Georgie Stone - MacKenzie

Digital Spy article:

Georgie Stone to play character Mackenzie Hargreaves.


Neighbours to introduce its first transgender character as Georgie Stone joins the soap in guest role
She hopes the story can "teach other people how to treat trans young people".

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...ne-guest-role/

Neighbours has broken ground with its LGBTQ+ representation through Aaron and David's relationship, and now they are taking it one step further.

The Australian soap is set to introduce its first ever transgender character this year, after transgender role model Georgie Stone approached the show's executives a year ago to discuss introducing the character.

Georgie is known as Australia's youngest ever person to receive hormone blockers and successfully campaigned for a change in the law regarding treatment.

Stone took that pro-active approach in getting her role on Neighbours too, telling the Herald Sun: "I came up with the idea of having a trans young person on the show so I wrote a letter to the executive producer, Jason Herbison, with a few ideas on how it could happen."

Apparently she got a response from the show within two hours of sending that letter, which is crazy.

"Both my parents have been on Neighbours so I have grown up with the show," Stone added.

When watching it I could see that essentially, amid all the drama and soapy stuff, it is about human stories and genuine stories that reflect the viewers and society as a whole, so I thought this would be a great opportunity to tell a story that isn’t often told on Australian TV."

Georgie will start filming for her guest role on the soap in June, and she will appear on screens for the first time later in the year.

"When I was growing up as a trans young person, I did not see anyone out there who I could relate to," she continued.

"There was no one on Australian TV screens, on any TV screens really, that had a positive depiction of a trans person, specifically a trans young person. There was no one who I could connect to and I felt quite isolated because of that, so that is why I am so excited about this opportunity."

She added: "Yes, it is breaking new ground, it is a great story, and people will really like it, but I really hope that there will be some trans young people out there who have felt isolated before and then see this character and feel that they are not alone, or that they feel OK to be who they are, and that this story can teach other people how to treat trans young people."

Neighbours' executive producer Jason Herbison also commented on the casting, praising Georgie as an "exceptional young woman".

"Georgie approached us last year regarding a guest role and I could see she was passionate about acting," he said. "Seeing her talent during the audition process, I knew she would be able to tell the story truthfully and authentically."

Neighbours airs weekdays at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5.




and:

'It's breaking new ground, and people will really like it!' Transgender rights advocate Georgie Stone, 18, will star as the first trans character on iconic soap Neighbours after she personally pitched the idea to executives

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbi...eighbours.html

So Neighbours is propaganda promoting mental illness now? We shouldn't be normalising this. After transitioning and hormone treatment, suicide rates are still through the roof. It's not a solution.

You ever think the suicide rates are like that because of people like you who spread hate when they are just trying their best to be happy with themselves?

Everyone is welcome on Ramsay St... remember that.

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Originally Posted by CuriousCase

So Neighbours is propaganda promoting mental illness now? We shouldn't be normalising this. After transitioning and hormone treatment, suicide rates are still through the roof. It's not a solution.

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Until you have been through it. You should keep your mouth shut. It’s people like you, that are pushing suicide up.

A great move by Neighbours. Gay and lesbian people are now almost mainstream and we need to do the same for transgender people.

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” ~Mother Theresa

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Originally Posted by Kyzaah

You ever think the suicide rates are like that because of people like you who spread hate when they are just trying their best to be happy with themselves?

Everyone is welcome on Ramsay St... remember that.

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everybody loves good neighbours

You're right, I'm spreading hate because I don't want people to kill themselves with an ill-advised treatment/solution to a much deeper issue. Grow up.

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Originally Posted by kaz21

Until you have been through it. You should keep your mouth shut. It’s people like you, that are pushing suicide up.

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So to understand the issues surrounding transgenderism, I need to convert and then kill myself because I realised it didn't solve anything? It's people like me who are trying to find a solution that doesn't result in their suicides instead of blindly following the SJW who sugar coat the dangers of an (unattainable) utopia.

Self mutilation shouldn't be normalised.

I didn’t say, kill yourself. It’s not a mental health issue.

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Originally Posted by kaz21

I didn’t say, kill yourself. It’s not a mental health issue.

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Actually, gender dysphoria is a mental disorder according to the American Psychiatric Association, publisher of the universally accepted Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

And with good reason. There should be treatment to actually treat the psychological distresses associated with the feelings of being placed in the wrong body.

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Originally Posted by CuriousCase

So Neighbours is propaganda promoting mental illness now? We shouldn't be normalising this. After transitioning and hormone treatment, suicide rates are still through the roof. It's not a solution.

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Well, screw you, too.

Are you a transgender person? Are you in their shoes? Are you in their heads? No? Well, then leave the judgement at the door and let them be.

As someone else pointed out, everyone is welcome on Ramsay Street. You don't like it, don't watch.

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Originally Posted by CuriousCase

Actually, gender dysphoria is a mental disorder according to the American Psychiatric Association, publisher of the universally accepted Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

And with good reason. There should be treatment to actually treat the psychological distresses associated with the feelings of being placed in the wrong body.

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Gender dysphoria and being transgender are not the same thing. The World Health Organization no longer classifies being transgender as a mental illness.
Calling transgender identity a mental illness is no different to people calling homosexuality a mental illness and forcing conversion therapy onto gay people to 'correct' them. Gay people are happiest and mentally healthiest in societies where homosexuality is decriminalised and accepted, not ones where they're labeled mentally ill.

The biggest dangers towards transgender people are the ignorant bigots who bully, attack and even kill them due to their prejudice and hatred. If you were genuinely trying to find a solution to prevent transgender suicides you would address the actual causes instead of ignorantly blaming SJW's like a teenage internet troll.

I'm pretty sure the this new actress's mental health is better from having viewers support her career, than having people call her casting 'propaganda promoting mental illness'.

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Originally Posted by zodiac999

Gender dysphoria and being transgender are not the same thing. The World Health Organization no longer classifies being transgender as a mental illness.
Calling transgender identity a mental illness is no different to people calling homosexuality a mental illness and forcing conversion therapy onto gay people to 'correct' them. Gay people are happiest and mentally healthiest in societies where homosexuality is decriminalised and accepted, not ones where they're labeled mentally ill.

The biggest dangers towards transgender people are the ignorant bigots who bully, attack and even kill them due to their prejudice and hatred. If you were genuinely trying to find a solution to prevent transgender suicides you would address the actual causes instead of ignorantly blaming SJW's like a teenage internet troll.

I'm pretty sure the this new actress's mental health is better from having viewers support her career, than having people call her casting 'propaganda promoting mental illness'.

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Umm... A transgender person who is distressed by not being called the pronouns they want or wanting hormone treatment/want to transition because the bodies they were born is called Gender Dysphoria. This is different to gender nonconformity, whereby it's a choice, not a distressing feeling of a need to change. What's homosexuality got to do with what we're talking about. Don't muddle your arguments.

No, the biggest danger is normalising gender dysphoria patients (not people who are gender nonconformists) and maintaining it's the right thing to do when the facts are in: that giving into what they want (transitioning/hormone treatment/etc) isn't solving the problem. I will not apologise for not wanting to be complicit in suicides. You can reduce that to calling me a teenage troll, but that would say a lot more about you than me.

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As someone else pointed out, everyone is welcome on Ramsay Street. You don't like it, don't watch.

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Don't for 1 second feel that Neighbours is trying to put a spotlight on these kinds of things out of the goodness of their heart. They're trying to attract viewers and keep the show going because dwindling ratings is killing the show in Oz. After the next funding meeting Neighbours has in the UK, if they decide to pull funding, Neighbours is dead. They're using what little time they have left before renewing a broadcast/funding deal with whatever channel it plays on in the UK to piggy back on top of current social trends, hoping it will attract viewers. Hence the personalities they're trying to attract playing themselves. Hence Eve getting fired to reduce funding. Hence crew being let go to minimise costs, and skeleton crews going on location. Hence Eve's statement about whether the show would continue or not.

Instead of misguided virtue signalling, perhaps that should address the poor acting with some of their cast and the contrived nature of their writing. They're competing with the likes of Netflix. The demand for easily understood television is getting lesser and lesser as audiences are getting savvier. Neighbours won't exist in 10 years time.

And thanks for your permission to not watch it. I'll keep that in mind when the time comes and might check back here for spoilers when he/she/it/zhe/they leave Ramsay St to start watching again.

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Originally Posted by CuriousCase

They're using what little time they have left before renewing a broadcast/funding deal with whatever channel it plays on in the UK to piggy back on top of current social trends, hoping it will attract viewers. Hence the personalities they're trying to attract playing themselves.


Instead of misguided virtue signalling, perhaps that should address the poor acting with some of their cast and the contrived nature of their writing. They're competing with the likes of Netflix. The demand for easily understood television is getting lesser and lesser as audiences are getting savvier. Neighbours won't exist in 10 years time.

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Sorry for heavily editing your post, but these are the bits I want to touch on.

It's apparent they've been doing this for upwards of a year. It's good in a way, highlighting issues and being a progressive show, but the downside is the use of what feels like endless guests who I, and probably others, haven't heard of. I live in Oz but didn't grow up here, and rarely watch any other shows - certainly not the ones the guests are drawn from. It doesn't make a blind bit of difference to me as a viewer who they are but it does have a negative impact when they are brought in for a week and gone again. Their storylines are created to be pretty inconsequential. Drop in, lift out. Pick up again if necessary. No one else is affected. Even Karl with his long lost sister. A train in the mail, a mention here and there.. but he's still the same.

It feels like the use of gimmicks in sports. A-League had a Star Wars round once, which was a bit odd. NRL had Marvel kits for one round. WCW Wrestling had 'on a pole...' matches. Kids for $1 tickets, sort of thing. It was like throwing anything and everything at the wall to see if it stuck. Anything to see a spike in ratings/ticket sales, but usually any spike is just for a short time because the show (Or anything..) reverts back to the norm and it's not good enough to retain the audience. If ratings are low (I don't know..) then the writing is, sadly, on the wall, unless out of blind loyalty or nostalgia, the network decides to keep funding it regardless.

Totally right about the standard of their storylines. I am not against it tackling social issues but to do it in a short-term way comes across pretty as pretty cynical if you consider the points above. They could, for instance, bring in a trans character and explore issues around that, the feelings they have and their decision, have the character be bullied and the bullies themselves learn to understand the person, overcome some odds, etc.. in the same sort of way they tackled David coming out and his and Aaron's wedding. Permanent characters showing that there is a place. Not this few weeks of something and 'didn't we all learn something today...' feel like Sesame Street before moving on and forgetting about it (assuming they do). Also, some racial diversity would be nice. It's Australia after all, almost everyone is from somewhere else.

They shouldn't need the guest stars and stunts; the show should sell itself. It could be so much better than it is.

nor is it a mental illness

Does anyone have any info on when she’s going to appear?

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Originally Posted by Kyzaah

Does anyone have any info on when she’s going to appear?

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A couple of articles at the end of July mentioned that it would be 'next month', so I gather she will appear before the end of August.


Neighbours’ First Trans Character Mackenzie Is Coming To Ramsay Street Next Month

https://www.pedestrian.tv/entertainm...hbours-august/


And...
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbi...eighbours.html

I hope she is given a good storyline and can act

Digital Spy article:


Neighbours reveals new details of its first ever transgender storyline
Newcomer Mackenzie confides in Yashvi next week.

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...one-storyline/

Neighbours has confirmed details of the show's first ever transgender storyline, which begins on screen next week.

Show bosses have cast trans actress Georgie Stone in the role of newcomer Mackenzie Hargreaves, who befriends Yashvi Rebecchi (Olivia Junkeer) after joining Erinsborough High.

As the girls get to know each other, Yashvi starts to realise that she has met Mackenzie somewhere before.

Yashvi wonders if she crossed paths with Mackenzie in her old town of Bourke, a possibility that Mackenzie denies. However, viewers will soon discover that she is from the area after all and isn't telling Yashvi the true story.

When Mackenzie then starts to take a keen interest in Yasvhi's father Shane (Nicholas Coghlan), the situation becomes even more complicated. Getting carried away, Yashvi suspects that Mackenzie could be a secret love-child of Shane's.

Yashvi voices her concerns to Shane, who strongly denies that he'd ever cheat on his wife Dipi. However, he firmly refuses to explain his connection to Mackenzie, insisting that it's not his place to do so.

When Mackenzie finds out that Yashvi is coming up with wild theories, she finally explains that she did indeed grow up in Bourke and they even knew each other in primary school.

Mackenzie reveals that she was known as Michael at the time, but has since transitioned. She was only speaking to Shane as she wanted help tracking down her father.

Much to Mackenzie's delight, Yashvi is fully accepting and the girls agree to stay friends.

Georgie's casting in Neighbours was first announced in March and she started filming three months later. She landed the role after writing in to the Neighbours producers, suggesting they should bring in a transgender character.

Georgie recently told the Herald Sun: "I came up with the idea of having a trans young person on the show so I wrote a letter to the executive producer, Jason Herbison, with a few ideas on how it could happen.

"Both my parents have been on Neighbours so I have grown up with the show.

"When watching it I could see that essentially, amid all the drama and soapy stuff, it is about human stories and genuine stories that reflect the viewers and society as a whole, so I thought this would be a great opportunity to tell a story that isn’t often told on Australian TV."

Neighbours airs weekdays at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5 (UK) and 6.30pm on 10 Peach (Australia).

Digital Spy article:


Neighbours to explore transphobia as Mackenzie Hargreaves' past is revealed
Can Yashvi and Mackenzie make up?

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...shvi-rebecchi/

Neighbours is to explore the issue of transphobia as Mackenzie Hargreaves' past is revealed.

The soap has recently welcomed its first ever transgender character in the form of Mackenzie, and it will also tackle transphobia over the coming weeks when Yashvi makes an ignorant comment at her expense.

It comes after Yashvi remarks that her new friend Mackenzie "used to be a boy", unaware that this is a false and deeply offensive thing to say.

The drama begins when Yashvi and Mackenzie become friends and Mackenzie starts to open up about trans issues, only for someone to overhear them talking.

After mistakenly believing Harlow was the person to overhear them, the girls soon identify school bully Richie as the eavesdropper.

Looking to defend her friend, Yashvi confronts Richie, warning him to keep his mouth shut and yelling that he shouldn't care if Mackenzie "used to be a boy".

Their argument quickly attracts an audience of students and Mackenzie is horrified – not only because Yashvi has outed her, but also because she has proven she doesn't get who Mackenzie is at all.

Eventually, the pair make up, although Mackenzie still feels deeply wounded by the incident and the feeling that her friend doesn't really understand her.

Things are worsened further when parents, spearheaded by Angela Lane, start calling the school to air their concerns about Mackenzie.

Can their budding friendship recover?

Neighbours airs weekdays on Channel 5.

Mackenize finding her father....surely not another Paul lovechild?

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Originally Posted by Pantherboy

Digital Spy article:


Neighbours to explore transphobia as Mackenzie Hargreaves' past is revealed
Can Yashvi and Mackenzie make up?

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...shvi-rebecchi/

Neighbours is to explore the issue of transphobia as Mackenzie Hargreaves' past is revealed.

The soap has recently welcomed its first ever transgender character in the form of Mackenzie, and it will also tackle transphobia over the coming weeks when Yashvi makes an ignorant comment at her expense.

It comes after Yashvi remarks that her new friend Mackenzie "used to be a boy", unaware that this is a false and deeply offensive thing to say.

The drama begins when Yashvi and Mackenzie become friends and Mackenzie starts to open up about trans issues, only for someone to overhear them talking.

After mistakenly believing Harlow was the person to overhear them, the girls soon identify school bully Richie as the eavesdropper.

Looking to defend her friend, Yashvi confronts Richie, warning him to keep his mouth shut and yelling that he shouldn't care if Mackenzie "used to be a boy".

Their argument quickly attracts an audience of students and Mackenzie is horrified – not only because Yashvi has outed her, but also because she has proven she doesn't get who Mackenzie is at all.

Eventually, the pair make up, although Mackenzie still feels deeply wounded by the incident and the feeling that her friend doesn't really understand her.

Things are worsened further when parents, spearheaded by Angela Lane, start calling the school to air their concerns about Mackenzie.

Can their budding friendship recover?

Neighbours airs weekdays on Channel 5.

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"Used to be a boy" isn't false...

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Originally Posted by CuriousCase

"Used to be a boy" isn't false...

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Let's not do this, please. You don't have to agree with it, just be quiet and move on.

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Originally Posted by its.like.that

Mackenize finding her father....surely not another Paul lovechild?

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More likely that Shane would be her father, but the spoilers stated he denies ever having an affair.

I don't see how used to be a boy is offensive. She did used to be a boy and still is if she has not fully transitioned. I get that gender is on a spectrum but sex is not, you are either male (have a penis) or female (have a vagina) so yes if she had a penis and no longer does she used to be a boy in terms of sex. I wish soaps wouldn't get involved in this **** because sometimes they preach false truths. Gender/sex are not the same thing. Yashvi is right she did "used to be a boy". My ex girlfriend (still a close friend of mine) identifies as a man now but that doesn't mean he was ever my ex boyfriend.

Also as stated early Transgenderism is not a mental illness, however to transition to being transgender you have to have gender disphoria which is a mental illness.

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Originally Posted by Black_fence

I don't see how used to be a boy is offensive. She did used to be a boy and still is if she has not fully transitioned. I get that gender is on a spectrum but sex is not, you are either male (have a penis) or female (have a vagina) so yes if she had a penis and no longer does she used to be a boy in terms of sex. I wish soaps wouldn't get involved in this **** because sometimes they preach false truths. Gender/sex are not the same thing. Yashvi is right she did "used to be a boy". My ex girlfriend (still a close friend of mine) identifies as a man now but that doesn't mean he was ever my ex boyfriend.

Also as stated early Transgenderism is not a mental illness, however to transition to being transgender you have to have gender disphoria which is a mental illness.

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The phrasing is wrong because it suggests that at some point Mackenzie decided to ‘become a girl’ whereas she probably always felt like a girl trapped in a boy’s body. It’s not that it’s incorrect but it’s insensitive.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by tayfanatic

The phrasing is wrong because it suggests that at some point Mackenzie decided to ‘become a girl’ whereas she probably always felt like a girl trapped in a boy’s body. It’s not that it’s incorrect but it’s insensitive.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Truth hurts sometimes. Embrace it, everyone already knows anyway.

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Originally Posted by CuriousCase

Truth hurts sometimes. Embrace it, everyone already knows anyway.

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Transgender people have the same right to respect and dignity as anyone else, you don’t have to ‘agree’ with it but they’re not hurting anyone so there should be no issue here.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by tayfanatic

Transgender people have the same right to respect and dignity as anyone else, you don’t have to ‘agree’ with it but they’re not hurting anyone so there should be no issue here.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Yes she has probably considered herself a girl if not biologically then spiritually. Perhaps there are male and female souls? Regardless not something I would label as a mental illness rather sensing a mismatch between soul and body

The mental illness is gender dysphoria, being transgender is your gender identity. Gender and sex are different and an identity has absolutely nothing to do with what’s in your pants. That’s your business, no one else’s.

Does Shane know her father?

Digital Spy artricle:


Neighbours transphobia sparks a school protest as Mackenzie's storyline continues
The teens stand up against prejudice in moving scenes.

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...chool-protest/

Neighbours newcomer Mackenzie Hargreaves receives a strong show of support from her schoolmates next week after experiencing transphobia at Erinsborough High.

When the pupils find out that Mackenzie (Georgie Stone) is transgender, trouble brews as some of them report back to their parents.

Prejudiced Angela Lane soon joins forces with a group of other angry parents to complain about Mackenzie using the girls' bathroom and changing rooms.

School principal Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) tries to deal with the situation, but some of the kids are influenced by the escalating tensions and start targeting Mackenzie too.

Yashvi Rebecchi (Olivia Junkeer) is shocked to find abusive graffiti on the girls' toilets, which is directed at Mackenzie. Mackenzie also receives a threatening note, warning her not to use the girls' bathrooms again.

Mark Brennan is brought on board to investigate the hateful behaviour, but Susan remains concerned for Mackenzie's safety and asks her to use the disabled toilets until the culprit is found.

Yashvi's dad Shane (Nicholas Coghlan), who is protective of Mackenzie, is furious when he finds out how Susan has handled the situation – believing she's condoning the abuse by encouraging the teen to use another bathroom.

Yashvi is also unhappy with the school's policy and decides to protest by only using the disabled toilets in a show of solidarity.

A number of other students feel the same way, queueing up at the disabled toilets to show their support for Mackenzie after the abuse she has faced.

Everyone is shocked when troublemaker Richie joins the line too, taking a more mature approach than anyone would have expected.

However, when mean boy Ollie remains opposed to Mackenzie's presence, it's clear that a small minority of the pupils aren't so understanding.

Neighbours airs these scenes on Tuesday, September 17 and Wednesday, September 18 at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5 (UK) and 6.30pm on 10 Peach (Australia).

Love how Neighbours is so socially progressive. The more trans characters we see on TV the more they will be socially accepted and eventually it won't matter if you're straight gay trans or whatever

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Neighbours to explore transphobia as Mackenzie Hargreaves' past is revealed
Can Yashvi and Mackenzie make up?

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...shvi-rebecchi/

It comes after Yashvi remarks that her new friend Mackenzie "used to be a boy", unaware that this is a false and deeply offensive thing to say.

The drama begins when Yashvi and Mackenzie become friends and Mackenzie starts to open up about trans issues, only for someone to overhear them talking.

After mistakenly believing Harlow was the person to overhear them, the girls soon identify school bully Richie as the eavesdropper.

Looking to defend her friend, Yashvi confronts Richie, warning him to keep his mouth shut and yelling that he shouldn't care if Mackenzie "used to be a boy".

Their argument quickly attracts an audience of students and Mackenzie is horrified – not only because Yashvi has outed her, but also because she has proven she doesn't get who Mackenzie is at all.

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So this bit was yesterday. I thought it was really badly written.

The reveal with Dipi and Shane was good, Yashvi looked like she understood it all and would be supportive. Then the scenes with Harlow were also fine. But then Yashvi goes against everything they had discussed earlier in the episode and for a few days before. Possibly far better if someone else had outed her because they wouldn't be aware of Mackenzie's express wishes and past bullying problems. Perhaps even Yashvi's younger sister who didn't listen to the whole thing at home and isn't aware of the bigger issue. Then rumour spreads in their year, through school and to Richie that way. Makes Yashvi look stupid and selfish.

Yashvi really annoys me, and talks first then thinks. I think that's what has happened in this situation. She's very passionate and loyal.

Digital Spy article:


Neighbours shock for Mackenzie Hargreaves as Shane Rebecchi makes huge confession
Can she ever forgive him?

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...hi-confession/

Neighbours teen Mackenzie Hargreaves is left distraught next week as Shane Rebecchi makes a guilty confession about the past.

Mackenzie (Georgie Stone) can't believe what she's hearing as Shane admits that he's partly to blame for one of the most upsetting days of her life.

The pair's ongoing storyline has seen Shane (Nicholas Coghlan) loyally support Mackenzie as she tries to track down her father Grant.

Upcoming scenes also see Shane jump to Mackenzie's defence as she faces transphobia at Erinsborough High, but it seems that he may be overcompensating for his own past mistakes.

When Shane gets a strong lead on where Grant may be, Mackenzie fears that she's setting herself up for a fall by reaching out to the father who once rejected her.

Mackenzie opens up to Shane about how Grant once burned all of her feminine belongings, unable to accept her for who she is.

This revelation leaves Shane deeply shaken, as he realises that Grant's act of cruelty directly stemmed from some bad advice that he'd given at the time.

When Shane confides in his wife Dipi (Sharon Johal), she's sympathetic but advises that it's best to tell Mackenzie the truth before she hears it from anyone else.

Bracing himself, Shane meets up with Mackenzie at Lassiters Lake and confesses his involvement.

Mackenzie is shattered to learn that Shane – now her greatest defender – played a crucial role in such an upsetting moment, which ultimately destroyed her family. Can she ever forgive him for this?

Neighbours airs these scenes on Friday, September 27 at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5 (UK) and 6.30pm on 10 Peach (Australia).

Digital Spy article:


Neighbours hints at possible romance for newcomer Mackenzie Hargreaves
Mackenzie and Hendrix get close.

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...eaves-romance/

Neighbours could be seeing a romance for Mackenzie Hargreaves, as she and Hendrix Greyson kiss.

In scenes airing next week, Mackenzie (Georgie Stone) continues trying to track down her father Grant with Shane Rebecchi (Nicholas Coghlan), which makes Yashvi Rebecchi (Olivia Junkeer) feel excluded.

Later, Mackenzie and Hendrix (Benny Turland) meet and flirt at Sheila Canning's (Colette Mann) birthday party.

Mackenzie's anxiety then leads her to abruptly leave the party, and afterwards, Mackenzie tells Shane that she finds it difficult to know when to tell potential romantic partners that she is transgender.

Mackenzie eventually tells Hendrix that she is transgender, and although Hendrix is initially surprised, he says that nothing changes and he still thinks Mackenzie is the most attractive girl at the party.

The pair continue to spend time together, and Mackenzie soon leans in for a kiss.

Earlier this month, Neighbours announced a spin-off series centred on Erinsborough High and commissioned by Channel 5.

Mackenzie will feature in the five-part series, as well as Hendrix, Yashvi, and Lachlan Millar (Richie Amblin).

The spin-off will launch in November and the storyline "will run in parallel" to the soap.

Neighbours airs weekdays at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5 (UK) and 6.30pm on 10 Peach (Australia).

im not a hendrix fan but when did mac think he was her boyfriend exclusively

Herald Sun article. Georgie Stone has now signed as a permanent Neighbours cast member:


Georgie Stone transforms into permanent Neighbours role
Actor Georgie Stone spent three months on Neighbours this year as transgender school girl Mackenize Hargreaves. Now the future looks bright for the young star.

Groundbreaking transgender actor and activist Georgie Stone has been signed by Neighbours as a permanent cast member.

Stone spent three months on the show this year as transgender school student Mackenize Hargreaves, a character that struck a chord with viewers.

“A mum messaged my mum about how her daughter was camping with a friend and while on that trip told her she was trans,” Stone said.

“And her friend said, ‘It is OK, I absolutely accept you, I have been watching Neighbours’.

“Hearing that made me so emotional and made me realise that story we told was getting across to people and making an impact.”

Stone has now signed a new deal with the show that will make her a full-time character. She starts filming in January.

Stone, 19, said she was thrilled to stay with the show.

“I would like to stay for as long as I feel there are more stories to tell for Mackenzie,’’ she said.

Stone pitched the idea of Neighbours introducing a transgender character played by her to producers in March 2018. She will continue to provide insight to producers on the trans experience so Mackenzie’s character can be authentic and evolve.

“What we wanted to do from the start and will get the opportunity to do now is really just look at who she is absolutely outside of her being trans,” Stone said.

“She is who she is as a person, but anything to do with her trans experience they will check with me to make sure it rings true.”


Herald Sun


and from Digital Spy

Neighbours promotes Georgie Stone to show regular after fan praise for transgender storyline
"To go back and continue her story is a dream come true."

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...-show-regular/

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Originally Posted by Pantherboy

Herald Sun article. Georgie Stone has now signed as a permanent Neighbours cast member:


Georgie Stone transforms into permanent Neighbours role
Actor Georgie Stone spent three months on Neighbours this year as transgender school girl Mackenize Hargreaves. Now the future looks bright for the young star.

Groundbreaking transgender actor and activist Georgie Stone has been signed by Neighbours as a permanent cast member.

Stone spent three months on the show this year as transgender school student Mackenize Hargreaves, a character that struck a chord with viewers.

“A mum messaged my mum about how her daughter was camping with a friend and while on that trip told her she was trans,” Stone said.

“And her friend said, ‘It is OK, I absolutely accept you, I have been watching Neighbours’.

“Hearing that made me so emotional and made me realise that story we told was getting across to people and making an impact.”

Stone has now signed a new deal with the show that will make her a full-time character. She starts filming in January.

Stone, 19, said she was thrilled to stay with the show.

“I would like to stay for as long as I feel there are more stories to tell for Mackenzie,’’ she said.

Stone pitched the idea of Neighbours introducing a transgender character played by her to producers in March 2018. She will continue to provide insight to producers on the trans experience so Mackenzie’s character can be authentic and evolve.

“What we wanted to do from the start and will get the opportunity to do now is really just look at who she is absolutely outside of her being trans,” Stone said.

“She is who she is as a person, but anything to do with her trans experience they will check with me to make sure it rings true.”


Herald Sun

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Really pleased about this news! Mackenzie is a great character. :)