The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has called on NBC to apologize after an anti-transgender skit aired on Saturday Night Live (SNL), Jan. 31.
The skit, titled Estro-Maxxx, blatantly mocked transgender people, parodying hormone replacement treatment and minimizing the challenges they face. SNL’s skit also supported many of the false stereotypes that could be used as fuel for anti-transgender sentiment, including discrimination and potentially even violence.
This is not the first time SNL has relied on anti-transgender humor. This skit comes just weeks after the show used the term “son-daughter” to refer to Cher’s transgender son Chaz Bono.
“People across the country tune into SNL for laughs every Saturday night. The problem with this skit is that it is in extremely poor taste, and mocks the difficulties associated with transitioning,” HRC President Joe Solmonese said. “It fuels misperceptions that will be used by some to continue patterns of discrimination. Anti-transgender skits have no place on television. NBC should publicly apologize and never let this happen again.”
The skit degraded transgender women by featuring men with facial hair wearing women’s clothing, while the audience laughed. The HRC has called on NBC to remove it from all platforms.
Solmonese added, “NBC has the power to set an example of fair-mindedness and inclusiveness for its viewers. It is unfortunate that they instead used their platform to further ignorance.”
