In this age of iPods, social media and digital marketing, radio as a communications channel is typically not the first thing that comes to mind. Living in the city and taking public transportation, I’m addicted to my iPod and couldn’t tell you a single Windy City station or show host. Despite my personal urban, digital bubble, radio continues to reach countless captive (read: gridlocked) audiences across the country, usually offering humorous banter and melodic relaxation.
At times, however, radio hosts can take a dialogue too far, finding serious LGBT issues a source for humor or blatantly harmful comments. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation yesterday released a call to action on the Rob, Arnie & Dawn in the Morning radio show (KRXQ 98.5 FM in Sacramento, California and KDOT 104.5 FM in Reno, Nevada). I was shocked to read the comments made by hosts Rob Williams and Arnie States on May 28 against transgender or questioning children. The conversation stemmed from a recent story about a transgender child in Omaha, Nebraska and her parents’ decision to support her transition – and spiraled into more than a half hour of defamatory remarks towards children and transgender individuals.
Some of the remarks included:
ROB WILLIAMS [11:12]: This is a weird person who is demanding attention. And when it’s a child, all it takes is a hug, maybe some tough love or anything in between. When your little boy said, ‘Mommy, I want to walk around in a dress.’ You tell them no cause that’s not what boys do. But that’s not what we’re doing in this culture.
ARNIE STATES [13:27]: If my son, God forbid, if my son put on a pair of high heels, I would probably hit him with one of my shoes. I would throw a shoe at him. Because you know what? Boys don’t wear high heels. And in my house, they definitely don’t wear high heels.
ROB WILLIAMS [17:45]: Dawn, they are freaks. They are abnormal. Not because they’re girls trapped in boys bodies but because they have a mental disorder that needs to be somehow gotten out of them. That’s where therapy could help them.
ROB WILLIAMS [18:15]: Or because they were molested. You know a lot of times these transgenders were molested. And you need to work with them on that. The point is you don’t allow the behavior. You cure the cause!
ARNIE STATES [21:30]: You got a boy saying, ‘I wanna wear dresses.’ I’m going to look at him and go, ‘You know what? You’re a little idiot! You little dumbass! Look, you are a boy! Boys don’t wear dresses.’
ARNIE STATES [29:22]: You know, my favorite part about hearing these stories about the kids in high school, who the entire high school caters around, lets the boy wear the dress. I look forward to when they go out into society and society beats them down. And they end up in therapy.
I’m at a loss on where to start. Should my parents have flipped when staunchly straight brother (to be married this June) dressed up in a skirt during childhood play? Is it ever appropriate to call someone, specifically a child, names such as freak, idiot or dumbass or hit them with any object? Should we applaud a society that beats others who are different down – or allows media commentators to suggest such an action? How many times must we show on the Out Front Blog the powerful effect simple words and communications have? It’s words and beliefs like Rob’s and Arnie’s across the country that have led to recent devastating consequences for promising young kids, such as Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover.
We must become more acutely aware of the power of communications and use it to tell our personal story. Acceptance and compassion for another human or group is largely based on hearing and beginning to understand their story. While I will never fully understand what is like to be Muslim, African-American, raised in a single-parent home, live with a physical disability, or have a billion dollars, I should not assume to know or comment on those that have those characteristics and experiences. Instead, I should appreciate their perspective and development as a fellow human being, offering encouragement, support and love as they continue to create their path and realize their true self.
For those interested in addressing the comments made by Rob and Arnie, please visit the GLAAD Web site.
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I cannot believe that transcript is real. Are we seriously still that closed-minded? This is definitely an issue that needs to be exposed. Just because my (straight) brother wanted to fit in with his two sisters by playing dress up does not make him mentally ill. Thanks for taking a stance against this and bringing it to our attention!