The biggest news in entertainment this week was the controversy over
Chaz Bono, Sonny and Cher's transgender son, being cast in the upcoming season
of Dancing With the Stars. Herndon Graddick, Senior Director of Programs
at GLAAD hailed the move by saying, “At a time
when transgender representation in the media is sorely lacking, Chaz Bono
joining the cast of a series likeDancing With the Stars is a tremendous
step forward for the public to recognize that transgender people are an
important part of the fabric of American culture... Appearing on such a high
profile show will allow millions of Americans to get to know him in a whole new
light.”
Well, apparently some of those Americans don't want to see him or any
trans-person in any kind of light. There was instant flack from conservatives
and the Religious Right, with people like psychiatrist and Fox News contributor
Keith Ablow demanding viewers boycott the show.
These same people, who we're guessing had never been on a LGBT site in their
lives, were suddenly on Gay.net, The Advocate, Out.com, and SheWired leaving
angry comments about why he should not be
on the show. TheReuters news agency even covered the
anti-trans remarks posted on the DWTS message boards:
"HUGE HUGE fan of this show since season two and eagerly await each
season to get my dancing/entertainment 'fix'!! But when I heard that Chaz Bono
was going to be on, I was sick. Not that I have anything personally again
her/him, I just don't want that lifestyle choice continually flaunted in the
media esp ABC," went one typical anti-Bono comment.
"Chaz Bono How low can this show sink. Well you have certainly
addressed the gay commuity. Guess this will not be a family show any longer!!!!
Lost my family!"
"YOUR choice to bring Chaz Bono into the mix goes too far. I am not
about to risk the potential for on screen dialogue about sex changes and gender
confusion while my 7 and 9 year old are watching. If you want the 'anything
goes' hippy culture, then soon that is all you will get. You've lost us. In
case any of you are wondering ... no, we are NOT tolerant. We are not tolerant
to allow any and all influences to come unfiltered into our home and especially
to our children. This is truly a sad farewell."
In all the hoopla, everyone seems to have forgotten that Carson Cressley
(openly gay) is on the show. They've also forgotten about Ricki Lake (who
loves homos), David Arquette (who's publicly done drag and talks about co-stars butts), Rob
Kardashian (who, like most everyone else in the cast, isn't an actual
"star" but does, indeed, have as nice an ass as Arquette
attests), Nancy Grace (What?), NBA star Ron Artest (Who?), soccer star Hope
Solo (straight lady with lesbian fans), Chynna Phillips (was in rehab), Kristin
Cavallari (who's also altered her body via plastic surgery but didn't do it for
orientation reasons), J.R. Martinez (again—WHO?), and Elisabetta Canalis (whose
most notable work was being in Deuce Bigalow: European Gigoloand yet no
one is protesting that).
To his credit, Bono isn't letting this stuff get to him—at least
publicly. On Good Morning America he commented,
"I really haven't been paying that much attention to it. I think it's a
much bigger deal to everybody else than it is to me. I'm just a regular guy.
All these ideas that children shouldn't watch me, I'm going to be confusing,
all this stuff, it's crazy." (Watch the whole video below.) Bono has also
had many supporters, both in the LGBT and straight communities, and from
celebrities like attorney Gloria Allred and Bono's mom, Cher. While some commentors may claim that
Bono was only put on the show because of who his parents are/were, these same
supporters do seem to agree that conservatives are making ridiculous,
fear-based claims.
DWTS is about dancing (with "stars") and not about making
speeches. Chaz Bono will not be given the opportunity to speak about
transgender issues any more than Bristol Palin (A real "star," or
just the daughter of someone famous?) was allowed to espouse the virtues of
having premarital sex and getting knocked up. Bono looks like a cuddly bear, so
if a child is watching the show he or she is not going to be confused about
this man's gender. More importantly, one doesn't just wake up one morning and
get gender-reassignment surgery. It's a long, intense, expensive process
involving medical professionals who make sure the person is, in fact, really
ready to take that major leap.
But as for the conspiracy suggestion that his is another way they gays
are invading American culture... well, that's another topic altogether.
Looking at Bristol Palin again (left), fans of the show repeatedly
discussed how she was a horrible dancer, and yet mom's Tea Party playmates
rallied the troops to keep her on the show for weeks. Wouldn't it be
interesting if we, as a real LGBT community, rallied behind Chaz Bono and
helped him win? Or at least got him very far in the show?
No, it wouldn't be "fair," but since when have any of these
call-in voting shows been fair? They're popularity contests, like high school
ASB elections on a national level, so why shouldn't we get the guy we want in
the winner's seat? Not only would it bring attention to the power of the gay
community, it would help ABC's ratings (and they deserve some help for making this
decision), and maybe show the conservatives that just because a transgender man
exists it's not going to destroy the very fabric of the universe.
SOURCE: GAY DOT NET
No comments:
Post a Comment