TIFU by trying to combat my mom’s thinly veiled transphobia

To set the scene…

My mother and I are somewhat avid viewers of the game show Jeopardy!. For some time now, the reigning Jeopardy champion has been Amy Schneider, who happens to be a trans woman.

Since Amy has first appeared on the show, my mother has taken to making derogatory comments regarding her (at least once every episode, if not more). The comments have struck at basically every facet of Amy’s physical appearance: her clothing, her jewelry, her hairstyle, her makeup, etc.

I have attempted to gently remind my mother that even though Amy isn’t there with us when we’re watching the show, making negative comments about her is very rude. I mentioned that prior to Amy’s appearances on the show, she was never this hostile when discussing any of the other contestants, and I suggested to my mother that her comments make her appear transphobic.

Her response was to say that her comments “didn’t matter” and that she “was just making conversation.”

Sure.

When Amy appeared on the show again today, my mother said that Amy “should have done a better job shaving her mustache before coming on stage.”

With no hesitation – my foot already being firmly lodged in my mouth – I responded:

“Mom, maybe you should shave your upper lip before saying that about another woman.”

My mother stood up from her chair, walked to her room, and shut the door. My father, from another room, called me an asshole.

TL;DR: I think I made my mom cry by telling her to shave her mustache.