I was amazed yesterday, when I stumbled across this page about a survey the BBC is running to gain a deeper understanding into how the LGB community is portrayed across all their services.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blog[...]o.shtml

"LGB?" I thought. Surely there is a letter missing. Must be a typo. So I read on and it quickly became apparent that it wasn't an error and that the BBC had deliberately removed the "T" from LGBT.

The BBC's Head of Diversity, Amanda Rice, said, "The reason why we have chosen to look at LGB portrayal and not Trans is that the research is very much about sexual orientation as opposed to gender."

Well I don’t think that's good enough. I don't know about you but I feel left out, like I haven't been invited because I am a TG person. By leaving us out of this survey, the message the BBC is sending us is that they are not interested in how TG people are portrayed across their services. As usual, we don't count.

Take a look at the comments below the article on that page and you'll see that people are cross about this, including me.

Please take a few minutes to comment on this too (you'll have to register first but it's important). In this blog you are talking directly to BBC management so let's tell them that we do exist and that we need to be heard as much as the LGB's of this world.

Hugs, Katie

I'm not at all cross about being separated from the LGB's. It's the fact that the Beeb is not interested in us at all and has left us out completely that I'm upset about and so should we all.

Hugs, Katie

One time we should be included in the LBGT, even if its to clarify our position we are not homo's in frocks. and irregardless of gender, we still have sexual preferences and orientation. I made a complaint to the BBC refering to our exclusion, under the sexual discrimination clause. Would have been a good chance to express how we relate to sex regarding our gender not as opposed to it.

Cristine

Wendy, always true to form, getting it right. People understand about Downes Syndrome, Dwarfism, other genetic and congenital diseases, birth abnormalities. Gender dysphoria is a medical condition, diagnosed as an illness. At Addenbrooks gene laboratories in Cambridge its associated with a gene deformity in the DNA structure. Thats apart from other abnormalities
like Reifensteins/AIS. Its unfortuante that in most instances, people with GD don't also suffer from Reifensteins. with the physical appearances of women. On the other hand not everyone born with Reifensteins suffers from GD. It would be overly simplistic to say that it has, has/not a direct bearing on a persons sexuality.

Please don't tell me that it has no relevance, and should be totally kept seperate, gender and sexuality. Even if its how the ignorant and biggoted masses see us. Gay man in frock. Even if its down to the pressure of trying to be accepted as women by sleeping with men. I'm not going to go over, again, councellors/shrinks views and my own ideology on the straight/lesbian aspect of being transgendered in relationships.

Perhaps the BBC were seperating gender and sexual issues, is it that simple? I still think its wrong that we were not included in the debate, survey. Would have been a good platform to put our views across.
The LGB like to add the T when they are pressing for their own publicity spouting equality and looking for votes and support..

So many, here, fume and get all hot and bothered over LABELS, this would have been a good opportunity to put our two pence in. regarding labels and back it up with a simplified explanation of medical definitions and logic.

The educated, people in the know, don't see a downs syndrome person, and ridicule them, call them names, we are not after sympathy, extra priveledges, just a basic recognition and respect. having our views and explanations taken seriously and given due consideration.

The BBC were wrong not to take on board the Trans community, when so many have illconcieved ideas of us all being gay.

Cristine

Girls, girls, girls! This LGB without the T thing is a red herring. We are debating the wrong thing here. My fault perhaps, for not explaining it right in my first post.

The issue at stake here is about how TG people are portrayed on TV & Radio by the BBC. Please, let's not talk about being associated with the LGB's because that is clouding the issue. We can debate that another day.

The BBC decided to create a survey to help them, “...gain a deeper understanding into how the lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) community are portrayed across all our services.”

This is important stuff because it’s television and the media which tells the populous how to react to everything from banker's bonuses to fox hunting to washing powder to MP’s expenses. Over the years, while the LGB’s have been becoming more and more accepted in our society, trannies have continued to be depicted on TV as bad people, mainly due to the efforts of shows like Spinger. And remember the BBC researcher who contacted me last August to ask if I could provide a tranny to be ridiculed on their BBC Three show, Argumental. Would they do that with a black person?

TG people are hardly ever shown on TV in a positive way and that must change but in order to effect change we need to get the broadcasters on-side and this could be a great opportunity.

Although, rightly or wrongly, TG people have been traditionally linked with the LGBT group but the BBC decided that there was no need to hear our views at all and that they were only interested in how they portray the LGB’s. Therefore the T was removed as our views were not wanted.

Had the BBC offered another survey for us (perhaps realising that we were not happy about being linked to the LGB’s) that would have been a different story. However, they didn’t and it is my suspicion that they had no intention of ever asking to hear from us.

When put under pressure from an avalanche of angry comments about the exclusion of trans people, the Head of Diversity said, “...we will probably capture data relating to the Transgender community. This won't be discarded, it will be included in our findings. And that's not to say that we won't in future do more detailed research into the Trans community.”

She is virtually admitting there, that there were no plans to listen to us until that moment. I would guess that there are still no plans.

So, for now at least, let’s forget about us not being too happy about being associated with gay people. That is something we should discuss separately.

The thing we need to concentrate on here is that a very, very large and powerful public institution has decided that they are not interested in how transgender people are portrayed across their services which means that the negative publicity will persist and the public will continue to think of TG people as freaks, men in frocks or perverts.

And this is not just something the Brits need to worry about. When an organisation like the BBC sets a precedent, other broadcasters around the world follow. If it’s okay for the BBC to slag off trannies then it’s okay for NBC, CBS, FOX, ABC, etc.

We have an opportunity here to tell Amanda Rice, the BBC’s Head of Diversity, that we need a voice and that we need to be seen on TV more often and in a positive way. Let’s not blow it by debating the wrong thing.

If you haven’t already left a comment or taken the survey, please do go there now and tell them what you think. You don't have to register to take the survey.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blog[...]o.shtml

Thanks and hugs, Katie x

Mmmmm Katie,

How many will register and voice their complaint about being excluded, forcing the issue for future consideration, so many, ''Don't wanna be associated with the LBG's" People are missing the point, being excluded when, it might upset the status quo or complicate matters. The 'T' in GBLT is a convenience, about time we used them. If the truth were known, when the invite went out, or the GBL tendered their prospectus for this survey we were exluded by them to start with.

Its not being allied to the GBL sector that makes people look at us and think "Gay man in Frock" its how people percieve us in general, a sub species of Gay, we could have used this BBC forum to explain ourselves and distance us from the Gay label by educating those with half a brain, and distancing ourselves in general from the GBL, becoming a seperate entity.

Cristine.

(I'm Not missing the point at all) Grrrrrrrr

An analogy, "2 sworn enemies stranded in the dessert, the only way either can survive is by both of them digging for water"
You can shoot him after you found the water, or you might have formed an empathy and understanding.

Why is it that nobody else can see the real point here? Why are we continuing to talk about the T in LGBT when that is not the issue?

And please make no mistake - by being denied a voice we have been done no favours at all.

Hugs, Katie x

Marsha

if 1%who watch the show whatever and are enlightened, as in erm, I never knew that, or a that is not what I expected and they educate another 1%, ifinitum, then its a start. when most gays think we are closet gays and basically dislike it because they are under the impression we dress to disguise our gayness. Register, voice your discontent at the exclusion and perhaps it will eventaully dawn on people we do have a voice Perhaps a few more eloquent people, subscribing to that BBC forum, might sway things. Use it to state why, we should have been included, To clear up misconceptions of the labels we have been given, out of ignorance and bigotry. I'm sure some here could make a much better case and score more points than I ever could.

Katie, Moi? missing the point, erm I don't think so.

Cristine

Rae, xXx

Duh, I can be so remiss at times, I had allready taken what you said above for granted, was not asking anyone to fill in the survey/questionaire, just to post a comment in the forums, What you actually said above would have made a very suitable
addition with an added so why does a large section of society label me "Gay"

We have an understanding on that aspect, Rae, Hugs.

OMG, its not about the survey, its about access to a platform, making comments to correct peoples misconceptions and the automatic exclusions. Causing uproar to be heard and given consideration.

Actually in a lot of cases for TW members it is about the survey as well, Some TW members classify themselves as lesbians, some that prefer men classify themselves as straight. But its about how the general populance percieve us as gay men in frocks, weirdos.

I think most of us are agreed, if your Gender dysphoric and think and present as women, your a woman, NOT a gay in a frock as is the general opinion of the uneducated. While gays and lesbians are more accepted in society, We are still being left out.

If your a woman, still with your female partner, and have a sexual orientation to have sex with women, in my opinion and a whole bunch of eminent shrinks that makes the person a lesbian. If your a woman and your sexual preferences are men, then in my opinion and the same shrinks would cassify you as straight. got it? so then you should voice your opinion on the BBC comments as to why society still sees you as a gay man in a frock.! And thats irregarless of wether your post -op or pre-op in the process of transition,

Right those of you that still prefer women how do you feel about still being labled GAY and its connotations. The term gay does'nt actually specify wether your poking somones bum, or somone is poking your bum. Its just how a lot of people in society see men in frocks.

To those of you that consider yourself straight, women, prefering men do you mind that the vast majority think your just a deviant submissive gay man in a frock?

Don't bother with the survey if you consider it does'nt apply to you, just have a go at explaining yourself in the BBC forum.

The LBG pulls us in when they need support, perhaps we don't want to be directly involved with them. They use us when the need arises, get stuck in. while you have the opportunity. Stop being ostriches.

Its not what you know you are, its about clearing up the misconceptions of how society sees us a sub species of GAY.

Marsha, its about lesbians gays & bi's,? if somone is eronously placing you in this category perhaps you should put them straight,
If you go to the supermarket and buy a tin with a label saying peaches, and it turns out to be drain cleaner, You telling me that your not gonna complain, or will you just stick it in the trifle anyway? yeh right, lol. Your always very vocal with how you percieve things here in TW, the should's and should'nt and how you view things, A previous forum, you more or less concurred with the TG's thinking and presenting as women being straight if they fancied men, define, please how you see yourself? A lesbian?

If your just dessing up in a frock for sexual kicks and giving a guy a BJ to me that in my opinion is a gay man in a frock, not saying its wrong or making a judgment, but if you are genuine women, why should you be labled as such though ignorance and misunderstanding. So your sexual orientations are directly linked to the gender you see yourselves as.

Cristine.

Oh well, while most of society sees me and Cass as Gay men in frocks, as aboslute deviants, I might as well go and fill in the survey, keep my head down and Baaaaaa along with the rest. Cos we ain't ever gonna get a platform dedicated to the trans comunity to discuss our slant on sexual orientation in relation to gender identity

Wake up etc etc


Cristine

Baaaa baaaaaaa ba baaaaa