Why does the media ignor us

[joann07]

The media doesn't ignore us, although there are more tv shows featuring crossdressers, but the majority of the time we're viewed negatively in the news because that's what makes a story and grabs the viewers attention.
There have been stories in the past, such as, that volunteer firefighter caught running around in a park all drunk and wearing a bikini.
Then in Des Moines Iowa, there was a robber, in drag, who got arrested after his pantyhose got caught in chicken wire.
Or how about the crossdresser in Polk County Florida who tried to solicit a child. He was video taped coming in and out of a convenience store.

These people do not represent the majority of us law abiding and decent crossdressers, but it's news like that continuously give us a negative image that we're predators, molesters, criminals, perverts, etc, etc.

[TxKimberly]

I like it that way. The only time they talk about us is when its a story like those you described. somebody did something bad while dressed. You don't hear about the TG that stops to pick up a mother and her three children and give them a ride home when their car failed, or the TG that helps the grandparents that were stranded when their car broke down midway between Houston and Dallas on the way home from their grand daughters graduation, or . . . you get the picture. No, all you hear about is the pro-boxer found in drag, or the sports announcer, or the city councilman. All hear about are the prominent people that they want to make a mockery of.
I'd be thrilled if they left us alone . . .

[victoriamwilliams1]

They don't ignore us they try to exploit us and show the world how bad we are.

Also in the exploits they also tend to find a person who says they are TG/CD and at times they find the worst photo of them dressed.

I wont talk about Maury, Springer and Oprah.

[Shelly67]

This is a bit heavy a truely horrifying watch , but inkeeping with the question on media ......

Lets face it , the media does,nt ignore us . It only strives to sell us with placebos of usless information , fear and glutony ...( blimey soap box time ) At times we,ve even been a blatant joke .
Recently my wife pointed out ( I hardly ever read newspapers as I find them over sensationalised and controlling in subconcious behaviour - ie fear - and as Art Garfunkle sang " I get the news I need on the weather report " - end of sermonn ) on many occassions when she,s read the Agony Aunt , or problem page , the subject of crossdressing seems to pop up almost daily . The advice given in response ( unless alcohol or drugs are also an issue ) is so simillar to that given on here I think in general it is becoming more open . At long last . I just wish things would open up further , and make the world aware of how other nations behave towards crossdressing ect .
About a month ago , I watched a programme filmed in Iran by the BBC . It showed how homosexuals , lesbians and crossdressers are totally unaccepted . The country even has moral Policing if where a man or female is found not to be dressed in akin to the correct gender imprisonment and fines are the response .At worst a death by stoning can be ordered .
The programme showed in depth how there is a way to be accepted . A total sex change .
Now for those who really need to have to go thru this reversal of they,re own chioce , I,m so happy , and I hope they can at last find freedom and happiness to be their true selves . But in this programme it showed it was enforced .
The poor men and women are not accepted either before or after surgery , losing family and relations along the way . Most of them , sadly resort to prostitution after surgery just to make a living .
They have to obtain a " marrige certificate " with the client concerned , so the sexual act can take place , for money and is therefore deemed legal . Hypocrasy. The certificate is then after destroyed and the partnership void .
These poor people , both reasigned men and womwn go thru hell alone , often disfigured and emotionally destroyed . On watching this programme my wife wept , I sat there stunned .

How I wish the media would have portrayed this programme in a more printed fashion - newspapers .
And it certaintly would have made for an enlightening read to those who may see all the worlds colourful folks in a different light . May have a few of them thinking about the way people like us , and our choices of lifestyle are treated and accepted or not as well ?

It was aired on BBC 2 at night . There wasnt any surgery scenes , or violence either . It was aired after the water shed time - 9 pm.

I,ll look it up if I can , there must be a way of re watching the programme , and post my findings on here if I,m lucky for those who wish to watch .....

[erickka]

Joann hit the nail on the head. Most of the media coverage is negative concerning CD's/TG's etc. We already are blasphemised enough in today's society without any help from the mass media market. Maybe someday, we will be viewed as just ordinary people, and not some kind of circus freak show. Until then, we all have each other on this forum!

[battybattybats]

It wasn't so long ago that the only time you saw goths on tv and film they were bad. In recent years there has been a slew of goth themed kids shows showng the style in a very positive light. Sure they are most often with female characters as the goths or female main characters withmale ones more as sidelines, getting goth guys as much acceptance as goth girls is yet to come.

Still the change is significant.

Economics has a lot to do with it. What rates/sells well gets copied. The more a group is respected as a consumer base the less advertisers and tv companies will want to offend them and the more they will want to encourage, support and celebrate them.

[Carly D.]

We're not here to take over the world and force everyone to wear womens clothing.. we are like everyone else.. the want to fit in is overwhelming... the want to be accepted.. the want to just fit in.. the want to fit in... the want to fit in...

[Shelly67]

I only want to be able to be me , without fear of confrontation , humiliation , and at worse violence .
These wishes cover a whole spectrum of life and crossdressing .
There are family members , work collegues , nieghbours and people in general who would probably scorn me , become abusive even over my crossdressing.
I think the media is only concerned with one outlook towards people like me , us , enforcing at times peoples outlook on the subject of a man wearing womens clothing .
We are not conforming to the norm . But , there are many of us .
My answear to that is whats normal anyway ......?

[bgirl]

I am not so sure that we are ignored.
You could take out CD and insert many different things like chess player or auto mechanic model airplane nut or whatever. I AM SURE THEY FEEL NEGLECTED TOO! Google Nadia's Transgender Rant. She has the knack of finding all the transgender events the media has to offer.
We are not yesterdays news! Just not front page news too often. Besides the media seems to always exploit the extremes.
Dog bites CD? Good Dogey.........CD bites dog, now thats news.
[SIZE="4"]WILD DOG BITING CD LOOSE IN CITY!!!!!!!!!!![/SIZE]

[Ruth]

I don't think the media ignores us. But neither does it wish us well. Someone used the word "exploit" and that's the key. We are merely fodder for the news machine. If there's a lurid story that will sell a few newspapers, grab a few viewers, then we're on.
Also, because of the largely secretive nature of CDers, there is no identifiable large purchasing power associated with us. We are not a target for advertisers. If we were, it would be a very different story.

[Angie G]

I think it just isn't of that much interest to most people.
Angie

[Chryl]

how bout, a lot of them a crossdresers, don't want to admit it, so then they put us down to cover for themselves, the biggest, loudest usually have somthing to hide

Cheryl

[trannie T]

The media do not ignore us. There are a couple of reasons we are rarely noticed, 1) The great majority of us are hidden deep in the closet and would run screaming in terror from a photographer or reporter, and 2) We rarely do anything of interest.

[Stargirl]

Most of what we call the media is garbage. I was in a dentist chair today watching FOX news on his TV wide screen. Imagine FOX covering crossdressing ? There was something about kids crossdressing for school. It was really stupid, as in FOX brand stupid, which is the epitome of stupid. My lidocaine is wearing off. I think we deserve better coverage than regular TV, or Dr. Laura style "explanations". I am amazed by the number of people who actually follow such detritis. We need to be shown in a bright,and kind light. We should be writing our own books, and telling our own stories.

[Melanie R]

Some of the media coverage has been positive. Here is the link to a segment with may wife and I featured on WE, Women's Entertainment channel, Secret Lives of Women - Married to Crossdressers. I will put the other segments on You Tube later. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-1c5...&feature=email.

Hugs,

Melanie

[Katie Ashe]

Why does the media ignore us... Probly cause those in in the media spot lite are getting caught and going to jail Then those stupid enough, try to sue the state for SRS because of their incarseration, what a dildo...

Face it there is not enough good drama to be put in the paper about us.