ABC's 'Work It'

Seems like everyone is upset over the new cross-dressing comedy on ABC called Work It. An apparent re-make of Bosom Buddies, I'll admit after seeing the first preview that, it seemed uncouth in today's culture of respect and diversity. In fact I rolled my eyes, knowing this was going to upset the activist sect. Especially in a time where kid's are killing themselves over stereotypes. Perhaps this is a comedy technique that deserves to be dead and buried, or maybe not?

Now if you think I can't take a joke, you're wrong. In fact, I'm the one who has publicly stated that a man in a dress is not a transgender person, and indeed it can be funny. Because, men in dresses are quite funny. However the problem comes with people, normal people, and their confusion, and often their ignorance thinking the two concepts are synonymous with the GLBT crowd. It seems so obvious from this side, and to give Work It writers a bit of a break, they're probably naive of how much stereotypes, like this, may affect a culture when you beam it out as pop culture via television to the masses. That's where the word responsibility comes in. A responsibility to dichotomize the transgender community from men in dresses. To educate the public. I doubt highly that responsibility will be adhered to, but I do believe it's possible, and for that reason alone, the transgender community should at least give ABC's Work It, the opportunity to prove itself.

Transgender Murder is worse than regular Murder

Destiny Lauren, who was murdered in 2009.

In the UK, where they don't have the death penalty, they're moving to make jail sentences longer if you murder someone who is transgender. Somewhat laughable, but the minimum has now been moved up to 30 years of prison time. This was in response to Destiny Lauren who was brutally murdered in London, and whose murderer, Leon Fyle,  received only a 21 year life sentence.

Despite the fact, I'm not keen on the seperationism this policy endorses from non-transgender people, and the idea that you can kill someone and only get 30 years is still comical, though I think that the UK is on the right track for "breaking down the barriers" as Justice Secretary, Ken Clark has suggested. I think the most important aspect of this, is that society is saying: transgender murder is worse than regular murder. There's hate involved, there's prejudice involved, and therefore it's a more heinous crime. Not all murders are equal, and murdering people who you simply feel obliged to hate, makes the killer in those crimes, the worst monster of all.