving us air space.

Jena
Reply Anthony Clemons
11:56 PM on July 09, 2012 
As my friends might tell you, Glee is my favorite show. It's commitment to diversity and beating the odds have always been a part of the show that make it, well, Glee, so I was reading through all of your blogs, to better myself as an ally, and I must say how shocked I was to read this. I always thought that the Trans* community would have been a fan of the show. However, that being said I needed to watch the show again. After having Jena as a TA and having classes with Daniel I knew that I must look through a different lens. I had to look through it as a Trans* individual and not as a gay individual, to better understand where you're coming from. I can honestly say that I still beg to differ with you on a few points. I encourage you to watch the episode and really pay attention to the way the show POSITIVELY highlights gender nonconformity. I think the show has done a really good job at addressing some of the issues that Trans* individuals face and not through a negative lens as we all know Hollywood likes to do with Trans* issues. After watching the Glee Project, which is where the character started ( then won a spot on Glee), I know that drag is something that Alex ( the actor) really identifies strongly with. Then the question becomes should drag queens , and those who do drag be considered a part of the Trans* community. I think the blog definitely made me think about the issue more than just surface level Trans* introduction, but like I said, I would definitely encourage you to watch the episode, as I think your opinion may change.
Reply M Kelley
07:06 PM on July 10, 2012 
Anthony,
When writing this I had not seen the show, and was more responding to the coverage I was seeing. I have my own personal issues with glee revolving around the fact that there hasnt been much character growth, but that's my personal tv taste.

I think it is entirely plausible that they did it well. I was more concerned at the lack of representation. It also fits the mainstream view that a Transexual woman is the same thing as a drag queen, which is not true. They may all fall under the TG umbrella, but very different experiences.

Just some thoughts. Thanks so much for commenting!