Check out the recent Family Guy episode "Quagmire’s Dad". You can watch the episode here:
http://www.fox.com/fod/play.php?sh=familyguy
In it, Quagmire’s dad, who’s a decorated war hero, get’s a sex change.
I was expecting the usual funny episode: a bunch of funny moments that push the limit, followed by an ending which teaches the right lesson. The setup of Quagmire’s dad, of all people was great. I watched this episode and was surprised. I’m a fan of family guy. I am usually pretty flexible in appreciating their humor even when some of the jokes (if taken by themselves) are homophobic, racist or otherwise discriminatory. Often they are funny representations of how people react in the real world to these situations. However, what was different about this episode is that it was missing the usual part where they come around on the issue and show those responses to be unenlightened. Instead the episode ends on a negative note, with Brian frantically washing himself in the shower to "wipe off" his experience of having sex with the transgendered person (Quagmire’s dad is now Ida). The closing scene is him getting his ass kicked by Quagmire.
Brian is usually the character most likely to see through phobia and see people and accept them for who they are. That he didn’t makes me wonder where the heads of the creators of Family Guy. I had to rewind and re-watch the end to check that there was no finale that I missed or at least a "to be continued".
The Other Side of the Rainbow writes:
I am making a complaint and setting up a facebook page to boycott Family Guy. The series used to be ok but over the last year or so has been getting more and more intolerant of all marginalized people.
The creators of Family Guy should be called on the carpet to be address this. The boycott is our natural response to these kinds of offenses. However, I hope that we can add some demands that can turn this into a positive experience. Perhaps have the petition demand that the creators do something that helps the community. Pulling the episode is one option. Making a follow up episode where Brian comes around is another. At the least, they should publicly help educate people in transgender issues, assuming they are teachable.
