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BBC Transgender Discussion from 1973 - Open Door Series

ZudoBug

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Community access television series from the 1970s.
This episode gave four trans women from the Transex Liberation Group (a grassroots activist group in early-1970s Britain) an opportunity to speak about their own lives and experiences on national TV - very unusual at the time.

Broadcast date: Monday 4th June 1973, 11:25pm
'Radio Times' synopsis: "Jokes about 'the operation' are all that most people know about transsexualism. Tonight's group discuss their situation in a more serious and comprehensive way, and draw attention to the many difficulties they endure."

20 Comments

@Christinemoore-v8f 8 months ago

It seems that there was more openness to discuss the issues 50+ years ago than now. No entrenched positions or opinions based on disgust. Imagine the BBC showing a similar programme today.
I dearly hope these ladies lived their lives well.

@Nookes 8 months ago

Clearly people were more respectful to each other back then and had a lot more intelligence and decorum in debates and conversations around these topics.

@martinwedge7732 8 months ago

Why can’t we have reasoned programmes and discussions like this today? Leo Absy MP was very articulate and conveyed the issues and challenges, for both the trans people and wider society, very well. I would have liked to have heard more from the other two trans women, as the presenter and the other participant tended to dominate

@ClaudiaBoleyn 7 months ago

This is so incredibly interesting, what an excellent piece of television.

@charlesrae3793 8 months ago

There was a series of programmes in the 80s chronicling one particular transition in which medical issues followed the surgery. The subject affter this counselled other transsexuals to look into alternatives to surgical interventions. Imagine such a series being even contemplated in these days....

@Lisaguzman8 8 months ago

I’m surprised those debates were taking place 50 years ago and not only we haven’t made any significant improvements but on the contrary going backwards

@MostlyLoveOfMusic 7 months ago

This was refreshing but not convinced we've progressed all too much

@jenrobinson5399 8 months ago

I found this so interesting.

@Shindai 7 months ago (edited)

Genuinely surprised to see this come from the BBC given how they report about trans people nowadays. Anyone who knows trans people are well aware that we're not scary people and there's no agenda, and no danger to children, we're just trying to be who we are. It's nice to see this discussion where it's just trans people hanging out talking about stuff we talk about because it affects our lives. Though they're a lot more chill about the bullshit around employment for example than I get in such discussions lol

@AntonyFirbank 8 months ago

Thank you. I miss proper discussion and debate.

@gusvers123 8 months ago

What impresses me is how clearly and without a strange accent they spoke English back then.

@Lynn-d4p 8 months ago

My first reaction to this episode was that my mum and I would have happily and quietly watched it but my dad would have sulked and stomped about complaining and spoiled it for us. Thank goodness for multiple television households.😊

@T.A.R.D.I.S.1963 8 months ago

Fascinating Discussion. 50+ Years Ago. All trying their absolute best to pass and often softening their voices as best they can. Very well spoken and telling their own truths. Calm and knowledgeable about the transexual experience / life back then.

@stephenheliodor776 6 months ago

My favourite was the Lady wearing the red jacket ( I was confused about their names).
Interestingly looking at their male alter - egos it was as though they had all walked into a changing room and walked out the other side as women.
I hope that all of them had good and happy lives; as it fair to say that they were Trend Setters that were ahead of their time.

@RoderickFernandez-ps5ci 2 months ago

I made the eight years old, and this is the first time i've ever seen a reasonable, considered discussion of transsexuals in my entire life, and I lived through the sixties, amazing, how shut down we've become as a society

@poeticsecret-w6q 8 months ago

these people were way ahead of their time, very interesting watch

@deseom 7 months ago

The debate in the end is extremely interesting. Thanks for posting

@SindyJ37 8 months ago

It's good the two doctors cleared the terminology up. I think the host meant well she didn't seem to be misleading on purpose but this goes to show how confusing this all is