Reading the most infuriating string of people claiming RHPS is transmisogynistic. Rocky Horror Show was one of the first queer made movies and brought the RAGE of queer people onto the stage and later the screen at a time when it was not considered appropriate to do so. Would it be the same radically incredible and significant piece of media if released today? Absolutely not, but the point is it was NOT released today.
RHPS was released in 1975. Seven years after the end of the Hayes code. Six years after the Stonewall Riots. Two years after homosexuality was removed as a mental illness in the American Psychiatric Association’s list. Six years BEFORE THE AIDS EPIDEMIC. Almost all represenation that could be pointed out as queer in media before Rocky Horror (given the modern western culture) was gay men, or on occasion, lesbian women.
Now, am I arguing that it is great queer representation? I’m not even arguing that it is GOOD queer representation. I think what people miss about the whole “representation” thing is that it’s not universal or black and white. I’m bisexual, so I could see a bisexual character on screen and relate to their every experience regarding sexuality, and think “wow. Fabulous work, THAT’S good representation.” Similarly, another bisexual person who has immensely different experiences than I do can watch the same film and not relate one bit. That doesn’t demote my experience with my sexuality or the character, nor does it do the same for person A. Of course, blatantly harmful characters based upon stereotypes which cause harm to the reputation of minority groups are a completely different story. But it seems that is what people are claiming Frank n Furter to be, and as a long time fan I feel the urge to argue against that.
Frank n Furter is not a trans woman. He is not meant to be a trans woman (I’m pretty sure later iterations may have made him one, but that is besides the point when arguing for the original movie). But as previously stated, if a trans woman watches RHPS and sees Frank as an offensive character, that is entirely in her right to express that. However, I personally know SO many trans people who adore the movie and the stage show because of Frank. I would know, being one of them lol. He isn’t made into the butt of the joke, he simply gets to wear fishnets and a corset and heels and he’s still a man. A confident queer man at that. He is not a good person. His actions in the movie are not good. But being a good person does not equal being good representation. He is a fleshed out character, not one sided, and beautifully portrayed by Tim Curry.
People also tend to just skim over the fact that the creator of RHPS himself is transgender. He is nonbinary and discovered and accepted this about himself in the 60s. Frank n Furter was inspired by his own experiences cross dressing and his frustrations with living in such a binary world. Frank is there to communicate his rage, not to be the perfect example of a transgender person.
Personally, I watched RHPS for the first time with a big group of my queer and trans musical theater loving friends. And holy shit, it brought us together like nothing else. To see a movie from the 1970s that so unapologetically showed cross dressing without making it a joke or a bit, rather just saying this is who they are. I have since hosted many watch parties, dressed up as Frank for halloween, and desperately searched for tickets to see it on broadway. To say that this film has made me more comfortable in my queerness would be an understatement.
If anyone wants to fight me in the comments, go for it. This is the internet of course, I know what I’m getting myself into lmao. All I ask though is despite any offense you may take to the movie, being queer or trans or whatever else, do not demote the impact that the movie has had on the queer community and society as a whole. To say Frank is bad representation is one thing, to say Rocky Horror is transmisogynistic slop and has been since it’s release is a completely different statement.
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