Jerry Springer is a smart guy, and certainly not someone we take for a bigot. But his show scrapes at the bottom of the barrel of cultural commentary, more often than not serving as a platform for audiences to gawk at the problems of the less fortunate.
And not just gawk at, but judge, mock, degrade and ridicule as well.
You could say, “all the guests are there on their own free will,” but who’s the one cutting the checks at the end of the day, propping up the three-ring shit show?
A common theme for the show is “trannies,” a word that is as loaded as any these days, and certainly one that can easily be offensive when used by someone who is very much an outsider (like oh, say, Jerry Springer) of the trans community.
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.
The Huffington Post recently asked Jerry about the perceived transphobia of his show, and he had this to say:
“We have transgender people on [‘The Jerry Springer Show’] all the time, a lot. In fact, there’s probably a lot more exposure on our show than anyplace else.
You don’t get on our show unless you’re are doing something that is inappropriate. Our show is about people behaving inappropriate.”
And questioned directly whether the show casts transgender people in a negative light, he reasoned that, “We hear that from any community.”
For his part, Springer has always been a supporter of LGBT rights — something he’s keen to mention — but does that let him off the hook?
If you’ve ever seen transgender people on his show, you’ll remember the predictable oohs, ahhs, and groans the audience emits when a trans person is “revealed.” “He-She Confessions!” prompts the image above. The laughter, the pointing, the hooting and hollering — how can this be perceived as supporting the transgender community?
Then there’s the word “tranny” itself. Believe us, we aren’t about to go open that can of worms again, but back in March of 2014 Springer told TMZ:
“I’ve just been educated. I won’t use [the term ‘tranny’]. I honestly had no idea that you’re not supposed to use that term, so now we’ll find another term to use.”
And yet as of today, here’s the weekly lineup on Springer’s website:
Right there in the middle, some Wednesday night entertainment for the family — “Trannies Twerk It Out.”
And let’s just take this lineup as a sample set. Porn star — chosen profession. Two episodes about marriages on the rocks — marriages that two people choose to be in. Stripper fights — crass, yes, but chosen profession nonetheless.
Then there’s “Trannies Twerk It Out.” Are we the only ones who see a difference?
polarisfashion
Should a transgender person reveal themself to a potential partner or hookup right away to avoid any confusion for the other person? I find myself having to constantly come out to new people as a gay person because some people have assumed that I was straight. I mean no disrespect to anyone; I have only met a couple of transgender people in my life so I guess you could say I’m naive about this.
MisterDemand
Falling on the ol’ “exposure” line is pretty weak, as it treats exposure as helpful no matter what. Jerry Springer and Maury undoubtedly contributed to negative exposure and exploitation of the “eww” factor of LGBT people on a mostly straight and ignorant audience
As to whether all communities don’t like the way they are portrayed on the show; clearly the dangers and rejection faced by transgender people are far higher than any other group, and negative exposure like that needlessly encourages it.
Cam
@MisterDemand: Separating out a group and saying they shouldn’t be shown in a bad light but it’s ok for others because “Clearly the dangers and rejection faced by them are far higher than any other group” doesn’t work.
If a show is portraying Women, BLacks, Asians, Lesbians, and Transgendered folks negatively you don’t get to say “Oh, it’s ok for them to portray everybody else negatively but not transgendered people.
The issue with the Springer show is, 1. it’s fake and obviously scripted, 2. the people who go on that show are scraping the bottom of the barrel for some attention, and 3. anybody going on that show knows that they look like idiots.
I’m shocked anybody still watches the show, but then again, people still watch professional wrestling and that’s fake too.
Kieran
Jerry Springer is smart enough to have become a multi-millionaire shamelessly playing to the lowest common denominator in this country. And that includes always being ready to deliver a homophobic “joke” to the delight of his dumbed down TV audience which is typically followed by a disingenuous “No, no, I’m just kidding”. I can’t imagine Jerry can take any kind of pride in his contribution to American culture.
jockjack5
Hey, at least Jerry doesn’t call them “she-males”.
Or does he?
I never watch the show.
aliengod
I suppose the T cult will go after Jerry now. Good grief!
benwa
All I can say is that this show started on indi cable back after he got ejected from office as mayor for writing a check for sex. I lived in Cincinnati then, where the show started and he always had on the trans community. In fact he likely owes them a big bow for his career. I was just thinking last month whatever happened to Scirocco, she was on his show back in the early 90’s ALL the TIME. She would be the authoritative in this matter…The rest can SFU IMHO. Thanks
Clark35
People still watch this scripted and fake show?
ethan_hines
Not only is he Trans*phobic he’s blatantly Homophobic (or at least was). In regards to Trans*phobia he ALLOWS men who find out they hooked up with someone with male genatalia to atually brawl. This perpetuates the “Trans-panic” defence. There are RARE occasions where a cisman who finds out he was into a trans*woman DOES NOT freak out. The majority do and that is not acceptable!
TheBigOne
There’s a whole channel that puts people up for degradation and ridicule, it’s called TLC.
Liam
@polarisfashion: Hard to say, but then, it’s not an issue for me. I’m open and aboveboard about being gay, and have been since I came out in 1973. I’m often mistaken for straight, but that has seldom been a real problem except when a homophobe made the mistake. I’m sure that how the person feels about coming out as transgendered is a major component. I’ve known some dozen such people, both MTFs and FTMs. Unless it’s with a future intimate/SO, it shouldn’t really matter whether the person is transgendered.
aliengod
@ethan_hines:
If Jerry was transphobic, or scared of trans people, why would he have them on his show. They come in droves and he allows them on. Makes for good television for people into that sort of nonsense.
You think it’s okay for these guys to trick other men into sleeping with them? Of course the straight guy is gonna freak out when he finds out the girl he fooled around with is really a guy.
“Cisman”? How ridiculous. LOL
polarisfashion
@Liam: Thank you, I agree with you that unless its an intimate encounter a transgender person should just be referred to as the gender they associate with. I also agree with the comments on this board that say The JS Show is filth! I also don’t like how the males in the audience freak out over gay people and transgender people outting themselves but are perfectly fine with lesbians and bisexual women. It seems like such a double standard to me. I used to watch the show when I was younger but now as an older adult I can’t stand it! I don’t watch Maury either.
Bee Gaga
@polarisfashion: It depends on how they see the person, honestly not to mention it can potentially be dangerous. I use the example of Islan Nettles, a trans woman just last year who was walking down the street, some men were catcalling her, she paid them no mind, I guess one of them realized she was transgender, they ran across the street and beat her to death for no reason. There’s real dangers in being that open for transgender people. I have a friend who years ago (she didn’t usually do this and never done it since, and now she’s living happily with her boyfriend actually) went out on a date or two with one guy, they didn’t have sex or even kiss or anything, then he found out she was trans and threatened to murder her. So, if you’re just going on a date, a one time thing, they don’t have to. If you see it as something more and/or you want to be intimate with the person, then I personally think they should, at least if they ‘re pre-op or non-op. However, if they have the bottom surgery then there would be no confusion so they really have no obligation to disclose their medical history with the person unless it’s potentially harmful, now, if they want a long-term relationship or something to come out of it then of course that conversation should be had.
Clark35
@aliengod: Agreed. Trans people would love for the slur “cis” to catch on but it never will. I agree it’s never good to be dishonest or not tell the truth when starting to sleep or date with someone even Trans people agree with this.
Chris
Jerry Spring, not transphobic and homophobic?!?!? — HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA, o wait, you’re serious!
Curtispsf
What’s NOT offensive on the Jerry Springer Show? It’s a carnival atmosphere where the audience is encouraged to hoot and holler their disapproval of guests on the show. A transgender person in his/her mind should know that an appearance on JSS is the equivalent of inviting scorn and ridicule. If you’re an attention whore, step right up. You’ll get hooted and hollored at just like the recently married man cheating on his wife with his own sister. Offended? PLEASE !!
Jacob23
Trans activists pretend to be offended by “tr@nny” but it is just one more con job from a bunch of con artists. That word was widely used by transgenders themselves. For example, a hugely popular transgender club was called Tr@nnyshack. And the first transgender film festival was founded in 1997 by 2 transgenders, who called it Tr@nny Fest. It continued to be called that until just a few years ago.
Trans activists decided to turn a common, harmless word into a slur because they have an insatiable, psychotic need to be offended by someone or something all the time. If they are offended 24-7-365, they never have to look at your own anti-social conduct and their own poor character. So overnight, the t-word became a horrible slur, comparable to the n-word. And they have been attacking decent people for using it ever since.
We never should have gotten mixed up with these deceitful thugs in the first place. And we should try to find a way to extricate ourselves and restore our identity as LGBs. Until then, LGBs should use tr@nny as much as possible, as well as any other words that trans activists tell us we are not allowed to use.
jason smeds
Jerry Springer is a pig, pure and simple. His show has a history of presenting gay men as freaks who deserve to be laughed at. I recall one show where the audience was apparently encouraged to boo gay men but cheer “hot lesbians’.
The man is a pig of the first order. His audience are Neanderthal useful idiots.
jason smeds
On the trans issue, the only reason they are on the Jerry Springer Show is to be laughed at. They are presented as clowns. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are paid to appear on this circus.
Cy
Some things never change and that goes true for those people who love a good “freak show” which is what Springer speacializes in and his audience crave. I don’t blame Springer for that, I blame the guests who subject themselves to it voluntarily, and the audiences that find it entertaining.
corey
if i were trans and met someone, i would first, not be looking in non-tran-friendly places, second, i would tell the person, as they were asking me out on a date. i would nip it in the bud. even then, its almost, to me, like being in a relationship with someone bi. with a bi person, do u ever really know if they are going to cheat on you. with being trans, will u ever really know if that person can deal with their own “demons” and/or deal with what society has to throw at you like decrimination, physical harm, even murder. ive read too many stories over the yrs of men who were in relationships with someone trans, that they murder one day, basically cause of their own “demons”. I would never put myself in that dangerous position. and if someone responds: but what if u love each other? um hello, when u first met, was it love at first site? if yes, then u are too immature to even be in a relationship in the first place!
tricky ricky
@polarisfashion: they should absolutely positively tell whomever they are initiating a possible relationship with at the very beginning, be it a legit relationship or a trick with a john, the TRUTH.
tricky ricky
@Jacob23: I agree with you 110 percent! I’ve been saying for years they should never have been allowed to attach themselves to the gay rights movement. they are what have been holding gay rights back for years as is evidenced each and every time a gay rights ordinance gets passed and the right wingers start protesting that it means men dressed as women will be peeing in the women’s room.
tricky ricky
what can you expect from a guy who paid for a hooker with a check and the check bounced? (years and years ago in ohio.)
DonW
@Jacob23: “Thugs” is an interesting choice of words in reference to transsexuals, who are murdered at a disproportionate rate. Your Orwellian twisting of language is exactly like that of right-wingers who rail against “homofascists.”
I’m a gay male and happy to have the trans movement “attach themselves” to us. We’re not making ourselves any safer by throwing another, even more vulnerable minority under the bus. If the Christian Right had its way, after they rounded up the transsexuals, we’d be next.
ppp111
I admit I used to watch his show when he first premiered. Back then it was fun and light-hearted, not mean like it is today. Ah well. On a side note, I couldn’t help but notice how handsome that guy is in the first pic. Kind of reminds of me John Harbaugh, the coach of the Baltimore Ravens and older brother of Jim Harbaugh, former 49er coach and now coach of Michigan.
Jacob23
DonW,
You don’t know what Orwellian means. Look it up before you use it. I’ll help educate you. For a good example of Orwellian use of language, look to your own comment. You assert that it is “throwing transgenders under the bus” if we don’t: 1) alter our identity to link ourselves to a group of non-gay people, 2) subordinate all of our social and political goals to their demands, and 3) expect nothing of value in return. By your logic, I should show up at your home, demand you make me a 1/2 owner of all your assets, force you to adopt me as your son and give me your family name, and then insist that you serve as my personal butler for life. In return, I will give you nothing. If you refuse, you are “throwing me under the bus.” Well done, Mr. Orwell!
As for trans thuggery, there is nothing contradictory in the fact that trans activists are thugs and that transgenders are more likely to be the victims of thuggery. That is how it usually works. People who engage in violence and criminal activity and antisocial conduct are far more likely to be the victims of violence and crime and antisocial conduct. For example, if you are a member of any violent group, whether that be the mafia, the Crips, or the Aryan Brotherhood, you are far more likely to meet a violent end than if you were not part of those groups. So yep, trans activists (and note that I am talking about activists here, not all trans people) are thugs and bullies, and also are more likely to be victimized by other thugs. I say LGBs are not well served, and are certainly not “safer,” by attaching ourselves to this sideshow.
EbonyOnly
It’s a television show. There are buttons on your remote. Choose on / off or another channel.
Our community can’t take on everyone who doesn’t see things our way.
Just like there is a delete button on the computer.
Truth is, you can’t get 2 Gay people to agree on things let alone the straight community that we constantly attack. Leave them alone and take out the trash in your own home.
Vero55
@DonW: The “thug” likely refers to the bully tactics, the very patriarchal/fundamentalist/abusive behaviors of the loudest of the “transactivists” and not specifically to non-white and/or gangster types–that’s your implication right, to imply racism on the part of the previous commenter? Check out “Rally for Trans Inclusion at Smith College: Justin Speaks” on Youtube to see how ridiculous the inclusion of the “murdered transwomen” hype is. Also note that activism like this is why people are resisting the tran* rights movement. Inclusion at Smith College? A place that already allows transwomen, that has amended its policy to allow FAFSA paperwork that has previous gender noted on it? Thug is a very apt word for someone who screams about having to get up at 5 a.m. to go to a meeting they weren’t invited to. Thug is an apt word for Parker Molloy. I could go on.
The white trans* community loves to offer up numbers about dead non-white ones…all thse STEM dykes who’ve never had to dare socialize with gay people or queers or, you know, actually do sex work. And while there are no excuses for anyone being murdered, this whole “murdered transwomen” thing is getting more and more tenuous as “statistics” the more and more people just blankly repeat it. Drugs and sex work will make a person more prone to being murdered. is that shiity? Yes, but many of these murders (and, please, get the list of the trans* people murdered in 2014 and be amazed at the disproportionate number of whom that are sex workers murdered in Brazil and other crime-addled south/central american countries) have as much to do with one’s trans* status as it does any number of other factors. Does that mean trans* people should be killed? OF COURSE NOT. But some of us are smarter than the persuasive rhetorical strategies used to convince people of things.
Vero55
And Just for the record I am aware that fighting among minorities is often the goal of the “powers that be” and I normally don’t engage in such things, take the bait, so to speak. A lot of these trans*activists are using the same tactics as the abusers and reframing the realities suffered by many people under the LGBTQ “umbrella”…that is why I am comfortable challenging them. Those who play victim professionally must always be questioned, even if they are sometimes, or even often, victims…or maybe especially because…