I think men are far more likely to be transphobic than women. I don’t think Radcliffe or that other one would go out with a transwoman in reality
I agree with the first sentence but that comment about Daniel Radcliffe and Eddie Redmayne is unfair and kind of irrelavant. I’m not attacking you but I would like to offer my perspective. DR is, and always has been, extremely vocal about gay and LGBT rights and is a huge advocate. As for ER, we know he portrayed
Lili Elbe, a transwoman, in a movie called The Danish Girl. Yes, I know that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s an ally, and I did see a previous post about Scarlett Johansson being forced to drop out of a trans role but I’ll address that in a moment.
When I said it’s irrelevant whether DR and ER would date transwomen, it’s because ER has a wife, and DR has been with his partner for years. It’s also because I personally think you can be an ally while having a personal preference for people whose gender identity correspond with their biological sex (aka, man with
pen, woman with
tina). I would say it’s similar to women who are lesbians, it’s because, most of them, they like women and they like vaginas. Not because they hate men and/or penises. Some of them do though, and that is absolutely fine! Lesbians, and bi women, date women who are butch and masculine, but they’re still women with vaginas. Just like gay men, and bi men, who date feminine men, who are still men with penises.
I know that in some cases, a lesbian isn’t bothered if a woman they date or hook up with is biologically male, and vice versa for men with other men who are biologically female. I suppose, for them, it’s about the person and/or gender identity rather than what is between their legs, which is perfectly valid, imo. So I think it should be valid for people who are allies but prefer certain genitals to match certain people. I hope that makes sense. I know not many allies/TRAs agree with my sentiments, unfortunately. That’s just my perspective though, and I think it’s easy (and privileged) for me to say because I’m technically pansexual, and I don’t have the perspective of a lesbian woman or a gay man. But I am a woman, and like most women, I have had many negative and traumatic experiences with men, so I don’t begrudge other women who want single sex spaces to remain safe. I actually agree with them in some aspects.
Now, the drama with Scarlett Johansson. Redmayne’s movie was released in 2015, which I would say was slightly just before TRA era, when it really took off, and not necessarily down to sexism. I know that Jared Leto played a transwoman in Dallas Buyers Club but the movie came out in 2013. I don’t know much about the TV show called Transparent where Jeffrey Tambor played a transwoman but it is important to note that he was rightfully fired from the show after sexual harrassment allegations were made against him. As for female actors portraying transmen, Felicity Huffman was a transwoman in a 2005 movie called Transamerica, and most notably, Natalie Portman portrayed
Brandon Teena in Boys Don’t Cry. The movie was released in 1999 and Natalie Portman won an Oscar for her role.
I don’t have an answer for Scarlett Johansson but I think it’s largely to do with how problematic and controversial she is. For example, she portrayed an Asian character (whitewashing), she’s pro-Israel, and she’s one of Woody Allen’s biggest supporters. So I think it makes sense that she was advised or forced not to take on that transwoman role, and rightfully so. I know sexism and bigotry are rampant in Hollywood but I think this is one of the rare instances where Hollywood has done something right.