Sara Ramirez has criticised American TV Network, ABC, for featuring a joke about bisexuality.
The joke in question was aired on The Real O’Neals, a comedy series, when a character named Kenny, who is openly gay, said:
“Oh, God. Here we go. Webbed toes? Money problems? Or worse… bisexual?!”
Sara has since taken to Twitter to send a series of tweets directed at the network, some of which include links to a petition calling for ABC to apologise.
WORDS MATTER.PLEASE SIGN this petition 2 @ABCNetwork protesting biphobia in @TheRealONeals: https://t.co/TkyT5ICtgo @StillBisexual ???#LGBTQ
— Sara Ramirez (@SaraRamirez) February 16, 2017
And as someone who worked 4 them 4 10 years+,am truly disheartened & disappointed quite frankly.I will invest my brand where I’m respected. https://t.co/NQQAPDsFlU
— Sara Ramirez (@SaraRamirez) February 16, 2017
Dear @ABCNetwork @TheRealONeals :own it,address it,clarify it,empower our #Queer #Bisexual youth & community w/accurate positive reflections
— Sara Ramirez (@SaraRamirez) February 16, 2017
#LGBTQ #Youth #EwenCameron started this petition w/a single signature.We know the power of television.PLEASE SIGN: https://t.co/TkyT5ICtgo
— Sara Ramirez (@SaraRamirez) February 16, 2017
The actress came out as bisexual last year during her speech at True Colors Fund’s ’40 to None’ in Los Angeles.
ABC has not yet commented on the situation but LGBTQ advocacy group, PFLAG, who worked on a previous episode of the programme, released the below statement via Twitter.
“We were so focused on the family acceptance portion of the episode that we completely missed the joke.
“In hindsight, we should have caught it and we blew it. We should have done better and we will definitely do better next time. As allies we have a responsibility to own it when we mess up”.
I asked @PFLAG (who partnered for the acceptance ep. in @TheRealONeal) for a statement on @Noahegalvin ‘s character bisexual joke. pic.twitter.com/lMdfoGCmwY
— Eliel Cruz-Lopez (@elielcruz) January 19, 2017
