Recap on KXRQ Transgender Children Radio Show

GLAAD has been keeping almost up-to-the-minute updates on the situation that is unfolding between KRXQ Radio of Sacramento and their advertisers due to the defamatory statements a morning talk show made about transgendered children. I dare you to listen to the segment if only to survive their cackling voices, ugh.

For those of you not ballsy enough to click that thing, on May 28, the Rob, Arnie and Dawn show held a segment about transgendered children and people in which Rob and Arnie primarily made completely ignorant, dehumanizing and offensive comments.

I transcribed some of the following, but read at your own risk. I was pretty outraged.

They described transfolks as “phony or created in our culture, or completely treatable, there’s no such thing. This is (sic) the look at me part of our society…”

That the “….transgender movement in America is so phony…”

“…What makes me sick about these are these parents in America who allow their children to…clomp around the house in a dress and wear make-up… of course he thinks he’s a girl, the parents’ aren’t taking him out to play baseball.”

They said transfolks, particularly transyouth, are “…liars and need attention….”

“They are freaks and weirdos.”

They spent about 30 minutes on the show making dehumanizing comments while Dawn squawked in the background against their statements. Rob and Arnie continued to scrutinize her. They started promoting child abuse when they began discussing an Omaha family who supported their transgender child in her transition.

I’d almost pity them because they seem SO trapped in gender roles that they feel fear and anger at the idea that gender can be different from biology, but this kind of dehumanizing behavior is incredibly alarming, especially when they seem to promote child abuse so nonchalantly.

On June 5, GLAAD mediated communication between advertisers and other media, starting with companies Bank of America, Verizon, and Carl’s Jr, whom all pulled their advertising from the KRXQ radio station. Wells Fargo, Nissan, and AT&T soon followed. Also in support of transgendered people are Chipotle, Snapple, Sonic, and on June 5, McDonald’s.

Yesterday, June 7, Rob Williams, who is apparently brilliant enough to own the show, issued a statement claiming that they will apologize on Thursday, June 11. However, many commenters and bloggers on the glaadblog.org website have been stating that KRXQ is “capable of crocodile tears” as it’s not the first time an incident like this has been made. It’s also worth noting that some commenters have said that Thursday usually has higher listener ratings, thus the delay of the apology until then.

Although this specific person did not leave any contact info, their tip might be valuable to keep in mind as the week comes to a close.

That was the recap, and I’ll keep ya’ll updated.