When I share that my son has hemophilia, the questions I receive often range from the mundane to the absurd. “Is he related to a Russian Czar?” No. “Will he outgrow it?” No, he won’t. “Can you wrap him in bubble wrap?” I’ve thought about it, actually! But never once has anyone asked, “Isn’t that a disease caused by incest?” Yet, following the March 16 episode of ABC’s Secrets and Lies, where a character played by Frank Thompson declared, “Hemophilia is the nasty byproduct of incest,” I’ve heard it all.
It seems only fitting that ABC should have a difficult chat with my son to clarify that he is not the product of incest. I understand that television thrives on dramatic moments to capture ratings, and writers often use creative license to move a plot along. However, it perplexes me that the writers would never dare to suggest, “Homosexuality is a nasty byproduct of incest,” or “AIDS/HIV stems from incest.” Such statements would incite outrage and protests. So why was it acceptable to perpetuate such a harmful and false narrative about hemophilia?
Did the writers assume that due to hemophilia being a rare genetic disorder—affecting approximately 1 in 5,000 males—that the public would be unaware of the facts? Or did they think that the bleeding disorders community, consisting of roughly 20,000 families in the United States, wouldn’t have the means to speak out against this harmful characterization? Perhaps they simply didn’t bother to research using a little tool called Google.
A quick search reveals a wealth of information. In less than a minute, I found a definition from the Hemophilia Federation of America stating: “Hemophilia primarily affects males, as it is an X-linked condition. It impacts 1 in 5,000 male births in the U.S., with about 400 babies diagnosed each year. Approximately 400,000 individuals worldwide live with hemophilia, with around 20,000 in the United States alone, and it affects all races and economic groups equally. Individuals with access to treatment can lead normal lives.”
Nowhere in this definition is there any mention of incest as a cause for hemophilia. The misinformation presented in ABC’s Secrets and Lies is not just misleading; it’s damaging. If the aim was to belittle those with bleeding disorders, it is a grave miscalculation. Jill Kingston, a respected advocate in the hemophilia community, voiced her concerns succinctly: “In today’s world, where information is readily available, it’s unacceptable that ABC would allow such a statement to air. They must correct this error meaningfully. This is a chance for them to acknowledge the harm done and to support the many families affected by bleeding disorders.”
Currently, a petition on Change.org calling for ABC to issue a public video apology has garnered over 3,000 signatures, a number that continues to rise thanks to social media. March is Hemophilia Awareness Month, making it the perfect time for ABC to take accountability, extend an apology, and become a supporter of the thousands affected by this condition.
For more insights into bleeding disorders, visit the Hemophilia Federation of America or The National Hemophilia Foundation. And if you’re interested in family planning, check out this informative guide on home insemination.
In summary, ABC’s portrayal of hemophilia perpetuates harmful stereotypes and misinformation that can impact the community negatively. An apology is not just warranted; it is necessary to foster understanding and support for families navigating this condition.
Keyphrase: Apology to the Bleeding Disorders Community
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