Transphobic slurs on Today FM (by host)

Silver Lobo

Today, my folks had Today FM playing on the radio, and at about half past 1 in the afternoon (the time slot for the KC show) the host had Mike Sheridan of joe.ie on to talk about some stories from the site. The first one was this:

http://www.joe.ie/football/football-news/footballer-tackled-by-transvestite-after-trying-to-steal-prostitutes-purse-0037013-1

Have you ever tried to pay a prostitute with an iPhone and then steal her purse, only to escape on a bike and be chased down by a transvestite? No? Well French footballer Ousmane Drame has...

It might sound like a dreadful extension to the Hangover series, but this strange story actually happened last Monday night.


According to reports, 20-year-old U.S. Lecce winger Ousmane Dramé tried to solicit a Nigerian lady of the night on Monday, but when it came to the payment he tried to pay her with an iPhone 5 only to have second thoughts.


Here’s what the Italian news agency ANSA had to say:


“A Lecce soccer player was charged Monday for stealing a purse from a prostitute and fleeing by bicycle after reneging on a deal to give her his iPhone 5 for sex.


“Ousmane Dramé, a French national and striker for the third-division club, was reportedly chased down by a transsexual friend of the robbed Nigerian streetwalker after the incident early Monday.


“Police also charged Dramé with injuring the transsexual when he allegedly tripped him as he tried to wrest the purse from his hands.”


U.S. Lecce, a third division Italian side, said they’d drop Dramé if the allegations turn out to be true and apparently, they also said they would proceed with legal action for damages to the club's image.


We just hope it was the ride of his life.

That's pretty much all the background you need, the full conversation doesn't warrant a transcript, but the bottom line is that on three occasions in four minutes the host referred to the transsexual as 'tranny' (with Sheridan sticking to 'transsexual'). It made my heart stop for a split second each time, and I had to look out the window. The worst part of it is probably the fact that he didn't seem to realise it was a derogatory term, he was just using it so casually or to add to the "comedic" effect.



If you want to hear the actual thing, you can head to the backplayer on Today FM's site, then from there it's The KC Show, Friday, Part 2, and skip to the 40 minute mark.


I haven't been able to find any reports or blogs on it at this time (okay, granted it was only seven and a half hours ago as of now) so I ended up emailing TENI and finally made my account here so I could spread it a little bit. Pretty damn off-putting, not that I listen to Today FM much in the first place.

Reventon93

I never really post on issues like this because they make me so furious, but this is by far one of the worst things i have ever heard of. Absolutely disgusting! I can't believe that they were even aloud to carry on. Disgraceful! It makes me sick to think that people could show such little remorse about the feeling of such a small minority and as you rightly said use as a base for "comedic effect". They are damaging the progress that we all want to make, and are just reinforcing derogatory stereotypes.

Then again that you for posting it. I knew that we had a long way to go, but this is just ridiculous!

Locker10a

Ok, well I honestly don't think any direct offence or intentional transphobia was intended here but I understand where you are coming from! I think the presenters in question simply are not aware of the politically correct terminology that should be used to describe transgender people today. If I were you I would write a calmly worded email or letter to the shows producer or the host explaining why the mentioned conversation caused offence and that it is in fact a sensitive issue for many, and as a frequent listener(even if you aren't) you would appreciate if they would take your concerns aboard and approach such issues with more sensitivity in future .

FiachDubh

Tranny's derogatory? I've often said it and just assumed it was short of transsexual, which it ind of is, isn't it?
Well I know better now
I'm sure it was an honest mistake on the presenter's part, but since the other guy seemed to have a clue he should have corrected him even if it was on air.

Reventon93

FiachDubh wrote: »

Tranny's derogatory? I've often said it and just assumed it was short of transsexual, which it ind of is, isn't it?
Well I know better now
I'm sure it was an honest mistake on the presenter's part, but since the other guy seemed to have a clue he should have corrected him even if it was on air.

The short version of Transsexual/Transgender is Trans or Trans*, just to clear that up.

I'm very glad that you've realised what a derogatory term it is for the majority of us! It's essential the same thing as someone calling a gay person the f word or a black person the n word. And no, i'm not joking.

And i'm not trying to be an ass, it's just a lot of transphobic stuff has crept up in the last few days...

oisindoyle

If you feel it is extremely offensive and shouldn't have been said on Todayfm ,the why not make your complaint official .
Send a complaint to todayfm and another to the BCI

Reventon93

I might just do that. I doubt it would accomplish very much though. One voice will hardly make a difference in the long term. Maybe in the short term though.

Locker10a

Reventon93 wrote: »

I might just do that. I doubt it would accomplish very much though. One voice will hardly make a difference in the long term. Maybe in the short term though.

Well regardless, write and express your concerns, if you are looking for a huge uproar from the public I'm afraid you may be disappointed, I don't think the guy actually set out of belittle trans people, he just didn't know any better! Write to him, inform him of your upset, and even if you informed just one person of the struggle trans people go through then you have accomplished something.

Reventon93

Locker10a wrote: »

Well regardless, write and express your concerns, if you are looking for a huge uproar from the public I'm afraid you may be disappointed, I don't think the guy actually set out of belittle trans people, he just didn't know any better! Write to him, inform him of your upset, and even if you informed just one person of the struggle trans people go through then you have accomplished something.

I am currently in the process of doing so.

I'm not looking for an uproar. More recognition for the fact that it is demeaning, whether there was intent or not. And that it can possibly damage any progress that has been made to further the rights of the community, in a nutshell.

True. There needs to be a starting point somewhere.

oisindoyle

Reventon93 wrote: »

I might just do that. I doubt it would accomplish very much though. One voice will hardly make a difference in the long term. Maybe in the short term though.

Well no you would be wrong there ,,ONE voice can and DOES make a difference .
Many a person has made a complaint to the BCI and it was upheld,so go for it if you feel strongly about what was said .

Odysseus

I wasn't really aware that it had that strenght to offend to that degree. Am I correct that the offense is associating the transgendered person with a transvestite? That it is not acknowleging the gender aspect and merely associating it with sexual excitation. More a case of describing a transgendered person as a fetishic transvestite? Or am I way off?

I agree with the other than it was more done to a lack of having access to the correct language or nosology rather than trying to offend. If you want people to be aware of this as an issue; you need to inform them that it is offensive to you. Otherwise they will carry on ignorant of any harm they may be causing.

I would hear people use this term regularly, I don't because I know the difference between the two terms, a lot of people in the street don't. The only way to tackle it is to make people aware.

Lyaiera

It's offensive because the vast majority of the time it's used in an offensive manner. People screaming it in the streets, and using it with derision. There's no deeper meaning than that.

Azure_sky

Odysseus wrote: »

I wasn't really aware that it had that strenght to offend to that degree. Am I correct that the offense is associating the transgendered person with a transvestite? That it is not acknowleging the gender aspect and merely associating it with sexual excitation. More a case of describing a transgendered person as a fetishic transvestite? Or am I way off?

For me at least yes. It really pisses me off when society confuses transsexuals with the transvestite fetish. That's why I don't like the term tranny. People don't know if it's short for transsexual or transvestite.

Annasopra

Odysseus wrote: »

I wasn't really aware that it had that strenght to offend to that degree. Am I correct that the offense is associating the transgendered person with a transvestite? That it is not acknowleging the gender aspect and merely associating it with sexual excitation. More a case of describing a transgendered person .....

I read something interesting the other day

It's not "transgendered" people - it's "transgender" people. Just as it's "homosexual" people not "homosexualised".

bodice ripper

Virtually every time I have seen or heard "tranny" used in real life, it has been in conjunction with a pride event, a club night or by someone describing themselves. just sayin.

Frank Black

Silver Lobo wrote: »

Rasmus

bodice ripper wrote: »

Virtually every time I have seen or heard "tranny" used in real life, it has been in conjunction with a pride event, a club night or by someone describing themselves. just sayin.

It's a term that needs to be used cautiously in my opinion. People use 'nigga' as a term of endearment or in jest but it isn't incorporated into everyday conversation like it is a normal word. 'Trannie' might not be considered to be derogatory by some but surely most people can agree that it is extremely flippant terminology. It definitely shouldn't be dropped casually on the radio.

MagicMarker

I had no idea tranny was a derogatory term.

bodice ripper

Rasmus wrote: »

It's a term that needs to be used cautiously in my opinion. People use 'nigga' as a term of endearment or in jest but it isn't incorporated into everyday conversation like it is a normal word. 'Trannie' might not be considered to be derogatory by some but surely most people can agree that it is extremely flippant terminology. It definitely shouldn't be dropped casually on the radio.

I hear nigga in day to day conversation fairly frequently. And I definitely would want to see more restrictions on what can be said in public.

You'd never see a thread railing against its use in promoting an event at pride.

Annasopra

bodice ripper wrote: »

Virtually every time I have seen or heard "tranny" used in real life, it has been in conjunction with a pride event, a club night or by someone describing themselves. just sayin.

Yes. Agreed. However I think recently the term is much less widely used for club or pride events nowadays.

Annasopra

bodice ripper wrote: »

I definitely would want to see more restrictions on what can be said in public.
.

Really? A lot of your posts here indicate the opposite.

bodice ripper

mango salsa wrote: »

Really? A lot of your posts here indicate the opposite.

I doubt it. Telling people I think they are wrong is not quite the same thing.

Feel free to find a single instant where I am advocating restricting public speech.

Annasopra

bodice ripper wrote: »

Feel free to find a single instant where I am advocating restricting public speech.

What I just quoted

Azure_sky

bodice ripper wrote: »

Virtually every time I have seen or heard "tranny" used in real life, it has been in conjunction with a pride event, a club night or by someone describing themselves. just sayin.

I'm willing to bet that most of these instances were transvestites and drag Queens though.

bodice ripper

mango salsa wrote: »

What I just quoted

Seriously though, I didn't. I pointed out instances where I hear this. Didn't even mention whether they should or shouldn't use the term.

I can't possibly defend my position when it is being imagined like that.

Butterface

Well when RuPaul has a song called Tranny Chaser and the word is dropped so often on his very popular Drag Race tv show, then I can see why people would be confused as to whether or not the word is derogatory.

I am aware that in that instance it is used in reference to drag queens, but the wider public may not be so clued up on terminology as the rest of us. I'm not saying that the host wasn't being derogatory towards transgender people in this instance, just that the word itself is used a lot on the scene these days in connection to drag queens.

Annasopra

bodice ripper wrote: »

Seriously though, I didn't. I pointed out instances where I hear this. Didn't even mention whether they should or shouldn't use the term.

I can't possibly defend my position when it is being imagined like that.

I'm actually not really sure what you are saying in this thread

bodice ripper

mango salsa wrote: »

I'm actually not really sure what you are saying in this thread

I made an observation and got jumped on.

wonderfulname

bodice ripper wrote: »

I made an observation and got jumped on.

You should reread it, I think it may come across different to intended.

bodice ripper

wonderfulname wrote: »

You should reread it, I think it may come across different to intended.

It was a very straightforward post, I would urge those who are reading unsaid content into it to read, to be honest.

wonderfulname

bodice ripper wrote: »

And I definitely would want to see more restrictions on what can be said in public.

bodice ripper wrote: »

Feel free to find a single instant where I am advocating restricting public speech.

I'm going to leave this here and walk away from the conversation.

bodice ripper

wonderfulname wrote: »

I'm going to leave this here and walk away from the conversation.

Oh, no fair enough. Its a typo. Apologies.

Lyaiera

Butterface wrote: »

Well when RuPaul has a song called Tranny Chaser and the word is dropped so often on his very popular Drag Race tv show, then I can see why people would be confused as to whether or not the word is derogatory.

I am aware that in that instance it is used in reference to drag queens, but the wider public may not be so clued up on terminology as the rest of us. I'm not saying that the host wasn't being derogatory towards transgender people in this instance, just that the word itself is used a lot on the scene these days in connection to drag queens.

And the word "******" is used a lot against anyone at all, the same goes for "retard" and a whole host of derogatory terms. It doesn't mean they're any more acceptable.

Edit: And I can't even say the word on boards, it's the extended version of "fag" for those interested.

Butterface

Lyaiera wrote: »

And the word "******" is used a lot against anyone at all, the same goes for "retard" and a whole host of derogatory terms. It doesn't mean they're any more acceptable.

Edit: And I can't even say the word on boards, it's the extended version of "fag" for those interested.

I understand that, and I agree that those words are derogatory. But the word "tranny" is generally not used in that way when it's in reference to drag queens, or so that's the way it appears to me.

So while calling a transgender individual such a name can be considered a slur, and quite rightly people should be alarmed at its use on a national radio station.. on the other hand, the word now seems to have different connotations in different contexts and this may send out mixed signs to people who generally aren't in the know.

Lyaiera

Butterface wrote: »

I understand that, and I agree that those words are derogatory. But the word "tranny" is generally not used in that way when it's in reference to drag queens, or so that's the way it appears to me.

So while calling a transgender individual such a name can be considered a slur, and quite rightly people should be alarmed at its use on a national radio station.. on the other hand, the word now seems to have different connotations in different contexts and this may send out mixed signs to people who generally aren't in the know.

How can it mean something different? It's entire connotation is that someone is less than a woman because they're trans.

Butterface

Lyaiera wrote: »

How can it mean something different? It's entire connotation is that someone is less than a woman because they're trans.

Yes, and I'm trying to posit an opinion as to why the word is still bandied about so much. And my opinion is that drag queen performers have seemed to embrace the word recently, and this would presumably extend to the audience of drag queens.

I'm not saying that the word is not offensive. And you're right, the word doesn't mean anything different than what you said. But there are people who would use this word without understanding what it means to a transgender person, only using it because they heard RuPaul saying it!

Spidermensch

Personally,I think the chap who made the remark was being a bit dim, more than anything else.