In what could be heralded as a major victory and a possible changing of the guard GLAAD has responded to the trans communities outrage regarding Rupauls Drag race 'She He' challenge.
The Internet was rife with people upset with Rupaul for using trans defamation for profit, as was I.
But my anger was primarily focused at GLAAD for their historical acquiescence to the Drag shows transphobic rhetoric and I said so
here on the
Transadvocate and the
Daily Kos.. Using phrase 'He-She' promotes violence regardless of who says it.
Parker Marie Molloy, noted transgender journalist with the Advocate wrote about how "RuPaul Stokes Anger With Use of Transphobic Slur" and contacted GLAAD:
"When asked for comment on last night's episode of RuPaul's Drag Race, GLAAD vice president of communications Rich Ferraro responded, "While some drag queens may use the term to refer to themselves, 'she-male' is too often used by others as an offensive term to denigrate and hypersexualize transgender women. Unfortunately, most Americans are still unaware that there is a difference between gay men who perform in drag and transgender women. That's why GLAAD will continue to tell the stories of trans women like CeCe McDonald, Carmen Carrera, and CrossFit athlete Chloie Jonsson."
Mr. Ferraro posted this comment on the original planetransgender post
calling them out leading me to believe it was just business as usual.
But yesterday, the drag show's executive producers released this
statement:
“We delight in celebrating every color in the LGBT rainbow. When it comes to the movement of our trans sisters and trans brothers, we are newly sensitized and more committed than ever to help spread love, acceptance and understanding,” said RuPaul Charles, Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, Steven Corfe and Mandy Salangsang
Logo said, “We have heard the concerns around this segment. We are committed to sharing a diverse range of trans stories across all of our screens and look forward to featuring positive and groundbreaking stories of trans people in the future.”
GLAAD's
statement was somewhat defense. They said that they contacted the show the very next morning after the show aired but said that it took time to work with the show.
Fair enough, but what of all these years where instead of calling out Rupaul for transphobic speech you awarded him and pimped his show?
To my knowledge this is the first time that GLAAD has criticised RuPaul or the drag race. That would not have happened if our the transgender community and cisgender people of good will hadn't shouted in outrage. It wasn't gental dialouge that got GLAADS attention.
Sometimes it gets to the point where you just have to shout out loud to be heard and that's what we did. Loud and Proud.
.
