Tranny Edition!

What’s In A Word?

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We all know GLAAD‘s not down with defamation, but does their zealousness hinder individuality? Yes, say’s Out‘s Josh Kilmer-Purcell. In a piece entitled “Standing Up For Tranny“, the journo takes on GLAAD’s taking on of the word “tranny”.

In the days leading up to “transgendered” Alexis Arquette‘s documentary, Alexis Arquette: She’s My Brother, the gay watchdogs sent out a media release insisting the media refer to Arquette as transgender, not a tranny, chick with a dick or any of those other “defamatory” tags.

According to the press release, transgender’s defined as “an umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.” Kilmer-Purcell, however, ain’t having it.

He writes:

As one who prefers to sing in the rain rather than cower under umbrella terms, I’m gonna stand up for all the gender fuckers I count among my friends.
…
The obvious problem with GLAAD’s assignment of one term for such a wide range of gender expression is that, well, there’s a wide range of gender expression. If, as according to GLAAD, transgender persons were misassigned their gender by their parents and doctors when they were born, why would GLAAD presume the right to assign them all a new one?

Kilmer-Purcell’s definitely got a point here. GLAAD may think they have people’s best interest in mind, but their inclusive efforts tend toward the exclusive.

Related: What’s in A Word?
What’s In A Word? (The Sequel)

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