Petition launched to boycott Zoolander 2 over ‘cartoonish, harmful’ trans charac

[stephaniec]

Petition launched to boycott Zoolander 2 over 'cartoonish, harmful' trans character

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/11/22/petition-launched-to-boycott-zoolander-2-over-cartoonish-harmful-trans-character/

Pink News/By Jo Williams   11/22/2015

"Activists claim the character is the transphobic equivalent of 'blackface'.

'Zoolander 2' is facing a backlash from LGBT advocates, who say that Benedict Cumberbatch's character in the film is "transphobic". "

[stephaniec]

I just don't understand the need to put things in films that will obviously cause trouble. The Stonewall film is the perfect example. The film could of been done right because the director was part of the LGBT community , but for some reason they did what they did and paid for it. Now with out the film being seen , only the trailer history is repeating where there should of been no reason for this.

[Squircle]

It's a lazy joke, tired and unfunny. I think it's probably more aimed at the fashion industry than everyday trans people but the whole thing doesn't help. To be honest, it's the kind of thing I'd usually just roll my eyes at.

However, I don't think these petitions that keep getting launched in the name of the trans community are doing any good at all. Recently here in the UK, there was a petition launched to try to get Cardiff university to cancel a planned talk by Germaine Greer, on the basis that she holds transphobic views. If the petition hadn't been launched, Greer would have given the talk (which wasn't about transgender issues) and no one outside of Cardiff university would have been much the wiser. What we got instead was a media backlash against trans people, with article after article defending 'free speech', each with pages of horribly transphobic comments underneath. And Greer got to spread her hateful views on much bigger platforms. Now the narrative of 'trans activists' being 'overly sensitive' has been established, petitions such as this one are being picked up by the media because it generates page views and comments. I believe in free speech and would much prefer peaceful protest or a rebuttal of her views to no plat forming, although I also reject the idea that refusal to provide a platform is the same as censorship, or that trans people have an obligation to debate or justify their existence to anyone.

It's a complex issue but the thing that hurt me the most, and caused me the most distress, was the backlash against trans people (because of course we all think with a hive mind) and the added publicity Greer and her abhorrent views got.

I absolutely agree with you that people should think a bit more before making these kind of mistakes. The stonewall film was ridiculous, a film about gay rights made for straight people. It rightly sunk without a trace, not least because it received terrible reviews. But I'm not sure what the right way to respond to all of this is. The current method of petitions and attempts to no platform or boycott don't seem to be going in our favour. To be honest as soon as I heard about this petition My heart sank a little bit, because I know what will be coming our way in response. I shouldn't read the subsequent articles and comments but I do and I take it to heart.

I'm interested to know other people's views on this. What's the best way of responding? Should people position themselves as spokespeople for an entire community of varied people? Should we be picking our battles, and if so where do we draw the line? I really don't know, I'm quite confused about it all.

Ps I'm really not trying to offend or start an argument, I just think it's worth talking about.

[Dee Marshall]

I'm of two minds about petitions. They can help, but there's no doubt that they can harm, as well. There's a town near me, Fishkill. That's Dutch, more or less, for stream with fish in it. PETA created a petition asking that the name be changed to "Fishsave", even though they were aware of the actual meaning of the name and the length of time it's had that name. No one in this area will take PETA seriously now. Just what did this petition benefit. We don't need petitions that make us look foolish. We also can't stop others from creating them. If you think a petition is over the top all you can do is not sign it and ask others not to as well, or create a counter petition.

[Anna33]

I didnt think it was offensive to be honest. And i love zoolander. Haha


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[suzifrommd]

I didnt think it was offensive to be honest. And i love zoolander. Haha

I'm inclined to agree, though I didn't see the actual portrayal. The hotdog/bun joke, as other have said, was more of a joke on people who need to know details of other people's body shape. If, however, the character in question was presented unfavorable or as a caricature that would be patently offensive.

I'm the first one to object when we're the but of someone's joke, when the only thing funny about the joke is that it's about a trans person, but I don't see this as a case of that.

[Squircle]

I'm inclined to agree, though I didn't see the actual portrayal. The hotdog/bun joke, as other have said, was more of a joke on people who need to know details of other people's body shape. If, however, the character in question was presented unfavorable or as a caricature that would be patently offensive.

I'm the first one to object when we're the but of someone's joke, when the only thing funny about the joke is that it's about a trans person, but I don't see this as a case of that.

You see, this is interesting. Because non of my trans friends on Facebook are offended and the general feedback on the two threads about this here is that it isn't particularly offensive. I watched the trailer and my honest reaction was 'meh, lazy humour'. I'd certainly not urge people to boycott the film, I just don't feel strongly enough about it. For a start no one has seen the full film, just a clip, so we don't know how the character is portrayed. I wonder sometimes if there are people who align themselves with causes and become very vocal about it without thinking through the impact their actions will have on the community. I don't know, but this immediate rush to brand things as transphobic or offensive sometimes paints us in a bad light, and runs the danger of undermining bigger battles we need to fight eg the right to use the appropriate toilet, or which prison trans women should be put in, or access to care.

[cindianna_jones]

I transitioned in the 80's. We didn't have jokes about trans people back then. We only had hate. Jokes are good. It brings issues to light in any subject area. They may be bad jokes. So what? Jokes are good. I take no offense.

I remember watching Transparent last year and I laughed my guts out at the portrayal of an older trans woman. I've seen so many of the things portrayed in a vein of very good humor. In this particular case, with the film under consideration, the joke is common potty humor. People will see it as such. So what? Jokes are good. They are much better than hate.

Cindi

[suzifrommd]

I transitioned in the 80's. We didn't have jokes about trans people back then. We only had hate. Jokes are good. It brings issues to light in any subject area. They may be bad jokes. So what? Jokes are good. I take no offense.

I remember watching Transparent last year and I laughed my guts out at the portrayal of an older trans woman. I've seen so many of the things portrayed in a vein of very good humor. In this particular case, with the film under consideration, the joke is common potty humor. People will see it as such. So what? Jokes are good. They are much better than hate.

Cindi

Cindi, I have to disagree. I also lived through the '80s and I saw frequent unfavorable portrayals of transgender people (or transexuals, back then). They were typically portrayed as super-gay men, totally off the wall and obsessed. Simply having a transgender character or someone who admits she used to be a man was considered funny. I think a lot of the hate comes from people's prejudices after watching such portrayals.

Transparent is different. The trans characters there are realistic and human. The story is what is funny, not the trans characters.

[cindianna_jones]

Cindi, I have to disagree. I also lived through the '80s and I saw frequent unfavorable portrayals of transgender people (or transexuals, back then). They were typically portrayed as super-gay men, totally off the wall and obsessed. Simply having a transgender character or someone who admits she used to be a man was considered funny. I think a lot of the hate comes from people's prejudices after watching such portrayals.

Transparent is different. The trans characters there are realistic and human. The story is what is funny, not the trans characters.

Yes, my point exactly... if you catch my drift. The hateful jokes are less common now. Yes, hate springs eternal from many fountains. For every bad joke we will have people who learn to hate and many more who will see it as a bad joke. I am more worried about the upcoming ballot initiatives than potty humor. Although, the potty humor will play a big role, I think that people will be disgusted with it. I do believe our cause is on the upswing. It may not seem so from many parts of the country, but I believe we are becoming mainstream and John Q Public is quickly joining our side against discrimination. We'll have ups and downs, good jokes and bad, hatred and acceptance. We just need people out in front...  up front... honest... and out to portray the humanity we have to share.

I can't laugh at potty humor, no matter who it is directed against. It's a cheap shot and just poor writing. I tend to ignore it. If people want to do petitions, I say go for it. I'll save my signature for the ballot initiatives and blatant discrimination, you know, like Chik Fillet.

Cindi

[Peep]

If people are that upset about trans jokes, they should be writing to their MP about things like healthcare and maybe the recent instances of transwomen being sent to male prisons. I am really interested in the idea that media like movies and books have such an influence on society (which is why positive representation in media is vital) but the downside is that sometimes the focus is placed too much on easier "problems" to pick up and solve like jokes and movies.

Sidenote: i don't know why they didn't go for a boycott rather than a ban with Greer, an empty lecture theater to speak to would have said more than trying to silence her. :P