I’ve thought for quite some time there’s fertile ground for jokes about the trans experience, but they really need to be told by people who have lived that experience. There is something cosmically funny about being born into one body and feeling it is the wrong one.
In general it takes a level of skill to tell a joke about a marginalized group without punching down that is exceptionally rare. For example, I can think of one or two male comedians who have told rape jokes that did not make rape victims the butt of the joke. If a trans person tells a joke about the trans experience and fucks it up, other trans people won’t feel like a cis person is just adding to the atmosphere of hate toward them.
I think it definitely needs to be done tactfully and without hate, but joking about one another is an important part of being included and feeling like we all belong together.
My philosophy of comedy is that you can joke about any tragedy you want, but make it absolutely fucking crystal clear that you are on the victim’s side. Plus, punching up is always funnier than punching down.
I’ve thought for quite some time there’s fertile ground for jokes about the trans experience, but they really need to be told by people who have lived that experience. There is something cosmically funny about being born into one body and feeling it is the wrong one.
why do you think only people who have been trans should be making trans jokes?
In general it takes a level of skill to tell a joke about a marginalized group without punching down that is exceptionally rare. For example, I can think of one or two male comedians who have told rape jokes that did not make rape victims the butt of the joke. If a trans person tells a joke about the trans experience and fucks it up, other trans people won’t feel like a cis person is just adding to the atmosphere of hate toward them.
I think it definitely needs to be done tactfully and without hate, but joking about one another is an important part of being included and feeling like we all belong together.
My philosophy of comedy is that you can joke about any tragedy you want, but make it absolutely fucking crystal clear that you are on the victim’s side. Plus, punching up is always funnier than punching down.