Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation (GLAAD) is outraged at a Fox News segment which aired
August 14th discussing the inclusion of a transgender
woman, Isis, on the reality show America's Next Top Model.
GLAAD called the segment “offensive,” “crude” and
“dehumanizing.”
GLAAD had previously applauded the
producers of Top Model for their first-ever inclusion of a
transgender woman.
During the segment, Fox News anchor
Gregg Jarrett bandies about with Us Weekly Editor-at-large Ian
Drew about the twenty-two year old model hopeful.
The segment opens with Isis'
description of herself as a woman whose “cards were dealt
differently.” “Boy, that's an understatement,” Jarred jokes.
“Definitely, an understatement,” Drew responds snidely.
After giving a few examples –
Calpernia Addams on Transamerican Love Story and Laverne Cox
on the current I Want To Work For Diddy – Drew refers to the
inclusion of transgender people on reality television as “The Crying Game 2008.” Then goes on to insult the show itself, “I got to
tell you, we call it America's Next Top Tranny a lot of the
time anyway. A lot of these girls – you can't tell what they are.
And so this just kind of blends in even more. She doesn't look any
different from any other contestants who have been on there. I mean
they're not exactly, like, the most high-class group of women
usually.”
Both Jarrett and Drew appear unable to
control their laughter. Jarrett purposefully uses both male and
female pronouns in addressing Isis.
GLAAD's call to action, posted on the
group's website, requests people contact Fox News and demand an
apology.
On the net: GLAAD website at
www.glaad.org