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I am really happy to hear that someone got fired for being a transphobe. It's about time.
I think it sends a powerful message that prejudice towards transgender people will not be tolerated. If there was a like button on this forum, I would like Entercom for this.
Since we're off topic anyway. Actually the radio industry is horrendously transphobic. They just don't want you to know it's a good ol' boys club. I have a good friend who was a broadcaster for 30 years. She was highly successful, and did the same type of drive time stuff as the two who got fired, albeit without the hate. She worked in radio all over the US.
She was fired the day she came out as transgender at the station where she worked, and told them she intended to transition. She and her agent have contacted pretty much every radio market in the US. No one will hire her now. They don't even return her calls.
She's a receptionist now, and happy to just have a job, and I guarantee you Entecomm won't hire her either.
Paula, I think the radio industry is not only transphobic, but is extremely conservative. Fox would be considered liberals compared to most radio stations. Radio is seriously the worst of the worst when it comes to all kinds of conservativism. I'm not sure what Entercom had to gain by firing the transphobes, other than to keep the politicians in Rochester happy.
I also think that a lot of corporations, or people in general, who are or try to be trans accepting, do so out of peer pressure - to make themselves look good. Keep in mind that we're also becoming increasingly prejudicephobic in our society. In the 1800s it was socially acceptable to use racial slurs. Today white people in the south will beat you for saying the racial slur. So basically being a vocal transphobe (or expressing one through violence) is stigmatized in some parts of the world, and Rochester is one of them.
I think transphobia is also driven by peer pressure. A lot of people are neither transphobic nor trans accepting. They will just follow suit of what everyone else around them is doing to fit in. My guess is that Rochester is a liberal city in a liberal state, as New York is one of the most liberal states, along with California, Washington, Oregon, and most of the other Northeastern states. I'm sure that firing the transphobes wasn't so much that Entercom is actually accepting of transpeople, but rather the city of Rochester, their people, and their government are, and ultimately Rochester won this battle. Oh, and I forgot that politicians are concerned with their re-elections, and to them pressuring Entercom to fire the transphobes was likely a political move.
So I change my like from Entercom to City of Rochester.
I also think that there's a good chance that in the group of people that attacked V one of them doesn't really care about transpeople either way, but participated in the attack to fit in the group, while the rest were likely truly transphobic.
No, not off topic. What I described above is just one mechanism for how misinformation gets spread and demeaning behavior is acceptable to some.
@Michelle - I'm pretty sure that the reason the men who tried to attack V pursued her was that they were embarrassed by showing attraction to her with their catcalls. Sure, it's a really crude and offensive way to show attraction - but the second one of the women said "that's a man", they went after her. I think they felt the need to prove they weren't attracted to other men. Whether you want to file that under transphobia, homophobia, or something else I suppose it doesn't really matter too much - hate is hate.
Remember that the point relates to Behaviors. We may or may not be able to effect change in what people think. However, we can damn sure make certain that there are consequences for untoward Behavior.
@Paula, I agree hate is hate. But I don't think that everyone inherently is hateful. I think there are lots of people who will hate no matter what. There are lots of people who will go with whatever way the wind blows. If they're surrounded by other haters they will show hate. If they're pressured into being accepting they will act accepting. Lots of people literally lack a spine and just follow what someone else does.
Damit. I'm sorry for all the hate towards us. But, this thread was the tipping point for me not going to my group this month. I'm gonna hide for awhile. I wish I wasn't me.
Damn shame that happened to your friend. It is a blessing that she is now safe. It is always been my personal opinion that dudes who chase after or insult transwomen are jealous that they can't be that honest with themselves; they cope by hiding behind male egoism and chauvinism.
Amen, Michelle789. Truer words can't be uttered. I see it all of the time, this hive mentality. Really gets on my nerves.Quote:
Originally Posted by Michelle789
Heres someone with a decade of kung fu, that wouldn't have taken on these 4 or 5 guys. How could anyone else here have honestly said they would stand their ground? She was right to run, and she also is lucky to have such a good friend.Quote:
Originally Posted by mechamoose
All the Chuck Norris, Steven Segal and David Carridine stuff is just Hollywood HYPE.
I also agree that she should file a police report. Also file a complaint against the management of the complex. There IS a difference between a Christian and a Hypi-christian.