Trans in Spanish TV

[transinspanish-blog]

Reflection

I really felt I out a lot of work into this project for one particular reason, and that is that I didn’t see trans people on TV when I watched with my parents. Now, being also to see that the stories are there and they are being told makes me begin to formulate how to explain this community to my parents. I think seeing where the coverage succeeds and where it falls short is something that really helps too. For example, I think that when talking to parents or sister about Linda Yepes I can highlight the ways in which she is pictured as person with agency who had an education and worked her way into her field, but note that there are times in which the she is being monetize and that is not okay. 

Further, I think that seeing bad coverage, like that of the hate crime committed against Annabel Montoya I think it shows me that as someone who has the knowledge about issues like pronoun should be a good ally and say something about why it’s important that you use correct pronouns at time when it would be to wearing on the trans people in that space to so themselves. I also believe this teaches me that wording of things is really important and validating experiences is important, because it really bothered me that they treated the hate crime as a maybe mate crime. 

Lastly, I wish I had found more representation of trans men or trans people in telenovelas. I really wanted to show this because I feel like it is under represented. If anyone knows some that I might have missed I hope that they can point me towards them.

[transinspanish-blog]

Additional resources

http://www.translatinacoalition.org

This is a link to Bamby Salcedo’s organization, from the hate crime article. I think this link would be helpful to any Spanish speaking Trans person in Califorina looking for resources.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyPmb1FXxzM

I was also able to find a spanish trans woman on Youtube, which could be helpful for people want to build a sense of community online. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o41fC74snlI

This is a more extensive coverage of Linda Yepes’ vocal surgery, however it is in spanish. 

http://www.theflama.com/7-truly-inspiring-transgender-latinas-1448588595.html

I decided to add this article because I think if anyone is looking at my project and thinking that they don’t know if any of the people here are noteworthy in the community here are Latina Trans women who have established themselves. #RepresentationMatters

http://chicagolgbtservices.org/placecategory/support-groups/

Support groups in Chicago that offer services in Spanish. 

[transinspanish-blog]

Eight Post Summary

So far my research on consists of mainly TV excerpts from news show on Univision. Of these excerpts one is about trans activism in the news, it follows a controversial picture of a trans model in a church in Mexico. The next is about a protest turned violent in a California high school over the establishment of gender neutral bathrooms. “FTM Means Female to Me: Transgender Atheltes Performing Gender” is a study about how gender affects trans people’s participation in sports. “My story is not really mine: An Interview with Latina Trans Activist Ruby Bracamonte” is an interview with a trans Latina activist who has done great work for both communities in the US. Another TV excerpt is feature on a Colombian trans woman who is a news anchor. Lastly, there is a tv excerpt of a trans youth victim of a hit and run hate crime in California. 

One thing that I did not foresee being a connection to class discussion is dubbing in Latin America of terms like gay. I know we talked about this during our discussion of Toms in Thailand, and we see how the trans community has that close identity to the gay community in a way that the trans community does not have here in the US. i think in our studies we have seen the importance of not lumping trans people in the same box as gay people, but both of the women from Mexico and Colombia stated a connection to the gay community.

I also saw a huge connection to Kate Bornstein’s “Send in the Clowns” with Linda Yepes’ story. I feel that Yepes is not scared to be on TV as herself and pave the way for other trans people to join her. Staying the topic of Yepes, and also bringing in Kimberly Serrato’s comments on job insecurity, I believe that these two examples strongly connect to the “Meaningful Work” reading we did. I think that it is important to not that the job insecurities of men and women across the US also extend across the Americas. Yepes specifically mentions not wanting to go into sex work, which the main focus of the “Meaningful Work” article.

Another connection I made was between “My story is not really mine: An Interview with Latina Trans Activist Ruby Bracamonte” and the “Shuttling Between Bodies and Borders: Iranian Tanssexual Refugees and the Politics of Rightful Killing” reading. Although Bracamonte did not leave her country because of her trans identity, I think the support systems she created could have helped the people we read about in this article. Bracamonte makes it known that people she helped often faced times in which the contemplated suicide.  

[transinspanish-blog]

Seventh Post: Hate Crimes on TV

Post from Univision here.

Friends family and activist gathered outside hospital to show solidarity with Annabel Montoya, a sixteen year old tran woman victim of a hit and run in Monterey Park. Bamby Salcedo prominent trans rights activist says they were gathered to send positive engery to Annabel and her family. Annabel’s family great appreciated all the support, her uncle saying that it was moving to see so many people come out and show Annabel that she is not alone. 

Annabel was found in the with serve injuries on April 2, 2016 near Luminarias, a restaurant in Monetery Park, LA. The incident is being classified as a hit and run, and poise are asking for help to find the driver. Bamby Salcedo, president of la Coalición Translatina, believes that because Annabel was found so far from home that someone would have taken her out there, beaten, and then run her over. Salcedo urges people to see that the trans community continues to be victims of hate crimes, that they are being followed and criminalized because of who they are, and more importantly that this cannot continue. Univison ends with stating that in 2015 there 25 murders of trans people in the country in 2015 and 8 murders as of then in 2016. 

Firstly, I want to really critique the use of pronouns in this coverage. The report was going back and forth between male and female pronoun. The people used female pronoun, so it was difficult watch the reporter go back and forth on her pronouns. I think that is also very concerning that the article attached with her story is the only one that says this a hate crime, and even then they say that la Coalición Translatina is calling it a hate crime. After introducing her was a young trans woman, the report refers to her as a young man dresses as a woman. I think this is especially offensive since Annabel is fighting to stay alive. I was really shocked that they would know enough to introduce her properly, even tagging her video with transgender, but would make the same mistake over and over again. 

I do, however, appreciate the coverage was able to connect this to a larger movement. They gave both platform for the activist and the family to speak about the issues. I think this coverage aids with issues of visibility. It think that showing the violence that trans women face daily and the effects of that violence will move people to become informed and allies. Even with it being problematic coverage, educating spanish speaking audience on what happens to trans people in the back yard will go a long way. I think it is up to viewers to push networks to be more conscious of the language they use. I think if they are interviewing someone they should ask for preferred pronouns. 

[transinspanish-blog]

Sixth Post: Trans Woman on TV in Colombia

Univision did a feature story on Linda Yepes, a Colombian tv news anchor.

Yepes chose Linda Carter as her namesake, Carter played Wonder Woman on tv. Univision believes that Yepes is just that, a wonder woman. She started her transition two years ago, a late start she explains through job insecurity. Yepes believed that society had carved out two positions for trans woman, hair dresser or sex workers. However, she has made her own path to tv anchor. Although she graduated with a degree in business administration, she worked as a club host. This experience made her stand out against others at TeleCaribe castings. Jose Gomez Daza, director of show Yepes is on, says that, “Somebody’s sexual preference doesn’t matter to me, only that they are different. Someone who could contribute more to what we need as an informative proposal. A lot of people think that this is a daring act, but we consider it a professional act, recognizing someone was a professional.” To the people who have threatened the channel Daza asks that if they had a trans son would they be so quick to marginalize or eliminate him, which silences critiques. Ratings have gone up, especially after Linda had vocal surgery. Linda says that her voice didn’t match with how she looked physically, with the woman she representing.

Dr. Antonio Ballestas  made history in Colombia when he performed the first vocal surgery on Linda with the latest technology and no scar. The surgery is called Wendler Glottoplasty. Ballestas says the srugey is fairly simple, and consists of cutting the vocal cords. To make a voice more feminine you have to heighten the amount of times the vocal cords move per second. Linda went from 170 to 230 times per second. The results have been extremely fulfilling for Yepes. She says that having someone say, “Yes, Miss” or “Yes, Mrs.” on the phone is very gratifying. Her goal was met, and she feels that her viewers can tell that she is more confident and can do a better job now. Yepes shares that she will no consider gender reaffirming surgery. She believes that it would make her lose her essence as a trans woman, she jokingly adds that she would lose her charm. Univison adds that there are other trans people making strong moves in Colombia, some even reaching public office. 

Univision’s coverage of Yepe’s story is extensive. I appreciate that the network took the time to talk to her and try to tell her story. There was a focus on the network’s acceptance of Yepe’s gender identity, and solidarity against backlash. Daza’s comments on her as professional and not understanding how people are able to marginalize transfolk are very important. This paired with Univision consistently using correct pronouns, and not painting someone who had no choice really paints a narrative of freedom to choose and have their choices respected. As I mentioned earlier in an earlier post, TV can be very formative in people’s understanding of issues so it is important that things like pronouns and  narratives be correct.

Yepes shares insight to her transition and bring up several topics. First, when she talks about how late into her life she transitioned she really focuses on job insecurity for trans people being a huge factor. She only saw trans hair dressers or trans sex workers. Using her platform to address this insecurity is important because it raises awareness of the issues that trans people go have to deal with on an every day life. However, Univision doesn’t take too much time on this issue and instead focuses on Yepes’ success. Secondly, the importance of passing is almost always present. Univision makes several remarks on how she looks physically. There is then special attention paid to Yepes’ voice surgery. They address how it builds confidence for Yepes, but also attach it to the increase in ratings. It feels almost that the network’s ability to monetize on her passing is the main reason why she has been so successful. Lastly, Yepes talks about not wanting gender affirming surgery. She believes that not having the surgery is what makes her a trans woman. This statement can be problematic. For people who are intake trans issues for the first time, this can teach them that only pre-operation trans people are valid, which is dangerous because trans people’s identity should not be policed in anyway. However, Yepes seems to be talking about she feels about her body, her identity, and her specific trans identity. 

[transinspanish-blog]

Fifth Post: "My Story Is Really Not Mine": An Interview with Latina Trans Activist Ruby Bracamonte

Ruby Bracamonte was born in El Salvador, which she would later flea to the U.S.  Bracamonte survived many things in her life including kidnapping, gang rape, and being taken advantage of by immigration lawyers. After arriving in Washington D.C., she would come into the realization that she was not a gay men, but a trans woman. She has been an active member of support groups for Latinx LGTBQ groups.  

Through Bracamonte’s transition story we can learn how difficult it can be find help in Spanish for trans folk. When she was in L.A. she was able to create La Clinica del Pueblo for Latinx people to meet. It was through socializing here that she was able to understand what she wanted to be. These meeting started to be a chosen family for the members. During the meetings they put on drag shows and attracted a larger crowd. Mariposas was another group put together in for latinx trans people to deal with homophobia and it was here that realized there was a difference between the gay community and them. After that they began to learn about transitioning, everything from medications to learning how to express the changes hey were gong through and demand respect for them. They were also able to create networks for health care, “If it wasn’t because of the support groups, La Clinica and all the other organizations, a lot of us wouldn’t be here. A lot of us would have killed ourselves,” (447). 

Once Bracamonte becomes more comfortable in her trans identity and begins taking hormones, she refuse to hide herself away. She encourages her friends to make themselves visible during the day. She pushes for the visibility and doesn’t care who is watching. She also advocates for access to health care, jobs, and information. She wants people to know how to change their name and social as well as how to change their body. Barcamonte tries to go out of the way be people’s support system, at time housing 11 people in her apartment. She talks about being a latina trans activist, “If you’re going to do this, you need to be particular of the needs, particularly of the language,” (453). She really felt that she had a different voice because she had to speak for immigrant latinx transgender people. She talks about how her activism has changed her made her more public and less soft. She does important work with visibility, city council, jails, and rape survivors, amongst other issues.

This specific article felt right because I think I shows how the things on TV were being tied back to the activism going on in the community, or how the lack of services like Ruby Bracamonte provides could damage people. For example, visibility is at the core of a lot of Ruby Bracamonte’s activism, and stories like Jennifer Diva’s picture and Linda Yepes’ story was important to the visibility of other trans people. Seeing yourself reflected in media could be the driving force to transition or come out. In cases like the hate crime discussed later is an example of the kind of thing that she would fighting to pass policies about. 

In addition, I think it show some resources that people watching these stories on TV need. Trans people who do not know where to go should be able to see stories like this on Univision and get resources from there. We do this for domestic abuse cases or eating disorders, so homeless trans people or sick trans people could really use it. Not only knowing where to get help, but also knowing  that they will speak your language really is encouraging to go seek the aid. 

Doestch-Kidder, Sharon. ""My Story Is Really Not Mine": An Interview with Latina Trans Activist Ruby Bracamonte." GenderWatch 37.2 (2011): 441-73. Print.

[transinspanish-blog]

Fourth Post: “’FTM Means Female to Me’: Transgender Athletes Performing Gender”

Sports are ran especially hard space to move through as a trans person. Two researches conducted a study to see to tell the narratives of some trans athlete and to see how their genders affected their sport participation. The first was Bamby a transwoman who played soccer. She had difficulties being part of sport teams after a certain age, and trouble reintegrating as a trans woman. She says that with soccer being a sport with a lot of Latino men, the machista sentiment was what turned her away from teams when she was older. What concerns she had on playing in women’s teams she said she was worried they would be uncomfortable with her, but feels that there might be a connection through womanhood. Semerjian & Cohen believe Bamby is an example of someone who believes gender is in their mind not body because she doesn’t want the surgery. 

Conor had a very active sports life when he was a kid, but that diminished in high school because he was dealing with a lot of his trans identity. He later took it back up in college.  He felt that being read as a girl hindered him because the limitations placed on girls in sports. He also believes that him being trans made him more willing to take risks in sports, but also in his life. He noted, on several occasions, that not having a penis mostly impacted what he wore or his reactions to getting kicked in the groin.Chris had been in sports since Chris could remember. Chris says she transitioned at the age of 10. Chris has the hardest time with pronouns of all the participants and says that Chris  does not like being called he or she, but accepts that most people call Chris she. I will be referring to Chris by she/her pronouns the way the author did. Chris prefers to change her body through body building. Chris perceived her breast as masculine. 

Alyn also started sports at an early age, but was on track to go into an “elite completive sport ” In school people read Alyn as male, and when they realized he was born female, he face violence. The school held Alyn responsible for the violence.Alyn now uses sorts as a way to transform himself. Alyn found a lot of support through skating.Trans individual struggles greatly to recognized in space like sports, mostly due to safety reasons.  Semerijam and Cohen conclude that for trans people in sports are spaced that can be “queered” by the presence of trans people and their gender practices. They also call for the us to see people as people, not oppressing them through gender, race, or class. 

I included this article because I think it shows something it greatly televised on Spanish speaking TV and has the testimony of trans men. I think that what can be connected it here is there was an absence of both trans people i sports and trans men coverage in my research. I think this because trans men are less marketable than trans women. I also believe that in spaces like sports, the machismo of spanish speaking countries can over ride conversations. We see this with Bamby who quit he sport entirely because her team mates were actively misgendering and verbally degrading her based other gender. I think the lack of visibility of trans people in sport on Spanish speaking TV can be harmful because it can lead younger trans people to believe that there is no place for them in sports.

Further more, I believe that this lack of visibility is damaging to the trans community on basis of opportunity. Without a doubt there are many talented tran people, and not allowing them to enter professional league sports without scrutiny closes the doors for them. I think allowing trans people to be visible in sports would normalize the notion that gender does not change your qualifications. This would no doubt require major reconstruction of how we see sport divisions, but I feel it is a necessary change.    

Semerjian, Tamar Z., and Jodi H. Cohen. ""FTM Means Female to Me": Transgender Athletes Performing Gender." Women in Sport & Physical Activity Journal 15.2 (2006): 28-43. Print.

[transinspanish-blog]

Third Post: Gender Neutral Bathrooms in the News

Source is here video at the top of the page.

Santee Education Complex High School in Los Angeles is the first school in the district to offer unisex bathrooms. The change was made effective on April 15th. However, on April 19th activist gathered to protest against the gender neutral bathrooms. They held their protest until the school day was over, amongst the students who were then released were the proponents for the gender neutral bathrooms. The conflict between the two groups escalated to the point of having police intervention. The video shows students and protestors screaming, shoving, and even carrying a flag pole across the campus. 

The gender neutral bathroom was converted from a girls bathroom following movements made by the Gay Straight Alliance to gather signatures. The GSA believes that this bathroom will reduce the bullying and assault against the trans students in the school. The opponents believe that these type of bathrooms will increase sexual assault. The school has responded that both California law and the school district policy state that trans people are allowed to use whichever bathroom they chose. 

This piece shows some important coalition work. Although the club that generated the change is grounded in Gay issues, it has come forward and made trans needs heard. This important to see at such a young level because it means that we are becoming more progressive as a US society. It is also important to note that the protesting against the gender neutral bathrooms came from outside of the school, and that the school itself  is back the decision to make and keep the bathroom. Having the school say that there are laws and policies that back this decision is usually an argument made against Trans issues. 

The coverage of this issue has a definite impact on how the viewer will see intake the content. However the article linked above does give a more entire story (who was protesting what, school support, GSA push for bathrooms) the video at the top of the page is a snippet with no audio and no information. Also, the air coverage of this incident was short, less than two minutes, did not mention the trans students this would benefit, who were the protestor, or anything like that. As a viewer, if all you’re seeing is chaos breaking out over bathrooms, you are less likely to think this is ever a good idea. TV media is a strong tool that can really form people’s opinions on topics, therefore I think it is Univision’s job to give a more entire coverage on these events.

[transinspanish-blog]

Second Post: Trans Activism in the News

Trans model Jennifer Diva poses on a crucifix in a church in Mexico, causing much controversy, I will talking about Univision’s coverage of this which can be seen here. 

The clip is introduced as there being buzz around a picture of a trans woman who posed as if she were crucified in a Mexican church. Cutting to images of Cristo de las Noas Church in Torreón, Mexico, the reporter explains that it might seem peaceful, but they are unfired for the image that Jennifer posted on social media. We then see reactions of local people who are think it is disrespectful to the religious aspects of the church. Then in an interview with church spokesperson, Ignacio Mendoza, he says it is a lack of respect, lack of education, and lack of common sense. To do something like this for art, well, he doesn’t think it’s art. 

Some people speculate, because of the openness of the place where the photo was taken, that this photo was something the church knew about all long. Univision spoke with the photographer Kimberly Serrato, also a trans woman, about it. She explained the pictures became a statement about the mistreatment of trans woman. She said it is meant to show the way that she and many other trans women feel on a daily. Serrato also explains that many trans woman in Mexico can’t find jobs because society doesn’t allow it. She says she was hired by Jennifer and these photos are servicing the purpose to open up people’s eyes toward the discrimination of “gay” people. She also feels that they let her voice come through and show they are here, they are real, they are normal people and they are not crazy, or perverted. She also insures that they paid to use the location for the pictures. The church, however, denies this.

At the end of the video Gerardo Moscoso, actor and culture promoter, adds a critique of how people will scrutinize this image, but not pedophile accusation in the church. He think it’s hypercritical and immature. He thinks that picture is beautiful and moving. Mososo believes it is time we start accepting more. Jennifer declined to interview because she has been threatened on Facebook.

The image of Jennifer definitely has shock value. This image had similarities with the FCKH8 campaigns I’ve seen before, they both have something really strong messages, but come under fire for the way that the message was communicated. Using religion as a platform is always going to controversial, and I cannot help but wonder if their message is getting heard by the community they wanted it to. Is the religious community hearing that trans people are being marginalized, or are they seeing sinners? The way that video was framed, it seem it was the latter. 

It is also important to note that Serrato sees herself as part of the “gay” community, but identifies as trans. It is unclear whether this due to an intersection of being part of the LGTBQ community and being Mexican, or a personal choice. This is were dubbing comes into play, because although in US we have an understanding that the gay and trans movements are similar, are still distinct movements. However in Mexico is seems that these movements are more interchangeable for some. Another important facet of this article is the job insecurity that is mentioned in this article. Serrato feels grateful for having her photography to fall back on, but most trans women don’t have that. Much like in the US, trans women in Mexico face difficulties due to discrimination.  Univision refers seems to cover the issues as a trans issue and is very good about using correct pronouns. 

[transinspanish-blog]

Representations of trans people in Spanish language TV in the Americas

My topic is is aimed to analyze the presence and representation of tran people in spanish language TV in the Americas. Through this project I hope to show where we Spanish speakers fall triumph and fall short on the matter. I became interested in this topic when I was watching a news report on Univision, a spanish speaking TV channel, and they cover a subject on trans people. I was shocked because I realized it was the first time I had seen them talk about trans people. I began t think about the limited coverage I saw and if maybe I was just not looking hard enough.