In my original post, I followed the news where comedian Dave Chappelle made multiple jokes about transgender women. The question arises, why does transgender have to be the topic of joke? Why they always must be the target? Transgender men and women face discrimination, bigotry, and hatred from their own families, friends, and coworkers already, so if a comedian like Dave makes fun of them, how do you think they will get treated afterward? It is shameful to see how the audience enjoyed those jokes in Netflix’s special ‘The closer’, they were laughing and having the greatest time thinking transgender people are not real or they don’t have a heart.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/15/arts/television/dave-chappelle-netflix.html
Now another news strikes me, Texas signing a law bill banning transgender athletes from school sports. Texas lawmakers claimed passing this bill brings fairness in school sports by eliminating what they see as an inherent physical competitive advantage of transgender athletes playing on female teams. These types of laws and bills are straight up discrimination against transgender people who are being othered solely based on their appearance and choice.
Another example, City refusing to fund the longest-running LGBTQ homeless shelter in the nations’ capital. This center has been a great resource for those who seek refuge from violence. Defunding this center has caused even more injustice towards transgenders since many transgender clients who are victims of violence are being turned away and are now facing homelessness and compelled to live in the streets.
These are just a few examples, there is multiple news throughout the media where transgender or LGBTQ people face prejudice and discrimination. Transgenders are real people, and they are facing pain and hardship every single day. It is the call to the conscience of every American people who believe that everyone has the right to a fair chance to work, have a roof over their head, and support their family. At this point, we are overdue to pass a non-discrimination policy against transgender and people need to be educated and start to support transgenders in their neighborhoods.
My personal thought of the comedy by Dave towards trans women, he is promoting the discrimination against transgender people othering them and of course profiting from these dangerous transphobic contents. Simone de Beauvoir introduces the concept of the Other in her work “The second sex”. In this case, transgender people are being othered by straight dehumanizing their personal choice and restricting trans people from expressing themselves.
Source:
https://www.them.us/story/casa-ruby-bilingual-lgbtq-center-faces-closure-government-cuts-funding