**Contains minor spoilers for the fifth season of The L Word. Read with caution**
I don’t usually use the opinion section of anything to complain about something on a television show. Well, there’s always a first for everything. Now don’t get me wrong. I truly enjoy The L Word, which is one of Showtime’s most popular shows. The writing is excellent, the character development is stellar, and the acting is beyond what you see on most television shows. There is only one problem with this show; one nagging, persistent problem. The one representation of a transgendered individual grossly misrepresents the community.
Don’t get me wrong. I know The L Word primarily focuses on lesbian couples and relationships. Considering most transgendered FTMs (Female to Males) at some point in their life believe they are lesbians it makes sense why the show would include the story of Max (portrayed by Daniela Sea), a confused individual who declares he is transgendered after dating one of the central characters on the show.
It’s kind of like the lesbians who just happened to be a part of another, former Showtime show, Queer as Folk, which was primarily about the relationships and lives of gay males. I can get the point that the writers of The L Word are trying to make. FTMs face different challenges than lesbians do. In fact, some are even oppressed by the gay and lesbian community. However, the way the story of Max is playing out grossly misrepresents those of us who actually are transgendered. In some ways, I can see why the lesbians don’t seem to take Max seriously!
Why do I care what happens to Max? The primary reason is because as someone who is technically transgendered (as I am a transitioning FTM though I identify as male) I don’t want the general public, who have no idea what being transgendered means or even what the term is, believing that this is what being transgendered is like. I’ve heard many who don’t know anyone who is transgendered say Max does a good job of portraying a transgendered individual. I’m here to tell you this is simply not true.
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