Actress Gabourey Sidibe repeatedly used a transphobic slur when she recently visited “The Arsenio Hall Show” to discuss living in New Orleans.
The American Horror Story: Coven star used the word “tranny” about five times in under a minute while discussing her experiences at a local bar (see video below).
Gabourey Sidibe: There was a bar that we would frequent and every time we’d go, when we were leaving every single time there was always like a gang of cops arresting trannies.
Audience: [Laughter]
Sidibe: Specifically trannies.
Arsenio Hall: Yeah…
Sidibe: And I don’t know what goes on with trannies but that tranny on tranny crime needs to stop!
Arsenio Hall and audience: [Laughter]
Sidibe [chuckling]: It is tearing our nation apart!
While the validity of her point is up for debate, the use of transphobic slurs is unacceptable — especially considering the disparaging treatment of transgender people by the police.
Did you know the Justice Department launched an investigation and a recent study found that “trans people across the U.S. experience three times as much police violence as non-transgender individualss?
According to that same study, “even when transgender people were the victims of hate crimes, 48 percent reported receiving mistreatment from the police when they went for help.”
Gabourey’s comments have left many people upset and outraged.
Mara Keisling, Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, told The Huffington Post:
Using the word ‘tranny’ isn’t OK anymore. Using it to make fun of people is definitely not OK. And using it to make fun of any kind of violence is just plain wrong. I know she meant it in fun but that’s the problem in this case. It’s not just that she used the word ‘tranny’ but that she’s making fun of violence in a city where the police have a history of committing violence and discriminationagainst trans women of color. It’s the kind of thing that trans people listen to and say, ‘This is someone who is not thinking about our lives. This is someone who is making fun of our problems.’ Gabby is someone who has approached lots of different social issues with grace and class and so this is just such a disappointment.
And Jean-Marie Navetta, Director of Equality & Diversity Partnerships at PFLAG National, sent a long statement to The Huffington Post, writing in part:
I don’t know [Sidibe]. I will always give people the benefit of the doubt and assume that they weren’t thinking and just need some education. We all deserve that chance. We all need the right to redeem ourselves. And I believe this for her, in spite of the fact that it felt very mean-spirited and horrible to me, especially since she has been the point of much ridicule for her differences. It has often been those who are also different — like trans people — who have defended her. I hope this is a learning experience.
But what do we say about the larger picture? Here’s what we know: People who are trans are 41% more likely than the population as a whole to attempt suicide. Violence against trans people is widespread, representing a significant number hate crimes each year. The treatment of people who are trans in the judicial and prison system is deplorable…
Gabourey has since responded on Twitter:
I've apologized several times for using the word "Tranny". I don't realize that it was a slur. I'm very sorry for my poor choice of words.
— Gabby Sidibe (@GabbySidibe) February 1, 2014
I'm also sorry for having made light of a bad situation. It was not my intention.
— Gabby Sidibe (@GabbySidibe) February 1, 2014
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