Let's Talk about "->-bleeped-<-" - Media Criticisms
The Bilerico Project
Filed by: Tobi Hill-Meyer
December 22, 2010 6:00 PM
http://www.bilerico.com/2010/12/lets_talk_about_->-bleeped-<-_-_media_criticisms.php (http://www.bilerico.com/2010/12/lets_talk_about_-%3E-bleeped-%3C-_-_media_criticisms.php)
When people complained about the term being uncritically used on Glee, the real issue is a pattern of insensitive and disrespectful treatment of trans people from a show that uses its reputation as gay friendly to deflect or ignore those criticisms. Glee is a show that has been celebrated for its empowering representations of resisting homophobia and its harsh criticism of anti-gay slurs.
It's understandable that the trans community is upset at the uncritical praise and celebration from the LGb(t) community for the show when there are zero trans characters, issues of gender variance aren't handled particularly well, and the only representation of trans issues is the use of our lives as insults that are simply accepted and unchallenged by a group of characters who would immediately speak out against similar treatment of gays or lesbians.