Roseanne reboot seeks “Gender-Creative” Child despite Transphobic History

Roseanne Barr

The reboot of Roseanne is reportedly seeking a gender-creative child despite series star Roseanne’s own personal transphobic history.

Personally, I don’t think Roseanne Barr has changed her ways since earlier this year when she said that a transgender male should not be allowed to wrestle with the guys as she called testosterone a steroid.  She doesn’t understand what transgender people are going through nor does she want to.

The announcement, which was reported by Fox News,  the rebooted series is”looking to cast a character named Mark, who is the 9-year-old son of Darlene and David.  Mark will be a ‘gender creative’ character.”

Additionally, the character is described as “sensitive” and “effeminate” while the casting call mentions that the character “displays qualities of both male and female young child traits.”

Barr retweeted a tweet that said:  “I think we should wait to see it before judging.”

While I’m all in favor of an increase in transgender and gender-nonconforming characters on television, I’m not in favor of those coming on a series that star someone with a known history of transphobia.  Her silence following the president’s transgender military ban is deafening and speaks volumes.  Not just that but I’ve personally been attacked by Roseanne on Twitter (see link below).

Here is one report from The Transadvocate documenting Barr’s feelings on trans women such as myself and it’s from 2012.  It’s clearly transphobic.  She’s essentially saying that trans women are men and have no business using the women’s restrooms.  Here’s another report from the same time period from Jezebel.  Finally, you’re welcome to read the tweets from Roseanne from this past February when the outrage that followed Mack Beggs being forced to compete with the girls given the transgender athlete policy in Texas.

I have no reason to believe that Roseanne has changed her views from earlier this year nor do I feel she will cast a positive light on TGNC characters.

The eight-episode reboot is expected to air on ABC in 2018.

Danielle Solzman

Danielle Solzman is native of Louisville, KY, and holds a BA in Public Relations from Northern Kentucky University and a MA in Media Communications from Webster University. She roots for her beloved Kentucky Wildcats, St. Louis Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, and Boston Celtics. Living less than a mile away from Wrigley Field in Chicago, she is an active reader (sports/entertainment/history/biographies/select fiction) and involved with the Chicago improv scene. She also sees many movies and reviews them. She has previously written for Redbird Rants, Wildcat Blue Nation, and Hidden Remote/Flicksided. From April 2016 through May 2017, her film reviews can be found on Creators.

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