Although there are no transgender characters on the series, Drian Juarez, project manager for the Transgender Economic Empowerment Program at Los Angeles's Gay and Lesbian Center, finds the promo exploitive [sic]. In a statement released to the press, Juarez says, "What is clearly intended to be a humorous promotional ad for the show depicts the two lead characters, dressed as women, standing at a urinal. Sadly, it’s very common for people to promote fear of sharing the bathroom with transgender people as a means to further their prejudice. We’re frequently portrayed as sexual predators using the bathroom to make sexual advances."Here's the ad:
Kinser also quotes Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign:
"We've seen a lot of offensive things on TV over the years, but this really takes the cake... The so-called 'comedy' of Work It is based on the premise that male-bodied people who unsuccessfully attempt to present themselves as women are worthy of ridicule. The problem is that most transgender women find themselves in this situation, at least temporarily, during their transition process. And due to the prohibitively high costs of transition-related medical care and widespread insurance inequities, many may be visibly transgender for their entire lives."Speaking of what takes the cake, the best comedy movie ever made uses the same premise of 2 heterosexual men who dress as women. Is this premise to be avoided because it has something to do with an actual problem actual experienced by some people who may be sympathetic?
If the answer is yes, how many other subjects for comedy would you place off limits to protect the feelings of real people with real problems? Bad marriages, diseases, death, accidents, ugliness, mental illness, farting... ugh! Practically everything funny will be off limits! Or... I don't know... maybe you could still make a comedy about "human rights" activists who starchily insist that nobody laugh anymore. It could be about a group of TV writers — like the old "Dick Van Dyke Show" — except the network has added a "human rights" activist to their team, and she/he shoots down every comic idea they have.
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34 comments:
Was't this the premise of the Tom Hank's TV show Bosom Buddies?
I'm outraged.
Oh, wait, it snowed out, and I'm happy. Never mind.
I'll wait for the next Big outrageous thing to be outraged.
It's that old joke, isn't it?
Q: "Hear the one about the two [insert victim group here]?
A: That's not funny!"
The title for Althouse's comedy could be
"Humorless Scolds."
It'd be Lions for Lambs, but with better jokes.
Transgender victims are not funny. They are tragic beyond words.
But getting angry that the whole world for not becoming their enablers upon their command is funny. We either have to cry or laugh at that degree of confusion dressed up in words that sound like a medical issue exists outside their imprisoned minds.
"Pogo said...
Was't this the premise of the Tom Hank's TV show Bosom Buddies?" My first thought, but then after my first cup of coffee I recalled that it wasn't dressing as women to get a job, but to keep a place where they lived that was "women only". So they dressed up and the hijinx started.
Ah yes, Curious.
Still, Hanks deserves serious opprobrium.
Practically everything funny will be off limits!
Don't worry denigrating and ridiculing men will always be acceptable.
Women's clothing is cut for women's bodies. Do trannies thInk they DON'T look ridiculous wearing women's clothes?
It's one thing to want to dress like a woman. It's another thing to think you actually will look attractive in them. Most of the time, men look like weirdos dressed like women. Which is the real premise of the show.
Sorry, trannies. Most of the time, you look odd.
"male-bodied people"???
The only folks who've solved the transgendered dilemma are hermaphrodites.
You just knew Whoopi Goldberg would fart in public, didn't you?
My only wish is that it cleared the couch,...
Pogo, that's the first thing I thought of too. Tom Hanks hates trannies.
That show looks really, really bad.
It's a shame, because I really liked one of the actors back on Prison break and would like to see him in something. Just not..this.
I think it's a good idea to let the paraphilias of a small minority of the population define public policy for everyone else.
Isn't Tootsie also viewed as the second highest comedy as well?
Nobody's perfect!
Right Paco. How about "transition-related medical care"? Sounds an awful like "reproductive health".
Orwell (and Goldstein) was right. Control language, control thought.
really ugly faux womyn
It is a bit late. The Mancession has here awhile
Ah, yes, we're offended. So the world must change to accommodate me.
So what else is new?
Pogo said...
Was't this the premise of the Tom Hank's TV show Bosom Buddies?
PaulV said...
really ugly faux womyn
Yes, and at least he and Scolari didn't look ridiculous in drag.
PS Dies the Transgender Economic Empowerment Program at Los Angeles's Gay and Lesbian Center realize how far back the expression "in drag" goes?
In Bosom Buddies, Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari dressed like woman to live in the cheap apartment. I think that was the premise. Been a while.
Offensive = funny, sounds like everything Jimmy Carr has ever done.
"Good morning, Hank."
"Good morning, Barbara. I've something to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I've decided to go about in ladies' clothes from now on."
"Ha ha ha."
"It's not funny!"
The best comedy movie ever was Blazing Saddles.
Just think. In twenty years, transgender disorders will be on the junk heap of psychology, just as "repressed memories" is now.
Think how much damage (and money) the shrinks - as expert witnesses - and attorneys got, while that phoney-baloney was believed?
Follow the money.
On the transgender theme, I saw this license plate today: 1DCUNTD
ITA w/Pogo, I just thought ABC was so bankrupt they pulled Bosom Buddies out of the dustbin.
From what little I understand, tho, Unclie Miltie did it better.
And lest we forget Some Like It Hot!
I'm offended because it's so stupid.
it looks like a stupid show, trying to remake the much better show Bosom Buddies. they most likely had to switch the premise from an apartment to a job, since there aren't Women Only apartment buildings any longer.
If the GLBT community wants to get all outrageously outragey at anyone, it should be at Hollywood for creating such an unoriginal crap remake.
But come on, Ann is right, lighten the frick up.
Are they going to go after every cross dressing movie out there, like those Eddie Murphy, Wayan Brothers and Mama movies...?
Men have been dressing up as women on tv since it's inception.
"It could be about a group of TV writers — like the old "Dick Van Dyke Show" — except the network has added a "human rights" activist to their team, and she/he shoots down every comic idea they have."
So a reality show then?
I suppose this story
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/16/us-thailand-ladyboys-idUSTRE7BF0EO20111216
fits in there, somewhere
Will no one speak up on behalf of shipwrecked castaways? Their suffering has been mocked for decades in syndication.
Chip,
Those are white hererosexuals. It's OK to portray them in an offensive way .
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