Corporal Klinger etc

[kimdl93]

There was a time, not that many years ago, when I was ashamed of the perve that I was, and deathly afraid that other people could somehow tell that I was "different".

This lead to a degree of hyper-sensitivity and embarassment whenever a CD or TG person was portrayed in TV or film. For example, Corporal Klinger in Mash. I was always afraid someone might see something of Kinger in me or vice versa.
Although I love the movie, I'm still bothered by the portrayal of a TG villain in Silence of the Lambs. I still hate associating myself in any way with such a beastly character.

[StaceyJane]

The killer in Silence of the Lambs wasn't really TG. I believe Dr Lector tried to tell him that.

[Eryn]

Klinger was a comic character and, since he has a ulterior motive in his dressing, he was not a true CDer. He actually presented a benign-to-positive image to the public. I especially liked one episode, after Klinger stopped dressing, when he was developing a skin rash. Col. Potter's prescription was that he wear a slip under his uniform! If a straght-laced WW-I warhorse like Potter could be understanding, anyone can!

I'm a bit more concerned about portrayals of CDers as villains. Unfortunately, drama does need villains, and villains have to be something, so every once in a while the fickle finger of fate will fall upon us. Also overrepresented are evil doctors, teachers, cops, and lately, priests. Nothing to be done about it, as Hollywood will always go for the easy target.

[Diana Bain]

Hi Kim, I think Kilinger was just looking for a out. I doubt when he got back to Toledo, OH he was still a crossdresser. Now for someone to see something of Kilinger in you...I'm sorry, but you just don't have the nose.:) Seriously I do understand was your saying...but I think most of us here are past that. We have the experience of being two...not perverted...but a gift.

[kimdl93]

I used to have the same reaction when news magazines, like 60 Minutes did stories on TG people. It was a mixture of shame and embarrassment...too many similarities, I guess. Part of me was afraid other people would see it, and part of me was afraid of what I might become.

Funny, it turns out its not nearly so bad as I imagined ;)

[Jilmac]

As a longtime fan of M*A*S*H I always thought Klinger was a hoot, I wish I would have thought of dressing when I was in the navy, maybe my hitch would have been shortened, LOL. What really frosts me is the way CDers are almost always portrayed as gay drag queens in most tv and movie dramas. The other side of the media portrayal of CDs is buffoonery which was Klinger's case. Another case of buffoonery was Drew Carey's brother on the old Drew Carey show. Just once I would like to see CDs portrayed as most of us are, straight, married with families, gainfully employed, active in church and community, just everyday people enjoying something a little outside the box. I doubt that will ever happen though, there's nothing sensational about it.

[Eryn]

What really frosts me is the way CDers are almost always portrayed as gay drag queens in most tv and movie dramas.

Well, let's say they decided to portray me as I am typically dressed. Pretty top, Capris or leggings, sandals, just like a GG my age. That doesn't exactly grab the audience's attention, does it?

Same thing for GGs. On TV, most of the women wear low-cut tops, sky-high heels, and tons of makeup. Out in the real world they're wearing baggy T-shirts, sandals, and perhaps lipstick or gloss. TV goes for the glitz.

[Marleena]

Kim, yes this aint no picnic! Once we realize we are okay and accept we are different from most of our guy friends we grew up with it gets better. TV and media always look for drag queens and pervs to portray our kind, its sensationalism. Media news coverage of Pride parades and events always keys in on the drag queens or scantilly dressed guys in short shorts making out. Oh and Jerry Springer..nuff said! It helps ratings, so why portray us as somewhat normal?

Despite all the media crap it is getting slowly better for us.

[ColleenA]

Klinger was a comic character and, since he has a ulterior motive in his dressing, he was not a true CDer.

Jamie Farr was cast specifically because with his looks there would be no confusion that Klinger was wearing dresses for any reason other than getting discharged by the Army. Klinger was unconcerned about his extensive body hair, and while he wore earrings and other jewelry, there was little if any mention of trying to use makeup to look passable.

Consequently, he was just another guy in drag for comedic purposes. As such, I did not connect him to my crossdressing on any level. (It was cool, though, when I learned my first GF's mother went to high school with him.)

[lingerieLiz]

While I cringe at false portrayls think about it this way. If a girl is a striper does a gg think that they are being portrayed? My wife and I had a discussion the other night about relating to the characters in a show. She didn't relate to the hooker so why would I relate to the male hooker who looked somewhat like a woman.

We need to be able to differentiate.

[Tina B.]

Maybe Klinger wasn't really a cross dresser when he started out, but by wars end, with that great wardrobe, and all that time wearing dresses, what makes you think he could go back to being "normal" again. I know since I started wearing dresses, I couldn't go back to not wearing them. But Kim, both of your examples are fictional characters, I'm a man, and I never saw any of me in Hanabel Lector, just because he is a man. Why should we worry about the image of a character in a movie, when we don't do it for all the males we see doing all kinds of bad things in the movies.
Tina B.

[DonnaT]

What really frosts me is the way CDers are almost always portrayed as gay drag queens in most tv and movie dramas.
Actually, most play victims of a crime, usually resulting in death. And I can just hear people saying, good!

[Karren H]

I think he had an eating disorder ..... trying to eat that jeep ...... probably the root cause of his crossdressing..... that and coming from Toledo ....

[MicheleCooper]

I think he had an eating disorder ..... trying to eat that jeep ...... probably the root cause of his crossdressing..... that and coming from Toledo ....

lol...probably those Tony Packo chili dogs...nah, I have eaten those hot dogs, and..oh I am a crossdresser. Damn you Tony Packo and your delicious Hungarian chili hotdogs!!!!

[Karren H]

lol...probably those Tony Packo chili dogs...nah, I have eaten those hot dogs, and..oh I am a crossdresser. Damn you Tony Packo and your delicious Hungarian chili hotdogs!!!!

the only thing I got in Toledo was gas.....gasoline .... on the trip between PA and MI. that and we used to go to Toledo to the movies in high school

[Stephanie47]

One thing I know about portrayals of cross dressers in films is the angst it brings to non accepting women. After my wife and I realized I was a cross dresser, and, not just a man enjoying the feel of nylon lingerie in bed, she found it difficult to watch cross dressing movies. She was very very uncomfortable watching "Tootsie" in the movie. "Mrs. Doubtfire" was another troublesome movie. I went to Wikipedia and reviewed the list of cross dressing movies. There are a few which are actually in line with the issues that are raised in our daily lives, e.g., a wife discovers her cross dressing husband's clothing, "Just Like A Woman." Even MASH* raises angst with my wife. As to the situation comedies, I wish they just avoid the subject of cross dressing. I know there was one this season (Forget the name). If ethnic or religious minority groups were portrayed in the same manner as sexual minorities, I think holy hell would be raised. Cross dressing becomes a cheap laugh at the expense of a sexual minority facing serious issues in society.

If you think about our daily lives, it is rather boring; get up, take a shower, slip into feminine garments, eat breakfast, do household chores, bake, cook, work in the garden. If one is adventurous and confident, go out shopping and dining out. Not much of a plot here. Movies such as "Tootsie" and "Mrs. Doubtfire" really do not do justice to the issue of cross dressing since the plot has a non cross dressing motivation to cross dressing.

[Helen H. Heels]

Then Colonel Potter said "This too shall pass" Gotta love that show!
Helen

[kimdl93]

..... I'm a man, and I never saw any of me in Hanabel Lector, just because he is a man. ...Tina B.

Actually, I was referring to Buffalo Bill, the fellow who was "collecting" skin from his victims to make a "woman" suit. Dr Lector actually was assisting Agent Starling in her effort to track down Buffalo Bill.