Staff Writer
Gabourey Sidibe appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show on January 23 to promote American Horror Story: Coven. While discussing what it was like to live in New Orleans, Sidibe used the word “tranny” five times.
“There was a bar that we would frequent and every time we’d go, when we were leaving
every single time there was always like a gang of cops arresting trannies. Specifically
trannies…And I don’t know what goes on with trannies but that tranny on tranny crime
needs to stop!”
While Sidibe was pointing out the treatment of transgender people by law enforcement and others, many are offended at her choice of words. Mara Keisling, Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, told The Huffington Post:
“Using the word ‘tranny’ isn’t OK anymore. Using it to make fun of people is definitely not
OK. And using it to make fun of any kind of violence is just plain wrong. I know she meant
it in fun but that’s the problem in this case. It’s not just that she used the word ‘tranny’ but that
she’s making fun of violence in a city where the police have a history of committing violence
and discrimination against trans women of color.”
Sidibe’s interview with Hall was a reminder about how many people still remain uneducated about the transgender community and how inappropriate it is to use that term. After the incident, Sidibe took to her twitter page to apologize.
“I’ve apologized several times for using the word Tranny. I don’t realize that it was a slur. I’m very sorry for my poor choice of words.”
“I’m also sorry for having made light of a bad situation. It was not my intention.”
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