Was "culture clash" on the calendar?

A reader named Kristin wrote me and made an excellent point on this Chicago Tribune story, which is about a fight that broke out when some people accidentally stumbled upon a transgender fashion show. Here's the lede, followed by another graf from the story:

A scheduling mix-up is blamed for a weekend melee between parents of young children and participants at a transgender fashion show at a North Side YMCA, WGN-Ch. 9 reported.

...

A scuffle broke out when some parents allegedly directed sexual slurs toward transgender models and guests, WGN reported. Chicago police and private security guards were called after someone threw a chair, and the sound was mistaken for gunfire.

Writes Kristin: "Am I the only one to think that this should not be blamed on scheduling, but intolerance?! That lede just seemed so bizarre to me." No, no, you see, it's only natural for parents to attack transgender people. If the YMCA allowed those types inside, it's their responsibility to make sure they don't interact with anybody else. Otherwise, well, you know -- things happen.

Ok, just kidding. Kristin's totally, totally right about this.

Posted by Jason Feifer at December 21, 2004 08:04 AM