Anti-Trans Letterman Skit Insults Obama Appointee Amanda Simpson

[Shana A]

 Anti-Trans Letterman Skit Insults Obama Appointee Amanda Simpson
posted by Joe

http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2010/01/anti-trans-letterman-skit-insults-obama.html

I've been a fan of David Letterman for decades and was reasonably impressed with his handling of his recent adultery scandal. But this insulting bit of anti-trans middle school assclownery is really f---ing disappointing.

UPDATE: For those who don't see anything wrong about this, consider how it reinforces the age-old "tricked by a transwoman" claim that so many hate crimes defendants use, such as in the recent case of murdered teen Jorge Mercado. Aside from being sophomoric and a sitcom cliche, running off the stage as if about to vomit from the news that Amanda Simpson is trans is just not the sort of entertainment we should give a pass.

[V M]

That was rather rude and juvenile. Particularly on the part of Allen Kalter.

[Shana A]

I look forward to the day that I don't have to post such transphobic idiocy! 

Meanwhile, here's a place to take action

http://www.change.org/actions/view/demand_that_david_letterman_apologize_for_transphobic_joke#letter_form

Demand that David Letterman Apologize for Transphobic Joke

Send a message to the producers at the Late Show letting them know that transphobia isn't funny. Amanda Simpson is well-qualified, distinguished in her field, and will prove an asset to the U.S. Commerce Department. For the Late Show to make a joke about how "sick" she is because she's transgender is offensive, rude, and fosters the types of discrimination and violence that affect the trans population at large

also

What can you do? Contact CBS using its feedback form.

http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.php

Z

[tekla]

Yeah, because we all know how well it went went Sara Palin got all bend out of shape about one of his jokes.

[Janet_Girl]

I sent both off.  Will it do anything?  Probably not, but we have to flood them with complaints.  Pure and simple.


Janet

[tekla]

Sure it will do something if history is any president, it will encourage his staff to write even more jokes about her.

[Janet_Girl]

That is why I don't watch show like Letterman.  They promote bigotry and hatred.

[june bug]

Not as bad as it could have been, but still annoying as hell.

Twitter'd and Facebook'd.

[tekla]

Twitter'd and Facebook'd.

As countless other will do no doubt, thus giving Dave even more publicity, even more coverage.  As Oscar Wilde once said about such things, the only thing worse then being talked about, is not being talked about.

[june bug]

Twitter'd and Facebook'd.

As countless other will do no doubt, thus giving Dave even more publicity, even more coverage.  As Oscar Wilde once said about such things, the only thing worse then being talked about, is not being talked about.

Are you implying that it's _bad_ this gets spread around?

Regardless, I've personally found that the more I've communicated with my heavily masculine gear-obsessed social circle (I build guitar pedals), the more they've grown to understand and accept the trans-experience.

It doesn't always yield immediate results, but there's definitely some enlightening going on over time.  Something that absolutely requires fighting for.

As a matter of fact, my facebook post end up leading into a pretty nice civil discussion on the subject : http://www.facebook.com/deviever?v=feed&story_fbid=240978898769#/deviever?v=feed&story_fbid=240978898769&ref=mf

[tekla]

Some enlightening over time also builds a sense of humor.  If she didn't know this was going to happen, I'd venture to say she's not bright enough for the job.  But I'm sure she did.  If she was highly offended by it, her skin is not thick enough to be a political appointee, and again, I'm sure she's blown it off, having faced worse things in the past.  Third, the joke was really not as her expense, it was at the expense of the sidekick, who's job it is to be the butt of jokes.

[june bug]

Some enlightening over time also builds a sense of humor.  If she didn't know this was going to happen, I'd venture to say she's not bright enough for the job.  But I'm sure she did.  If she was highly offended by it, her skin is not thick enough to be a political appointee, and again, I'm sure she's blown it off, having faced worse things in the past.  Third, the joke was really not as her expense, it was at the expense of the sidekick, who's job it is to be the butt of jokes.

This isn't about how it effects her though, this is about how it effects the trans-community as a whole.

... and the joke _was_ ultimately at her expense, because it implies that she wasn't always a woman, thus making an implied sexual encounter the sidekick had with her a painful enough realization for the man to run away screaming and crying.

People are ultimately laughing at the fact the man got duped into being with someone who "really wasn't a woman", not that the man couldn't handle the fact he had been with a trans-person.

[janepf]

i just watched the clip...and really i don't see why this is such an issue..she looked good in her pic and if she identifies as transgendered in such a high profile manner then its part of her trip.....if she had very masculine features and the joke was a sarcastic " i would never have guessed" type of thing then maybe it would be right to complain..it was just a gag and the laugh was on the man who ran off the set...i thought it was funny...

[june bug]

i thought it was funny...

Explain to me what's funny about a guy being so embarrassed to have been with a trans-woman that he feels ashamed enough to run away crying?

I'm being serious about this.  I don't find it amusing what-so-ever.

[janepf]

yep i just watched it again...

i was right it was funny... 

[june bug]

yep i just watched it again...

i was right it was funny... 

Mind answering my question? 

[janepf]

why are you so angry...it cant be nice.. it was funny and i dont have a problem with it...its okay if you do..that doesn't make me angry...i think its funny thats it... have to go to hospital now
c u

[V M]

Well sure, the skit is in poor taste and I didn't care for it

But I'm not going to get all bent just because others find it humorous

Life's too short

[june bug]

why are you so angry...it cant be nice.. it was funny and i dont have a problem with it...its okay if you do..that doesn't make me angry...i think its funny thats it... have to go to hospital now
c u

I've already stated my stance on this subject.

I'm honestly curious why anyone would find it amusing.  I think I've made a pretty clear case as to why it's _not_ funny, and why it _is_ disrespectful to trans-women.

I apologize if this comes across as negative to anyone, but I've been dealing with people all day who debate with me about it until I bring up how it's not funny, and then mysterious each person doesn't want to be involved in the conversation at that point.

While not angry, I am definitely frustrated by it, especially experiencing such non-communication on a trans-specific forum.

Once again, my apologies if I have come across harsh.  I'd just really like someone to back up their ideas with some solid thoughts on the matter.

[Marie731]

... and the joke _was_ ultimately at her expense, because it implies that she wasn't always a woman...

I think Amanda did that herself by proclaiming herself a "transgender woman" in a press release, rather than just... being Amanda.