The Nerdy Transphobia of The Big Bang Theory

Bazinga?

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Intro - 0:00
The Homophobia - 2:47
The Trans Jokes of the Nerds - 7:13
The One Trans Character - 20:32
Conclusion - 25:43

[spicyreyes]

This show was the bane of my existence as an autistic teenager

Every time someone said "you remind me of Sheldon, " with me knowing full well that Sheldon was deliberately played up as an annoying or unlikable character at every opportunity, and realizing oh! They've given people a dog whistle for telling autistic people they're fucking annoying

[asthmaticbee]

I think I remember another queer character you might have missed: Raj goes on a date with a woman because their parents set them up, and she turns out to be lesbian if I remember correctly, and assumed he was gay and that they could be each other's beards.

[whatever]

Correction: there is another gay character in the show besides Blayne - a woman with whom Raj discusses having an arranged marriage in a later episode. She reveals that she is a lesbian and is only doing this to get her parents off her back. Of course the joke is that she assumes that Raj is also gay and is doing this for the same reason, so it’s just another example of the “Raj gay maybe” joke that you discuss at length.

[capybara_king]

Apparently my aversion to shows with laugh tracks has saved me from a lot of transphobia

[icytaters]

i cant believe nerds are more transphobic than characters deliberately written to be assholes

[JeanPaulFontaine-ne]

I'm a 64 year old man who seldom gave thought about this subject. I try to accept everyone for who they are and have no problem with whatever lifestyle you live. Watching this show over the years I never realized the bigotry therein. I need the education that I'm getting from videos like this. Thanks for the opportunity to never get too old to learn. I will devour all such content from here on in.

[Ivebeenbleak]

I've seen "The Adorkable Misogyny of The Big Bang Theory", now this, now for the trifecta I need "The Quirked Up Ableism of The Big Bang Theory"

[EseAgboaye]

The treatment of Raj Koothrapali and the guy who acts him was sad. The blatant racism disguised as "comedy" was questionable.

[anacarvalho]

I gave up on the show in that episode where Penny had to apologize to Howard because she was tired of the harassment, lashed out n everyone was like "u bitch", that was disgusting

[amandarose]

Growing up a queer nerd I always apriciated that my nerd friends were my safe space. Later others came out, but when we were kids we were safe because we shared a love for so much. I never got that feeling from Big Bang.

[edgyusername]

Screw you, teach! I'm not doing your lousy detention! *Skateboards away into the night*

[BoReads]

You tried to watch the Big Bang Theory three times? Blink twice if you need to be rescued.

[Astrid_]

The autism representation is awful enough and their blatnent transphobia and homophobia only makes their situation worse.

[EmpireGamingWynter]

19:10 It goes beyond that too when you consider the implications

These characters are meant to be so desperately lonely they'll settle for any woman who gives them any attention and they still wouldn't date trans women. The implication being that trans women are both not women, and that even "beggars can be choosers" when it comes to trans women, that they're undesirable to the undesirable.

[okyeah]

I got an ad part way through, and I got confused for a sec lol
“Now, let’s get into the trans-SIZZLING BACON”

[sludgetrudger]

I want you to know that your message is not falling on deaf ears. I truly appreciate your work here. I am a father raising a teenage daughter who is a member of the LGBTQ community and is in a relationship. I was a fan of the Big Bang Theory. I am always trying to educate myself on matters concerning the LGBTQ community with help from my daughter. I never stopped to think of the show on that level and thought about the issues you brought in the media I consume. Thank you very much. You have made a difference in my life from this day forward. I will like and subscribe for sure.

[AMoniqueOcampo]

I was NEVER a fan of Big Bang Theory. I always had the feeling that the show was laughing AT the geeks all the time. Nobody feels like a real person.

[galliro]

12:20 I dont understand how trans panic is a valid argument... like its litterally "I killed them because they were trans" but somehow people pretend its not just state sanctioned bigotry

[TN]

They may have intended Louise to be a joke but the way he played her, if u take out the fake studio audience, was perfect. She had no reaction to Leonard staring n didn’t suddenly try to seduce him or anything, she was totally normal. N the way Sheldon talked about her in her 2nd reference showed he respected her for some of her qualities n we don’t know if she was a “bad neighbour” in any other way that could have set Sheldon off to not like her, hence his comment in the first reference. So my head cannon is she played her music too loud n has the singing voice of Whitney Houston that she uses to slay them drag shows before slapping on a badge that says Louis to go be an example of a good cop in L.A., a city known for shit cops. Keep keeping it real, Louise.

[rewrittenmelody]

Im SO GLAD you made this vid it always gives me the ICK and my mother still doesnt believe my autism diagnosis because "i dont act like sheldon" 💀