Philadelphia’s incoming mayor and some organizers of the city’s annual New Year’s Day parade called for increased sensitivity on Saturday, a day after some participants mocked Caitlyn Jenner, were accused of harassing gays and painted their faces brown to portray Mexicans.
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The man also held a sign that mocked Bruce Jenner’s 1976 appearance on the Wheaties cereal box by placing him on a Froot Loops box alongside Jenner’s new female identity, Caitlyn.
It wasn’t long, however, before he transformed into a version of today’s Caitlyn Jenner, as Aerosmith’s “Dude Looks Like a Lady” blared from loudspeakers. Kenney says, “Our Trans Citizens do not deserve this type of satire/insult”. While several members carried signs with this image, one Mummer was caught on video saying “Fuck the gays”, while posing for photos.
All of a sudden, they switched to the song “I’m Coming Out”, and they wheeled Bruce away in a wheelchair.
If that wasn’t controversial enough, cameras also found a member of the comedy group walking the parade route as he chanted “f*** the gays”.
Inemer says he stands by the skit, calling it a parody.
Nellie Fitzpatrick, Director of LGBT Affairs for Philadelphia, said of the incidents: “It’s unacceptable”. Wearing red, white and blue dresses and face paint, the men began hurling homophobic slurs at him, he said.
“His buddy jumped in, clocked me in the face”, he said.
Holtz’s friends, who were visiting from out of town, encouraged the young man to come forward with his story, even if he didn’t file a police report.
The group also defended its choice to focus its act on Jenner’s transition, saying the “satirical” act was voted upon by members of the Brigade. Some wore taco costumes. Outrageously costumed Mummers strutted their stuff Friday at the city’s annual New Year’s…
Dozens of activists from the Black Lives Matter movement used the parade to stage a protest. Ultimately, this parade does little more than make the nation think It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia isn’t too far off the mark, and we want nothing to do with it and would like very much if it could go away, please and thank you.
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“While the Commission appreciates that Mummers’ leadership took steps for a more diverse parade, more needs to be done to end these public displays of bigotry”, she said.
