Last night, October 29th 2012, on RuPaul’s
All Star’s Drag Race, gay male entertainer RuPaul once again used his show as a bully pulpit to mock and misrepresent
what the medical condition transsexualism actually is, despite the last few
years of transsexual and transgender advocates protesting his use of offensive pejoratives
such as “tra**y” and “she-male” .
Comedienne Vicki Lawrence
asked, “Hey Ru, what’s the difference between a drag queen and a
transsexual?”
RuPaul laughingly
replies, “About twenty-five thousand dollars and a good surgeon.”
RuPaul should realize there’s nothing funny about
misinforming millions of people about an oppressed community in urgent need of
public understanding, acceptance and lifesaving resources. Transsexualism is
actually a legitimate medical condition recognized by the American Medical Association
where a woman or man is born in the wrong body and undergoes medical treatment to
better align their anatomy with their mind and true gender, whereas a drag queen
is a gay male dressing up as a woman for entertainment and/or professional
purposes.
Ashley Love, an
organizer with Media Advocates Giving National Equality to Transsexual & Transgender
People (MAGNET), is not surprised, “RuPaul’s
unapologetic transsexual-phobia reaches millions who feel if gay men can attack
women born with transsexualism, then they can too, which further marginalizes
and endangers our well-being and healthcare needs. Many gay male celebrities
are very big on calling themselves “anti-bullying” advocates, yet very light on
understanding that misgendering women born with transsexualism by making dehumanizing
‘trans-face’ comments equates to bullying as well. Will the ongoing hypocrisy,
sexism, transphobia and bullying by RuPaul and other gay male public figures ever
stop? ”
RuPaul’s unchecked mistreatment and public humiliation of
women who happen to be born different must be addressed as his comments mislead
society to think it’s acceptable to bully little girls, teens and women born
with transsexualiusm. MAGNET calls on
the mainstream and LGBT media, human rights non-profits and community members
to not give gay men a free pass on bullying transsexual and transgender people.
Until RuPaul and his show’s production company, World of Wonder Productions,
take responsibility for their ongoing public assaults on the dignity, accurate
narratives and well-being of women of transsexual medical history, we ask all
allies to join our boycott against RuPaul’s misgendering and bullying of our
community.
TAKE ACTION In 3 Steps:
1: BOYCOTT RuPaul’s Drag Race:
- Urge your friends and family to stop watching this
show
- Post MAGNET’s boycott announcment in your social
networking sites and email to ally groups:http://themagnetsource.blogspot.com/2012/10/magnet-boycotts-rupauls-ongoing.html
2: JOIN COVERSATION:
-
Join Facebook Group: ‘Boycott RuPaul’s Bullying, Transsexual-phobia & Misgendering’ :LINK: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/groups/427114894015880/?fref=ts
Let’s talk about it, together! United we can end the misgendering and bullying that harms transsexual and trandgender people!
3: WRITE & CALL
RuPaul & His
Production Company, World of Wonder Productions:
-
EMAIL World of Wonder Productions CEOs Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey:
Barbato: rbarbato@worldofwonder.net Bailey: fbailey@worldofwonder.net
Barbato: rbarbato@worldofwonder.net Bailey: fbailey@worldofwonder.net
-
ADDRESS (World of Wonder): 6650 Hollywood Blvd # 400. Hollywood, CA, 90028.
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TELEPHONE (World of Wonder): 323-603-6300Media Advocates Giving National Equality to Transsexual & Transgender People (MAGNET) is an anti-defamation organization dedicated to educating the media about transsexual, transgender & intersex issues, as well as pushing for more authentic and positive portrayals of transsexual, transgender & intersex people in the media.
