'Moving Wallpaper' - A British 'Comedy' (ITV) and its nasty attitude towards trans people.
Here's a synopsis of the episode in question:
"Series 2 - Renaissance
Jonathan panics about the opening scene and accidentally ends up hiring a transsexual writer.
In-Depth Episode Synopsis
Warning: the below synopsis may contain spoilers
Production on Renaissance is in full swing, but Jonathan isn't convinced the big opening scene has the wow factor Renaissance needs. Panicking about the show's sci-fi credentials, and desperate to re-write before Nancy finds out, he hires a new, experienced writer who proves to be more of a handful than he'd bargained for, meaning Georgina, the new writer, is actually a transsexual named George... with hairy hands.
The team is naturally furious they haven't been consulted about the new member of staff and when they learn that 'Georgina' is being paid more than them, Gillian leads a full-on writers' strike, bringing the production and Jonathan to their knees.
Increasingly annoyed by Georgina's outrageous demands Jonathan reaches breaking point and decides to sack her. Running short on time and with production at a stand still, will Jonathan manage to make amends with his writers and find his big opening scene to satisfy Nancy?"
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Here's my response to the production team:
Channel: ITV 1 (Channel 3)
Programme: "Moving Wallpaper"
Date/Time 20/03/09 21.00-21.30
Dear Sir/Madam,
I would like to draw your attention to the unacceptable and offensive material contained in the Friday night episode of 'Moving Wallpaper' (full details above) and, in particular, its abusive and insulting portrayal of a transsexual person.
This programme made gratuitous use of a transsexual character as an object of derision. "Georgina" joins a team of script-writers and is made to feel unwelcome as the butt of their "jokes". The latter included but were not limited to:
Referring to her as "George" and using male pronouns in reference to her; calling her forthcoming gender reassignment surgery a "knock-through"; threatening to "strangle him" by the Adam's apple, "if she/he still has one"; staff going on strike when Georgina receives a higher rate of pay due to her excellent work; saying she has stubble; calling her "it"; claiming to be scared by her "man hands"; saying she is a man in a frock; writing "vaginoplasty" on her calendar; consistently undermining her right to be part of the writing team and, finally, forcing her to leave by omitting to sign her contract.
The fact that this sort of experience is, sadly, one that is frequently experienced by transsexual people makes this lamentable attempt at humour so nasty. I am of the opinion that this character was created simply as a way to get a cheap laugh; she serves no other purpose than as a focus of the others' disgust and cruelty. Had a similar script been employed to poke fun at another minority it would never have been allowed to air. It is dreadful that transsexual people, myself included, have worked so hard for fair representation in the media only to see such degrading and nasty portrayals of this kind. I fear that others watching may assume that it is acceptable to behave like this towards a trans employee or colleague when bullying of this kind is, in fact, illegal.
I would like to see a public apology issued and evidence of a commitment to start taking seriously the reality of harassment, discrimination and violence directed towards trans people in the UK (and worldwide).
Yours faithfully,
Dr Acorn Tree
Co-Director, Acorn: Gender Equality Education
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2 comments:
Their response:
Dear Acorn,
Thank you for your e-mail to ITV Duty Office about this programme, which has been passed to me for a response as we at Channel look after the show for ITV. It is made by Kudos Film & Television, an independent production company.
First of all I should like to apologise for the upset you felt when watching the programme, it is never our intention to upset or to offend our viewers but obviously for you on this occasion we got it completely wrong. The episode did highlight, in a comedic way, the prejudice suffered by many, and I should like to mention that positive comments were made by the characters of Gillian and Kelly in defence of Georgina to counter those made by Jonathan Pope.
I have passed on your e-mail to the production team so that they may be aware of your thoughts on this matter. Thank you again for taking the time and trouble to contact us, and again, our apologies. If you would like to take the matter further you may wish to contact our regulators, Ofcom, either via www.ofcom.org.uk or by telephone to 020 7981 3000.
With all best wishes and thank you again for your valuable feedback,
----
My reply:
Dear ----,
Many thanks for your speedy response to my email. However, I'm a little perturbed by your claim that the programme highlighted 'the prejudice suffered by many' and that 'positive comments' were made by some of the characters towards Georgina. If you are referring to initial attempts to correct incorrect pronoun usage, you will find that later on in the episode all the characters were united in their vicious ridiculing of Georgina. As a result, rather than presenting an sophisticated and witty take on discrimination, the programme instead ends up reinforcing bigoted attitudes towards trans people. From the start, Georgina is presented as a cardboard character who merely becomes a prop for schoolyard-level office bullying. There was nothing smart, engaging and funny about the entire episode.
I await a full investigation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission into the linkage between damaging media representations of this kind and the sheer levels of discrimination and violence directed towards trans people in today's society.
Regards,
Acorn
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