'Work It' Causes An Upset - Page 2
The show never makes any mention of gay, lesbian or transgendered people at all. In all actuality, the show speaks greater to the desperation of the unemployed in this economy. The two male characters are dressing up as women because the only jobs that were available were only looking to hire only women and one of the men has a family to raise. This does not forgive the show’s irretrievable stupidity.
GLAAD released this statement regarding the show:
While the show does not explicitly address transgender people, many home viewers unfamiliar with the realities of being transgender will still make the connection. As the ad placed in Variety stated- by encouraging the audience to laugh at the characters’ attempts at womanhood, the show gives license to similar treatment of transgender women.
One goal of our work around the show has been to raise awareness of the discrimination that transgender people face in the workplace. A recent report on the discrimination that transgender Americans face from the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force found that:
- Transgender Americans can be legally fired in 34 states today simply for being who they are.
- 97% of self-identified transgender people reported being harassed or abused at work.
- 26% reported losing their jobs because they are transgender.
Okay, I have to admit I cannot personally identify with GLAAD in their response to this show because of our differences in lifestyles and the fact that I believe a show must possess some level of intellect in order to be insulting and demeaning. “Work It” lacks enough intellect to insult a dead fly.
However, I do respect the reasons for GLAAD’s response to this program.
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