gender bender
I just watched the latest Eli Stone episode, s2ep09, titled Two Ministers. One of the ministers in the title is Rev. Michael Stills, who used to be Michelle, and got fired from his job as a minister to a Methodist community because of the sex change.
At first, it was difficult for me to find Michael believable as a transgendered man - since the actor who was playing the part was, in my eyes, much too clearly a male. Guess what, though! Dallas Malloy, portraying the minister, is actually a woman boxer and body builder, who seems now, with this show, to have succesfully got her acting career under way! :)
Anyway, as I was looking closely at the character, for any clues to the minister's former identity as a woman, Michael's feminine side became very apparent to me, and I really enjoyed watching his story. Thinking that Michael's part was played by a male actor, I was pretty amazed by the acting - it was really showing a brave young woman relentlessly chasing her dream of being a man and a priest. Now that I know Dallas is a woman herself makes it easier to see how the acting might have come less from "art" and more from "nature".
With this, I'm not saying she did less of a job - 'cause great acting is what it is, no matter its sources. Also, I'm not saying that an actor's art is not coming from his or her nature. It sure does. It's just that some roles require more work and effort for the actor to get himself or herself into the character's shoes, and others don't as much.
I especially enjoyed the scene where Michael calls Keith, who had just stated his decision to start listening to his reverend, into a Bible study meeting - and it turns out it's a Bible study for a transgendered people's support group! :D
I liked that scene a lot.
While sympathizing with Michael's plight, and quest for affirming his identity, again I realized it is still difficult for me to understand how some people, through wanting to identify as a different sex than they were born with, would go as far as to change their appearance by surgeries and hormonal treatments.
I realize, though, that each and every one of us is unique and different. And that, being as I am, happy with having a female body, I should be thankful.
It is very interesting - to be a woman and happy to be one (not only physically, but psychologically as well), and be at the same time a gay man.
I'm trying to think back and remember when was it that I first realized and identified what was going on with me.
The fact that I was attracted to men who were elegant and sensitive and beautiful, while also strong and courageous, was clear to me from day one - that is, ever since I can remember finding a man attractive.
I don't remember, though, when I realized that I would have prefered being able to romance such a man as another man myself. That must have stayed in my subconscious for a long while, I guess.