Saturday, March 21, 2009

The Brandon Teena Story & Susan Stryker


After watching the Brandon Teena Story and reading, "My Words To Victor Frankenstein Above the Village of Chamounix Performing Transgender Rage" by Susan Stryker, it was interesting to look at these works. I never thought that transgender is such a big issue. I am glad that I live in California where these issues do not come up as in other places like in Nebraska. The Brandon story was interesting to look at and sad to see this documentary. It was very sad to learn about Brandon and the rest of the victims that are killed. Even though Brandon did not always follow the law he did not deserve the action that John Lotter and Thomas Nissen did to Brandon. They first raped her then killed her, even though Brandon lied to his family, friends and girlfriends. He stole from friends and family to get things that he wanted, he lied to get things from girlfriends, he would buy his love so that he was with the girls he loved. Although it seems he was a criminal, his heart was in a good place. His actions did not need to lead to what was ended up happening to him. First from the John and Thomas, second from the sheriff that did not believe him and last the whole justice and criminal system that did not help Brandon. It is amazing to see that events, like this still go on in America.

The work by Susan Stryker was good to look at because it shows how a transgender person feels. It was interesting how she made the comparison to Frankenstein to transgender people. I topic that I thought was interesting was the experience of her trying to have a baby. She straddles her partner having birth and this was going to be the closet way she could experience this event. No matter how much and how much money she spent she could never really feel like women because she could not give birth. I never thought that there were so many issues in becoming a transgender person, I figured since you are changing yourself to become what you want to be you are able to be happy. It just seems no matter what you want to be, somebody not going to be happy with what you are.

Posted by at

2 comments:

  1. ImeldaMarch 22, 2009 at 2:43 PM

    Stealing isn't good that's obvious, but what I've been thinking about is how many overlook the fact that he stole but yet feel it's okay because he was demonstrating his love towards the women he was in a relationship with. Do I think he deserved to die because he was forging signatures? Of course not, but I do sit and think, what if this would have been a heterosexual male or female who stole? how would this change our way of thinking? So, in other words a boyfriend is stealing from his girlfriend to give her things, would that be okay? Brandon was definitely a victim of a hate crime, no doubt, but we seem to praise him for stealing to show love to these women, they were basically buying presents for themselves, but then I think when people die we always try to remember the good and not the bad.

    ReplyDelete
  2. QuineMarch 22, 2009 at 5:27 PM

    I also did not think that being transgendered was a big issue, until a couple years ago and I am also glad that I live in California as well, since California is more liberal.
    No one is perfect, and yes Brandon did do some bad things but he did not deserve to die. We all make mistakes in life and we learn and grow from our mistakes. Also, it is true that what you may want to do or be may not be accepted by society, but I think this is why they do it, because they know either way they will suffer, whether it is being who they are not, or being who they are and have to deal with the judgment of people.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)