News and Events => People news => Topic started by: Shana A on December 11, 2012, 04:21:26 PM Return to Full Version

Title: ESPN Radio’s Steve Czaban and Andy Pollin in horrific anti-transgender rant
Post by: Shana A on December 11, 2012, 04:21:26 PM

ESPN Radio's Steve Czaban and Andy Pollin in horrific anti-transgender rant
Dec 10th, 2012
by Cyd Zeigler jr..

http://outsports.com/jocktalkblog/2012/12/10/espn-radios-steve-czaban-and-andy-pollin-in-horrific-anti-transgender-rant/ (http://outsports.com/jocktalkblog/2012/12/10/espn-radios-steve-czaban-and-andy-pollin-in-horrific-anti-transgender-rant/)

Update Dec. 11: Hosts suspended by station, ESPN distances themselves from comments

Last Thursday, 980AM ESPN Radio in Washington DC featured one of the nastiest, most anti-transgender rants I've ever heard. Along with their guest, they lashed out at trans college basketball player Gabrielle Ludwig. Among their horrific comments:

    They said transgender people should not be allowed to play sports. "Whatever you've got to do to scratch that inner itch and quell those inner demons, that's fine. But don't go playing sports then. And don't go playing sports saying, 'but I've go the rights of everyone else.'"
    They make fun of Ludwig's appearance, including her biceps and tattoos. Clearly reacting to photographs, they expressed deep-seated disgust at her appearance. "That could be a Russian chick," they said as they cackled.
    They referred to her as "he/she" and as "it." "I think 'it' is the politically correct term."
Title: Washington D.C. ESPN Radio Suspends Czaban and Pollin for Anti-Trans Segment
Post by: Shana A on December 11, 2012, 08:04:21 PM
Washington D.C. ESPN Radio Suspends Czaban and Pollin for Anti-Trans Segment
Tuesday, December 11, 2012 - 4:05pm by Aaron McQuade, Director of News and Field Media at GLAAD

http://www.glaad.org/blog/washington-dc-espn-radio-suspends-czaban-and-pollin-anti-trans-segment (http://www.glaad.org/blog/washington-dc-espn-radio-suspends-czaban-and-pollin-anti-trans-segment)

Following outreach from GLAAD, ESPN980 in Washington D.C. announced today that it has suspended Steve Czaban and Andy Pollin, hosts of the "Sports Reporters" show, over a segment they ran last week in which the pair made fun of transgender college basketball player Gabrielle Ludwig.

In a statement this afternoon, the station said:

    We strongly believe two of our employees crossed the line when discussing a transsexual person on their program last Thursday. Such intolerance and insensitivity will never be tolerated by this company. Due to the nature of this conversation, the pair have been temporarily removed from ESPN980's Sports Reporters program.

This suspension sends a strong message that the station takes this matter very seriously, coming after a half-hearted apology was offered by Czaban yesterday.
Title: Re: ESPN Radio’s Steve Czaban and Andy Pollin in horrific anti-transgender rant
Post by: MaidofOrleans on December 12, 2012, 01:59:38 AM
A number of words spring to mind which I could refer to these two as.