Redux: What is it with Michael Savage and transpeople?
by: Autumn Sandeen
Fri Jan 09, 2009 at 17:00:00 PM EST
http://pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=8977It's a difficult thing for me when I hear an on-air personality use hateful language against a class of people to make a point. When hate speech is directed at me alone, well then it's just me -- I've got a pretty thick skin. When it's directed to all trans people over the pulic airwaves, and the hate-filled words reinforce others' hate against a trans people -- just because they're transgender -- then it's hard for me not to see a connection between hate words and hate crimes.
Certainly I don't want anyone's freedom of speech rights censored by government forces. And yet, at the same time I'd like to see hate speech by broadcast personalities responded to by businesses refusing to advertize on their shows, people not buying products from businesses maintain advertizing on these broadcast personalities' shows, and would like to see broadcast outlets that air these personalities pull the shows off of the air. I don't see that as censorship; I see that as market forces in action -- a recognition that many people want to see and hear language that embraces the human diversity about us.
