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We often see comment here about some of the more repellent representations of the Transgender community on TV. However...
Back in 1997 what started as a joke in bad taste came to be one of the most subtly effective support campaigns we could have hoped for.
http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/oct/23/coronation-street-hayley-cropper-changed-soaps
It also reinforces Nancy Cole's recent comments about the impact of good storytelling on public perception.
Persephone
P.S. For those of you who have never heard of it 'Coronation Street' is a British institution. It is a soap opera that has run continuously since 1960 and to this day has the highest ratings for an ongoing series.
Comments
Thank you for posting this
If ever there was an 'own goal' by the bigots, the gutter press and those who insist on having their say when they know nothing, the character of Hayley is it.
S.
Re: Corrie
Hayley has been in the soap for many a year. Here’s a link to a you tube entry which précis’s Hayley and Roy’s relationship
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTeuupy2p4Q
Hope it works.
Love to all
Anne G.
Yes.
Being of a somewhat more mature generation, I remember some to the programmes when I was home on leave. Haley managed to change a lot of bigots' views during that nineties decade. Pity they didn't occasionally weave a few more TG threads occasionally into the series to keep the issue alive. However, Haley has certainly done the transgendered community proud.
Bevs.
Transgender threads
Bev
Actually I'm glad they didn't (weave more TG threads in).
Too much would have been an obvious political/social statement. What they did was focus on the humanity of Hayley as a person first in a rather sweet, honourable but realistic relationship with Roy.
The fact that she was transgendered was just treated as a fact of life rather than something to bray on about.
Some of the best messages are those that the reader/viewer fills in for themselves without needing to be told.
Persephone
Persephone
Non sum qualis eram
You make a very valid point Persephone ...
I suppose it's the places I sink to and the denizen's I meet that tend to keep me high profile and 'in yer face' when I'm out.
When I mix with my own in the LGBT community, I have an easy time but when I get into some less salubrious places, I have to work hard at 'doing a Haley' and conveying the message that 'trannies' are not some sort of soft target. You'd be surprised at the number of grudging acknowledgements that some individuals confess to when approached openly and asked why they find it a cause for some sort of offensive comment or censure. Only rarely have I been treated abusively after 'second contact' and most eventually admit that there had been no real reason for being unpleasant or offensive when asked politely. However, it's a constant conflict out there and occasionally I've received a hit.
My being 'out and blunt' is my socio/political statement but yes, you're right it does tend to colour my perspective.
Corrie
The last time I saw an episode of Coronation Street it was in B&W (I assume it's in colour these days)and Ena Sharples was one of the stars so I didn't even know there was a TG character more recently. The Guardian article is very sympathetic but then, I'm a confirmed Gaurdianista so I expect that.
Interesting that the characters' names are Roy and Hayley because there's a couple of that name in the radio soap I do follow, The Archers which has been running for even longer :)
Thanks for pointing it out.
Robi
Bit off topic...
A bit off topic, but I love the pun in the title. Maybe you could have taken it even farther --
Coronation Street - An unlikely guiding light through all the days of our lives.
Anyone else want to try to get in more?
Titania
Lord, what fools these mortals be!