I went to Neon Newcastle last night, a local Transgender support group. Someone brought a long a video with segments from the "Ray Martin Midday Show" from the 1980s about Tiresias House (now The Gender Centre). They were the most patronising docos I've seen in a long time. The presenter made of point of distinguishing between 'homosexuals', 'transvestites' and 'transsexuals' before showing it, but later used phrases like "some of the neighbours don't understand what possesses a man to put on high heels and a dress" when referring to the transsexuals then in residence.

But two phrases just stuck in my mind. In summing up the short doco the presenter described transsexuals as "Terrifyingly Normal"! Later, in the second segment (which was about an F2M becoming reconciled their now teenage daughter) the person featured was saying something like:

"Oh, well before I transitioned, my girlfriend used to call me a 'chauvanist pig'. After I transition she started calling me a 'male chauvanist pig'..." after which the narrator's voice came in and said "...and taking hormone pills will ensure that he stays that way" !!!!!

I want a T-shirt that says on it: