102.1 the Edge
Hi Alan,
I wasn't entirely sure whom to contact about this - so if this email isn't appropriate, could you please forward it to the proper person in management or administration?
First off - I'm a big fan. I've listened to the edge for 12 years and really enjoy most of the programming and music. I participate in a lot of the competitions, and I'm a member of the Inside Edge (and a frequent concert goer).
That said, I'm writing about this morning's Dean Blundell show. I'm sure you get floods of daily email complaining about SOMETHING that Dean/the show has said (after all, they are paid to say controversial things and keep the showing interesting and edge listeners listening). This morning, the guys got into a discussion of gender dysphoria, and went WAY out of line into extremely offensive territory.
As I'm sure you're aware, Toronto has a large queer community, a very active and mostly respected community. Hell, once a year we even shut the city down and bring in millions of dollars for Pride week.
As a transgender man, I'm a big part of the queer community - I'm also a big part of Toronto, and I'm a huge music fan. So making fun of my (and many others') life circumstances on air is completely unacceptable. I understand that the Edge is generally a station targetted at white heterosexual men - fair enough - but to exclude and verbally denounce and ridicule those who are gender non-comforming (and that could be anyone - lots of people bend the rules when it comes to gender presentation) is distasteful, obnoxious, and completely ignorant. And, if it had been in any other medium, would likely be considered a hate-based attack.
I have no idea what happens in situations like this - but I wanted to write and inform you (or whomever has the power to do something about this) so that something might be done. I would like to continue to listen to the Edge, but if repugnant bullshit like this is being broadcast, I think I'll tune out. I imagine the rest of the Toronto queer community will follow suit.
I hope to hear back from you.
Cheers,
Caleb Nault
* * *
Not the best thing I've written (it took me two minutes and I pressed send before proof reading), and I'm sure it will be ignored or minimalized, but what the hell. It's worth a shot. Maybe I'll get free concert tickets out of it ;)
I wasn't entirely sure whom to contact about this - so if this email isn't appropriate, could you please forward it to the proper person in management or administration?
First off - I'm a big fan. I've listened to the edge for 12 years and really enjoy most of the programming and music. I participate in a lot of the competitions, and I'm a member of the Inside Edge (and a frequent concert goer).
That said, I'm writing about this morning's Dean Blundell show. I'm sure you get floods of daily email complaining about SOMETHING that Dean/the show has said (after all, they are paid to say controversial things and keep the showing interesting and edge listeners listening). This morning, the guys got into a discussion of gender dysphoria, and went WAY out of line into extremely offensive territory.
As I'm sure you're aware, Toronto has a large queer community, a very active and mostly respected community. Hell, once a year we even shut the city down and bring in millions of dollars for Pride week.
As a transgender man, I'm a big part of the queer community - I'm also a big part of Toronto, and I'm a huge music fan. So making fun of my (and many others') life circumstances on air is completely unacceptable. I understand that the Edge is generally a station targetted at white heterosexual men - fair enough - but to exclude and verbally denounce and ridicule those who are gender non-comforming (and that could be anyone - lots of people bend the rules when it comes to gender presentation) is distasteful, obnoxious, and completely ignorant. And, if it had been in any other medium, would likely be considered a hate-based attack.
I have no idea what happens in situations like this - but I wanted to write and inform you (or whomever has the power to do something about this) so that something might be done. I would like to continue to listen to the Edge, but if repugnant bullshit like this is being broadcast, I think I'll tune out. I imagine the rest of the Toronto queer community will follow suit.
I hope to hear back from you.
Cheers,
Caleb Nault
* * *
Not the best thing I've written (it took me two minutes and I pressed send before proof reading), and I'm sure it will be ignored or minimalized, but what the hell. It's worth a shot. Maybe I'll get free concert tickets out of it ;)