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In the wake of the media and Internet firestorm which followed a call to action by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and coverage in The Huffington Post, which broke this story nationally, ten major American corporate advertisers have pulled their accounts from Rob, Arnie & Dawn in the Morning on KRXQ 98.55 in Sacramento.
For its part, the station has taken the May 28th broadcast down off the station's public website and removed its list of advertisers and sponsors.
On the day in question, two of the show's three hosts, Rob Williams and Arnie States, spent approximately thirty minutes of the segment berating transgender children as "idiots," "freaks," and "freaks of nature," who were "just out for attention." They compared the children to "fat bastard kids on Maury" who just needed to be put in their places with verbal abuse and even physical punishment if necessary. States said that if he had a male child who put on a pair of high heels, he would discipline him by striking the little boy with his own shoe.
"I'm going to go, 'You know what? You're a little idiot! You little dumbass!" he seethed, later addng, "I look forward to the day when [the transgender children] go out into society and society beats them down. And they wind up in therapy." If the transgender-identified child "gets to eighteen," States urged, throw them out of the house. "You say, 'Get out! Go be a freak! And understand, SON, that society will never accept you because we will have some moral judgment."
Apparently a significant chunk of corporate America also has "some moral judgment," and, in this case, they decided that Rob, Arnie & Dawn's in the Morning's abusive tirade against transgender children, some as young as five, crossed the line.
As of this writing, at least ten national companies have withdrawn, cancelled, or decided not to renew their advertising contracts with KRXQ. They include Chipotle restaurants, the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, SONIC, Verizon, the Carl's Jr. restaurant chain, Wells Fargo, Nissan, AT&T, and McDonalds. Citing the depravity of the content, spokespeople for the various companies were united in their disgust with KRXQ and Rob, Arnie, & Dawn in the Morning.
A statement sent to GLAAD from the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group read, "We found the segment to be offensive, and as a result we are pulling our Snapple advertising from the station." The sentiment was echoed by SONIC, who asserted flatly that "SONIC in no way condones violence toward children and does not wish to be associated with media content that condones or promotes such activity in any way."
But this isn't the first time that States and Williams have crossed the line into controversy on KRXQ by using small children as thematic set-pieces.
On October 15th 2004, the FCC released its findings in an obscenity complaint brought against KRXQ by James Peak, a Lincoln, CA resident. After receiving Peak's complaint and reviewing tapes and transcripts from shows between 2002 and 2003, the FCC fined KRXQ $55,000.
The 19 page report cites two specific instances where they deemed Rob, Arnie & Dawn in the Morning to have engaged in graphic sexual obscenity on-air.
While Segment 2 of the report (File No. EB-02-IH-0715) cites "a graphic and detailed discussion of various methods that men may employ to disgrace, degrade and humiliate women before, during, and after sexual intercourse," Segment 1 is even more disturbing, especially in light of States and Williams' recent comments about transgender children, dealing as it does with a skit about the sexual abuse of a little boy at the hands of his father. The skit is presented as a humor gag clearly meant to titillate, according the the FCC.
The report reads in part:
The September 13, 2002 segment involved one of the program hosts playing the role of a young boy describing how his father wanted to take photographs of him in the nude and show the youngster his erect penis. Although the segment employed euphemisms ("Daddy's going to take me to a restaurant `cause he wants to take pictures of me in my birthday suit. Daddy's giving me a submarine. He says he's giving me something long, hard, and full of seaman."), the sexual import of the material is unmistakable. Although the segment was relatively brief, there is no question that its purpose was to shock and titillate, and is similar to other patently offensive material involving graphic references to sexual activity with children, which were found to be indecent. Under these circumstances, we need not find that the sexual references were repeated at length in order to find that the material is patently offensive. As noted in the Indecency Policy Statement, broadcasting references to sexual activities with children, even if relatively fleeting, may be found indecent where, as here, other factors contribute to a finding of patent offensiveness.
Entercom, KRXQ's parent company offered up as a defense that
"the material was deliberately oblique and far less explicit than material previously deemed acceptable by the Commission."
The report continues:
"In addition, Entercom maintains that the Commission's indecency definition is unconstitutionally vague and overbroad. Finally, Entercom maintains that , because Station KRXQ (FM) generally garners relatively high ratings in the Sacramento, California, market, the sensitivities of a single complainant do not reflect the contemporary standards of the Sacramento listening community."
In layman's terms, according to KRXQ, "the contemporary standards of the Sacramento listening community" in 2002 encompassed "humor" about incestuous sexual abuse between a father and a small child, just as in 2009 it ought to encompass what States defends as "joking" about physical, verbal, and emotional abuse of transgender children.
In an exclusive interview from his home in Lincoln, CA, James Peak says he's not surprised by this latest grotesqueness on the part of Rob, Arnie & Dawn in the Morning.
"I have been fighting the station for years," Peak says. "I filed a complaint in 2001, but [Rob Williams and Arnie States] denied everything. I have affidavits from the FCC saying they didn't know what I was talking about."
The complaint dealt with degrading comments about women, for instance the practice of "snowballing," defined by Wikepedia as "the man in a heterosexual couple ejaculating into the mouth of a woman, and then receiving his semen back from her."
"I would write them emails saying, 'What are you guys doing? I've never heard anything like this in my life on the radio,'" Peak says. "I met their producer later in life, and she told me that they thought I was crazy."
An August 2005 article in the Sacramento Bee by journalist Sam McManis bears out Peak's assertion that he was viewed with contempt by both the station and the show's hosts, who mocked him on the air, reading his letters aloud and inviting callers to comment on them, which they inevitably did in unflattering terms.
Rob Williams' response to charges of the show being misogynistic is that they were "asinine," and that "people see things from their own screwed-up perspective."
Tanya Montague, producer of Rob, Arnie & Dawn in the Morning from 1999 to 2002 disagreed, and is quoted as saying, "The show is degrading to women. It makes me sick. When I was producer, I had no say in what went on the show. When I worked there, they thought [Peak] was crazy. He wasn't the only [listener] who complained, but he was the only one who took the time to go to the FCC."
When the FCC denied Peak's first complaint because of the shock-jocks affidavits and lack of audio evidence, he began to record the offending segment, which led to the second complaint.
"When I made the second complaint [which resulted in the obscenity finding] there's no way they could deny it," he says, adding that while States and Williams mocked him on-air after his first complaint led nowhere with the FCC, they toned down their rhetoric after the fine, refusing to use Peak's name or give him what they considered free publicity. "I even wrote them a letter to commend them on the change in tone."
But the change in tone was to be short lived.
In short order, according to Peak, a "joke" about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) caused "a huge uproar." Another time, according to the article in the Sacramento Bee, the hosts were criticizing the efforts of a Kansas woman named Jeanette Fennell who was campaigning to make SUV's safer.
"When Mr. Peak told me the radio station was trashing me and calling me 'a whore,' I immediately called and wanted to talk to the host," Fennell told McManis, "but they hung up on me. Finally, I had a lawyer call them and they stopped. I'm glad Mr. Peak called me."
"I have another complaint pending against them with the FCC," Peake says. "They did a segment about gays having blood on their knees from being bent over on the floor. And one about a 'pink taco,'" he adds, clearly revolted by the grotesque sexual innuendo, "where Arnie is referring to a little six year old girl, saying she ought to go trick-or-treating as 'a pink taco.'"
Peak's late sister, Mary Ellen, had Down syndrome. She was twenty-seven when she died in 1974. Peak describes her as gentle and loving. She adored baseball, and she loved being home with her family. Peak credits her with teaching him about the beauty of difference, and it enrages him to hear difference obsessively and cruelly excoriated by the hosts of Rob, Arnie & Dawn in the Morning.
"Her memory is one of the reasons I am so passionate about this," he says. "It's part of what drives me. When I hear them on the show [using offensive terms like] 'retards,' or listen to them making jokes about 'helmets,' or the 'short bus,' I see my sister's face, and it wipes me out."
Peak hopes that this recent scandal involving States and Williams' comments about transgender children leads to more than another fine, but he's not surprised by the fact that there was no apology forthcoming, merely an indignant assertion that States was "joking" about the physical battery and verbal degradation of transgender children. That, and a belligerent, veiled threat to walk if forced to apologize or retract his comments.
"Hopefully they get fired for this," Peak says candidly of the show's commitment to hate speech as free speech, a concept vociferously defended by fans of Rob, Arnie & Dawn in the Morning on this blog's comment page and elsewhere on the Internet. "This has been going on for years. This has nothing to do with free speech, in my opinion. I'd be the first person to take a bullet for free speech. But when you start hitting a kid with a shoe for being different, or say that you hope 'life' will 'take care of them' because they're gay, or transgender, or because they're different, that's not 'free speech,' it's hate speech. They're cowards. They run out and say these things, and when everyone gets upset, they hide behind the Constitution. It's one of the most cowardly things to do, instead of saying, 'Look, we stepped over the line. We've done it before, we didn't mean to do it. And we're really and truly sorry.'"
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Well, Mr. Williams on todays show, "accidentally" let a caller get thru who called yesterdays "Transgendered guests, "Trans-Testicle's". Mr. Williams then censored the comment and said "I don't know how much got through" as he and Arnie were laughing and giggling..
Yes, they really meant their apology yesterday.
When they sensor something out, you have no idea what they said. They are on a delay. Why are you making assumptions about what they were laughing at? Like I said before, you have something in for Rob, Arnie, and Dawn totally unrelated to the transgender incident. You are just looking for any reason to complain about them. By the way, I know that I'm being a hypocrite assuming all of this about you...just letting everyone know how I feel.
Hey Casey.....
So off topic, but hugely important, as we are talking about hate speech.
Please report this user for hate speech. http://www
So I reported this person for hate speech, and the ACLU, GLAAD and other organizations are aware of the fact that I have reported it.
If YouTube does not step up and remove this filth I will let the organizations know that too.
Manda,
Great job! The account has been suspened.
I would like to give my sincere thanks to the posters here that have kept this discussion civil. While I may agree to disagree with some of you, you posted with respect. I want to acknowledge Michael Rowe for his time and great articles that have furthered my understanding as well as GLADD.
I truly hope the RAD show does not do this again, but you just can't change a tigers stripes. You can cover them up with paint, but it will eventually fade and the stripes will return. A lot of you here have not listened to this show for 10 years as I have. I do NOT mean listen constantly as the last time was quite some time ago until this story broke. But when I would occasionally turn the dial to them, it was the same old thing.....
you just bought it all back..... no respect for you now
I have self respect. That's all I'm concerened about.
Yeah, you.. you, ...Who you talking about, 'we?' :)
Yeah. I haven't heard these guys before, but particularly in my part of the country, there's a lot of folks absorbing a daily diet of acrimony and nast about others with their morning coffee, usually mostly Fox-news-political with an insinuation or insult here and there. It's certainly not my idea of 'civil discourse,' and certainly not 'rock and roll.'
Doesn't make anyone *think,* it exhorts them not to, really.
Abusers do have their moments of clarity and remorse, ...likelih
I suspect a lot of people who never knew anything of trans people *but* these kinds of derogatory and abusive assumptions, and of course daytime talk circuses, and the inevitable murder mystery villains and awkward moments for masculine action heroes...
Well, at least maybe had a real chance to see how ugly it all is, and get some real education about what it's like for the real people involved.
All in all, that 'teachable moment' ....even if the people who publicly-learned a lesson end up back at it again, later. Can't live your life expecting assurances either way. Maybe this is the first time something like this ever got through to them. I'll bet it was so for some listeners.
Overall, it's a heartening response and a pretty hopeful close to this little 'media event' or whatever you'd call it.
I just read the letter posted from Mr. Williams. What a crock. Yep, the LISTENERS made them appologise
Frankly, I'd rather think that, myself.
They *do* have plenty of money, and a way to make more if they thought they had an audience to sell *to* advertisers.
But, more than that, people inclined to bully like to feel *popular,* right? Take away that impression, and what have they got...
So, they extended a heartfelt apology, admitted they went to far. They apologized for taking so long to see the error of their ways.
They promised to continue to have thoughtful, sometimes controversial topics on their show, but now realize that they can do this without calling people names and being hateful and bigoted.
The apology letter and links to the podcast are here:
http://www
I am very happy with this outcome. I never really had any agenda other than getting them to realize that they did in fact take things way to far and get them to apologize.
I have no ill-will towards them and I do hope that they will continue to expand peoples perspectives on things. I am sincerely happy with this outcome.
I think it went well. :) I've got a suspicion that these jocks' radio personas kind of got away from who they really saw themselves as being at heart, for a while. They mentioned they're on five hours a day, presumably trying to be larger than life and get callers stoked up or whatever. I can see that happening.
It was a great job on the guests' parts, educationwise, and I think the apologies, even obvious horror at the reality check what they'd done, were genuine. I hope it sticks, not just for them, but for their audience.
I am a Rob, Arnie, and Dawn listener and I am also happy about the outcome. I think transgender advocates should be as well. This is a far better result then getting Rob, Arnie, and Dawn kicked off the air. It drew more attention to your cause and you got very highly rated morning show hosts to admit they were wrong and apologize. Also, there are people (myself included) who would have thought more negatively about the transgender movement if their favorite show had got taken off of the air because of it. To those of you who don't like the outcome, what would you have liked the outcome to be?
I think for trans advocates, the show today is a very good outcome. Some are simply trying to claim it was 'censorship' ....in spite of what the hosts said. And how this came about. You can bet that without viewer outcry and concurrent hemhorrage of advertisers and even an institution that their charitable works toward were used to excuse such abusive talk... Had some influence at least on the severity of the wakeup call.
Frankly, what they said *could* have gotten their license pulled by FCC complaints for advocating and inciting crimes, whether or not any advocates for trans kids and people were involved or not. ....And it seems some have tried to transfer that anger toward the very victims of what these radio guys did. I'm sure some think trans people *deserve* the scorn and ridicule and abuse, but I hope that today's show has opened some eyes and hearts.
Why not-abusing people based on how well you *like* them over a radio show getting scolded is supposed to be a criterion for human respect and decency, though, I just don't know.
Sorry for poor sentence construction in that post just now, of 5:58. Fatique.
What I'm getting at is, while people are right to discuss First Amendment issues, ... but this isn't a matter of activists pushing a religious or ideological agenda, it's about real abuse of real people, and real children. Something roundly rejected by the listening community and businesses of all stripes. Not to be 'let slide,' whatever happened.
How they're treated is not a matter for how well you like the 'messenger
I *hope* there's common ground on this. For real civility and respect among all. Even if a 'favorite radio show' is a bit more real to you than some other people's lives, (And I'm not saying it really is) ...it's not trans people's fault if the unthinking hatred got out of hand. Some of the talk i've heard on the blogosphere is ...kind of the same thing bullies say to their victims all the time, some of it couched in talk like it's nasty young trannies taking away your 'fun.'
The outrage at what was done is real. I hope the potential for understanding and community healing is equally so.
This blog entry expresses some of the same feelings I feel about this whole thing:
http://www
I think the problem we have here is that you're not really understanding that free speech doesn't mean there aren't consequences. Just cause it's 'free' doesn't mean it's OK to use a big microhone to incite people to hurt children, even as a 'joke.' I've got a pretty thick skin as an old punk rocker, but shock-jocks often simply are being verbally and mentally-i
I'm definitely not for censorship, but that doesn't mean they aren't generally being useless piles of nast who deserve to get shouted at once in a while. There's being a jester and there's being just an abusive guy shouting hate and not even knowing or admitting it.
Too much of the media in this country today seems to simply be there to tell people it's actually smart and clever and righteous to be ignorant and hateful and callous... and juvenile.
We've seen some human beings under there today. Let's hope *they* don't forget those human beings under there.
The blog didn't say there shouldn't be any consequences for speaking freely. He stated the consequences should be to lose listeners, not be forced off the air by opponents. I think you are the one not understanding the merit.
To really have freedom, as was put, we have to have both the good and the bad available, and the user/liste
You are not for censorship, but then you are when it goes against your core beliefs...
And before we go nuclear here, if for example, the KKK had a hateful radio show I simply would not listen to it. I also would think most of you would not listen as well, and eventually it would go off the air on its own.
Let's not forget, here. Abuse of children is a *crime.* A radio station with people who recurringly say things taken to advocate it, ...could have their license pulled, actually.
I'm all for this being resolved in the community, but you can't come on here and say it's not serious, or shouldn't be handled with great firmness. I know a lot of causes, particularly conservative religious ones, go after advertisers in order *to* censor viewpoints they don't 'agree' with. This is about more than disagreement. This is about hate-speech and abuse.
This isn't about censoring off-color humor or naughty language, this is about taking *children* ...and transgendered children can be among the most profoundly defenseless and abused people in this society, ...about whom there is *astonishing and vastly-harmful ignorance,* ....and *using* that ignorance to further that abuse in the name of 'entertain
Over the line. Way over the line.
You've shown little sensitivity to the people this hurt, or willingness to learn, or in fact the actual content of what they've said, only tried to portray those who speak up about it in a certain light.
The hosts have at least done that, and realized what they've done. This prejudice and ignorance is *so* ingrained in our society that people actually think it's normal, if not necessary, to brutalize people so labeled. Even their own children.
This isn't a matter of 'cleaning up obscenity.
It's a matter of *addressing hate speech and abuse.*
Some 'obscenity' crusaders try to *keep* abused trans kids from being able to read 'Adult' material like anything mentioning gays or transsexuals in a neutral or positive light, or at all... anything that says they aren't alone and wrong and to be despised by all, including themselves.
Broadcast media were given the public airwaves to use free of charge by *us,* the American people, on condition that they inform, enlighten and serve the public interest..
Mustn't forget that.
Just slow down there turbo.
You seem to have forgotten that I actually support your cause. I just do not agree with the manner in which it is being done.
John Geary
Vice President
Entercom Sacramento
5345 Madison Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95841
Good morning Mr. Geary.
After listening to a very disappointing "Apology" show, I am taking the time to write you.
I was refused to be able to voice my opinions of the show this morning, as I was told I could not talk to the host's. So much for free speech.
I have been an opponent, so to speak of this show for some time. This mornings show pales in comparison to the "SIDS Apology show". Remember that one? I have it recorded if you don't. As I have hours of shows. Never can tell when you guys will try and sue me for slander/Liable so I keep all the proof on discs.
My reason for writing you today is, I am challenging the Rad show to allow me to come into their studio and have an on air discussion about my efforts to clean up their show. The Sacramento listeners have repeatedly asked me to do this, as one asked me to call in on this mornings show, the one that you refused my call.
I believe this would be a very interesting show. The hosts could speak to me face to face and I them.
In the interests of Freedom of Speech and communication, I believe it would do the listener and the Community well.
Thank you,
James Peak
I'm with you on the skepticism, but I don't think, strategically, this is your time. Wait till they do it again. Then use your contacts from this and the previous times. Don't expend your capital.
Just my advice. Take it or leave it.
Agreed.
and i would like to thank you for doing more damage than good for your cause..... you seem so unhappy and i feel sorry for you
Why is it that always seems the last conservative word from anti-LBGT folks, after spending all these efforts defending the practice of giving us a hard time... By giving us a hard time... not recognizing anything about our reasons for being unhappy with our treatment, ....is to say... 'You seem so unhappy.'
Like that justifies the mistreatment all this is about in the first place.
Unhappy about injustices and abuses? Yes.
Unhappy, period?
Uuuh. Not in better company, we aren't. :)
After reading a lot of your comments, I have come to the conclusion that you have it in for some reason for Rob, Arnie, and Dawn. You just look for any anti-RAD movement and jump on board. What is it that you didn't get to say on the radio that was so important? And why on earth should they allow you on their show? There are several listeners who want to be on the show and meet Rob, Arnie, and Dawn. What makes you so special? It all makes sense though. The reason you have it in for them is because they won't let you on their show. Get over it.
Not at all Casey. There is history here that you obviously don't see or understand. Unfortunately, in the future something else will happen with this show. Then you can tell me to "Get over it" again.
They speak about their right to "free speech" but refuse to let an opposing debater talk. Sounds a bit hypocritical to me. But then again, I've only been standing up to their brand of "entertainment" for years now. By the way, how did YOU like the hate speech directed at children?
And one more thing, I am proud of my efforts and the efforts of GLADD and Michael Rowe as well as many that took the time to contact the advertisers. Because if you believe the this show changed it's tune for its "Audience", then I have a bridge for sale for ya.
We needs to start a website called "Ditch Dwellers". We could all meet and discuss the various hate speech radio and what can be done about it.
A good start, I think. I've never heard their usual antics or whatever, but there's some humanity for us.
I think the guests on the show articulated the position you claim is otherwise, Hate.
I do hope the station puts this up in a podcast, if that's not standard procedure. And I'd still like to see some recompense made in the form of doing something for the transpeople who don't have such understanding and supportive parents as we met on the show... Accommodations for the battered, abused, kicked-to-
All in all, I found the hosts spoke reasonably, and I hope a lot of their fans, instead of considering this whole thing some 'unprovoked attack' by advocacy groups, will start coming to some kind of understanding of people they've heretofore *only* heard abusive talk about.
The show really covered a lot of ground. I'm certainly a lot less personally-angry at these dudes, not that it makes all the transphobia out there go away, but ...as I said before, we'll see.
Looks good, so far.
I do hope that as we saw from at least some callers, that given a bit more information, they've got a new perspective. I certainly heard from the hosts what I hoped to hear, and in sincerity, I hope.
I guess we'll just have to see what they do.
Given their history, we will see. Especially after they get their next contract. That's when we find out how real their commitment is to laying off children.
Yeah, well, if you would like someone to change, you have to let them. I don't particularly care whether or not they have to look for new jobs to do it, ...and I certainly don't want to see them totally off the hook, just like that, but it's between them, the station, and their advertisers now.
A lot of the content isn't new to a lot of us, but to have it on major broadcast radio's morning show... in this context, that's a much of a muchness. Pretty well done, too. It didn't necessarily drive home the point of how bad the abuse can get, but that might just cause people to turn it off entirely, I don't know.
The question is, how many really heard.
Aren't supportive Moms awesome? :)
Like I said, a whole different picture from the abuse some consider 'normal.'
Everyone should donate UCDavis to help make up for lost revenue http://www
Probably it'd be a good place for the corporate sponsors to send some of the money they aren't spending on advertising with that station, too.
Till UC Davis finds a better media rep.
Or, not media rep, what do you call a celebrity representative.
If GLAAD could get someone famous to participate in the next fundraiser (Ellen?, Eddie Izzard?) any shortfall would be more than made up.
Well, perhaps the last post for now should be... About hope.
Maybe someone'll hear this broadcast and *not* abuse someone. Maybe a lot of people will realize that mistreatment of others is no laughing matter.
Somewhere out there, there could be some transkids about to find out... There's hope, among the hate... And they have defenders they may never have known about. That they're not alone. Sometimes just a glimmer of hope among all the ignorance and fear and threats of violence ...can make the difference.
Maybe.... this'll be one of those places where things start to get better.
I am so heartened by the overwhelming response of the corporate community -
There is something that can and will always unite this country and it's the protection of our children -
I'm so glad I happened to be listening the June 3rd broadcast and was able to be part of this action -
I can't imagine what they may say tomorrow morning -
I want to thank Veronica Callaigh for making it so easy for to have a voice, Rowe for writing the article about a little bitty show with big consequences, Meko for being so vigil, and Mr. Peak (Jammie), had I known what you have been fighting, I never, ever would have set my dial there -
Tonight I go to bed happy
My appreciations, too. :) And a happy waking to all, as well. :)
xoxo
So the final comments on this post won't be just another troll who refuses to find out anything about how this article arose or why we feel as we do. It's possible you, hate, aren't someone so obsessed with their own personal distaste at the very existence of someone like me that you might even read the back comments here. Go to the 3rd page. Check the link to the video on youtube about the kid killed for appearing to be gay. Then read my account of what it''s like to be transgendered, gay, and working class. To explain yet again: personal likes or dislikes, boorishly shouted on air, are not free speech. Rights were slowly won, over centuries, by people who knew that even the ability to read was precious. Consider you might be wrong. And consider the terrible cost to others. Empathy is what makes us human. But above all, read. And learn to love.
See Michael Rowe's Profile
GLAAD has forwarded the details of tomorrow (Thursday)'s broadcast on KRXQ, including call-in details. Information can be found here:
http://gla
er-statements/
thanks!
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