Degrassi focuses on Adam, a transgender character

Jos wrote a while ago about how the newest season of Degrassi was planning on featuring a transgender character.  Adam appeared a few episodes into the season, and now the most recent two-part episodes focuses on him as being a transgendered teen.  I wanted to let the readers of Feministing know that these episodes have occurred, in case they are interested in watching!

Those in the US should be able to watch the episodes on the TeenNick website.  (From the Degrassi page, under the pictures of characters click on Video, and then full episodes on the right hand side.)  In Canada, I’m pretty sure Degrassi is no longer shown on CTV but is instead on MuchMusic, so perhaps you can access it from their website.  Not sure if these videos are available in other countries due to copyright, but if you know of how to see them please leave a link in the comments for others!

As I mentioned, Adam was introduced a while ago, and what I loved was that attention was not drawn the to fact that he was transgendered.  I wondered, if I hadn’t already read the buzz online before the season started, would I have been able to tell that he had a woman’s body?  (He is played by a female actress, Jordan Todosey, but with a first name that could be either male or female, I’m not sure the uninformed viewer would know!)  All of these characters assume he’s a guy and treat him as a guy.  The only awkward moments were when we would say something ridiculously macho.  When we first meet him, he’s competing against other Degrassi students to win backstage passes to a concert by keeping their hand on a truck the longest.  He and Eli split the tickets, and when loading some equipment back into the truck someone says something like “It won’t fit” and Adam says “That’s what my ex-girlfriend said!”  The other guys are just like, huh, weird, and the awkward moment passes.

So, Adam has been in and out of the storylines like most of the characters are (Degrassi doesn’t really have one “main character,” but a lot of different characters that the focus moves between as the episodes go on).  But episodes 15 and 16, “My Body is a Cage,” reveal his transgendered identity to both the viewers and to the whole school.  As I would expect from Degrassi, I think they did an excellent job.  I’m not transgendered myself, so I would love to hear the reactions of those who are, but it seems that Degrassi has addressed this character’s story very well.

First, there are so many subtle things peppered into the dialogue.  Adam’s stepbrother, Drew, is trying to get into the bathroom in the morning while Adam is still getting ready, which includes binding his breasts.  He says “Geez, you took less time to get ready in the morning when you were a girl!” to which Adam responds “I was never a girl!”  Just later that scene, their mom calls up and refers to Adam using the pronoun “she.”  Adam exasperatingly (and in a very teenager manner, for sure) corrects the pronoun misuse.  Things like these happen throughout the episode.

Also, Degrassi doesn’t sugarcoat what happens when Adam’s secret is revealed. He’s been hitting on “bad-girl” Bianca, when Bianca playfully swats at his chest.  When she feels breasts, she freaks out, physically assaults him to rip off his shirt and reveal that he has a woman’s body.  She verbally assaults him for being a girl, spreads the word to other students, and continues to be cruel to him.  Later, when they are supposed to be ballroom dance partners, she says if he ever touches her again, she will kill him.  Some “jocks” assault Adam in the men’s bathroom and throw him in to a glass door; Drew later gets into a fight with these guys.  When Adam feels pressure to return to being Gracie (as he was born), the anger and pain lead him to self-injury.  This is not happy-go-lucky everyone’s cool with everyone else territory – it’s reality for so many teens.

Finally, the storyline regarding Adam’s family was very well-done.  I think it’s fair to represent that a family that is clearly very supportive of his gender identity can still screw up sometimes, say the wrong thing, or just plain not understand.  His mother is genuinely afraid for what will happen to Adam.  She wants to protect him.  Is the right answer for him to go back to being Gracie?  No, of course not.  But you can’t fault her for having the reaction of being afraid for him.  She might not “get it” completely, but she’s not a monster.  I appreciated that representation of a parent.

The only contrived, “after-school-special” feeling moment was when Adam sits down and explains to friends Claire and Eli exactly what’s going on (Claire picked up some tampons that he had dropped, and was confused).  But to some extent, that conversation had to happen, because most young viewers unfamiliar with transgender probably needed some things explained to them (like when Claire asks Adam if he’s gay).

I’m just really excited because this is definitely new territory for a teen drama.  I don’t know how popular Degrassi is with young people, but hopefully lots of teens and tweens now have a better understanding of people with different gender-identities (Degrassi has already done a great job with gay/bisexual characters), and they won’t be the ones calling them freaks, harassing them, or being scared of them.  I’m curious to see how the rest of the season goes, especially because of a big issue that hasn’t been revealed yet.  Drew, Adam’s stepbrother who defended him against the guys that attacked him, is not exactly a hero when it comes to LGBT issues.  In the beginning of the season, as the new kid trying out for quarterback, he essentially blackmailed Riley (the current QB) when he found out that Riley was gay, and had a relationship with the football team’s new kicker.  How will this play out?  I feel a little silly being addicted to a show meant for teenagers, but I can’t help myself!