Arts & Entertainment
Nyle DiMarco slams Netflix film for deaf joke
The actor and model also blasts movie for homophobic and transphobic jokes
Actor and model Nyle DiMarco blasted Netflix’s new film “Sierra Burgess Is a Loser” for making fun of deaf people.
In the film, Sierra Burgess (Shannon Purser) starts catfishing Jamey (Noah Centineo) after popular girl Veronica (Kristine Froseth) gives him a fake phone number. During one scene, Sierra and her friend Dan (RJ Cyler) run into Jamey and his brother at the park. Sierra doesn’t want Jamey to recognize her voice so she pretends to be deaf. Jamey reveals that his brother is deaf and Sierra has to pretend to understand ASL.
DiMarco, who is deaf, took to Twitter to slam the film for using deafness as a joke.
“So one of my close friends’ deaf brother is in Sierra Burgess When I learned, I was elated. Finally more deaf actors/representation & ASL inclusion in films … Only to find out the deaf character was written and used for a terrible joke. PS- pretending to be deaf is NOT ok,” DiMarco tweeted.
He also called out the film for using homophobic and transphobic jokes.
“There were homophobic and transphobic jokes as well,” DiMarco continued. “It is extremely easy to make jokes about marginalized/disfranchised groups … but that makes you a lazy writer. And honestly you shouldn’t make these jokes AT ALL because our lives are on the line.”
So one of my close friends’ deaf brother is in Sierra Burgess
When I learned, I was elated. Finally more deaf actors/representation & ASL inclusion in films
… Only to find out the deaf character was written and used for a terrible joke.
PS- pretending to be deaf is NOT ok.
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) September 9, 2018
It is extremely easy to make jokes about marginalized/disfranchised groups
… but that makes you a lazy writer.
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) September 9, 2018
And honestly you shouldn’t make these jokes AT ALL because our lives are on the line.
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) September 9, 2018
Celebrate the start of Pride month at the Queer Magic Dance Party at the Black Cat on Saturday, June 6. Doors open at 9 p.m.
There will be pole performances and demonstrations, a free photo booth with glitter bar, a queer vendor market, tarot readings by Skye Marinda Tarot, a drag performance by Sapphica, and dancing to a blend of smooth R&B, Afrobeats, hip-hop and pop by Slammer & Saba. Tickets are $20 at the door or $15 (plus fees) in advance, purchased here.
Local queer journalists will celebrate Pride this weekend at the annual NLGJA-DC Pride Happy Hour event at Trade (1410 14th St., N.W.) on Saturday, June 6, 3-5 p.m. Admission is free.
Out & About
DC Front Runners Pride Run 5K set for Saturday
Annual event held at historic Congressional Cemetery
The 14th annual DC Front Runners’ Pride 5K run/walk is set for Saturday, June 6 at historic Congressional Cemetery. The race starts and ends at the cemetery (1801 E St., S.E.) and passes through scenic D.C., along the Anacostia River trail and the fields at RFK campus. Registration ends Friday at 11:59 p.m.
Runners can pick up their race packets on Saturday from 7-8:30 a.m. at Congressional Cemetery; the race begins at 9 a.m.
The fee to run the 5K in person is $65 ($35 for those under age 20). Proceeds benefit local LGBTQ nonprofits, including Thrive DC, Wanda Alston Foundation, Blade Foundation, Ainsley’s Angels, SMYAL, and Team DC. Visit DCFrontRunners.org for more information.
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DC Front Runners Pride Run 5K set for Saturday
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