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AZ student cartoonist fired for derogatory LGBT cartoon
D.C. Parsons, a student cartoonist at The Daily Wildcat, has been fired and the student paper is apologizing after running a cartoon (during LGBT History Month) that depicts a father and son laughing at a derogatory joke. The cartoon depicts a father telling his son that if he ever comes out of the closet that he’d shoot him, roll him in a carpet and throw him off a bridge. The son replies,“Well I guess that’s what you call a ‘Fruit Roll-Up!’”. The last panel has both characters laughing.
A petition has been started to have the paper’s editor fired.
The editor-in-chief has apologized stating:
On Tuesday, the Daily Wildcat staff made a serious error in judgment in printing a cartoon that some readers felt was homophobic and inappropriate. We heard from several readers who expressed their disappointment and hurt over the comic strip.
The Arizona Daily Wildcat is now reviewing its editorial policies and has terminated the employment of the cartoonist as of Wednesday. His views do not represent the views of the Wildcat staff, nor does the Wildcat represent the views of the university.
Printing the comic strip was a failure to weigh the perspectives and experiences of others. We regret our mistake, and that we cannot take back the damage it has caused. We’re sorry.
The cartoonist has also apologized for the comic entitled “etc.”:
My name is D.C. Parsons, and I would like to formally apologize to anyone who I may have offended in my comic “etc.” on Tuesday. The comic was not intended to offend. The desired end means of my work is solely humorous.
It was based on an experience from my childhood. My father is a devout conservative from a previous generation, and I believe he was simply distraught from the fact that I had learned (from “The Simpsons”) what homosexuality was at such a young age.
I have always used humor as a coping mechanism, much like society does when addressing social taboos. I do not condone these things; I simply don’t ignore them. I do sincerely apologize and sympathize with anyone who may be offended by my comics (I am often similarly offended by “Ralph and Chuck”), but keep in mind it is only a joke, and what’s worse than a joke is a society that selectively ignores its problems.
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October/19/2012
@ 12:44 pm
I feel like I have to speak up for Mr Parsons’ right to his cartoon and against the ‘majority of complaints Rules’ philosophy taken hold of North American publishing. I feel this is a poor gag at best, and would never have escaped a thoughtful editor. The intent might have been reframed to reflect a redneck view of the lbgt community that puts the gag on stupidity, rather than a violent act.
Also in comparison to Ms Eisner’s firing for an unpopular cartoon earlier in the year, her cartoon was dead on, a parody of press coverage of a racial issue. It just shows the climate of intolerance born of oppression.
“Can we get along” – Rodney King
October/19/2012
@ 1:18 pm
I just draw’em, I don’t print’em.
October/19/2012
@ 3:31 pm
I understand the intent of the comic and I don’t think I’m offended.
October/20/2012
@ 10:53 am
#3 – seems more sanguine about hate crimes than most lbgt and other persons I know. Cartoonist Parsons is quoted above “but keep in mind it is only a joke, and what’s worse than a joke is a society that selectively ignores its problems.”
The butt of his cartoon is the victim of a violent act and thus would support that violence. This seems to me to not simply ignore the ‘problem’ but to perpetuate it.
I don’t object to Parsons drawing this cartoon, although I find his apology unconvincing. I think his editor was asleep at the switch to print a cartoon of this poor quality, and also sure to cause problems.
Happily freedom of expression goes both ways. Wheeeee!
October/22/2012
@ 12:25 am
Next panel:
Son: Heh heh. But seriously, dad, this is modern times. That would never happen.
Dad: What do you mean?
Son: If I was gay with a dad like you, I’d shoot first. And forget the stupid rug – I’d dissolve you in acid and flush you right down the toilet. Hilarious, huh?
Final panel: no word balloons, just the dad looking all kinds of freaked…
October/22/2012
@ 8:22 am
Following graduation, maybe he’ll get hired to write for ‘Family Guy’.
October/22/2012
@ 10:25 am
Well, conservative political cartoonists have to start SOMEWHERE!
November/11/2012
@ 11:11 pm
Ho hum. We’ve been “doomed” for 500 years. Especially near the turn of a century or millennium, but also during the 20′s and the 60′s… Around the Civil War, we were extra specially doomed what with all the free blacks running around – so scary! Clearly, being doomed is the best thing that can happen to a country…
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