A Virus With Shoes*

I'd like you all to take a moment and read this latest spewing by Michael Savage: Embarrassment to Humanity, which was so vile, it prompted Shakes to alert me to the story and say "I really do hate that absurd, horrible little man quite possibly more than is possible for me to accurately describe, but, were I to try, I would say that I loathe him with the red hot fiery passion of 10,000 suns."

This could actually be the most repulsive things he's ever said. And knowing Savage, that's saying something. From the March 20th edition of The Savage Nation:

SAVAGE: "San Francisco police are trying to determine whether the slaying of a transgender victim found naked near the Interstate 280 freeway is somehow linked to reports of a nude woman seen walking on the same freeway two hours later, authorities said. ... [San Francisco police inspector Karen] Lynch said it appeared the victim had been in the process of becoming a woman." Yeah, process of becoming a woman -- psychopath, should have been in a back ward in a straitjacket for years, howling on major medication.

[...]

SAVAGE: And then they go into "she said transgender victims" going on and on "extremely violent" going on and on "are frequently left partially clothed or completely nude, it's making a statement and humiliating the victim," blah-blah-blah. I am so beyond fed up with freaks. I live in freak city. You know, I don't mind freaks. I used to go to Ringling Brothers when I was a little kid, and the freak show was my favorite part of the circus. I didn't go there to mock them. I liked to see the one-breasted man. I liked to see the mustached woman.

But when I wake up as an adult and I find out that they're actually all Democrats today, passing themselves off as normal, I'm sorry, someone's gotta say this is a freak show, time out. And what's this sympathy, constant sympathy for sexually confused people? Why should we have constant sympathy for people who are freaks in every society? I didn't say hurt the freaks. I didn't say do anything to the freaks.

But you know what? You're never gonna make me respect the freak. I don't want to respect the freak. The freak ought to be glad that they're allowed to walk around without begging for something. You know, I'm sick and tired of the whole country begging, bending over backwards for the junkie, the freak, the pervert, the illegal immigrant. All of them are better than everybody else. Sick. Everything is upside down.

So, according to Savage, trans people:

1. Are freakish, sick psychopaths in need of heavy medication and straightjackets.

2. Deserve no assistance or sympathy, even when they're being killed.

3. Belong in a circus freak show.

And I'm sure the millions of listeners of his nationally syndicated ignorant hate fest show were nodding right along with him.

As many of you Shakers know, I'm going through graduate school. Recently, I was offered and I'm accepting a field placement at a local LGBTQ community health center. One of my main interests in study is minorities within minorities. Specifically, I want to be working with trans clients. Trans people are still very much misunderstood and often receive less sympathetic (or simply less) services; I hope to help combat this. When Savage and others spread and grow hate and ignorance like this in millions across the country, it needs to be fought by any means possible.

Of course, I'm no expert, so if any trans (or cisgendered) Shakers have suggestions for books or articles of which they think I should be aware (or that you really love), please feel free to leave suggestions in comments. I always appreciate recommendations!

*Thanks to Bill Hicks