Fox News contributor Keith Ablow recently appeared on Howard Stern's program to defend his criticism about the participation of Chaz Bono -- who is transgender -- on ABC's Dancing With The Stars. Ablow repeated his claim that Bono would hurt children by convincing them to become transgender. Ablow also analogized the situation to “if a person came to me tattooed as a zebra,” adding, “I'm not going to have my kids watch a show in which people pretend to be farm animals.”

In a recent statement, American Psychiatric Association president John M. Oldham reportedly debunked Ablow's argument, stating that there “is no evidence that viewing a television game show with a transgender contestant would induce Gender Identity Disorder in young people”:

“The American Psychiatric Association (APA) recognizes gender identity disorder (GID) as a psychiatric disorder that involves significant distress or impairment in functioning. The APA supports access to appropriate diagnosis and treatment for persons with GID and recognizes that the decision to undergo gender transition is a deeply personal one. The APA opposes all forms of discrimination against persons with GID. There is no evidence that viewing a television game show with a transgender contestant would induce Gender Identity Disorder in young people.”

Ablow called in to Stern's SiriusXM program last Thursday (note: as it is Howard Stern, audio of the segment contains nsfw language). Stern opened the segment by calling himself a “fan” of Ablow but wondered, “what's going on ... you're becoming a -- it seems a little bit silly with this homophobic stuff. ... you're getting a little off the wall.”

debunked Ablow's argument

“Nobody should be in any way discriminating against this person, but here's what I object to. When somebody has taken a really torturous path--literally having breasts removed, injecting oneself with hormones and is mid-stream in that process and wants me and the rest of the nation and all of our kids to agree that he is a man--that's reality bending,” Ablow said. “He's not a man, Howard.”

Stern told Ablow that it's “important” for Bono to be accepted on Dancing With The Stars because “there are a lot of people walking around who have gender issues, and they're getting the shit beaten out of them. ... it just says to children: 'You know what? Maybe I could be a little more tolerant.' ”

Ablow, however, claimed “that's not what's happening” and insisted that his appearance would indoctrinate kids. The Fox News doctor then gave an “analogy: If a person came to me tattooed as a zebra - Zebraman ... go on TV but if you want me to agree with you that you're a zebra, well, now you're invading my reality. ... It's dancing with a woman as a man. I'm not going to have my kids watch a show in which people pretend to be farm animals.”

“You're ridiculous,” replied Stern.

“He's going off into this Netherland of wackiness where you yell about everything,” Stern co-host Robin Quivers added.

Later during the program, Stern asked Ablow if “transsexualism [is] ever okay? ... I say it's okay.”

Ablow replied: “In the most extreme of cases where someone is sitting at home weeping.”

“If you are inhabiting a male body and you believe yourself to be female you are essentially delusional,” Ablow later said.