30 most vicious John Oliver take downs
By Jeremy Dick
15. Targeting lawmakers’ ignorance of transgender rights
While Americans have progressed for the better in terms of LGBT rights, there is still quite a ways to go. Transgender Americans, in particular, are still struggling against ignorance from those who don’t understand them. This includes a case where two transgender women were told to remove their makeup and jewelry before they could be photographed at the DMV.
John Oliver pointed out how ridiculous that was on Last Week Tonight. As he said on the program, you get to say whatever you want for everything else on your driver’s license, including your height and weight. “They ask you your weight, they don’t weigh you like a prize hog,” Oliver mentioned. Besides, if that’s how they always look, shouldn’t that be how they’re identified by their license?
Oliver also spoke about the controversy surrounding letting transgender individuals use the bathrooms for genders they identify as. One transgender teen identifying as male reported being bullied after being forced to use the women’s restroom. Politicians pretended to sympathize with him when he presented his story, but still proceeded to vote for a bill that would discriminate against him.
The truth is, there is no stopping the progression of LGBT rights, and history won’t look too kindly upon those who voted against it.
Next: 14. Pennies