I can’t stand Jim Rome. The screaming has always grated on me, his homophobia comes and goes, and he’s more style than substance. So it was with great joy that I heard from Ted Rybka at GLAAD that they had taken Rome to task over his coverage of the Ronaldo hooker story, in which Rome used the phrases “trannies,” “shims,” “he-she,” “she-males,” and “getting his freak on with some post-ops.” To his credit, Rome apologized.
Interestingly, on the same day we had a post on this blog that described the hookers as “transvestites” – which goes against GLAAD’s standards. Rybka told me that GLAAD would rather we didn’t use that term because the term “transvestite” carries with it some negative baggage. “Cross-dresser” is the term of GLAAD’s choice, and they even got AP to change the “transvestite” in their story about Ronaldo’s tryst to “cross-dresser.”
Rybka acknowledged though, as so many people do, that it is very different when a gay publication uses terms like “tranny” and “fag” than when the Associated Press does. Personally, I don’t care what term a news story uses about gays or trannies transgender folk. But if it means Jim Rome gets a talking-to, I’m all for it. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
on Apr 30th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
The word “transvestite” carries negative baggage but “cross-dresser” doesn’t?
on May 1st, 2008 at 12:13 am
I need to be educated…transvestite is bad, but transgendered is good? Cross-dresser to me sounds pretty undignified and kind of tacky by comparison, almost common, really.
on May 1st, 2008 at 2:01 am
Can someone explain why transvestite has a negative connotation? Thanks!
on May 1st, 2008 at 9:15 am
Gee, sad to see that GLAAD has fallen into the trap of “It’s OK when WE say it, but it’s really, really nasty when someone else does.” And apparently doesn’t seem to be in touch with what some in their own community believe to be tasteful or not.
I tune in to Rome almost every day, one reason being is that I know that he’s far more in tune and supportive of gays than most on air sports blabbers.
on May 1st, 2008 at 11:14 am
GLAAD also thought “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry” was a terrific movie. They haven’t had any credibility in years. They live to give out their awards every year and rub elbows with Hollywood.
Haven’t you guys written articles praising Rome in the past? Now you “can’t stand” him? WTF?
on May 1st, 2008 at 12:36 pm
The term “transgendered,” according to GLAAD, is wrong - you should say “transgender.” Here is their trans style guide, with some explanation:
http://www.glaad.org/media/guide/transfocus.php
on May 1st, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Thanks Cyd! Not to be an absolute hater, but who gave GLAAD the keys to the kingdom in terms of how we define our community? Saying someone is transgender sounds like a verb instead of a noun like biracial…is that the point? Also, every transgender person doesn’t agree with the FTM or MTF label, I have friends who say, “I’m a woman.” “I’m a man.” and often times reinforce gender roles that gays and lesbians get flack for fighting against. Aren’t we all just people?
on May 1st, 2008 at 10:17 pm
“Haven’t you guys written articles praising Rome in the past? Now you “can’t stand” him? WTF?”
We ran a book excerpt recently that examined Rome’s show and how it deals with gay issues and he came off fairly well.
on May 1st, 2008 at 11:24 pm
I can’t stand Jim Rome. But, if he did something gay-positive, I’d still write about it and praise him for it. It is possible to appreciate the actions of someone you don’t like.
on May 2nd, 2008 at 9:54 am
From Cyd’s article - “Personally, I don’t care what term a news story uses about gays or trannies transgender folk.”
Unless of course it gives you fodder for a news filler on Outsports.
on May 2nd, 2008 at 9:56 am
I’m sorry but I’m an Executive Transvestite NOT an Executive Cross-Dresser. That would make me sound like an expensive angry wardrobe.
on May 5th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Not sure who this Cyd Zeigler the Second is, but Cyd … no one in the world - in reality or online - gives a rat’s ass if you can stand Jim Rome or not. Your moralistic grandstanding is a waste of bandwidth.
on Feb 8th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
its about time