A Girl Like Me

[Vanessa White]

Just a reminder to all: The showing of the movie "A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo story" is on Lifetime tonight at 9:00 pm Eastern time. I really hope to watch it, and I know they will rerun it over the next month. It looks from the previews to be well done- I guess we will see.

[tdogg]

Thanks for the reminder, Vanessa - I've really been wanting to see that! Might have to catch the rerun tho. Have you heard if it will be available on DVD?

Such a tragic event, and a great learning opportunity for all. Poor girl!

My partner and I saw a movie this weekend (not related to transgender), called HUMAN trafficking. VERY disturbing and something I've not spent a lot of time pondering. The numbers are astounding, and it's so so sad. Donald Sutherland and Mira Sorvino starred, it must have been a TV production, as it was 2 parts on the DVD. I'm glad the producers felt the need to enlighten us to that issue. Not sure what is to be done, but at least the knowledge is a good start.

The things humans are capable of doing to their fellow humans is very hard to believe.

[Mia14]

Human Trafficking was one of the shows I wanted to see, but missed. I'm sure they'll rerun it and I'll catch it next time.

I'm going to tape that movie tonight. You're right, it doesn look like it's been done well. I'll be interested to see how it turns out. I'm not familiar with the story, but I've got an idea.

[tdogg]

MIA,

We saw HUMAN trafficking on DVD if you can rent it, found it at the local Hollywood Video.

[Britt.]

Lifetime movies always play out a little like after school specials, but it was pretty well done. Up until last night, I don't think I had come across anything touching on that channel since The Truth About Jane (lesbian coming out story) like 6 years ago. I recorded it, since I'll probably watch it again at some point.

[Dash]

Thanks for highlighting this movie, Vanessa. I would not have seen it otherwise. I liked it a lot. The acting was very fine in my opinion.

We keep telling the stories of our suffering to (hopefully) soften the hearts of those hardened against us. Sometimes, though, I wonder if the people who are so set against us even have the capacity for empathy. I realize that I'm probably a bit more gifted in that area than some people (I cried in Sister Act II, for heaven's sake...you can imagine what a wreck I was last night) but how is it that humans can completely ignore the pain of those who walk alongside them in this "valley of tears." Worse than ignore, they turn visciously on those who are already badly wounded and tear them to pieces for the crime of their pain.

Sigh...

[Zerbie]

We keep telling the stories of our suffering to (hopefully) soften the hearts of those hardened against us. Sometimes, though, I wonder if the people who are so set against us even have the capacity for empathy. I realize that I'm probably a bit more gifted in that area than some people (I cried in Sister Act II, for heaven's sake...you can imagine what a wreck I was last night) but how is it that humans can completely ignore the pain of those who walk alongside them in this "valley of tears." Worse than ignore, they turn visciously on those who are already badly wounded and tear them to pieces for the crime of their pain.

Sigh...

Yes!!! I so don't get that! Animals do it too sometimes - if one is wounded, they tear at it. People do it too. And I can't understand it.

Bad fortune tends to breed more of itself, in part because society tends to blame people for being harmed.

[Britt.]

Yes!!! I so don't get that! Animals do it too sometimes - if one is wounded, they tear at it. People do it too. And I can't understand it.

Other animals do that sort of thing for somewhat practical reasons, not hatred, or even really fear. People do exactly the opposite, as we live in a world where all out attacking & murdering rarely, if ever, has any practical application.

I can kind of relate to the movie to an extent. I tend to feel more comfortable presenting myself as female, & interacting w/ the world that way. While this isn't always the case, as I identify somewhat w/ "both" genders, I can feel out of place presenting as male (like if I ever get a camera, I'll probably change that icon to a more current & fitting pic, where I'm not short-haired & dressed like a boy). The same thing that happened to Gwen could very well happen to me someday for the same reason.

Certain little things in the movie really touched me, like seeing the people at the funeral w/ signs saying "God love Gwen," & when her sister (I think it was her sister) told her, much like angels, God did not make her male or female because she was special.

[Vanessa White]

After reminding everyone else, I missed the first hour or so of the movie, so I will have to see the repeat. I should have predicted that they would structure through the use of flashbacks, which kind of threw me off when I turned it on in the middle, even though I knew the tragic outcome. I have to say, that even though I enjoy watching a good Lifetime movie here and there, they tend to be way overdramatic at times. This was beautifully done, inspiring, the acting was incredible. There were several touching moments of the film and the way they portrayed Gwen's family as embracing her so lovingly was very moving. I sobbed at the end, because of the words spoken at the funeral, the support of the community, and the sadness of a life taken way too soon. It also gave me a more profound awareness of the heighth and breadth of the struggles of a transgendered person compared to my own. Very humbling in that regard. Gwen and others that struggle and will continue to struggle with gender issues have my utmost love, respect, and admiration.