Dave Chappelle isn’t an Enemy of the Trans Community, He’s an Advocate

Photo by John Bauld

Dave Chappelle has gotten a ton of attention with The Closer. His latest Netflix special, the transgender, LBGT and MeToo communities are not happy. Understandable, there’s an onslaught of raucous and down right hurtful jokes aimed at those groups. But people are only offended because they just don’t understand what a real comic does. So as to not leave them hanging, I’m going to explain standup as a civic duty.

I’m actually going to skip to a place where none of his detractors have probably been - the end. “No more jokes (about this subject) until we are sure we are laughing together,” Chappelle makes his case.

Short of achieving a consensus, the actual message isn’t in the debauchery or the offensiveness of the jokes. It’s hidden for those who choose to see beyond the words and delve in with the man.

But how could that be - especially with the #MeToo joke the comedian told previously. His suggestion that only a man could achieve the desired justice sent the movement into a rage and nominating himself didn't appeal either. Boasting on this night, his unique ability to deliver, all Dave would want in return is a specific sexual favor and apparently en mass. Wow, how insensitive - or your narrow vision missed the subtext, because the jibe is actually directed at men.

Yes, men get involved in all sorts of endeavors in life, and we do so to succeed, win and hopefully make a difference. There’s always another reason, though. Do I actually have to tell you what it is, and the less than benevolent will go to any means to achieve those ends. “So now we’re back to square one,” Chappelle hit the male of the species pretty hard.

He is then rather direct in criticizing the superficiality of the MeToo movement and doesn’t hesitate to compare their meek efforts to a real pioneer - Rosa Parks. “You’ve got to get off the bus and walk,” he called women out.

He’s been here before too, and Hollywood didn’t take kindly to prior criticism on Netflix. “All these actresses came after me,” he lamented. “Who is he to tell us anything.”

Of course, a depraved joke was needed in between, and while his heavy hits may have knocked detractors from the truth, Dave hit it out of the park to make his point. “I”ll tell you exactly who I am. I’m the one who got off the bus and left $50 million dollars to walk.”

Ouch, and then with some more truth, he rubbed in the saline. “Why didn’t these actresses fire their agents,” Chappelle posed. “Then find some hardworking woman in the mailroom at one of the big agencies, and they should be your representation.”

Still, there is another hidden message for you beginners. No matter the good intentions of any group or movement, things can go awry, and success means subjecting yourselves to ongoing scrutiny and criticism.

I give you the trans-movement, so take it away Dave. “I beat the shit out of her,” Dave proudly exclaims about his encounter with a transwoman.

Double wow.

Slow down everyone because Dave was not unprovoked. A female fan came up to introduce herself, and the comic appropriately accepting the pleasantry, the unremarkable interaction turns into an abrupt confrontation with the woman’s trans-girlfriend. Of course, Dave doesn’t hold back, and why should anyone when threatened with assault. “All of a sudden this lesbian fellow stepped between us,” he jokes.

Chappelle goes on with a series of jokes that probably don’t feel so good if you’re among the T, but you still are required to wait for the actual intent. “I whooped the toxic masculinity out of that bitch,” Dave clues us.

A punchline that substitutes for the real issue at hand. Why are people in the trans community so itchy on the trigger finger? Obviously not gun shy, the reactionary response to all things not perfectly aligned to their agenda is unacceptable. In turn, the tunnel vision suggests that no opportunity will be passed up to pick a fight, according to Chappelle’s hidden dialogue.

One JK Rowling knows the feeling. The following retweet by the author incurred the community’s wrath. “‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”

Not backing down, Rowling went to twitter with this. “If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.”

Makes sense and so does Emma Watson’s reply. “Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are.”

Thus, proving that the truth is pretty elusive. But instead of trying to find a common understanding, we award the outcome to whoever screams the loudest, and so the beloved author had to go away.

How exactly does her exit serve the trans community? It doesn’t, and the online onslaught clearly falls under the umbrella of bullying. The vocal should know better, and while trans people have had to deal with far worse than unkind words, the public shaming of Rowling doesn’t exempt the loudness from being called out.

So I give you Daphne. A transwoman who was frequently in attendance, she always laughed the most at trans related jokes. Over time, Dave got to meet her and struck up a friendship. He even invited her to open a show in San Francisco once. “She was about to open a show for what many call the GOAT, '' remembered Chappelle. “Unfortunately, this bitch bombed for 45 minutes straight.”

But instead of running home and crying, Daphne got a seat in the front row and started to engage with Dave. The back and forth canvassed the issue, and the intricacies involved and had her winning over the crowd with laughter.

It’s pretty remarkable how funny can humanize people and bridge differences. Hello Dave Chappelle but the triumph doesn’t have a happy ending.

Chappelle was excoriated on Twitter from a previous Netflix special, and touchingly, Daphne rushed to his defense. “Punching down on someone, requires that you think less of them, and I know him and he doesn’t. He doesn’t punch up. He doesn't punch down. He punches lines, he is a master of his craft,” she tweeted.

As a result, said Chappelle, “the trans community dragged that bitch all over twitter,” and six days after the night in San Francisco, Daphne killed herself.

Chappelle didn’t go as far as blaming the twitter sphere, but he knows the vitriol couldn’t have helped. So here’s the punchline in case you haven’t figured it out. Dave Chappelle is not an enemy of the trans movement, he is an advocate.

The best of friends don’t just praise, support and comfort, they criticize and help you see the truth. In this case, the unyielding megahorn that blares without any leeway is not helping. All you have to do is listen a little closer because the message is there. You just have to want to hear it.

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