Thin, straight, genius, virgin quadriplegic swaps body with gorgeous able-bodied lesbian, has sex with a boy, saves world. Really (oh, okay, in the plans--remember that word, plans, early plans) for an ep of SyFy Channel's Stargate: Universe). Read about it at io9.com.
I laughed. I mean, what else can you do? The article at io9.com is pretty good. The comments, on the other hand... I only managed to read three before my gag reflex kicked in and, well, let's just say I think science fiction in general has a long way to travel.
For those who would like to know more about lesbian disability, read Restricted Access: Lesbians on Disability, edited by Victoria A. Brownworth and Susan Raffo.
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That does sound far too A-Typ and "digestible" for the masses. Pity.
ReplyDeleteMan, comments threads are always BS-- io9s have some people holding up the good fight-- often me!
ReplyDeleteI agree with the folks who are saying they're using plot tropes and not digging deeply enough. C'mon. There are a thousand directions to go with these issues, and yet they rely on the same shit over and over? No wonder SyFy mispells its own name.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, given all the hub bub this has created I wonder if the ep will be altered. It should be changed entirely, or just scrapped.
ReplyDeleteEps always change. And casting notes are almost always blunt (or insensitive, depending on your POV). It's the way of the world.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a storm in a teacup. What interests me is the sheer fear and panic and my-privilege-is-shrinking tremble in the tenor of the comments.
Re: Stargate Universe: I expect nothing less from the entertainment industry. Their motivations are clear; marketing a saleable product and turning a profit. They will use any means to achieve that end. Unfortunately, the controversy stirred by this article will likely only serve to hasten the achievment of that goal.
ReplyDeleteHowever...comments made by some of the miscreants on i90.com forced the bile to the tip of my tongue. Describing a physically "disabled" individuals' body as "useless" is appalling. A physical disability does not render one useless by any means...especially in terms of sex and sexuality. The brain is the largest and most important sex organ in the body (all one requires is imagination...and perhaps some assistive devices ;)). Clearly the persons posting these comments (and many others I cannot even dignify with a response) on i90.com are disabled from the neck up.
Yes, I didn't get to that article when you first posted it, and when I did read it I was so disgusted I didn't even want to comment. Those comments and and the behavior of the people who left them were too heinous to give any more voice to.
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