Channel Nine’s TV show ‘20 to 1‘ has criticised for making jokes about transgender people.
The weekly program that countdowns twenty examples under a different theme was focusing on outrageous sports stars.
Among the stars on their list was basketball player Dennis Rodman, cricketer Shane Warne, Olympic hurdler Michelle Jenneke and and transgender tennis player Renee Richards.
Richards came in at number 8 on the shows countdown. Introducing the segment host Paul ‘Whippa’ Wipfli said transgender tennis player Richards was someone who had “the balls” to take on the tennis establishment.
Talking head Prue McSween questioned if transgender women should be allowed to play sport.
“Renee, you’ve got testosterone running through ya love, I’m all for transgenders, if you want to go and get it chopped off, go for your life honey, but playing tennis is a sheila’s tennis comp? hmmmm.” MacSween said, while screwing up her face.
It’s not the first time MacSween has questioned transgender people, earlier this year on Channel Seven’s ‘Sunrise’ program MacSween said educational programs that allowed young children to know about gender transition were “disgustingly malicious and dangerous”.
“What noise you make when you hit the ball should determine what gender you play for.” comedian Nick Covy said, suggesting that male tennis players who make feminine sounds should be asked to play women’s tennis.
Tennis champion Martina Navratilova, who was also appearing on the show, had played Richards and beaten her.
“I thought legally if she’s a woman, then she’s a woman – and we’ll play, of course who knows how we would have acted if she had been ten years younger and started kicking our butt.”
Navratilova said after they played against each other she and Richards had become good friends and Richards later became her coach.
Comedian Peter Berner joked that when Richards had played the mixed doubles circuit – “she played alone”.
Local transgender advocate Rachel Oliver told OUTinPerth she found the comments on the show disappointing.
“I was quite offended. Renee Richards is quite an iconic woman from the 1970’s, she was a really trailblazer for our transgender community.” Oliver said.
“We owe her a debt of respect. Society at large is unaware of transgender history but she’s a major figure in it. To treat her in such a derogatory manner and be so offensive.”
“I think in this day and age Channel Nine has a social responsibility – that they are obviously abrogating.” Oliver said.
Rachel Oliver said the station should explain why they put this type of content to air, and offer an apology to transgender people and their families.
Channel Nine was contacted for comment but did respond by OUTinPerth’s publishing deadline.
Yeah Prue Macsweeney is a word i shouldn’t write here that satrts with C.
Prue Macsweeney just showed how ignorant and ILL informed she was on Trans issues.I found the comments disgusting and in this current time when so many young people have found the strength and support from friends and family, to come out to maybe pushed into fear due to such comments.My husband now my partner transitioned some 12 years ago, our teen sons were watching the show, I jumped in as I saw their faces, that these people are just ignorant.We are proud of our family, I am proud of my partner.it hurt us as a family to hear such comments, when we have worked so hard to educate people about our family.Just imagine how many people who are struggling with their Gender would have felt, imagine you had built the courage to come out and then this.Sorry Channel 9 you did not think this segment through at all.
As an athlete and a transgender woman I find these comments to be offensive, ill informed and coming from a place of fundamental disdain. There would be an uproar and screams for apology from all quarters if indigenous people, disabled people or women were disparaged in this fashion. Many transgender people are among the most persecuted class of people. They shouldn’t have to endure being a comedy cheap shot. Paul Wipfli, Prue McSween, Peter Berner and the Producers of this program should apologise for this grotesque attempt to humiliate and share contempt for transgender people.
I have officially complained to Channel 9 and await a serious explanation and apology from them on this segment, the public get much of their information and develop their opinions and attitudes from the media, Channel 9, Indeed all the media have a social responsibility which in this instance has been rejected in favour of juvenile tittilation and uninformed commentary to raise their viewing figures.