UPDATE: After we published this article, The BCBA Community Center deleted their original Facebook post and exchanged it with this one:
“Oh boy…seems as though the The Radical Homosexual Trolls have gotten a hold of the BCBA Community Sports Training Center Facebook Page…funny how the so called “Tolerant Left” is only tolerant of those who accept their alternative life styles. BCBA stands behind its STRONG belief that boys are boys and girls are girls. We pride ourselves on our ability to help this new generation of misguided snowflakes, become strong self reliant ICEBERGS! For those with boys who are in need of strong MALE role models, our Volunteer Staff of Police, Veterans and Sport Enthusiasts are here for you. Everyone else, we suggest you look to those organizations that embrace your ways and beliefs. It’s that simple.”
Well, this is grim. An anonymous tipster has brought our attention to a transphobic post added to the Facebook page of the BCBA Community Sports Training Center, a Long Island boxing gym aimed at youths that claims its “simple” mission is to:
“serve our community with a facility that is safe, clean and provides a positive environment where young people can come and feel a sense of belonging.”
That is, unless those kids happen to be transgender or gender non-confroming, in which case they’ll be subjected to messages like this (since the business deleted the Facebook message, this is a screenshot of what it looked like):
As if that wasn’t grotesque enough, the subject matter of BCBA’s January share was met with gleeful derision by group members, who took aim at Maybelline model Manny Guitierrez and the gay and transgender community as a whole.
Just in case the meaning of the original message appears somewhat ambiguous to you, BCBA makes their position abundantly clear in a followup comment.
Asked by group member Alex Russo, “What the actual crap is that?,” the administrator for BCBA’s Facebook group (who we’ve been told is Director and Head Boxing Couch Ray Bettinelli) chimes in with:
“It’s the result of 8 years of Liberal Rule.. lost souls, malcontents a[nd] snowflakes running our Nation.”
Here’s a screencap of that convo, in case the post is removed (which it was):
To her credit, group member Donna Morrison Zittel expresses her disappointment and dismay at the boxing group’s attitude, writing:
“Wow, I was just about to ask about Nerf wars. I think you lost my business. You are a business right? I think you should stick to what you know and not knocking other people’s choices. “MEN” come in all shapes, sizes, and forms. Welcome to 2017. My Daughter is gender non conforming, meaning she does not identify as a girl but currently as a boy even though we say ‘she.’ She was born this way and is an amazing soul. I was so excited you were moving to Lindenhurst and having my kids enjoy the facility but now I don’t feel she would be safe there. Really disappointed.”
As our tipster writes, “And this from a business that prides itself in anti-bullying and surrounds itself with children.”
As I said, this business promotes itself as teaching anti-bullying.
However, this picture not only directly bullies an entire group of people, but promotes the direct abuse and shaming of transgender and gay people.
Although they don’t appear to have a Yelp page, you can visit BCBA’s official website or their Facebook group and let them know that you find their anti-transgender messaging wholly unacceptable, especially for a youth group.
davidkohl
We should not be surprised by this sort of thing. All the haters have been given permission to crawl out from under their stones and attack whatever minority they hate most. That permission comes straight from the White House and the Bully-in-Chief himself. In addition – I cant recall any boxer ever winning a Nobel prize for …well anything, nor any boxer recognised as a great peace maker or scholar of any kind. Why do they become boxers and allow people to punch their heads – maybe because there is not much in there to damage. These are exactly the people who voted for The Odious man. The LGBT ‘community’ has a lot of power when we all work together – use it.
readycarlos
The societal standard of what is considered masculine and what defines a “man” isn’t really ever going to change. There are two sexes: Male and Female. And unless someone is clinically a hermaphrodite, then they are born with the genitalia of either one or the other. This is not to say that embracing one or the other (regardless of what your were born with and in whatever degrees of “masc” or “femme” traits with which you choose to define yourself) is wrong. It is not wrong. And it is not a new concept. We’re on the precipice of the next phase of the sexual revolution. One that focuses on the psychology and physiology of sexuality rather than it’s physical mechanics. We can expect the cisgendered straight world to embrace it all immediately. It’s confusing and not in any way “black and white” (which unfortunately is the way most of the world see’s everything). That said, the original Facebook post was a gross misstep on behalf of BCBA. However, their removal of it shows they know it was wrong or hopefully, have learned something from this error.
readycarlos
*”We can’t expect…”
davidkohl
I accept that gender and sexuality are complex issues for some people. I also accept that there tends to be a black and white view regarding those issues. However, I do not accept that the implication is that we should somehow tread lightly so as not to offend the brain dead. For decades, and indeed centuries, gay men adopted this position because they feared the backlash. Did that produce any real change? No. In the end it was direct action and the bravery of a group of people who had had enough that as led us to the current position where now the highest, most conservative, court in the land approved and accepted gay marriage. The change that has taken place in the last 30 years for the LGBT group was not because we allowed them to use the miserable excuse that they needed time to come to terms with these complex issues. It was because we organised ourselves and took direct action. Is it really possible that just a few hours after posting those vile remarks the people behind them had a ‘road to Damacus’ moment? I doubt it – what has led to their withdrawal is the bad publicity and the financial implications. What we cant expect is that people accept this type of repulsive behaviour on the grounds that the offenders need time to catch up with humanity.
kehvan
Um, if they don’t like us, LEAVE THEM ALONE!
Lvng1Tor
It was they who went after us in the first place. Are you suggesting that simply ignoring the promotion of abuse against the LGBTQ community will somehow make it go away or that they are not causing damage? When the heck has that ever worked? Never. You get to be the out gay (assuming since you are on here with a picture and you said “us”) man because those before you pushed back. Of course, since it doesn’t affect you personally I guess you can just ignore what it does to others….good thing our predecessors didn’t feel the same way otherwise you’d be just another [email protected] without any freedoms or semblance of equality.
IDoNotHaveToAgreeWithYou
Yet again being associated with the trans nuts is causing us problems and distracting from gay rights.
David Myers
Your a troll, aren’t you? Its people like you and the homophobes who agree with you that is causing problems and distracting from gay rights . . . because LGBTQ rights are exactly the same as the rights of every other group. An attack on the rights of anyone is an attack on the rights of EVERYONE.
“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Pastor Martin Niemoller – Germany, 1945
Lvng1Tor
There is no LGB history without the T. We were together at Stonewall and marched together to get AIDS research. If people confuse gender and sexuality then they are the problem not us. I will stand proudly with my Trans Family and they stand by me.
batesmotel
They need to lighten up. They’re out of touch. I agree with the other person on here. Trans has nothing do with gay. Don’t lump everybody together. It confuses the masses thinking it’s the same.
Ksb1978
They are part of the LGBTQ+ community. And there are gay and bi trans men and women. Y’all are being so bigoted right now. Not surprising, though.
David Myers
Agreed. They are hate TROLLS!
davidkohl
Those who would divide us are not our friends – they are the enemy within on this site. It is ironic that the person with the screen name ‘batesmotel’ is calling people ‘nuts’ . Those of us in the LGBT group may not be a homogenous community but we are part of the same fight against oppression, bigotry and nastiness. The old maxim is right – ‘strength through unity’.
Truth-is-Truthy
I want to let everyone know that every single person who left messages on their Facebook account criticizing them for their behavior and stand was reported by them to Facebook as abuse. All of us had our accounts deleted as a result. This should be part of the story because it means that not only did not they apologize for their behavior, they made it worse by silencing all of their critics.
donna_morrisonzittel
Truth-is-truthy
Deleted permanently? Worried about all my pictures on FB that I use as a photo album, as I am sure they will do the same to me soon
donna_morrisonzittel
They deleted all my comments and blocked me from posting. I was being respectful and honest. Bullies silence.