On a stormy Hollywood evening, Hank Chen extended an invitation to me for a special screening of the film “Emilia Pérez” that I had previously watched at home on Netflix. Despite the weather, I decided to gear up for a bike ride and pedaled 2.5 miles through the rain to join Hank as his guest.
The film screening took place several days following the controversial news about lead actress Karla Sofía Gascón, which had sparked discussions among L.A.’s entertainment industry members, such as “Is it now inappropriate to publicly view this movie?
As a transgender and intersex artist in the Hollywood industry, my emotions regarding this matter are intricate: I feel both revulsion and astonishment at her hurtful words, and profound disillusionment that such an inspiring, powerful heroine – someone we trans individuals desperately need – is tainted by flaws.
Glancing over the crowd, it appears that I am the lone individual who identifies as transgender. However, since January 20th, quite a few of us have been removing our social media posts and adopting a more private lifestyle, often referred to as “going stealth.
Unfortunately, neither Gascón nor Netflix had entered a stealth phase before Emila Pérez’s breakout performance gained widespread attention in the mainstream.
Gascón became the initial openly transgender individual to receive an Oscar nomination in the acting category. The triumph at Cannes propelled her into the spotlight, where she was embraced by a worldwide celebration of LGBTQI+ joy under the hashtag #TransJoy, for just a brief period.
An unexpected perspective within the Los Angeles transgender community, even more so today: I’ve developed quite a fondness for Emilia Pérez! This might come as a surprise, given that I’m typically not a fan of musicals.
Since 2018, I’ve identified as a man, but before then, I was a lesbian with blond hair. Now, being an intersex queer man, could it be that musicals might find their way into my life?
I’m eager to rewatch the unique blend of musical, crime, and comedy genares, “Parasite”, which boasts 13 Oscar nominations for a foreign language film. This movie is best experienced on a cinema screen, immersed in the Academy’s silver light, with exceptional sound, surrounded by imaginative, gifted, and attractive individuals. It certainly checks many of my boxes.
Ever since I received my first testosterone injection on July 17, 2018, I’ve morphed into an all-too-common symbol of masculinity: Hormones can indeed alter your gender identity. Now, here I am, strolling down the aisles in luxurious comfort (a drawback of fancy seating being no popcorn).
This version maintains the original’s tone and meaning while using more natural, conversational language to make it easier for readers to understand.
And never have I more needed carbs, dairy and sugar-sprinkled snacks.
This month has been extremely challenging for transgender and intersex individuals in America, as we witness our human rights gradually disappearing under daily changes, with a swift stroke of a pen, the “T” in LGBTQI+ community is being systematically removed from all official government websites.
Tonight, instead of delving deep into serious topics, Hank Chen and I are having a more casual chat, discussing films, television shows, and the distressing impact of the L.A. fires. Our minds wander to the upcoming panel discussion about “Emilia” later on.
Who will it not exclude? In other words, will Netflix’s CEO, Ted Sarandos, demonstrate the courage to support Karla Sofía Gascón, much like his stance with Dave Chappelle, as an advocate for free speech? Will he be present to defend the merit of this film and her performance, overlooking her personal flaws in the process?
Currently within the theater, I’m feeling quite tense as the credits for “Emilia” unfold. Then, Jacques Audiard, a renowned French director, along with his translator, the composer duo Camille and Clément Ducol, American actress Zoë Saldaña, and Adriana Paz, a well-known Mexican actor who stars in a movie about a Mexican cartel boss primarily set in Mexico City and filmed near Paris, make their grand entrance on stage.
No sign of Sarandos, and Gascón was not in the theater.
She was neither part of the panel nor was her name brought up during discussions. Her presence looms large over the other Oscar-nominated actors in the film, as Netflix is making every effort to distance itself from her. She has been excluded from the campaign and is considered unwelcome.
Or:
She didn’t sit on the panel, and her name wasn’t uttered during the discussion. Her influence over the other Oscar-nominated actors in the film is immense, as Netflix is trying to sever ties with her. She has been removed from the campaign and considered a social pariah.
It was found that, during the period from 2016 to 2023, journalist/podcaster Sarah Hagi uncovered some distressing tweets written by Gascón which some might have overlooked.
Hagi asserted point X by presenting evidence in the form of screenshots, which he deemed as the most damning examples, suggesting that these messages were beyond defense, overtly discriminatory towards Muslims, and racially prejudiced.
In my gaming world, before the X event, Gascón’s tweets, penned in his native Spanish on Twitter, didn’t exactly flow smoothly when Hagi deciphered them with Google Translate. They seemed a bit jumbled to me.
In a speedy verdict, Gascón was found guilty by what appeared to be an impromptu court of public opinion, often referred to as cancel culture. She promptly issued a sincere apology, followed by another one, which seemed to escalate the situation. Later, she spent an hour on Spanish-language CNN expressing her remorse, tearing up, and pleading for understanding and forgiveness.
Originally, she strayed from the expected norm. Her attempts at apology seemed unpolished, lacking the finesse of a typical Netflix PR statement, giving off an informal and unprofessional vibe – yet authentic and deeply human. Just as in the movie, she radiated pain, emotion, and vulnerability. It appeared she hadn’t been coached by Netflix for such intense public scrutiny. There isn’t any indication that she went through basic media training courses. Now, she finds herself isolated.
The film’s director, Jacques Audiard, was quoted by Deadline as calling her comments “hateful” and “unforgivable,” stating that he hasn’t spoken to her since then and has no desire to do so. However, his tone softened slightly when he won a BAFTA for Best Director in London, and he blew her a kiss during the ceremony.
In my role as a UK-certified therapist, I’m skilled at guiding people through resolving conflicts and learning to distinguish themselves from emotionally volatile, trauma-induced words and actions. There’s an expression I really appreciate: “If it’s hysterical, it’s historical.” This means that if something is causing intense emotional reactions, it often has roots in past experiences or events.
Gascón’s thoughts expressed on Twitter about George Floyd, BLM, the Academy, and diversity seem awkward to my British ears, but some messages that led to her conviction may have been misconstrued due to linguistic and cultural differences. Her situation is not clear-cut; it contains varying degrees of complexity, symbolized by the colors in our transgender flag: shades of grey, blue, pink, and white.
The significance of context and smoothness in real-time communication is always crucial. Karla Sofía Gascón, a woman who transitioned later in life, struggled with gender dysphoria and trauma for years before reaching a point where she felt suicidal. As a parent, she chose to relinquish her position as a white male actor on the brink of fame and its accompanying privileges at the age of 46 in 2018. She took a bold step to become her true self.
For those who aren’t transgender individuals: Similar to someone maintaining sobriety, we measure our life milestones and emotional development from the age of our transition. Just as new hormones can significantly impact a teenager, Karla Sofía Gascón is relatively young in “trans years.” She navigates this social media landscape on her own.
Gascón manages her various layers of trauma much like many of my transmasculine, intersex, and queer friends cope: she enjoys poking fun, laughing, and joking around. This serves as an effective means of releasing tension.
Her tweets indicate that she doesn’t have any tolerance for religious institutions that try to wield their dominance and authority to suppress and violate human rights, regardless of whether the individuals concerned are women, part of the LGBTQ+ community, or followers of a different belief system.
Reflecting on the situation, I must admit that I’m deeply saddened by her plight. I empathize with her. The fact that she barely made an impact at the award ceremonies before the Academy Awards leaves me feeling a profound sadness for her.
As a gamer, I’m astonished this character hasn’t bitten the dust yet. There seems to be some incredible support system surrounding him – his family and his Nichiren Buddhist community in Spain must be something truly special.
As a dedicated supporter, I can’t help but feel deeply concerned about Geoscón, who bravely shared with The Hollywood Reporter that over forty percent of trans adults have contemplated suicide, including herself. She’s been subjected to a hateful campaign, enduring the painful experience of being misnamed and encountering reporters who intentionally use incorrect pronouns – an incredibly triggering ordeal for our community. To add to her struggles, she’s received hundreds of chilling death threats. It’s crucial that we stand with Geoscón during these challenging times.
Due to being the first transgender woman who could potentially win an Academy Award, some individuals expressing transphobic views now seem emboldened to voice their prejudice and criticize the Academy for nominating her in the Best Actress category.
frankly, it’s appalling that Ted Sarandos and Netflix have left her to face criticism alone, without their public relations team as backup. It’s important that they take responsibility for not adequately screening her beforehand and failing to equip her with the necessary skills to manage the consequences better.
Anyone who’s watched this movie recognizes that Emilia Pérez embodies the theme of redemption. Isn’t it ironic, then, that the actress who was destined for this starring role finds herself barred from the very stage she helped construct?
Gascón’s apologies were just a start in the growing and healing process.
Showing empathy for Gascón doesn’t equate to a lack of desire for her to face full accountability, expand her knowledge about Islam and racism, and strive for improvement.
On March 2nd, I invite the Academy to advocate for forgiveness, and I strongly recommend that Hollywood delve into Adrienne Maree Brown’s book titled “We Will Not Cancel Us.” In her work, she elucidates the importance of moving past immediate punishment and finding more nuanced methods to make those who inflict harm accountable while fostering healing within communities.
Ted Sarandos and influential figures in Hollywood may find it convenient to leverage Emilia Pérez‘s story as a justification for distancing themselves from the transgender community.
Instead of focusing on who is causing the anger, let’s try to understand why such a small group faces such strong criticism. By reflecting on the underlying rejection, pain, and sacrifices everyone makes to follow societal norms, we can see ourselves in their struggle. Now more than ever, it’s crucial that we listen to and support transgender and intersex individuals as they face this challenging time of regression.
Let’s all gather together, perhaps enjoying a soothing cup of tea, and have an engaging conversation.
By the way, Seven Graham is a versatile professional, with roles as a writer, producer, actor, stand-up comedian, creativity coach, recovery guide, and mental wellness advocate.
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2025-02-25 01:26