When it comes to other cultures and ethnicity we have come to believe what we see on tv. Such as how Eastern countries are seen as third world countries, who need to be helped. Or the many many stereotypes surrounding one’s culture. So when we meet someone new for the first time we already have these past notions based on what we have seen or read. But there is so much more to a person than what we know or see. When it comes to representation there is only one. On tv, it is all the same, a straight man and woman. A woman taking care of the kids, a man working, a woman wearing dresses and skirts, and a man in a suit. I remember how it was a big deal when on an episode on the Disney channel there were two lesbian moms with a kid. Good for Disney to finally start to get with the times, but it’s long overdue. In this coming era of Marvel, there was hesitance but we will now be seeing our first of many LQBTQ characters coming alive. Kids will finally be able to see someone like themselves on tv and have it be “normal.” It’s coming from a big brand, Disney. ABC has their show the Fosters which actually had their first transgender character. 

When it comes to gender nonconformity you see artists such as Harry Styles who come to mind. He is someone who just does what he wants and wears what he wants. He uses nail polish, wears glitter and sparkles, and has even worn dresses and skirts, in public and on the front covers of magazines.  

The media is able to shape the views of the people. So when it comes to topics such as transgender people, they better do their reaserch or risk the wrath of the LGBTQ community. But in all seriousness the power the media holds on the lives of the youth is powerful. If you show that being trans is bad and a sin and should be persecuted, etc. That will literally have people targeting transgender people. Transgender people are continuously targeted and struggle to have a piece of equality. So portraying or even speaking about transgenders are not terms to just be thrown out lightly.

Gender is indeed a social construct. We have placed a label the moment we are born. On that label, there are expectations, rules, and different treatments. Take the label away and we are all just humans. There is no such thing as a “real man “ or a “real woman”. Society thinks that your genitalia determines everything about you. But that is not the case, a real human is someone who can be themselves in however form they want, they are “real”. Saying someone is not a “real man or woman” just makes one sound and looks stupid. Who are you to say what is real and what is not. Just let people do whatever they want. 

Transgender lives matter just as much as any other lives. Someone wanting to change their gender shouldn’t affect their life to the point that they can’t even go out in public. Wanting to express yourself shouldn’t be something that brings harm into your life. Society has been brainwashed to only see things a certain way and to go with the flow but whenever someone wants to express themselves or go against the grain it brings up a lot of unwanted opinions. Gender expression for transgender has been discouraged and discriminated against for decades to the place that trans people are afraid to express themselves. The film depicts all the negative effects transphobia had on the lives of those who are transgender. It’s truly sickening to see how humans can be so cruel with their words and actions just because someone is different from them. Trans lives have been the butt of the joke for years. the media has portrayed trans people in the most negative aspect to display an illusion that being trans is the most unpleasant thing in the world. Transgenders are constantly being discriminated against in society. They face high rates of health disparities from the lack of primary health care, high STI rates, and high suicide rates. They also have high rates of unemployment, homelessness, low education, and poverty. Black and Hispanic transgender people are likely to experience extreme poverty earning less than $10,000 a year. This also leads to them experiencing high rates of physical abuse from participating in sex work, sex trafficking, and other forms of criminal organizations. They also face a lot of physical abuse in their daily lives out in the streets from those who are transphobic. It’s time transgender lives get the representation and equality that they’ve lacked for the past decades. They have been overlooked and ignored by the public for far too long.

Transgender representation in film has developed throughout many years in the industry. “Disclosure” captures an eye-opening raw and honest outlook of Transgender people and their lives in film. These group of people have often had to fight for their place in any particular area but as you look into Disclosure, it offers a better understanding at the history of Transgender representation and how they’ve seen themselves develop. Celebrating the importance of transgender representation is extremely necessary and they’ve earned it for so many decades. They lack appreciation and public consciousness in the eyes of film and television and although it is sometimes overshadowed by the reflection of other groups, transgender people have longed for success and media attention. Gender identity and expression of transgender people can collectively be overlooked or ignored but they work to receive recognition from the public. Disclosure also underlines a clear perspective of how this has always been an ongoing development, even before the topic reached big sources. 

The history of Trans representation in cinema will always remain important, necessary and should be seen as equivalent to any other group. Sometimes it may make you question how film-makers feel towards transgender people specifically and how they plan to include them in their own shows and movies. Researching and learning about this topic can enhance your understanding on transgender lives and how they are often affected by these situations or possibly sometimes feel rejected and like they do not belong. As unfortunate as that sounds, it is the reality of our society and the transparency of how transphobic some film-makers may be. Due to constant discrimination towards transgender people, it is a rare sight to see them participate in big roles or have big control in film making. Some film makers even think it’s okay to showcase transgender people as the “joke” of their movies. This is never okay and misinterprets the true importance of transgender representation, as I previously mentioned above. They become seen as insignificant and many directors / writers are inconsiderate by not keeping them in mind and creating something much more important for them to feel heard and seen. As we’ve continued to see and discuss the patterns of transgender representation in cinema, they do not deserve to be treated as comedy for the public. That belittles their significance and chances of experiencing a good role in film. In contrast to other groups of people who receive bigger roles and brighter spotlights in the media, transgender people continue to earn and fight for more representation and that is still in the works to this day.

I wanna start by talking about Shavoya Easy’s snapshot 12 which says “Trans rights are human rights” because I know many people don’t see it that way.  Trans people are fighting for their lives quite literally and the narrative is that transgender people are a threat to cis lives. They’re fighting for the right to live, access to healthcare, employment, corrective representation, and simply to be recognized and treated like a human being. 

Disclosure tackles transphobia in media and how portrayals of trans people teach the masses how to view, react and treat trans people, it also disastrously affects the way trans people view themselves. Media is very powerful and people often underestimate its influence. In the film it said 80% of Americas don’t know a trans person personally so much of their information about trans people comes from the media. And with films pushing stereotypes such as trans serial killers, trans sexual predators, and the butt of jokes it’s no wonder transgender people are viewed as monsters and a laughing stock. It’s dehumanizing. There’s a long history of terrible trans representation, the obsession with trans people is hella weird. What’s even weird and honestly disgusting is the trope of male comedians dressing up as women. Disclosure talks about how it’s a “rite of passage” for cis-het Black male comedians to gain mainstream recognition in white society. It’s a layered thing where Black men sell out themselves by playing into their own “emasculation”, playing into disparaging mammy and sapphire stereotypes of Black women and presenting trans-ness as a game of dress up. It’s anti-black, sexist and transphobic all in one. Transphobic representation often comes with homophobia, sexism and racism, they are all intertwined, which is why the fight for trans rights is all our fights.

It was very heartbreaking to hear the trans people in this film talk about how these horrendous depictions affected their self esteem. When you have no personal trans person in your life to give you guidance and when you see yourself on tv being depicted as monstrous disgusting things, how can you not believe those things. How does one love themselves when media, loved ones, and society is telling you, you’re repulsive? That’s very damaging to one’s mental health. We don’t talk enough about trans mental health and that needs to change.

We need to recognize trans people are human, humans who are suffering so greatly at the hand of silly gender constructs that don’t even serve cis women or men. I try my best to be an ally to the trans community. It’s takes constant education and conversations with people in your lives. An old friend from middle school came out as a trans woman recently and I told them I’m glad they’re living in their truth. I know how much she struggled when she was being bullied for “being gay” and how much she didn’t really identify with that term. Trans people are not mythical creatures they’re our friends, family, coworkers, classmates, people. Have a some compassion. I had to threaten to not be friends with someone after they used a transphobic slur that I previously educated them against saying, and they got their act together. Had to explain to a high school friend that trans women are not appropriating womanhood. Have to catch myself when I think or say borderline transphobic or trans exclusionary things.Educate yourself, educate others, allow time to learn and be patient with people but also let them know you have zero tolerance for that shit. Normalize defending trans people.

The last thing I want to touch on in Disclosure is their closing statement that representation isn’t the end all be all but rather a means to reach the trans community in an uplifting way and to educate the masses. It’s not just important that trans people are visible on screen but also that they are in the writing rooms and the work continues outside of the acting world. Trans people in the streets need protection and opportunities like the ones onscreen. Legislature, economic access and equity, as well as redefining masculinity and dismantling the gender binary are all components that go into working towards trans liberation.

I believe that there are only two genders (boys/men and girls/women). If you were born a girl, then you are a girl. If you were born a boy, then you are a boy. People came up with the idea of ​​transgenderism. Transgender people have a different gender identity or gender expression than the sex they were assigned at birth.

Most societies have traditionally acknowledged only two major categories of gender roles: masculine and feminine, which roughly correspond to the biological sexes of male and female. When a baby is born, society assigns the infant to one of two genders based on the appearance of their genitals.

I find it funny to see a man in a dress. A woman cutting her hair, walking, and dressing like a man is strange. I grew up seeing only two genders, so seeing a transgender is strange and funny to me. I know that some people harm transgender people, but we were not born to teach people that they are what they were born with. It is not our business. You can be whatever you want. I do not care if you are transgender. You will never hear me say anything hurtful or see me laugh. I do not want anyone to suffer because of me, but that does not mean I support transgender.