The right wing, for whom Fox News serves as a mouthpiece, believes that acceptance of the transgender community is a sign of how the "gay agenda" is out to ruin America as we know it. As documented by LGBT advocacy group, GLAAD, Fox News is more than willing to advance this bigotry. They cite "offensive and dehumanizing" comments made by Bill O'Reilly about a transgender prison inmate as well as his misrepresentation of trans-inclusive guidelines for Maine public schools - a segment in which he mocked a transgender student. O'Reilly has also opined that the *transgender student on Glee is encouraging teens to "experiment" in "alternative lifestyles." So in keeping with this pattern of disrespect, he and Adam Carolla talked about a Wisconsin school event that had nothing to do with transgender awareness - but Bill and Adam worked their alchemy and made it so and in so doing, promoted right wing paranoia about anti-bullying programs, in addition to some requisite teacher bashing. As vintage O'Reilly agitprop, it was perfection!
Last night, on Bill's "Rollin with Carolla" segment, Bill reported on a Wisconsin school event which called for students and teachers to voluntarily dress as the opposite gender. Not surprisingly, those parents who fear that dreaded "gay agenda" objected because - wait for it - according to parent Deirdri Hernandez, it OMG promoted the acceptance of homosexuality to students.
O'Reilly introduced this event as "an incredible story." He claimed that "educators who run this place apparently felt that girls and boys should switch genders, it's all voluntary but somewhat disturbing." He played video from a local affiliate in which a local mom said that she kept her son home from school that day. The reported noted that not many kids participated in the event. He asked Carolla for his reaction.
Carolla said "Imagine if you went to that principal and you said let's do cowboys and Indians day, what you think they would say? O'Reilly responded with "Can't say Indians, maybe cowboys and Native Americans." Carolla continued: "Let's do Pilgrims Day. What if you said I'll give you a choice, favorite character from the Bible or favorite character from Rocky Horror Picture Show. Which one do you think would win if they dedicated a day to it." After O'Reilly chuckled, Carolla said "Sad but true."
Uh, memo to Carolla. Cowboys and Indians would represent a dark period of history for Native Americans. It's also a violent game - ergo, not appropriate. Favorite bible character is favoring two religions with which not all school students are associated- ergo, not appropriate. Pilgrims are portrayed, at many schools, at Thanksgiving.
Bill then pulled a fact out of his ass or dare we say lied with his comment that "it's all about anti-bullying, putting people in other people's positions so they don't make fun of girls or boys." (Programs that are vehemently opposed by the religious right as they supposedly promote homosexuality). He cleverly framed the real message of the piece: "It's a politically correct tactic that's far to sophisticated for students to understand and that's why it's stupid. And that's why these educators are pinheads. While they may have noble intent, they have no idea how children process things. You don't dress up like a little girl when you're five and you're a boy. That's just stupid."
Fact Check: The event was created by the students as part of school spirit week. It had nothing to do with anti-bullying education.
Carolla "joked" about how putting a boy "in a poodle skirt and saddle shoes is bullying." He talked about how, when his 6 year old son had to ride in his sister's pink car seat "and he screamed like a stuck pig the entire time." He asserted "that's a good sign." (So Carolla wants his boy to grow up to be a real gay bashing manly man?) Bill joked (?) "That's a good sign because if he liked it, you'd have to send him to camp." (WTF? Jesus Camp?)
Once again, the smell of old jock straps, metaphorically speaking, exudes from yet another testosterone infused Bill O'Reilly work out session with one of his boyz. It's no surprise that Fox News is full of "cavemen" who have no problem demeaning working mothers because they actually believe in antiquated gender norms. In this case they seem to be promoting antiquated and bigoted views towards the transgender community - views that are totally in sync with Bill's "traditionalist" world view that laments the demise of the white, Christian, male, power structure at the hands of women and "the gay agenda." The school event had nothing to do with transgender or bulling issues. Sometimes "a cigar is just a cigar" - but for Bill O'Reilly, this cigar is a vehicle for his toxic propaganda. Pretty slick.
*Alex Newell, who plays Glee's "Unique," credits Bill O'Reilly's stupid comment with increasing his (Newell's) and Glee's viewership.
Though I heard Carolla try to sing- Gimme Edith any day.
Boy — Ann Coulter’s not gonna like that . . .
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