anything that contains the phrase “secret BBC memo reveals” intrigues me automatically ngl but I want you all to know that as far as I can gather, the facts are even better than this headline
which is to say, this was part of an initiative in the early 1970s that not only featured marginalized groups on BBC programming, but made moves towards handing them editorial control – the BBC had to approve proposals, but after that, the station’s role was primarily to provide technical resources, facilities, and copyright handling. (another notable program under this initiative featured Black teachers discussing racism in the school system, and a link to that – plus discussion of the hurdles it faced – can be found here).
the program on trans experience was aired in 1973.
The programme, featuring trans women, began: “Jokes about ‘the operation’ are all that most people know about transexualism [sic]. Tonight’s group discuss their situation in a more serious and comprehensive way, and draw attention to the many difficulties they endure”.
you can watch Open Door: Transex Liberation Group here (as well as other archived LGBTQ programming from BBC).
1: hell yeah
2: David Attenborough was a childhood hero of mine and i’m glad to see he was always a champ
3: look at these related articles
David Attenborough forever man.
Here’s my David Attenborough story: a young friend of mine who has been obsessed with the natural world since he could talk, and grew up on a steady diet of David Attenborough. When he was about 7 or 8, he wrote Attenborough a letter about how much he had enjoyed his birds of paradise documentaries and including some of his amazing drawings of them, along with several origami insects.
He sent his letter from Berlin on a Thursday. The following Tuesday, he received a handwritten reply on stationery that said “From the desk of David Attenborough” thanking him for his letter and his “ingenious” drawings and origami insects, and encouraging him to continue pursue his passion for the natural world.
Today, my friend (he’s 15 now) is a jaw-droppingly incredible and award-winning macro photographer of tiny, beautiful things like insects and slime molds who leads nature walks for other children working with a local museum.
David Attenborough is a treasure and I hope he’s immortal. We are luck to share time with him on earth.
