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Transparent star blames ‘ignorance’ for defeat of Houston Equal Rights Ordinance
The cast of the Emmy winning comedy Transparent had more than the show’s upcoming second season on their minds when they gathered at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood for a splashy premiere party.
It just last week that the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance known as HERO was repealed by voters. The measure aimed at protecting LGBTI people and others against discrimination.
Anti-HERO ads focused heavily on the ‘bathroom myth’ which claimed falsely that the bill would allow anyone of any gender to walk into any bathroom they wanted.
‘It’s never hate that gets us, it’s ignorance,’ Transparent star Jeffrey Tambor told Gay Star News on the red carpet Monday (9 November). ‘It’s non-education. It’s people not paying attention.’
Tambor won an Emmy in September for his performance as transgender woman Maura Pfefferman on the show which will premiere its second season on Amazon Prime next month.
Since taking on the role, Tambor has spoken passionately against anti-trans discrimination.
‘My kids came to the set and they had no problem with this (subject matter) at all,’ he said. ‘It’s the older ones and the ones who think they’re in charge who think that this is the way it goes. Non-education is the villain – keeping people dim and in the dark. That’s what I’m against.’
Steve Duplass, who plays the son of Tambor’s character on Transparent, described himself as ‘very disappointed’ at what happened in Houston.
‘What this show is about is understanding and inclusion and naturally in any movement in life there’s going to be some steps forward and some steps backward,’ Duplass said. ‘I feel very confident that we are moving towards a greater place of love and that will prevail ultimately.’
Out actress Cherry Jones, who has joined the show for its second season, agrees with Duplass.
‘It won’t take long for that to change. Everything keeps changing so fast,’ Jones said. ‘We had a setback there because they were just really good propagandas as they frequently are and we’ve just got to find a way to cut into the propaganda and then it’s going to keep changing rapidly. The days are numbered for that ban in Texas.’
Transparent’s creator Jill Soloway said history will not be kind to those who voted down HERO.
‘I think what was able to happen was that people who trade in hate were able to use hateful messages to arouse public fear,’ Soloway said. ‘Soon enough they will realize that they were on the wrong side of history.
She added: ‘Absolutely trans people need the right to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity. Anybody whose gender non-conforming has to go home to go to the bathroom.’
The post Transparent star blames ‘ignorance’ for defeat of Houston Equal Rights Ordinance appeared first on Gay Star News.
Greg Hernandez
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