Jaianni Olivier Russo is angry. Russo, who identifies as non-binary, claims credit for the recent change in Virgin Atlantic’s uniform policy, which now allows flight attendants to wear either male or female uniforms, regardless of gender. But there is indignation that Virgin Atlantic did not include Russo in its new ad campaign over the policy change. It’s a horrible look for Russo.
Virgin Atlantic Flight Attendant Jaianni Olivier Russo Is Angry Over Lack Of Inclusion In Latest Inclusion Campaign
Russo was born biologically male and once went by Jay. But Russo now identifies as non-binary and goes by Jaianni. Russo claims that the change in uniform policy at Virgin Atlantic was the direct result of talks that Russo led with Virgin starting in 2020.
Let’s look at a condensed version of Russo’s rant on Facebook over this issue (you can Russo’s verbose account here). I will quote directly.
The issue was first raised in early 2020:
“When I first joined Virgin Atlantic in 2020 I started the conversation with said company about going into the female uniform the red uniform but with trousers and not a skirt. I was told January 2020 that this was not possible but it’s something they would look to do in the future MAYBE but the tone of the conversation wasn’t positive at all.”
Russo was let go during the pandemic:
“Shortly after joining, I was made redundant due to the pandemic which absolutely destroyed me and a lot of other crew as well. I then had to re-interview for my job back which I got and was over the moon about to be going back.”
But after Russo was re-hired, the issue was brought up again:
“Let’s now jump forward to when I started back at the company, within my first few days back I started conversations again with the company about wearing the opposite uniform. I was then told that this was something THEY the company was ready to consider me going into the opposite uniform and I would be the first person in the company to bring this idea forward and start to recognise what and who non-binary people are.”
Virgin Atlantic eventually approved the policy change:
“[F]inally after months it was confirmed that we would be launching this and that we would be filming a commercial which is the gender identity be yourself campaign. I was told I would be a major part of this campaign as I had started this whole process off. I then didn’t even get included until my manager at the time who I will keep confidential asked for me to be involved knowing I started the whole process in the first place.”
Russo was angry that “social media influencers” were paid over £1,000 for appearing in the commercial but Virgin employees, including Russo, only made £150.
“My problem is that I started this whole process for a company to take my idea and CAPITALISE on it when they don’t actually authentically care about there (sic) staff and our background of what non binary means. My problem is that without me this whole process wouldn’t of started when it did and they don’t even want to recognise me or care about me…”
Russo spent 12-13 hours filming the ad campaign but did not make the final cut, sparking anger:
“We filmed so many different things throughout the day of which I was a massive part in as well as the rest of the people in the commercial and you might be thinking but I didn’t see you in it and you would be correct and this post is exactly what this is about and it’s about Virgin Atlantic using me as a show pony for the company and for not even recognising me or even worse my trauma and hurt from my Entire life which led to me fighting for this change!
Russo believes this is tantamount to canceling:
“So the day comes, the day the commercial goes live every single person is in it, the person that followed in my footsteps after me is included wearing the opposite uniform but where am I? My interview isn’t included in it, Not one bit of me is in this commercial the one person who started this whole change and process off. I realised I have been completely erased from this commercial! THIS IS NOT OKAY…
“THIS COMPANY had just disregarded me as if I meant absolutely nothing! My entire life and history didn’t mean anything to them, I have never been more broken in my entire life because of what they have done to me. It’s an absolute DISGRACE and accountability needs to be had!
I AM THE REASON YOU NOW HAVE THIS ADVERT BECAUSE I HAD THE COURAGE TO COME FORWARD AND CHALLENGE YOU TO MAKE CHANGE.”
Russo goes on, but we will conclude with a final rant, written in all caps:
“YOU ERASED ALL MY HARD WORK THAT I PUT IN FOR YOU TO GAIN ON YOUR CAPITALISM.
“YOU DO NOT GET TO DISREGARD WHO I AM, I AM A HUMAN BEING, I FOUGHT FOR THIS CHANGE, I DEVOTED MY TIME AT THE COMPANY FOR THIS CHANGE, I FOUGHT FOR AN EASIER LIFE FOR MY YOUNGER BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
“YOU HAVE BROKEN ME AND DAMAGED ME MORE THAN YOU EVEN KNOW AND NOBODY GETS TO DO THAT.”
The bottom line is that Russo achieved the aim of liberating the uniform policy, but remains deeply offended at not being included in the ad.
This, by the way, is the ad in question:
To a certain degree, I truly do understand Russo. I cannot even count the number of times I’ve taken time out of my schedule to be interviewed by journalists only to be cut from the final story.
One time I was booked to debate Shepard Smith on whether cell phones should be allowed on airplanes. This was a big deal for me and Fox News sent a car to pick me up and took me to the studio. They put make-up on me, put me in the hot seat, but then President Trump unexpectedly made remarks while boarding Marine One and they cut to that. Ultimately, my segment was cut.
Even more annoyingly, the author of the Rolling Stones story on Ben Schlappig must have interviewed me for four hours, but the only mention I got was being referred to as “a disheveled-chic consultant” rather than even one quote from the hours of glowing praise for Ben I provided.
Of course, that’s all vanity. The story was about Ben, not me. I had no right to be upset. But I still was. How selfish.
A New York Times reporter once did a story on miles and points that I told her she should write about. All my quotes were cut. My colleague made the cut, but not me. The same thing happened on Richard Quest’s show on CNN. To say I was annoyed would be quite an understatement.
Yes, I get it. I get it. I know how Russo feels and you could assert that this issue was far more impactful than a story on miles and points.
And yet, what was Russo’s motive? Self-aggrandizement or a meaningful change for “brothers and sisters” (as Russo calls them…that seems rather binary to me). Because Virgin Atlantic did change its policy in a very big way. In that sense, Russo won…and Russo should be proud of that instead of trotting out the “show pony” canard, not to mention foolishly resigning.
But I cannot help but think that Virgin Atlantic, which has always been a progressive airline, would have made the change with or without Russo’s input. I know it stings, but the old “don’t flatter yourself” admonition seems appropriate here.
Addressing the controversy, Virgin Atlantic said:
“With all filming projects, filming takes place over many hours and footage has to be edited down to just sixty seconds, so unfortunately not everything that is captured on the day can be shown.”
Paddle Your Own Kanoo notes that Virgin Atlantic’s chief people officer, Estelle Hollingsworth, was also cut from the final commercial despite being a strong champion for the new policy.
CONCLUSION
This story really makes me sad…it’s a self-inflicted wound that reflects so poorly on Russo and exposes questionable motives. Yet I understand Russo…I do. And I wish Russo all the best. But just like I had to roll back my poorly-thought-out apartheid post, Russo needs to clarify the situation. And soon.
image: Facebook
Russo has every right to be angry. They is the real transblazer here. Nobody, not even Michelle Visage, puts baby in a corner.
Acting like a bratty child doesn’t achieve anything. As far as I can tell they were paid and they need to be happy that change happened and that they was part of it (that sounds like terrible grammar but now that they can be a singular pronoun it must be correct). Did they sign any sort of contract to be included in the final product? Sounds like the ad agency edited the content and they didn’t make the cut, what’s the problem? And I don’t see any issue paying an influencer more, they just bought greater exposure through the influencer for the final advertising content.
I get being frustrated but there certainly seems to be no cancel culture… Else why rehire this person in the first place? In the end, good for them for helping push positive culture change at a major company.
He’s a clown he even wears clown makeup.
Stop crying and just keep your private binary or whatever else that no one cares about private, people like him just ruin it for others who choose to keep their sexual proclivities private ,shut up and be glad you have a job , people like you sicken a lot of us regular people,go back to the closet freak!
I have to agree with Michael. I’m straight,I’m straight,I’m straight!!!
Us normal people don’t know why you have to run around telling everybody everything about your sex lives!!! I’m gay, I’m lesbian, I’m queer, I’m non-bianary?? Wtf is that??? We are done with lgbtq++++!! Give it up! I don’t care if your doing goats in the backyard!
Yes, makes perfect sense.
You aren’t screaming
‘I’M STRAIGHT’
I’m hoping this reply may change your mind.
Imagine if you were born in a world where you are the only straight person in your family.
Imagine being bullied, and discriminated constantly to a point where you are suicidal.
Now, you decide to take a stand and for once be yourself, only to be sworn at and called a clown.
If you don’t like the sound of that, stop doing that to trans people. They aren’t a threat. They are people. Normal people. Don’t try to put yourself above them because of who they are.
Just look at him he looks like a clown with half his make up on all he needs is the rubber nose. I do not blame virgin one bit for not asking him to participate if he were attractive in anyway that might fit the scenario but he’s not, and it doesn’t.
What a prissy little shit, for his arse out of the airline.. I flew with one if the best carriers in the world and have never encountered garbage like this….why was this thing hired in the first place..?
Oh, boo fricking hoo.
No one gives a sh!t just do your job
I agree. I understand his frustration but reacting like a petulant child is not the way to handle it, and to your point calls, into question his real motive or at least his own extreme vanity.
It would make better grammer if you called Russo
“IT.” Less confusing, simpler, no crime against grammer and more respectful.
And no, I don’t want to be in the commercial for this great idea…..
And better spelling if you used “grammar”?
I can’t wait until we can finally separate the Ls and the Bs from the Qs, the Ts,, and the NBs and other gender dysphoric individuals that don’t represent the simple dudes that like dudes or simple dudettes that like dudettes. Enough with the alphabet soup, already. This Russo dipshit is the poster child for why plain ol’ gays don’t proscribe to the ever-expanding alphabet and roll their eyes at it.
Ls and the Gs from the Bs*, the Qs, the Ts, and the NBs and other gender dysphoric…*
Just by saying they were seeing the “opposite uniform” defeats your whole argument. You just said a man wearing a woman’s uniform, or a woman wearing a man’s uniform. So, your just a cross-dresser but everyone should bend over backwards to accommodate your fantasy
Dude is a freak. Shut the eff up and do your job. Egads. Pushing the narrative like this is helping no one.
There are two genders. As much as the Republicans do everything they can to piss me off with the anit abortion crap the democrats do the same on this. You are a man or a woman not a it or they.
Why does it trigger you so much?
Oooo you appear to be a frustrated closet boy.
Let it go you big old queen, come out of that closet you will be so much happier
Grow up!! You are not a child, you sure are acting like one !! I am old school and believe there are only TWO genders! Quit crying and let me believe what I choose and NOT what you say! I have rights too! You off the wall people need to step back!!’ NOW !!’n
I think I’d prefer not to be on a flight crewed by Russo.
My thoughts exactly!! I mean, you chose to change your gender ,so deal with consequences.No one wants to hear your complain over a damn uniform.Just do your job. I bet you were a handsome young man before the transition. Right now,? I don’t think so.. Especially if you’re thinking of wearing a Skirt ?? PLEASE
Who would have thought Russo wanted to be the center of attention?
This a young impressionable individual. Being the more mature and responsible task master, let alone employer, perhaps Virgin could have recognised that and handled the situation more kindly if not delicately?
Our entire society now walks on egg shells so as to not upset the most mentally insane amongst us. How much more of this do you want?
Sounds like they were treated very fairly. Rehired after the pandemic. Continually asked about and included in gender/workplace/uniform discussions. Included in the media campaign content until they weren’t. Sounds like perfectly fair and inclusive treatment. I’m sure this person isn’t the only one to have questioned the dress policy, were all the others also included?
And they were even paid extra to be included
He is not going to sleep with you for just sucking up to his childish crap
What a freak!!
No, they aren’t a freak. A self-serving attention seeking jerk, yeah, but not a freak.
They are freaks.
lgbt people are defective.
You’re the defective one, with your vile hatred of others.
Take it home!!
More nonsense from you.
I know a member of VS staff told another member of staff, a black woman, that their hair (in locks) “wasn’t marketable” and so was refused to be on any of the publicity.
@Matthew, I’m not sure what Russo’s pronouns are, but given that they identify as non-binary, you probably should change your use of “his” and “himself” to something more appropriate.
I deliberately and painstainkingly did not use any gendered pronouns in my story. Took me twice as long as to write.
why not just use the ones they prefer?
Because I want to respect Russo while also respecting the English language (at least as I speak and write it). If anything, we should use xe or ze and not they.
The English language is actually changing not staying the same because the people used to use words like “thou” and “thee”. Those words are now improper or obsolete and we use the word “you” instead. The pronoun “they” is now considered as proper usage instead of “he”. Link to my source: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/grammar/parts-of-speech-the-pronoun/indefinite-pronouns-pronoun-vagueness-and-emphatic-pronouns/v/singular-they?modal=1
That may well be, but I’m not ready for that yet and find it confusing. Of course, it took decades for “you” to catch on, so it may still happen (note, I also don’t use “their” in the singular sense either – it bothers me just as much). While I wish to respect Russo and will not use he or she to describe Russo, I also do not want to use they. I used “xe” in university term papers almost 20 years ago (wow how time flies…) instead of writing s/he or she/he, so it’s not like I am fighting a conservative crusade in refusing to use they.
You’re a lawyer, is it really that confusing?
Because they are mentally ill and we shouldn’t enable their delusions. He is a man.
And you’re a disgusting vile hateful troll.
God didn’t make a mistake. He created man and woman…not it, in between s, or maybes.
Grow up. He should be fired for not following company policy.
because you’re entitled to your own opinion not your own reality.
Russo is a male and is addressed as such.
You don’t get your own pronoun and you can’t expect me to take part in your perception or theatrical production
@Matthew, yes, there were only a few that slipped through initially, so it’s great that you were mindful of the pronouns. Sorry that it took twice as long, though. :-\ Glad that you caught most of them, but there’s still one left:
“…canard and making a fool of himself, not to mention foolishly resigning.”
Yep, you’re right. My bad.
Use “IT” it’s simpler. Oh, and that includes the quotation marks…..
This is a person. We will not disrespect Russo. “It” is not appropriate or funny.
Male: He
Female: She
Everything else: It
Santastico: cruel
But succinct and accurate.
Nah, just cruel.
They choose to act abnormal. It’s obvious he’s a man.
And it’s obvious what you are.
Grammatically accurate
He is obviously a male. Doesn’t matter what he “identifies” as.
No, He’s a man and should be addressed as such.
Wait huh, what are you getting on Matthew about? He did the correct and respectful thing in writing it the way he did.
An Observation.
Hissy, freak, insane, it.
Words are weapons.
Abuse coming from those who feel threatened.
Sad.
If you a referring to me, the author, I certainly don’t feel threatened. Hissy fit means “a temper tantrum.” It’s literally the perfect description of what occured and does not carry the implications you seem to assign it. I didn’t use freak or insane or it.
And yet you didn’t write “temper tantrum”, you used a phrase coming from “hysterical” which is so obviously gendered that the root “hystera” literally means “womb”.
I don’t believe your article has anything inappropriate in it. I thought you worked very hard to not cause issues. But please know that people who are like this are usually a little touched in the head or “special” as we call it in my profession. There’s got be a mental illness involved with this lifestyle anyway. I’m glad I won’t be in this world much longer to see the destructive some people are bringing to it. It’s an abomination and will be treated as such by most of the world and all of Gods Kingdom.
Normal people are threatened by these defective people.
You are the defective one.
Those words are accurate to describe these things.
Only in the minds of throwbacks.
While I get that you probably have an issue with using their preferred pronouns, typing RUSSO 83476462 times here (intentional or otherwise) makes the article read like an unedited 8th grade book report. Good for clicks tho, right?
I believe this reads much better than the frequent use of “they” – even in Russo’s post it is unclear if “they” refers to Russo or to Virgin Atlantic at some points.
*His
*Their/they.
Na, he’s a man
Again, Matthew did the correct thing in the way the article is written and it reads fine.
It always has amazed me that people who “just want to be treated like everybody else” do absolutely everything they can to make a spectacle of themselves…..then get mad when they get the attention that they so desperately crave.
That video……ugh, where am I – ready to take a flight on Virgin Atlantic or at RuPaul’s drag show ?
The GUY has less than three years with the airline and he just keeps stirring up the controversy — and worse still, Virgin Atlantic goes right along with these misfits and caves into their demands. How about holding people responsible to guidelines and proper dress codes or be fired? Guaranteed….. if I have to look at someone “in costume” or made up to look their “authentic” self and then I have to figure it all out – is it a man, woman, giraffe ?, I am not flying that airline. Hope he gets “redundant” again….. I guess he just couldn’t bear to use the word furloughed or let go.
I doubt Virgin will miss intolerant throwbacks like you anyway.
Maybe they should fire him again. I know I wouldn’t want to work with someone who so openly blasts his own employer (that hired him again, no less)
I do think VS should have compensated Russo and cabin crew and influencers who participated in the campaign equally. I do think VS should have actually compensated Russo and other cabin crew who worked with them to put into effect the policy change itself, because it is work. I think it would have been the right thing to do to include Russo in the spot, even for a second, given the work they and others did.
At the same time, it is possible for someone to both agitate for inclusion AND be after attention, and get agitated when they don’t get it. I know many trans and gender non-conforming people who have worked with their companies on policies like this, and would never want to be the public face of it. That’s neither good or bad, but some people still want attention and visibility, and it’s possible for Russo to have done a good thing within the company and be an attention-seeker.
Ultimately, I think everyone all-around could have handled it better and more sensitively.
(That said, it’s also possible that VS wanted to show more diversity and include people of color in the video, and that meant that some like Russo just literally, as they said, didn’t make the cut).
The problem is that person comes across as someone who was doing it more for gaining attention than actually helping people.
From the statement, they is trying to make it seem like they was the primary reason for the change in uniforms, which I highly doubt. I’m sure there were many others asking for the same thing, and not everyone would or could be featured in the ad, It happens.
Oh I definitely agree!
Who do I see about turning back the clock to a time before we ever heard the term “influencers”?
Hissy fit was/is often used to refer to women when they are angry. This coupled with the apartheid post, and even a post on comparing a flight attendant to lady Diana conveys one of two things: 1) you really are tone deaf or 2) you are an imbecile.
Feel free to ass-ume away…
Firstly……”influencers”
Largely talentless, unemployable tosses overly full of their own misguided self importance
As for matey boy throwing a “hissy fit” as you describe it…….I get the person is miffed, but there might be many reasons why they didn’t make the final cut: not photogenic enough or just plain crap at acting being just two.
However, the social media response was not the way to go……the person could find themselves no longer employed for such an outburst…….would a ballsy forward thinking outfit like Virgin want somebody like that on board?
Oh, and did I mention “influencers?”
Time wasting tissues….
Doh……..’tosses’ and ‘tissues’ should read TOSSERS
Geez loweez…
Shut up and do your job and be grateful you have one.
Stop being some entitled idiot!
I don’t want your selfish sh.t pushed down my throat anymore
60% of Pedophiles are LGBT
Fake statistic.
But 100% of what you post is crap.
Non Binary isn’t a real thing it’s just something these clowns do seek more attention.
Nah, not true.
Note to Virgin: Immediately fire your PR people. This never should have been a publicity campaign. At most it is an internal policy changes. 95% of Virgin’s customers may never have noticed or cared. If standards & services continued the majority would be accepting. But now it’s become an emotional stinky hot button. And the cabin if anything needs the emotional temperature lowered.
An aside to Russo: Never write when angry or hurt. Too many I and me. I am sorry they are hurt but life can seem unfair and Virgin’s PR are idiots.
A very sad situation. We have all had set-backs
And have had things happen that have been a painful struggle. Some folks have an interior sense of worth that surpasses any criticism or defeat. Perhaps they have just received over their lifetime enough nurture and love to know the truth about themselves – no matter what!
But we are becoming a desperate culture playing the victim card and no amount of affirmation seems to make it right for some folks. They are so wounded.
I’m sorry for this young man. I hope it is open to receiving what it needs – even if it is not what he(it) wants.
Matthew, you did a great job commenting on this. I also think people are just tired of walking around avoiding eggshells so that people are not offended. Find what you need inside – because the world most likely can’t give it to you
I didn’t think mentally ill people could become Flight Attendants.
Is that what kept you from being one?
His photo creeps me out!
“Dishelved chic consultant”….that’s cool!!
I’d rather catch a boat filled with pirates over shallow water will flying piranhas than go on a flight with this weirdo , people like him are unstable and dangerous and the last thing I want round me at 30k feet
I’m never flying virgin again in case this wierd virgin is on the flight
No, the issue isn’t “people like him”, the issue is that person on their own (ie attention seeking).
That is one strange looking human being. I’d be a little uncomfortable having that person around me.
I was first captivated by this “news story” (for lack of a better term), primarily because of the negative connotation of “hissy fit”, which literally translates to “outburst or tantrum”, which I think of a three-year-old child, which I was taken aback (Russo is an adult). This is not a child, but an adult standing up for something that they believe in. To clarify, I am a 47-year-old cis gender woman who happens to be sensitive and compassionate to the LGTB (alphabet soup, as many call it), community. The comments here are appalling. I do not know Russo from Adam (or from Eve), and frankly, I can presume these posters do not either if you are simply reading this author’s article.
Comments: “bratty child”, “he’s a clown”, “private binary or whatever else that no one cares above ‘private’”, “people like him” (for the record, probably “they” or “she” is preferred), “dude is a freak”, “self-serving attention-seeking jerk”, “mentally ill”, “IT” (multiple times), “defective people”.
How can anyone judge based on this article, or, at all?
Other comments: “shut up and be glad you have a job”, “people like you sicken ‘regular people’”, “go back to the closet, you freak”, “boo frickin boo”, “acting like a petulant child”… someone referring to Russo as “IT” (are you freaking kidding me?), “60% of pedophiles are LGBT” (seriously?), “what ‘he’ (it) wants”.
I could voice my opinion on how Virgin handled this situation, but I do not know enough of those details (and I assume neither do any of these commenters). And frankly, the dialogue here is more deserving of attention. So many of these ignorant, self-serving, judgmental commenters should be ashamed. Sadly, I presume they are not.
Matthew, IMHO, you should be ashamed of yourself for writing this article in the tone that you have, and responding to others as you have. But I’m no one to judge. When you are ready, as your posts proclaim… May you live a happy, long, prosperous life if you are deserving. Your time flies, as you say. Not my call.
I rarely ever add to comments. These was way too appalling to ignore, excuse, or remain silent.
I don’t understand what you find objectionable about what I posted. Are you really going to defend Russo’s sour attitude? We don’t have to judge based on this article, we can judge based upon Russo’s own words.
This shit is exactly what brought us Trump.
They could fire him for his anger attitude and defaming the company.
“Hissy fit“ is pretty homophobic
No, it’s not.
As a gay man, I do not read or view “hissy fit” as homophobic at all.
Thank you. I actually chose that term because my roommate once accused me of throwing one. I don’t think he was calling me feminine…just immature.
You missed a (sic) tag in one of the Russo quotes: “wouldn’t of started” – which just so happens to be a grammar pet peeve of mine.
Not sure what all the people who write “of” after “could”, “should” or “would” think they’re actually saying…
Could’ve = could have
Could of =
These comments are a gold mine, people who would never speak this way in real life enjoying themselves and a lawyer who finds modern English “confusing”
I think you should take a look at yourself, your apartheid comment and now “hissyfit,” you have a gay slur in your title.
And the first to stand up against inequality are never the show piece when compromise is reach, they are the ones usually kicked to the curb as an example of stepping out.
And do better, that’s it.
I need to correct what I said the other day, “hissyfit” is not a slur, though we all see what you did by using hissy which is close as fvck to sissy, when discussing the saidnflight attendant. You’re not the first person nor will you be the last to play around with words, then when called out claimed to be innocent.
How would you feel if you paid top dollar for Virgin business class and you had to look this monstrosity in the face to order food and drinks LOL?
The class of ticket matters very little, not to mention flight attendants might throw up upon seeing you enter, but they keep it professional.
For your information my friend, I’ve ended up Invited to FA hotel rooms after fights, and it was mighty good XD.
I think the words “hissy fit” and “rant” are unnecessarily demeaning. It doesn’t sound like you have any degree of “understanding” at all.
FINALLY someone who realises how terrible this article is!
Jaianni Olivier Russo’s one mistake was taking their internal grievance with Virgin to social media. At my company, any attempt by an employee to air such a grievance in this way through social media would be grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
Having said that, there is a cultural revolution at play on the planet where the lines between gender and gender expression have become blurred and more fluid. This is analogous to the cultural revolutions of desegregation and women’s liberation during the 60’s and 70’s…where those historically marginalized were the targets of even greater backlash. As human species, we adapted. We aren’t quite there yet with the cultural revolution/evolution/phenomenon currently at play with regard to gender and gender expression.
Nevertheless, as cis-gendered man who happens to love aviation, I am saddened and appalled by the anger, hate, and venomous comments directed toward this individual…comments made with complete impunity. This is ugly…and detrimental to the collective good will of why we are all here: We are commercial aviation enthusiasts. Mr. Klimt, as an aviation blogger, I feel that you have a duty to not sanction (permit) this kind of hate. If the subject in this article happened to be a person of color and a racial epithet was used in the comments section, you would have nipped it in the bud immediately or there would’ve been significant backlash on the part of your readers. The negative comments toward Jaianni Russo are steeped in anti-queer bias — both transphobia & homophobia. Why do I feel compelled to call this out? Because I know there is a good chance that there is some kid out there who may be struggling — right now — with his/her/their gender identity or sexual orientation. A kid who doesn’t yet have the voice…who feels very ALONE in their experience….and whose only hope and solace right now may derived from their passion for commercial aviation….and they happen to be reading your blog. Derogatory comments made with impunity toward a marginalized & vulnerable subset of the population on social media sends a very powerful message in the most detrimental way. This is the sort of messaging that sends our most vulnerable youth over the deep end. I am going to hold you to a higher standard Mr. Klimt.
A special shout-out to Laura H. for having the grace to do the right thing by calling out this behavior. I thank you.
I identify as a paperclip
Please TRANSFER MY IMMEDIATE/PRECEDING COMMENT WHICH I MISTAKENLY TRANSMITTED
IN RESPONSE TO THEE CHICKEN FAJITAS
MEAL SERVED ON BOARD VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS = MY ERROR AND
DEFINITELY N*O*T YOURS ! SINCERE
THANKS
If you feel the need to be looked at, dress up like a clown. Don’t complain when you get laughed at.
The article was well written and on point.
btw: Singular: He, She, It
Plural: They
Suck it up, Buttercup. Life is not always what YOU want