Over 100,000 sign petition against Desperate Housewives

Despite the apology issued by the producers of “Desperate Housewives,” signatories to the online petition against the “racial slur” depicted in the show’s season premiere episode have ballooned to more than a hundred thousand.

As of yesterday, 107,521 persons have signed the letter asking ABC Studios to publicly apologize for using the country’s medical education for a punchline in a scene involving Susan, the character played by Teri Hatcher, and a doctor.

The petition also asked ABC to edit the particular episode by removing the “ignorant and racist remark” made by Hatcher’s character.

“Okay, before we go any further, can I check those diplomas? Because I would just like to make sure they’re not from some med school in the Philippines,” Susan tells a gynecologist in the season premiere episode aired two Sundays ago.

Responding to the pressure, ABC Studios have reportedly agreed to edit the episode and replace the same with one that does not contain the controversial remark.

The petitioners have expressed discontent over a mere statement of apology issued by ABC, and are holding protest actions to demand more from the studio.

“As Filipino-Americans and allies, we band together to ensure that this type of hateful message should not be allowed to continue on our television and radio airwaves. We demand a public apology to the Filipino American community, and we demand the episode be edited to remove the ignorant and racist remark. We will not allow hateful messages against our community or any other oppressed community to continue,” read the petition found on www.petitiononline.com/FilABC.

Interestingly, a certain “Teri Hatcher,” also signed the petition as signatory number 17,491 saying, “whether in reel or real life, I would still ask the doctor to show me their medical credentials.”

In the controversial episode, Susan goes in for a medical checkup and is shocked when the doctor suggests she may be going through menopause, which prompted Susan to ask for the gynecologist’s credentials.

The scene offended Philippine medical schools and medical practitioners all over the world. The Philippine government through the Department of Foreign Affairs filed a protest against the specific episode days after the airing.

Consul General to Los Angeles Mary Jo Aragon, in a letter sent to ABC, expressed displeasure over the character’s remarks that “only served to create racial stereotypes.”

She said the line unnecessarily tainted the excellent record of Philippine-trained healthcare professionals all over the world.

ABC issued a statement, offering “our sincere apologies for any offense caused by the brief reference in the season premiere. There was no intent to disparage the integrity of any aspect of the medical community in the Philippines.”

“As leaders in broadcast diversity, we are committed to presenting sensitive and respectful images of all communities featured in our programs,” it added.

In the petition, signatories argued that Filipinos are the second largest immigrant population in the US, with many entering and successfully passing its licensing boards as doctors, nurses, and medical technicians. – Michael Punongbayan