'I'm the gayest motherf***er': Tommy Lee defends himself after being dragged for sharing transphobic clip
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Tommy Lee has responded to criticism he received for a post on his Instagram account. The Motley Crue drummer apologized to his followers after posting a 2017 video of One America News Network host Liz Wheeler ranting about transgender people and persons who identify as "transracial" and "transabled" on Instagram on Friday, April 14.
Lee later removed the video. Musician Questlove was one of several who criticized Lee in the comments of his since-deleted post, writing: "OAN tho? #unfollow."
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How did Tommy Lee defend himself?
"I deleted my 'controversial' post, because I am in no way transphobic or against the LGBTQIA+ community or any f---ing community...s---," mentioned Lee, 60, on his Instagram. "I'm the gayest motherf---er around! I just don't agree with how far some things have been taken." "I get being born female and identifying as male or being born male and identifying as female or whatever," he went on. "But when [people] start identifying as babies or animals...WTF!"
'Don’t need to delete at all'
The majority of Instagram users do not appear to have wanted the Motley Crue drummer to remove the post. A user wrote, "The fact that it was controversial means you’re hitting a soft spot. Should’ve kept it up instead of taking it down." Another user said, "Don’t delete that s**t that’s why things have been taken so far because people are to scared to stand up for the truth." "Don’t need to delete at all… express your own feelings, you have freedoms just like the rest of us," wrote one user. Another user claimed, " I can’t believe you of all people removed your post. You removed part of your heart. Still love you. Still love the Crue. But just a little disappointed." "Speak out! Don't apologize for giving your honest opinion,' said another user.
How does APA define the terms transgender, sex, and gender?
The American Psychological Association stated in a statement earlier this year that "transgender is an umbrella term for persons whose gender identity, gender expression, or behavior does not conform to that typically associated with the sex to which they were assigned at birth." When defining sex and gender, the organization stated that "sex is assigned at birth, refers to one's biological status as either male or female, and is associated primarily with physical attributes such as chromosomes, hormone prevalence, and external and internal anatomy." Gender, on the other side, "refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for boys and men or girls and women," as per the organization.
'Record 340 pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislation'
According to the Human Rights Campaign, a record 340 pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislation have been submitted around the United States in 2023, many of which particularly target transgender youths. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been a vocal opponent of transgender rights, advocating for a prohibition on gender-affirming care for minors and Medicaid recipients, as well as signing legislation prohibiting trans women and girls from participating in sports teams that match their gender identity, as reported by People. Since taking office, President Joe Biden has been outspoken about his support for the transgender community, swiftly restoring transgender healthcare protections and lifting the ban on transgender service members, before criticizing the "onslaught of state laws targeting transgender Americans" in his first State of Union speech last March. He continued to call on Congress to approve the Equality Act, which would amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act to outlaw discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity, as he launched Pride Month last year.
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