What I’m talking about

Ok so many of you will have seen this photo, absorbed and passed it by. I just caught it on a video artical on the BBC website. Quite frankly I was surprised. I was surprised it was even an article? But in essence this is simply what a lot of my Blog is about. People being different and getting on about their own lives. I'm not even going to 'lable' the two people as they are unique individuals.

As it’s old news I’ll leave you to make your conclusions but all I’ll say is whilst most of the focus of the media has been on the subjects of the photo what about the entire scene? When you watch the BBC interviews of New Yorkers and then recognise the fact apart from the photographer there must have been a few more people in the carriage. You can see one off shot to the right. Assumidly these were less interesting subjects? But all these New Yorkers give testament to how good New Yorkers are at letting people be people.

The viral aspect of this case was propegated by less tolerant individuals. I guess some people can't abide people not fighting and living side-by-side... These are the sort of people are the danger to society not the subjects in the photo...

End note. Despite the negitivity on the world stage the USA has recieved recently mentioning no names - Go NYC!

Why do we need gender on our passport?

Why is it even an issue? Read the BBC article here...

Boy Meets Girl - Again

It's a whole new series of "Boy Meets Girl" planned for 2016. Shooting to start in Manchester in February-ish - what happened to Tyneside...? Oh well, I love Manchester too.

“This series demonstrates comedy’s unique ability to bring insight, warmth and understanding to challenging subjects…”

Ok so I just joined Twitter. Yes I know it's about bloody time you might say. So this 'tweet' came my way and given I'd praised the original series thought I'd post it ahead of the series actually being on catch-up this time ;)

Identifying gender when you're blind

So a quick and direct link to an interesting perspective on gender identity or rather identifying gender from the BBC? Not judging the article but for me the take out has to be...

“…with a little honesty and humour, I think it's turned out to be a valuable and thought-provoking experience for both of us.”

I’m sure that’s true regardless of gender or ability?

Go B-O-Y-S! Ra Ra!

Quick and I hope sweet n sour post here about boy cheerleaders. Don’t think it is or was something for me but hey, each to their own. Saw this so tiny snipped in the London Metro last Wednesday and thought I’d put it out there.

Google is your friend too, so just hit return and get some more info. So as usual for me the BBC had an interesting, if older, article and quote which seems more evidence of the males of the world being boxed in to a ridged role.

"When the men went away to fight in the first World War, women took over cheerleading and claimed it for themselves,"

Pat Hawkins, president of the UK Cheerleading Association 2010.

EastEnders transgender

Another quickie here and congratulations to Riley Carter Millington for hopefully another sign of changing attitudes in society. Must admit I am not a Eastenders fan but kudos to them or is it a case of fashion as Bethany Black says…

“It's about time we saw more trans roles on television. Being trans is like being gay was in the late 90s - it's a cool thing, so people are saying, 'Let's go and do this as a storyline'."

Bethany Black

Do you agree?

Read the full article on the BBC website here.

Boy Meets Girl

Ok so a really quick post to let you know about “Boy Meets Girl” and prove my finger is not on the pulse of modern media.

This almost new BBC sitcom is set in the North East and I feel is made stronger by being not overly focused on the Transgender issue. And yet transgender is a strong message within.

There is a Guardian summery article here to find out more. I confess I only caught 10 minuets of it last week but enjoyed it. Typical BBC fare being down to earth humour.

Stars Rebecca Root, Harry Hepple amongst others. My only question; why didn’t anyone tell me about it sooner ;)

As of the date of this post you can 'just' catch from episode 1 on BBC iPlayer.

Education, education, education

Education, education, education as Tony Blair* once pointed out is of paramount importance. Well if it’s relevant to the growth of a country it’s also relevant to the growth of a person and a society.

I’ve read quite a lot of scary comments regarding people who don’t conform to a gender binary model and must admit that the majority of the negative attitude comes from a simple lack of understanding. Ok so this article won’t change it all but at least the good old BBC are trying to live up to the public service model. Spurred on by the recent Caitlyn Jenner media coverage the BBC Magazine has ran this short article.

Yes there are far better guides out there but the people who really need the education are hardly going to go searching or going to bother reading a never ending web-scroll of Transgender terms and detail.

So thanks for the BBC acknowledging the issue.

* Not an endorsement. Most politicians are as good or bad as each other. Remember people, whoever you vote for, the Government always get in...

Drawn to Dresses

"Over the past six years there's been a four-fold increase in children aged 10 or under being referred to the unit in 2014-15, compared with 2009-10. Of those children, 47 were aged five or younger and two of the children were three years old."

BBC news article about two young Transgender girls and their change and schooling. It can be especially difficult for parents who, of all people, are more prone to mapping their expectations on their children. As usual with the BBC a sober account but a sign of the times non the less.

Link - The story of two transgender children