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0laad alert by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Ally McBeal defames transgender people Ally McBeal, David E. Kelley’s Emmy Award-winning comedy, featured a male-to-fe- male transgender character in a three-part story arc that aired on October 30, November 6 and November 13. Cindy, a transgender woman, hires Ally’s law firm to sue her place of employ ment because she does not want to take a man datory physical. Cindy has not had sex-reas signment surgery and does not want her transgender identity revealed at work. After winning her lawsuit, Cindy becomes involved with Mark, a lawyer in Ally’s firm who does- not know that Cindy is transgender. GLAAD was encouraged by the setup for the third episode of the storyline. Although Mark reacts insensitively after learning that Cindy was not always a woman, he realizes that he loves her and wants to continue the rela tionship, saying, “I can’t see you as anything but a woman.” However, the final episode in the storyline was offensive and defamatory. Mark backtracks, saying that he considers Cindy “aberrant,” and that he could “never be sexual with her.” Cindy was a well-written, multi-dimensional character. However, she was surrounded by situ ations and commentary that were so offensive, they completely overwhelmed any positive im pact her character might have made. Bigoted comments by every regular character on the show went unchallenged, and every character ended the storyline as transphobic as they be gan. (Nell hysterically claimed that Mark’s re lationship was a “circus act” that was “embar rassing for the entire firm.” Fish gargled and used mouth spray because a transgender per son kissed him. Cage called Cindy “it.”) GLAAD has written a letter to Kelley re questing a meeting to discuss the manner in •whliAn Ally McBealpomzys lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Contact David E. Kelley and urge him to meet with GLAAD, and to create fair, accurate and inclusive stories about transgender people - instead of simply exploiting them for ratings during sweeps. [Contact: David E. Kelley, David E. Kelley Productions, 1600 Rosecrans Ave., Building 4B, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. You may also reg ister your comments and opinions with Eox Tele vision at askfox@foxinc.com. Please note that this comment does not go to David E. Kelley but to Eox Television. The officiaj Ally McBeal website has a message board where the show is discussed. If you wish to participate in the discussion about Correction In our Nov. 25 issue, the story on New-Hanover County Commis sioner-elect Julia Boseman did not contain a byline. The story was writ ten by contributing writer Bo Dean ofWilmington. Q-Notes regrets the error. Fast, Friendly and Courteous Service Printing • Typesetting • High Speed Copying • Binding • Notary Public • Invitations • Laminating • Resumes • Business Cards • Full Color Copies • Rubber Stamps • Union Announcements • Much Much More! 1400 East Morehead Street Charlotte, NC 28204 (704) 375-8349 / FAX (704) 342-1066 Monday-Friday 8:30-5:30 the Mark/Cindy storyline, you may go to http:ll WWW. allymcbeal com/unisex/index, htm. ] Ms. explores intersex issues “Making the Cut,” an article featured in the October/November 2000 issue of Ms., strongly criticizes the common medical practice of per forming cosmetic surgery on intersex children to remove or reduce a clitoris which is perceived to be “too large,” and therefore “abnormal.” Martha Coventry (who was subjected to a cli- toridectomy at the age of six) examines the his tory of genital mutilation in the United States, tracing the evolution of arguments used to ad vocate the procedure. In the 19th century, Coventry explains, medical profes.sionals argued that excising the clitoris ofany female would stop masturbation, epilepsy and insanity. That theory, which was thoroughly discredited by 1950, was replaced by the notion that children born with “abnor mal” clitorises must be “fixed” in order to en sure they would be “normal” heterosexual girls. Today, U.S. surgeons still perform cosmetic surgery on healthy clitorises. On average, five children a day are “conformed” to arbitrary standards of “normal” size and appearance. The author also points out that homopho bia plays a part in the decision to perform these surgeries. Coventry cites a 1994 medical paper advocating genital surgery because “parents will feel reassured when they know that tlieir daugh ter can develop heterosexually just like other girls.” For the past 50 years, intersex people have been subjected to surgeries which diminish or destroy their capacity for sexual enjpyment and their ability to express their gender identity. Recently, intersex activists have publicly de nounced this practice and called on the medi cal community to stop performing these muti lating surgeries. Write and thank Ms. for increasing public awareness about intersex genital mutilation, and for bringing an intersex person’s voice to a main stream audience. Contact Gloria Jacobs, Editor; Ms.\ 20 Ex change Place, 22nd Floor; New York, NY 10005. Fax: 212-509-2407. Email letterstptheeditor@msmagazine.com. T Q-Notes ▼ December 9, 2000 T PAGE 13 Tir^dofth^ crowded malls? Try som^thin^ ne\y this holiday season... •No crowds •No hassds • Ample parking • 18,000 sq. ft. of antiques &. collectibles • New Christmas and home decor Shop Antique Mall 121 Freeland Ln. (Off South Blvd. at Sralyhark) Charlotte NC (704) 5Z9-6369 (704)529-13 52 Mon-Sat 10-6 Sunday 1-6 Metropolitan Community Church of Charlotte A Church for All Families presents The Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt four of the 12x12 panels (32 quilts) with local panels On display Tuesday, December 12 and Friday, December 15 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm with a Prayer and Meditation Service from 7:00 to 7:30 pm Special Christmas Eve Service 11 ;00 pm, Sunday, December 24 Metropolitan Community Church of Charlotte 1825 Eastway Drive Charlotte, NC 28205 Phone:704-563-5810 Fax: 704-535-1791 MCCCharlotte@juno.com Join us for services each Sunday at 10:45 am and 6:30 pm
Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Dec. 9, 2000, edition 1
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