Radio Host Apologizes for On Air Anti-TG Remarks

[Carolyn Marie]

I found this apology more heartfelt than most. At least he didn't make any excuses. Very nasty comment, though.

http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/119234/lex-terry-issue-apology-for-transgender-remark

Carolyn Marie

[VickySGV]

Another case where transgendered issues eclipse the real issue and spark an un reasoned hateful comment. I even wonder about the truthfulness of the "16" year old here, but I do agree that underage sex, even by mistake (some 16 year olds look 30) is not acceptable, and should be the basic issue that was clearly discussed, not the gender issue. A 16 year old shooting someone also bothers me greatly since they are not legal adults, and the myriad problems that brings about.

I do think the apology is sincere and complete, and does discuss the underlying reason for the broadcaster's feeling. Get the facts right, a PERSON committed a bad act. How they dressed was irrelevant.

[Guest LizMarie]

I've read other, more detailed versions of the story. There was not sex involved though it's not clear if there was an expectation of sex. The perpetrator shot her once, assumed she was dead (she laid very still in fear), took her purse and turned to walk away. A few steps away, the injured trans woman got up and tried to flee, at which point the perpetrator then fired several more shots wildly in her direction, not hitting her or anyone else luckily. Shortly after this, the perpetrator bragged about shooting a transgender woman on various social media publicly.

The key issue about Lex and Terry though is that they were perpetuating the so-called "gay and trans panic defense" where someone is justified in committing violence because they panic.

Taken from another article:

"The same day that Lex and Terry were voicing their support of murdering trans people in cases of trans/gay-panic, the National LGBT Bar Association announced that the American Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section recently passed a resolution banning this as a defense. This tactic was used in the Matthew Shepard, Angie Zapata, Brandon Teena and Larry King cases. This practice will become officially banned in August should the American Bar Association’s House Of Delegates approve it at that time."

Reference: http://www.transadvocate.com/siriusxm-broadcasts-support-for-trans-murder.htm

Please do note that in the time since this incident, due to public backlash, Sirius XM has publicly apologized and removed Lex and Terry from the air, at least temporarily. Clear Channel has publicly apologized (something I admit to having been surprised to see, given their general programming lineups). And the two radio hosts involved have now apologized too. Please note also, that Lex and Terry had recently made other anti-trans statements about the Coco McDonald case as well. Perhaps they've now learned something. I hope so.

In general, these developments appear to be a positive thing. The more people hear and see that trans related bigotry won't be tolerated, the safer things become for us all.

[VickySGV]

Thanks for the research on this one Liz. I wondered if there was more to it, and apparently there is much more. The gay/trans panic defense needs to be "put to sleep" by either one heckuva strong appellate court decision, or by 50 state laws and the 51st for U.S. territories, but the ethics violation issue by the ABA is going to be a start. The ABA however does not have the power that is needed to really enforce attorney practices, and regrettably there are places where an un-informed jury could still apply it, and as long as that is possible, someone is going to advance for the jury to consider.