Miss Artiphys - Transgender representation in 1996!
This is a relevant and relatable conversation in the Season 2 episode, ‘Here She Comes… Miss Amphipolis’, between Xena and a transgender character. Even though this episode is considered a comedy, it’s very heartfelt and honest because of the themes of domestic abuse and transgender representation. I’m so happy they were able to air this episode for being in the year of 1996 when these controversial themes were rarely talked about on TV. Especially being transgender. The character, Miss Artiphys, played by drag queen; Karen Dior, talks about how your power and worth is taken away from you just because you’re different. Making you feel like you don’t belong in the world, in your community, or just in general perception. It’s something anyone could resonate with but never more so than those who identify by a different gender to what they’re born as and want to be accepted for it. It’s not clear whether the character is transgender or just a transvestite but I would say this conversation sub-textually implies that Miss Artiphys is a transgender because it seems that they feel much happier as a woman than a man which makes a huge difference between them as a transgender isn’t just gender expression but also personal identification. It’s who the person is instead of who they perform as for entertainment purposes. So I very much think of this character as transgender.
It’s a cruel world for transgenders at the moment in America, what with the Texas bathroom bill and transgenders being banned from joining the U.S. military. Including transgender veterans being fired from their job just because of their identity. And you know, a lot of people think these people choose to be this way. They don’t. Much like a homosexual doesn’t choose to be one. It’s what they innately are and how they feel inside. They only choose to embrace it instead of deny it. Unlike some cisgender and heterosexual individuals, who feel so uncomfortable with the thought of change and someone being different from them, to the point where they consider them dangerous and a threat to society. I’ll never understand it. It’s beyond me to comprehend why transphobia or homophobia exists. Why being LGBTQ is even an issue at all... Especially nowadays when a good portion of the human population is LGBTQ or questioning. And they still face this today! This injustice and this discrimination! It has to end!
I think the character, Nomi Marks, from the show, ‘Sense8′, played by a real trans actor; Jamie Clayton, said it best: “The real violence, the violence I realized was unforgivable, is the violence we do to ourselves, when we’re too afraid to be who we really are.”
If we can’t believe in ourselves and accept ourselves for what we truly are, how can we ever expect to be happy in life, and to live peacefully with others? Because what matters at the end of the day, regardless what philosophy or faith you follow, is to believe in yourself. First and foremost, that should be the most important moral you have. Believing in yourself and what you’re capable of doing. All other values fall under that. And if you don’t see it that way, then you’ll never be happy, because mindset makes the difference. Your thoughts and feelings are key to this! You must understand that you only view the world and other people through the filters of how you think and feel about it and them. You don’t see any other way. A lot of people don’t realize that the subjective is all they have. They know that experience requires consciousness, but they don’t understand that that means every experience is different for everyone. So, they treat them with the misunderstanding that everyone thinks and feels the same. The only way to resolve this is for us all to be more aware of how we treat ourselves and each other. To listen to and to care for ourselves and each other. Our thoughts and feelings can turn the tables on us otherwise. And we wonder why so many people struggle with mental illness. It’s obvious why to me.
Rest in power, Geoffrey Gann (aka; Karen Dior). And thank you for portraying this character that provided much needed representation for the trans community.
This is for you @frankierose. I might not know what it’s like to be trans and therefore not understand what you have and must still go through… but just like Xena, know that you will always have an ally in me. This is the original commentary for ‘Here She Comes… Miss Amphipolis’ that I wanted to show you the other day but couldn’t find it. Perhaps the post got deleted or something… who knows? Nevertheless, you can read the commentary now. I hope you like it.
