Tribeca to screen transgender comedy despite protests
By IANSSunday, March 28, 2010
LONDON - Organisers of Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Film Festival in New York have stood by their decision to include a transgender comedy in the festival line-up despite protests from gay rights campaigners.
“Ticked-Off Trannies with Knives”, about a group of transgender women who seek revenge after being beaten up, is due to be screened at the gala.
But its inclusion has angered members of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), who are offended by the use of the word “trannies” and claim the film wrongly represents transgender women, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
Festival executives, however, refused to bow to pressure from GLAAD and are sticking by plans to show director Israel Luna’s film at the upcoming event.
In a statement, bosses say the Tribeca board of directors is “proud of its ongoing commitment to bring diverse voices and stories to its audiences”.
The festival was founded by De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in 2002 in a bid to rejuvenate downtown Manhattan following the 9/11 terror attacks.
This year’s event kicks off with the world premiere of “Shrek Forever After” April 21 and runs until May 2.
