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David Letterman, you need to apologise.
Jan. 7th, 2010 03:06 pmYou need to apologise for this crap
Do you know how hard it is for transpeople to get a job? Do you know how many transpeople live below the poverty line because of prejudice? Do you realise the courage and strength and dedication and hard work it took for Amanda Simpson to reach this level? Do you realise what an achievement this is in such a prejudiced world?
And worse, the format of the joke only makes it more sickening. The straight guy running in horror because “zomg this girl used to be a dude” gods do you know how awful that is? Aside from the ignorance of misgendering someone pre-transition, this runs smack bang into the trans panic defence.
Do you have ANY idea how many people attack trans people and use reactions like this oh-so-funny skit as an excuse for it? Do you have any idea how many times someone screaming “she used to be a dude!!!” is used as an ignorant preface or justification for violence and murder.
Trans people’s blood is spilled with those words. This joke makes light of a legacy of violence you cannot even begin to imagine, Mr. Letterman. That is not acceptable from anyone - and it’s doubly unacceptable to be presented as a mainstream, FUNNY reaction to a trainperson. You are legitimising hate with this. You are legitimising persecution with this. You are justifying the “trans panic” defence with this.
Thankfully several groups have already come out condemning this foolishness. We cannot be silent in the face of such representations. Silence is consent, silence tells people we’re ok with this. Silence tells us this kind of ‘comedy’ is acceptable. Silence ignores the pain and the violence behind such a representation.
Do you know how hard it is for transpeople to get a job? Do you know how many transpeople live below the poverty line because of prejudice? Do you realise the courage and strength and dedication and hard work it took for Amanda Simpson to reach this level? Do you realise what an achievement this is in such a prejudiced world?
And worse, the format of the joke only makes it more sickening. The straight guy running in horror because “zomg this girl used to be a dude” gods do you know how awful that is? Aside from the ignorance of misgendering someone pre-transition, this runs smack bang into the trans panic defence.
Do you have ANY idea how many people attack trans people and use reactions like this oh-so-funny skit as an excuse for it? Do you have any idea how many times someone screaming “she used to be a dude!!!” is used as an ignorant preface or justification for violence and murder.
Trans people’s blood is spilled with those words. This joke makes light of a legacy of violence you cannot even begin to imagine, Mr. Letterman. That is not acceptable from anyone - and it’s doubly unacceptable to be presented as a mainstream, FUNNY reaction to a trainperson. You are legitimising hate with this. You are legitimising persecution with this. You are justifying the “trans panic” defence with this.
Thankfully several groups have already come out condemning this foolishness. We cannot be silent in the face of such representations. Silence is consent, silence tells people we’re ok with this. Silence tells us this kind of ‘comedy’ is acceptable. Silence ignores the pain and the violence behind such a representation.