Restaurant Apologises For Calling Hotdog 'Bruce Jenner 2.0'

“Senate” restaurant owner issued another apology for calling one of its menu items, “Bruce Jenner 2.0” hours before the Olympic superstar’s interview on his transition into a women with Diane Sawyer aired. The owner immediately issued a statement clarifying its stance when transgender activities called out the name as “transphobic,” but failed to satisfy the critics. On this second apology, the owner emphasized how LGBT-friendly his restaurant is by claiming the proceeds of the hotdog went to “The Heartland Trans Wellness Fund.”

On Friday, hours before Bruce Jenner announced on national television that for “all intents and purposes,” he is a woman, the Senate restaurant thought it was funny to label one of its menu items, specifically the dog of the day “Bruce Jenner 2.0.” The item was described as part hot dog and part taco. Even though the restaurant is always famous for its menu, since all the items are named after pop culture figure and events, this time around, the name plus the timing on which it was announced, left a bad taste for many, especially transgender activists. The restaurant was hailed as transphobic.

To control the damage, the owner Dan Wright clarified that the name was chosen out of fun and not to demean anyone. Wright offered an apology to whoever was offended, and lauded Jenner for his decision to come out and detail his transition. Wright encouraged people to have a “Bruce Jenner” and to stop calling him and the restaurant “transphobic.”

Activists saw this move as unsatisfactory, claiming the damage has been done. “"We are in a place right now where trans people are easily objectified, and (the menu item) provided a quick entry for people who are not aware of trans issue to continue that trope, that stereotype, which is not true,” the activists complained.

To placate the activists once more, the owner took to his Facebook page and issued an even lengthier explanation and apology. Wright on his Facebook message, admitted that the name was highly insensitive. Wright also asserted that the restaurant is a LGBT-friendly establishment. This time however, the owner emphasized that sales of the said menu item would go to a healthcare organization that supports transgenders. “We are good people who made a bad decision in creating and describing our Bruce Jenner Dog of the Day. . . . As we stated before, this dog was a tribute to Bruce, and we donated 100 percent of the proceeds to The Heartland Trans Wellness Fund. . . . “ the message reads.

The Heartland Trans Wellness Group is a Cincinnati advocacy group that assists transgender people find support and medical assistance, which has now been up and running for a decade.

Despite the activists’ worry that the restaurant’s action demeaned their character, Bruce Jenner’s interview with Diane Sawyer, however sensitive the topic, did not put him in a bad light, which goes to show the increasing acceptance of people of transgenders, or at least their willingness to understand their plight. On the interview, Bruce talks of his struggle with his gender identity and having to act in one way while feeling another. Many have took to their social media to praise Bruce and call him a hero after the interview came out. In Australia, there is an ongoing support campaign for Bruce where men have their nails painted on to show their embrace of Bruce’s transition.

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