Rush Limbaugh Discusses the Word 'Tranny' With Caller

In a strange but interesting phone call, conservative radio show host Rush Limbaugh discussed the word "tranny" with a transgender caller named "Tina," the Huffington Post reports.

Tina called to take issue with an anti-trans quote that she thought Limbaugh made. While defending himself, the radio host said he has "been for trannies for a long time."

"Well actually, I did hear you using that term," Tina told Limbaugh. "And a lot of us do find that to be rather offensive because of the way that it's been historically used."

Limbaugh, shocked, asked, "Oh I didn't know that. Tranny is offensive? I heard Alec Baldwin use the term."

He goes on to say that he thought "tranny" was "cool and hip" after the actor used it in a New York Magazine article in February. As HuffPo notes, Baldwin wrote the article after he was criticized for allegedly using anti-gay slurs.

Tina goes on to say how the transgender community wants to reclaim the word as their own but points out how the media offensively uses "tranny" on television shows.

"We would rather be called 'trans' or 'trans people' or 'trans men' or 'trans women' for sure," Tina said.

Limbaugh, who seems genuinely interested in the use of the term asks Tina if other trans people use the word. Tina explains she does in some situations.

The conversation then goes on to how the gay men and women perceive transgender people.

Listen to the full six-and-a-half-minute clip below, where Limbaugh eventually says that he meant to ask Tina what's the deal with "trans fat."

The discussion comes as RuPual came under fire for using the word "tranny" on the popular drag queen reality show "RuPaul's Drag Race." Ru has defended the use of the word and even lashed out against cable network Logo for "distancing" itself from the drag icon.