Mark Daniel Snyder
Communications Manager, Transgender Law Center
Work It, ABC's New Show, Condemned by LGBT Groups
Posted: 12/15/11 07:20 PM ET
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-daniel-snyder/work-it-abc_b_1149104.html (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-daniel-snyder/work-it-abc_b_1149104.html)
This week, Transgender Law Center teamed up with the San Francisco LGBT Community Center and the Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative to condemn the promotions for the forthcoming ABC television show Work It, set to premiere Jan. 3.
According to ABC, Work It is about "two unrepentant guy's guys who, unable to find work, dress as women to get jobs as pharmaceutical reps. ... They've learned the hard way that the current recession is more of a 'man-cession' and their skills aren't in high demand."
People have asked me why we would make a fuss over a comedic television show, and others have worried that speaking out would only give the show higher ratings. Some folks have said to me, "Oh, lighten up." We owe it to our constituents to speak out anywhere we see an injustice, no matter how big or how small. This show will be seen by millions of viewers nationwide, and the icky promotions are already in full swing.
I think this is much ado about nothing.
No one is going to mistake the leads in this comedy for real transgendered persons. This sitcom formula was used at least once before, in a c. 1980 comedy called "Bosom Buddies," which launched Tom Hanks.
And think of all the films that have used this comedic plot device:
Some Like It Hot
Victor Victoria
Tootsie
Mrs. Doubtfire
Mulan (animated, for children)
As well as a dramatic element:
Some Like it Hot (Shakespeare)
Yentl
La Cage aux Folles/Bird Cage
Do we have to protest anytime this theme is broached?