When Humor is Hate: SNL and Trans Women
http://gendersense.com/2011/01/31/when-humor-is-hate-snl-and-trans-women/1/31/11
I usually enjoy watching Saturday Night Live. When social norms or politicians are made fun of, I can't help but laugh. At times it can be controversial, but the show never fully crosses the line of bad taste. That is, until now. The latest Saturday Night Live episode contained a very transphobic skit wherein pre-op trans women were portrayed as nothing more than men in skirts endorsing a fictitious form of estrogen, Estro-Maxx. It's not exactly clear how the skit could be considered funny in any other way than how it mocks trans women, so it is more than reasonable to consider it a direct attack on trans women and trans identity. Besides being a perfect example of how trans women are marginalized via the media, it also brings up the issue of when humor is nothing more than thinly disguised hate.
Again, click here to let NBC know this is not acceptable.
