The RuPaul Drag T*Word Controversy

Martina · 05-29-2014, 03:30 PM

I think "tranny" is universally understood as a pejorative. If some trans folks want to use it among themselves, then fine, who are cis folk to say? But I don't think cisgender folks ought to use it.

RuPaul did make the argument that tranny has been used to refer to a drag queens as well, and she is that. So if she is claiming it in that way, it does add a wrinkle.

I think the she-mail thing is kind of funny. It's a pun. A joke. It's not like a person was called a she-male. But I like humor that skirts the offensive.

Unrelated to this kerfluffle, I do think that the controversy about using the word transgender instead of transgendered is a joke. Sorry if I offended. But seriously? I get the argument, but some well-intentioned slob got badly publicly attacked for it a while ago. I think the person who reamed him quit some organization in protest and just had a major fit about it. I can't recall the details. But my response is OK, whatever.

I am old. I find gender studies unbelievably boring. Hence, I don't read a lot about it. I am surely more educated than 99% of Americans because of where I live and the communities I have belonged to, but if I accidentally say transgendered and some child angrily corrects me, we are going to have words.

05-29-2014, 03:30 PM	#7
Martina Senior Member How Do You Identify?: * Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: * Posts: 4,999 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 13,409 Thanked 18,285 Times in 4,167 Posts Rep Power: 21474854	I think "tranny" is universally understood as a pejorative. If some trans folks want to use it among themselves, then fine, who are cis folk to say? But I don't think cisgender folks ought to use it. RuPaul did make the argument that tranny has been used to refer to a drag queens as well, and she is that. So if she is claiming it in that way, it does add a wrinkle. I think the she-mail thing is kind of funny. It's a pun. A joke. It's not like a person was called a she-male. But I like humor that skirts the offensive. Unrelated to this kerfluffle, I do think that the controversy about using the word transgender instead of transgendered is a joke. Sorry if I offended. But seriously? I get the argument, but some well-intentioned slob got badly publicly attacked for it a while ago. I think the person who reamed him quit some organization in protest and just had a major fit about it. I can't recall the details. But my response is OK, whatever. I am old. I find gender studies unbelievably boring. Hence, I don't read a lot about it. I am surely more educated than 99% of Americans because of where I live and the communities I have belonged to, but if I accidentally say transgendered and some child angrily corrects me, we are going to have words.