Lance Bass already knows his comments while guest co-host of this morning’s Access Hollywood are going to land  him in some serious trouble. This morning, on-air on live TV, the Mississippi native, singer, songwriter, actor, producer, dancer, and author, interviewing New York comic Billy Eichner, said the word “trannies” several times, and then said he “didn’t get the memo” that calling transgender people “trannies” is a slur. No doubt, Bass is –rightfully — awaiting a call from GLAAD, and should make an apology before the day’s end. This has no place in America, and coming from an out, gay role-model makes the offense even worse. Lance, do this now, and mean it. Via The Advocate:
“So you need to go to Christopher and Hudson and get those trannies on the corner there — that would be perfect,” Bass suggests to Eichner. Eichner agrees, saying “I love a tranny” before realizing his error and correcting himself. “We’re not supposed to call them trannies anymore,” Eichner says. “Did you see that Neil Patrick Harris called them a tranny [sic] on Twitter?” Bass replies, “Oh, no? Great, now I’m going to get in trouble.” Co-host Kit Hoover asks Eichner if there’s a “new name.” Bass says, “I didn’t get the memo.” Eichner suggests “really, really gay? I don’t know.” Bass replies, “I like my good ol’ trannies.”
Bass, who is openly gay, came out in 2006 and received the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award in October of that same year. In 2007, Bass appeared in advertisements for GLAAD promoting tolerance toward the LGBT community, has done fundraising for GLSEN, and has also been active with other charities, including his own Lance Bass Foundation.
Sadly, it feels like December has not been a good month for Transgender Americans.
Earlier this month, Neil Patrick Harris, also an out, gay celebrity, also made a “tranny” joke, for which he apologized, while also guest-hosting a morning TV show, “Live With Kelly.” And ABC-TV is planning on airing “Work It,” a show that many in the LGBT community, and our allies, find offensive, but that ABC, even after talks, has refused to cancel. Â
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