Kilroy was ...
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Kilroy was …
What did YOU think of the Kilroy programme’s latest attempt?
September 6th, 1996
On Wednesday September 4th, the BBC’s Kilroy! programme, starring ex Labour MP Robert Kilroy-Silk, screened it’s latest attempt to explore the issues surrounding Gender Identity Syndrome … one of the very few human conditions which actually requires the individual to justify their very existence.
You might have been angered by what you saw. Personally I was quite pleased by the programme’s success in highlighting the reality of attitudes that are quite hard to convey second-hand. But don’t tell us what you think, tell them. Here’s what I wrote to the programme’s producer, Ainslie Foster, after the programme was aired…
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4th September, 1996 Ainslie Foster Dear Ainslie I think Robert was genuinely surprised when I went up to him after yesterday’s recording and thanked him for the way in which he handled the programme. Perhaps he thought I was going to shout or moan at him. I meant what I said though when I shook his hand … and the congratulations are obviously intended for you too, as the programme’s architect. I make no secret that I abhor the fact that people who deserve privacy and consideration have to be paraded in public for entertainment and scrutiny as part of the price for being understood. I understand the sad necessity of the process though. And if ’twere done, ’tis best ’twere done well. What you succeeded in producing yesterday was a memorable social document. A dual reminder of the brutally subjective way in which men evaluate women, and the two-faced nature of being a discriminated minority. We saw two black people feeling secure-enough to pour scorn on another group in exactly the same manner that society has treated them. Your only failing was in not highlighting the fact that the black woman defining Steven’s existence was a lesbian. All we needed was a disabled single mother and we’d have had the complete set. (Well we did have, but her disablement was transsexuality, so I suppose that doesn’t count). And I’m glad that you didn’t edit out the worst of the exchange between sides. There it was in black and white … the sad reality that many people learn nothing from their own experience of oppression … except how to copy it when the chance arises to stake a claim on "normality". If that’s what it takes to be "normal" though, then I hope I shall forever manage to remain a bit weird. My happiest long term recollection of the programme will be the sense of dignity and pride (not to mention good humour) that came across from the people in my own community. We needed the terrible two in order for that to shine, just as we needed the two young men before that to get a nation of viewers reflecting on the narrow, selfish and double standards applied by men towards all women. All human life was there it seemed : The ugliness of determining people’s worth on the basis of looks or heredity … the essence of parental love … bravery … ignorance … fear … Quite an achievement in just 45 minutes. All discrimination illuminates and reflects contemporary society. The image isn’t always complete however, because discrimination is seldom universally expressed. Transsexual people are in the unwelcome position of getting it from all sides though. Black or white, gay or straight, male or female, fit or disabled, rich or poor we’re fair game. As bottom of the heap, universally feared, we’re the cat that everybody can kick. So I’m glad you showed that. It wasn’t comfortable being the stoodges, but then we’ve had a lifetime of practice. The fact that every single transsexual in the audience gave such a strong and clear account of themselves is down to rehearsal. Every day. All their lives. Legislation won’t eliminate the ugly truth about people, but it will give a further signal that it’s OK for the cat to bite and scratch back. Christine Burns |