| Transphobic and Privileged Jokes | |
| Last Edit: Singapore/Fling 10:43 pm EDT 08/19/20 | |
| Posted by: Singapore/Fling 10:42 pm EDT 08/19/20 | |
| In reply to: Randy Rainbow’s old, racist, and transphobic tweets resurface - pecansforall 08:26 pm EDT 08/18/20 | |
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| Rainbow's jokes are disrespectful and unquestionably transphobic and privileged, but if he acknowledges the harm caused, I think we can all move on in peace. Advisory, I'm going to use the word in question in the following: The "tranny" jokes are appalling, and unquestionably show him being transphobic. The jokes are nasty and angry, meant to wound and denigrate. Whether or not we feel the word was fair usage in 2010, the construction of the joke makes it clear that being identified as a "tranny" is negative, and that Rainbow is shouting it out on the street to people he thinks fit this description. That's gross. That's bullying and harassment (and hopefully only a thing that happened in his head). That's, to borrow a word, repugnant. And it's conspicuous how many on this thread are defending Rainbow, asking for our understanding about the context, after blanketly calling for Leslie Odom, Jr's head last week, but I think that's an example of his White Male privilege. That's also how I view his Black jokes: he's the best example of what happens when White Gay Men think they can perform Black Girl Culture. These jokes are tacky and wrong. They are disrespectful to Black women, and they are just kind of ugly to hear. He should've known better then, and he definitely should know better now, otherwise, he needs to break out his copy of "Me and White Supremacy" and start journalling. So these jokes are a hot mess, but that doesn't mean Rainbow hasn't grown into a better person in the past ten years, and I wouldn't want to be judged for things that I said when I was 29. I think it should be easy for him to acknowledge that these statements caused harm, whether intentional or not; to own his bias; and perhaps do work on behalf of the Trans community as ammends. He has an opportunity to model for other white people how to take responsibility and restore justice, and I hope he takes it. PS - As for RuPaul, please do not use him as an example of what is appropriate for how to speak of the Trans community. RuPaul is a national treasure and one of the most important figures in modern gay liberation, but he has also displayed Transphobia, and it took his show a long time to acknowledge that Trans people exist, even while they were appearing on the show. That isn't a reason to lambast or cancel RuPaul - do that because he's a fracker - but it is to say don't let him be your guide. |
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| Previous: | re: Here's what I can't understand... - Singapore/Fling 01:48 pm EDT 08/20/20 |
| Next: | re: Transphobic and Privileged Jokes - Billhaven 12:01 am EDT 08/20/20 |
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