Does Doctor Who promote transgender?

Many Whovians are asking questions.  What is the deal?

In 1966, the first Doctor Who regenerated.  The actor, played by William Hartnell, had started to play Doctor Who in 1962.  By 1966, the actor was having health issues.  Since the production company did not want to end the series, they came up with a plausible reason to switch to another actor without having to reboot.  They called it regeneration.

He transitioned through the metaphysical characteristics of the Gallifreyan race into his next life.  It wasn’t death as we know it.  It was reincarnation: a new body with the memories of the previous existence but without going through preadolescence.

The original principle was that the Doctor, as he is commonly called, had only 12 regenerations.  In each case, he became a white British male of various characteristics.  Short, tall, dark hair, light hair, it didn’t matter the exact model.  They kept the gag running though that he wasn’t allowed to be a ginger.  In the end, the British white male was maintained, even if no other principles were.  Why?  The writers were sampling the waters to determine how far they could push the edge.

Tom Baker, the 4^th Doctor, hinted at a possible female transition, and the director used it to keep interest in the show.  However, it was not done.  The Master, Doctor Who’s nemesis, became a woman in “The Doctor Falls.”  The General, another Time Lord from “Day of the Doctor,” transitioned from a white British male into a black British female.

Doctor Who fudged on his regenerations, extending the reincarnations beyond what they should have been.  For a brief period, he even broke his motto of never to kill and evolved into the War Doctor.  All in all, his newest, becoming a white British woman, will technically be his 14^th incarnation.  (See the chart at the end of this article.  BBC gives him the 13^th based upon the official doctor #.  The unofficial doctor # is 14.)

There have been other Time Lords who were female throughout the series.  There were male and female companions.  However, the one consistency has always been Doctor Who as a white British male, a cornerstone of expectation.

But with the present announcement that the 13^th Doctor (Really the 14^th) will be Jodie Whittaker, all that is about to change.  Is this a political agenda covered by the facade of Sci-Fi?  If it is, it wouldn’t be the first nor shall it be the last.

There have been other forms of entertainment throughout the ages which have used this idea.  Here are just a few:

Ursula Le Guin wrote “The Left Hand of Darkness.”  It is set in a world where the gender of its inhabitants changes like the seasons.

Robert A. Heinlein wrote “I Will Fear No Evil.”  A dying rich man has his brain implanted into a female secretary and lives out his fantasies.

In the novel “Steel Beach” by John Varley, people can change their gender by mere thought.

But is this what Doctor Who is about?  For many Whovians, Doctor Who being a British white male is a trademark in an iconic series presented by the BBC.

Questions Brought on by Fans Include

Is the BBC promoting transgender?  It appears there could be evidence to the fact.

Are they pushing the envelope and removing some the uniqueness to the series?  Possibly, though they claim to be staying canon.

Will diehard Whovians continue to follow the series?  Maybe.  In any case, it has created quite a division.  The BBC is using the debate for all it is worth.

The acceptance of the series over the next season will certainly be the tell.  Perhaps those Whovians who refuse to accept it will be replaced by a whole new breed that do.

Thanks for reading!

James William Peercy

Regeneration Chart

Unofficial Doctor#	Official Doctor#	Regeneration#	Body Count	Actor Name	Notes
1	1	None	1	William Hartnell
2	2	1	2	Patrick Thoughton
3	3	2	3	Jon Pertwee
4	4	3	4	Tom Baker
5	5	4	5	Peter Davidson
6	6	5	6	Colin Baker
7	7	6	7	Sylvestor McCoy
8	8	7	8	Paul McGann
9		8	9	John Hurt	Refuses to go by Doctor Who because he kills to defend his people.
10	9	9	10	Christopher Eccleston
11	10	10	11	David Tenant
		11	11	David Tenant	Regenerates to remain the 10th doctor but in 11th body.
12	11	12	12	Matt Smith
		Freebie	Freebie	Matt Smith	Old Time Lord’s regenerate body.  May be considered a freebie.
13	12	13	13	Peter Capaldi
14	13	14	14	Jodie Whittaker