Sick.
Thatâs the only word to describe a new Focus On The Family radio ad describing trans folk as âpredatorsâ who want nothing more than the feed off the flesh of the stateâs students.
The commercial comes as Governor Bill Ritter debates whether or not to sign or veto a Senate Bill including sexuality and gender identity in the stateâs non-discrimination legislation. And you can bet Focus and their friends are pulling out all the stops to raise public panic.
Give the audio a listen, after the jump.
First, hereâs the transcript:
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
GIRL 1: Mom! A man in a dress came into the girlâs bathroom at school today!
ANNCR: We could all be dealing with a new type of predator
WOMAN: [ambient sound under of woman getting out of car, door beep and close] Honey, there was a man using the womenâs showers today at the fitness center I asked the management why?!âŚThey said it was Colorado law!
ANNCR: And instead of our kids worrying about finals and the prom theyâll have to worry about whoâs in the bathroom with them at school.
GIRL 2: [SFX: ambient hall noise, lockers close] No way Iâm going in there Iâd rather wait all day than go in there if heâs in there, too.
ANNCR: Most Coloradans understand our children must be protected from predators. But if Governor Bill Ritter wonât veto Senate Bill 200, all public restrooms â including those in our public schools â will be open to anyone of any sex. The Colorado Legislature, which is under control of the Democrat Party â has already passed SB200, but Governor Ritter still has time to veto it.
Then the ominous, yet concerned narrator instructs riled parents to call Ritter and demand social injustice. Ritterâs expected to sign or veto the bill by June 5th.
lyssa
Ahhh…the legacy of ENDA.
They know that the gays are morally weak when it comes to rights for transpeole. They know this will work, because they know how gays are.
No civil rights there…I think we all know what the gays will do when push comes to shove…
CitizenGeek
Physically altering your body to adapt a different gender and homosexuality are totally different things, and the push for recognition and whatnot for both should be totally different battles, in my opinion. I’m tired of the trans community dragging the gays down just as a landmark anti-discrimination bill is about to passed.
But, anyway, that ad is indeed sick; but that did you expect from FOTF?
CitizenGeek
I’ll just add this: While that ad is ridiculously alarmist, women are perfectly justified in fearing that there might be men, who are simply dressed like women in their restrooms.
foofyjim
I’ve been hearing a lot of queers quietly (and loudly) bashing the trans community with statements like CitizenGeek’s above. It really makes me sad. Especially when it’s so important for gays to reach out to other groups who have been traditionally discriminated against to help us with our civil rights struggles.
How many times have we heard the gay struggle for marriage equality compared to the struggle for voting rights for women and blacks, or marriage rights for different race couples? How many times has the gay community tried to reach out the black community for help with our fight for civil rights, while we loudly decry them as homophobic if they claim our struggles are not the same?
Please consider how gender identity is totally related to sexual orientation. Haven’t gay men been labeled as sissies or “less than” men for centuries? Haven’t lesbians been depicted as man-like? Aren’t queers discriminated against in the end simply because we don’t fit into the normative definition of what it means to be a man or a woman?
I think the trans community should totally be embraced by the gays and lesbians. I think anyone struggling for equal rights and protections under the law is my brother or sister. I also think queers who believe the trans community is pulling the gay rights movement down are no better than African-American preachers who will call their congregation to arms to rise up against oppression and then bash us gays in the same breathe.
foofyjim
Also, I think that any trans person who happens to be in the restroom is probably there to take a piss. Transexual does not equal sexual perversion!
lyssa
@foofyjim
Right on!
Gays bashing transpeeps = special rights for gays.
LGBT working together = social justice.
That said…
The Americans for Truth website has a manual on how to exploit trans panic to attack us.
So, I am left wondering whether the gays will do the morally correct thing, or the selfish expedient thing.
And I am trying desperately to ignore the history here. Citizen Crain sockpuppets do not make that task easier.
Jamie
Just how, exactly, did CitizenGeek’s comment “bash” the trans community? I happen to agree that sexual orientation and gender identity are completely separate and distinct concepts. I am a man in a man’s body who loves other men–actually, the same man for 14 years now. And you know what? I love my penis. I couldn’t dream of not having one. While I understand that there are those who feel they were born the wrong physical gender, that is not the same experience that I have, and I certainly don’t feel that it’s incumbent upon me to be portrayed as feeling feminine because I’m gay. To claim we’re all one monolithic group that has the same experience is absurd.
This isn’t to say that gays and lesbians shouldn’t help fight for the rights of Trans people. Of course we should. Everyone should be treated equally. But just as there are other groups as well that I fight for, I don’t feel that I should be hemmed into labelled groups that I don’t actually belong to, just because I have empathy for their situations.
Paul Raposo
“While I understand that there are those who feel they were born the wrong physical gender, that is not the same experience that I have..”
Then you write:
“I don’t feel that I should be hemmed into labelled groups that I don’t actually belong to, just because I have empathy for their situations.”
So which one is it, Jamie? You claim to not have the same experience as trans people; yet you claim to empathize with their plight. How can you have empathy, if you don’t have the same experiences? No one is asking you to portray yourself as feminine. You are however asked to feel sympathy for a group who just like you, had to go through a coming out process–albeit not so longwindedly.
Secondly:
“To claim we’re all one monolithic group that has the same experience is absurd.”
Then:
“Everyone should be treated equally.”
How can everyone who according to you, is not the same be treated equally? For everyone to be treated equally means we all have to pursue the same goals in the same manner. To state that trans people should puruse their goals differently than ours, is inhereantly unequal.
Either we fight for equality with the “T” in LGBTQ, or we kick them to the curb. We sure as hell better figure out which one it’ll be because trans people, indiffent gays and the people who hate us EQUALLY aren’t going to go away any time soon.
Douchebag.
CitizenGeek
Jamie is totally right; manipulating mis-used words when the intention is clear as day is neither effective or clever, Paul Raposo. So he said empathy instead of sympathy – big deal. His point is still perfectly valid.
I also dislike how you say that believing everyone should be treated equally means that you must also fight for trans rights. But this logic is ridiculous: there are great social injustices against women, black people and other minorities but the gay movement isn’t fighting for them, is it?
Just because the same people the hate trans people hate the gays too, that still doesn’t justify the trans community essentially leeching off of the gay movement. It’s completely and utterly unfair that I, as a gay man, would be tarred with the same brush as someone who seeks to physically and alter their gender. It’s absurd and you know it is!
RPCV
Well, the way to resolve this problematic issue is to have bathroon/gym/shower monitors. If you have a dick, you go in the men’s room even if you’re wearing a dress. If you have a cunt, you go in the women’s room even if you’re wearing flannel shirts, jeans, and construction boots. I can’t blame parents for wanting to rightly protect their children from weirdos who cross-dress – I’m scared of/reject them, too. If all gay men would only act like MEN and lezzies would only act like WOMEN, then there would be no issue….. Just a thought.
Paul Raposo
“So he said empathy instead of sympathy – big deal.”
It is a big deal. He first states that he has no idea what it’s like to seek sex re-assignment surgery, then claims to “empathize” with trans people.
“I also dislike how you say that believing everyone should be treated equally means that you must also fight for trans rights.”
Nah…I think you just dislike gays fighting for equality along side trans people.
“…there are great social injustices against women, black people and other minorities but the gay movement isn’t fighting for them, is it?”
Uh, yeah, sunshine, it is. LGBTQ’s fight injustices against lesbians; LGBTQ people of colour; and LGBTQ visible minorities. You’re making the wrong assumption that a pursuit of equality is a white gay man’s perogative.
“Just because the same people the hate trans people hate the gays too, that still does’t justify the trans community essentially leeching off of the gay movement”
Yeah, cuz we really got our shit together–right? Marriage rights in all 50 states; non-discrimination in the work place; equal adoption rights; hate crimes legislation; the ability to donate blood and semen. Yeah, those damn trannies always riding our gay gravy train!
“It’s completely and utterly unfair that I, as a gay man, would be tarred with the same brush as someone who seeks to physically and alter their gender.”
Oh, I see. You’re better than a tranny freak. That’s mighty white of you, CG.
“It’s absurd and you know it is!”
I happily don’t know it. You’re certainly a geek, but you’re not much of a citizen
Paul Raposo
“If all gay men would only act like MEN…”
A good place to start would be in the comments sections of blogs.
CitizenGeek
“It is a big deal. He first states that he has no idea what itââŹâ˘s like to seek sex re-assignment surgery, then claims to ââŹĹempathizeââŹÂ with trans people.”
You know that’s trivial, it was obviously a mis-used word. Get over it.
“NahââŹÂŚI think you just dislike gays fighting for equality along side trans people.”
Of course I do. Firstly, there’s no real connection between homosexuality and transsexualism. Secondly, our goals are mostly different. Sure, we both want acceptance. But many of the people who openly accept homosexuality are not so hot about trans people; and it’s silly to assume that once someone accepts homosexuality, they’ll accept transsexualism too.
“Yeah, cuz we really got our shit togetherââŹâright? Marriage rights in all 50 states; non-discrimination in the work place; equal adoption rights; hate crimes legislation; the ability to donate blood and semen. Yeah, those damn trannies always riding our gay gravy train!”
Eh, we would have had non-discrimination in the workplace long ago if it wasn’t for the transgender movement crippling it by forcing gays and lesbians to feel guilty for potentially going ahead without them. And we now have marriage rights in two states, including the most populous. Civil unions are allowed in other states. There are two gay members of Congress, many many more gay people have been elected to other political positions (the new mayor of Portland is gay, for example). Gay people have a huge presence in the media etc. So, yes, trangender people ARE attaching themselves to all of the work done by gay and lesbian people. I don’t see any trans people in Congress, or leading any big activist group or becoming mayors of any big cities.
“Oh, I see. YouââŹâ˘re better than a tranny freak. ThatââŹâ˘s mighty white of you, CG.”
I never said that. I don’t think I’m any better than a transgender person, but I do know that I am very different to them, and that my struggle for equality should not be underscored by a fight for trans rights too.
foofyjim
All people who struggle against the establishment for equal rights and fair treatment under the law have something in common, their struggle. To allow yourself to be divided from and even reject other people who would gladly rise up to help with your group’s struggle is both counter productive and uncaring.
Do you not recognize that it isn’t the other posters here painting the gay, lesbian, and trans communities with one big brush, it’s the people who hate us all equally? The people who think we are all sexual perverts? The people who are so narrow in their thinking that they can’t have real sympathy for someone with a different life experience than themselves? I define real sympathy as actually caring, not just paying lip service.
I know we’re all only human, and innately selfish. I understand the gut reaction of wanting to identify with a particular group and the feeling of superiority one gets while bashing another group. I beg you to think about freedom, and how everyone’s freedom is connected. If we all aren’t free from discrimination than none of us are.
Also, some of the posters here are just plain idiots. To be afraid of someone who is transgendered and simply using the toilet ranks right up there with thinking that homosexuals are child molesters. Please grow up, our country is truly in need of some advanced citizenship.
jarvisbearcub
James Dobson makes me ashamed to be a Christian.
David
“Firstly, thereââŹâ˘s no real connection between homosexuality and transsexualism”
I wholly disagree.
People today hate on gays because of perceived gender nonconformity. ESPECIALLY gays that are physically attacked.
Once you acknowledge this unfortunate truth you will find the distinctions you have accepted are not so clear.
Insideguy
OMG, Matt Groenning is very pro gay. I hope he sues the shit out Dobson for the misuse of his trademarked drawings.
lyssa
@foofyjim
You rawk…I I am madly in love with your brain!
Its amazing how bigoted gay men can be…while clamoring for rights for themselves.
foofyjim, you have shown me that the gays are not a totally immoral bunch…thanks
CG, have some more gay whine…elsewhere please. You do not make gay men look good. At all.
ginger wachtler
Im not gay, I am a women and I have a problem with the idea of using a bathroom that homesexuals have been in or are in due to the facttttttttttt that they spread DISease (AIDSSSSSSS)and dont respect what it says in the Bible about sexual unions being between a man and a women .I may not fully understand or want to understand the reason a person could want to be with another person of the same sex for sex except to me they need some psycological help maybe they were misused as a child.I think they should have there own bathroom why should heterosexuals have to tolorate there children being subjecting to seeing the abnormal behavior Im very sorry if I offend any HOMO people but the truth is this is about a depraved mind if you dont respect your own body how should we trust that you wont harm someone elses body during your visit to the bathroom I think this is setting up disaster great for a pervert though
foofyjim
Who the hell is Ginger Wachtler?
Matt Frost
This sounds like one of the radio ads you hear on a Grand Theft Auto game. I can’t believe that Focus seriously put this ad out. It’s hysterical. I also worry that there are some people out there that will take this ad seriously and not laugh uncontrollably, as everyone should.
p
foofyjim,i completely agree with you. i stopped reading through these posts half way through bc of the nonsense that these bigoted queers are spreading aka jamie and citizen geek.i’ll keep my point short: equality, acceptance, and rights belong to everyone! no matter who is fighting for these, we can all relate to the discrimination we’ve faced and we are obliged to help one another.
and on a side note: ginger wachtler, keep you and your homophobic, ignorant, christian fueled comments the fuck out of this blog!! do you seriously realize who you’re going up against? fool..
p
even tho i shouldn’t name names…i also want to include RPCV in the list of bigots. how the hell can you call yourself queer and still discriminate against your own people? now that’s fucked up.
ntizzler
it actually makes me physicall ill that someone who is gay but obviously considers themself not queer could call someone who cross dresses (not to mention a trans person) a ‘weirdo’ and condone rejecting that person and treating them..well…not as a person. unfortunately, much of the gay community is just as ignorant as the straight community. More so, perhaps, when you consider how their experiences should lead them to be more enlightened. it is people like you who are dragging down the movement for equal rights, NOT transpeople dragging down the gay movement. get educated, please, or shut the fuck up loudly.
Brian Heir
Ginger, it’s Brian is this you? 561-306-2209
ginger
@Brian Heir: yes Im not gay either I stumbled onto this website and I figured everyone else has an opinion well so do I the bible clearly says its wrong but theres allot of things people struggle with and maybe dont understand what there doing espicially at a young age maybe someone told you something when you were very little and you believed them its time know to grow and learn and turn from what is wrong and how this kind of behavior can effect so many other inocent people I never meant to offend anyone one with what I said but the truth sometimes hurts and if you ask me aids is not a result of a healthy relationship very sorry if I offended anyone this is what I belive and I have a right to belive just as you have a right to belive what you do .GIWU
Matt Frost
Ginger- punctuation isn’t prohibited in the Bible, so why not use it?
Salene Dark
@ginger wachtler:
The Bible also outlines specific instructions on the process of buying a wife from her family. There are several other verses that strip women of simple rights. So your living in sin by exercising your female rights…Welcome to our world. đ
Salene
@CitizenGeek:
“That still doesn’t justify the trans community essentially leeching off of the gay movement.”
The Stonewall Riot, A major point in the gay movement, was instigated by a tranny. We started “the Gay Movement”… Do a little research into your own history…. douche bag.