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Doctor Who and Arrow Star John Barrowman Tells Offended Trans Community To ‘Lighten Up’ After Using The Word ‘Tranny’

Openly gay actor John Barrowman has come under fire from members of the trans community once again for comments he made in October last year in which he used the slur word ‘tranny’, then telling members of the transgender community who were offended to ‘lighten up’.
The argument originally started in October when Barrowman used the term in a behind the scenes video for popular comic book television series ‘Arrow’ in which he used the phrase ‘tranny-tastic’. This spurred multiple complaints, news articles and blog pieces about the incident in which Barrowman was called out for using a slur word when he claims to be an ally of the transgender community.
After the incident Barrowman released a Q&A video where he directly addressed the complaints, stating that he felt that there was nothing wrong with using the term tranny, used it several more times there and then, and even went on to say that those people who were offended were just ‘haters’.
The argument has been reignited once again, however, when a Twitter user called Barrowman out on his unapologetic use of a term that has been used to degrade and humiliate the trans community. Barrowman’s response was less than satisfactory to say the least.
Barrowman’s response of still dodging any acknowledgement that he is in the wrong stirred a whole string of critical responses from members of the trans community.
As you can see things got quite heated, the full chain of tweets is available for viewing on Twitter right now and makes for some pretty amazing reading. Amazing not because of the outcry against Barrowman, but the number of fans who rose to his defence, claiming that because he’s a supporter of the LGBT community he should get a free pass to use the word Tranny, or that the trans community are the ones in the wrong for finding offense with his words.
Barrowman was quick to defend himself, stating that ‘In general no one know my struggles or a lot of my history so be careful when u judge and throw daggers’. Eventually the argument seemed to get too much for Barrowman and he sent out a tweet asking those people who are upset with his actions to ‘fuck off’.
The problem with situations like this is that it occurs when one side refuses to budge. I’m not talking about the trans community not backing down as he and his fans call for, that would be wrong. It’s Barrowman himself that needs to back down here. he needs to step back, acknowledge that he spoke out of turn, made offence where it was not his intention and apologise. If he had done that to begin with this whole thing would have been forgotten.
Instead what we have is one of the biggest LGBT stars in the western world, with massive fan bases both in Europe and America, saying that it’s okay to use the word Tranny. He’s showing people that you can be an active supporter of the LGBT community but still get away with abusing trans people.
By not acknowledging that what he has said is wrong or offensive he’s belittling a whole section of the LGBT community. Perhaps he’s more of an LGB supporter than an LGBT supporter.
What really angers me though is that people are defending him. He’s being forgiven by so many people. If he had turned around and said faggot or nigger would the world be so quick to defend his right to use those words? Would he himself hear the term faggot and think ‘well that’s okay for that person to say that’? No, he’d challenge it, and people would be behind him.
No, this is just another example of how when push comes to shove the trans community are seen as a joke. Our feelings mean nothing. Our rights don’t count. Our safety doesn’t matter. People should be free to insult us at the drop of a hat without any repercussions. We should be ignored and vilified when we speak out about injustices.
If everyone followed John Barrowmans example as an ‘ally’ then the world would be an even more terrible place for transgender people. With an ally like this who the hell needs enemies?
Amy.
xx
 

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  • Lee Anne · Top Commenter · University of Know Not Where
    He is no friend of the Trans community. Once again we see that we are 4th class when it comes to our right to live in dignity. Too many in the LGB world feel like this. They seem to forget that if it were not for two Trams women of color the Pride movement would not have begun at Stonewall.. We are here, we are strong and we are proud. We have earned and we deserve your respect.
       
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    • Elizabeth Savage · Top Commenter · Retirement at None
      I'll say it John Barrowman is a fucking faggot! Now how do you like that! Mr. Faggot?
       
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    • Monty Gaither · Top Commenter · Arizona State University
      I hope that no one gets offended but something happened about 10 years ago that made me think that it was okay to say 'tr*nny'. I went into the mens room and there was a woman in there washing her hands. She was in dress pants, dress shirt, tie, and dress coat. Her hair was styled similar to Shirley Jones, of the Partridge family. I asked her if she knew she was in the mens room. She yelled "I am a Tr*nny and I have a right to use this restroom and that it did not matter if I liked it or not." I apologized if I said something wrong, I just did not know if she knew which restroom she was in. That I had not intended to offend her. The following week the company put out a company wide email notice that there was a pre-operative transgender person that will be using the men' room. So, if he could tell people that he was a tr*nny, why is it wrong for John to use the word? Or has the word fell out of use over time? Granted I have not heard anyone use it several years.
      • Chelsea Solis · Top Commenter · Works at I'm Disabled
        SO very sick of people just not getting it. When you are of the marginalized community that the word affects, then you can use the word. It's not your word to take back, it's OUR word. I personally hate it and only use it when I absolutely have to. Also can you please edit it to tr*nny. That word is hecka triggering, so you don't need to using it if you aren't Trans.
        Reply · Like
        · June 17 at 5:59pm
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      • Monty Gaither · Top Commenter · Arizona State University
        Chelsea Solis, I have so edited it. I must say that if a transgender person can use it, it makes no sense for transgender people to get upset when others use it. But, since I am not a member of your community, that may be why I do not understand. But, I can see why John might object to people trying to limit what words he can use if it is okay for members of the community can use it. But I am backing out of the conversations. I hope that I have not offended anyone. If I did it was unintended.
        Reply · Like
        · 4 · June 17 at 6:06pm
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      • Tom King
        Everyone's different. Just because one person (or a few people) in a community are fine with a certain word doesn't mean everyone is. I've personally never understood the whole 'claiming the word' thing and find it uncomfortable when n*gger/ f*ggot/tr*anny etc is used in any circumstance. I understand that it can be confusing to heterosexual/white/cis etc people as language does change over time and can cause some misunderstandings. I would completely understand and move on if someone used it without any harmful intentions, apologised after being corrected and moved on. I never heard about the original incident until just now but had always respected John Barrowman (it's good to know an openly gay person of high standing when you're just figuring things out). Now I'm not so sure. Is it that hard to admit that you were wrong and apologise?
        Reply · Like
        · 1 · 9 hours ago
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    • Tanya Cede · St Trinians school for young ladies
      I am a member of the trans community and i find the word tranny offensive. It is most often used in a dirogetory way. I have to admit though some trans people do use the word and do not find it offensive. So it is easy to see how non trans people get confused about use of the term. I think it is a case of educating people that it can be offensive to some, so its use should be avoided.
      • Susan Russell
        Tranny is the same as the N-word in that it is used within the black community bit highly offensive when used by anyone else, and we should be trying to get the message across that the same applies to Tranny.
        Reply · Like
        · 1 · June 18 at 1:22am
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    • Lisarie Gleason · Monroe Community College
      No wonder the English language is so difficult to learn. Everyone keeps swearing at themselves, so it has become nearly impossible to know all the bad swear words.
         
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      Amy Walker on twitterAmy Walker on facebookAmy Walker on blogger
      Amy Walker
      Amy Walker is a published comic book writer and letterer living in the UK.

      Amy began her writing career before she started her transition from male to female, working with the British publisher ‘Reaper’ where she wrote a number of issues of the company’s flagship book ‘Bex’.

      Now working under her female identity Amy has worked on a number of web comics as a letterer. She has contributed to both ‘A Stranger Comes to Town’ and ‘Circles’, which was nominated for an Arcade Award in 2013. She has also lettered work that has been published by the popular horror festival FrightFest.

      As well as working in the comics industry Amy has also been maintaining a popular web blog, www.transgirlwriter.blogspot.co.uk

      2 Responses to Doctor Who and Arrow Star John Barrowman Tells Offended Trans Community To ‘Lighten Up’ After Using The Word ‘Tranny’

      1. Samantha gardstein June 20, 2015 at 8:37 am
        I find the term tranny offensive im tg my self
        Reply
      2. Elizabeth Savage June 20, 2015 at 1:02 pm
        My comment was to show that words do indeed hurt and that everyone should take care in how they use them. Too many gay men use that word callously and then try to deny us, as trans people, our feelings by telling us to lighten up, to not take ourselves too seriously. I called John Barrowman a faggot so maybe he might see how it feels. I’ve dealt with verbal abuse all my life so I know that words hurt. I am done turning the other cheek and being the better person. If enough transgender people speak up and express how they feel about it then maybe he will think twice before using that word again. As it stands I don’t see him as an ally of transgender people.
        Reply

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