RuPaul’s Drag Race season 4 contestant Willam Belli somehow managed to fit his entire 6-inch stiletto — foot still tightly encased within — in her mouth by making repeated comments that are at best ignorant and at worst grossly transphobic.
Fans have quickly taken note, and many are rightly upset after the segment aired on Willam’s show Suck Less.
During the episode in question, Willam and guest/fellow Drag Race alum Courtney Act answered some questions sent in by viewers, Dear Abby style.
The pair turned their attention to an e-mail sent by a female viewer seeking dating advice. She had recently begun dating a transgender man, and wasn’t sure how to process him not having a penis.
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Willam, known for playing dumb, said: “just because you cut your titties off and take testosterone, that doesn’t change your chromosomes.”
Then he took it further, referencing the 1993 murder of trans man Brandon Teena, whose story would later be told in the 1999 film Boys Don’t Cry.
“He bamboozled the girl… he was trans but he could have told them,” Willam said of Teena.
He added: “Here’s the thing, he’s not your boyfriend if he’s not a boy and he’s not f**king you… just because someone says they’re a boy, doesn’t make them a boy.
“If they haven’t had the science [referring to gender reassignment surgery], they’re not a boy yet. Just because you cut your titties off and take testosterone, that doesn’t change your chromosomes.”
Courtney Act jumped in to try and steer the ship back to port, calling Willam’s comments “transphobic.”
“You just accidentally quoted Germaine Greer,” Courtney added, referencing the well-known quote from the trans-excluding feminist author, that “just because you lop off your d**k and then wear a dress, that doesn’t make you a f***ing woman.”
Willam seemed to agree with the quote, responding, “Once you do all that science stuff, then it does [make you a woman].”
Again, Courtney interjected: “You’re dating a trans man, by the sounds of it,” she said.
“Sometimes men have vaginas, and sometimes men have penises, and that is a fact of the world we live in.
“[Just because he] does not have a penis, it doesn’t mean that he can’t pleasure you.”
Then she addressed Willam’s language: “Saying that he’s a butch lesbian is disrespectful. He’s not a butch lesbian. He identifies as a man, and you need to respect his identification.”
“It’s not up to you to choose how somebody identifies,” he added.
Willam’s ignorant statements are somewhat surprising given the way he corrected Derrick Barry, another Drag Race contestant, when he made some woefully inaccurate statements about Stonewall during a Pride round table.
On Reddit, fans are expressing disappointment over Willam’s statements.
“How is a drag queen gonna be so transphobic?” asked one commenter.
“Yikes I thought he was better than this,” chimed another.
Meanwhile, folks are impressed with the way Courtney Act handled the situation:
“Between this and her awesome video documenting the process of getting tested for HIV,” wrote one fan, “I really could not love Courtney more.”
You can find the segment below:
part one it made me stop recording lol pic.twitter.com/Dr2wEYXT8H
— jinx (@PUNKPlXIE) September 26, 2017
tw for transphobia, willam gets kinda :/// in this pic.twitter.com/jplunpssKa
— jinx (@PUNKPlXIE) September 26, 2017
“I feel bad about how I made people feel about it and this is my official apology,” Willam said in a video posted after the incident.
“I’m sad that me not knowing these things made my friends feel some kind of way,” he continues. “What I do makes me a known entity or a public figure, so I have to be more responsible for my words.”
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s
Agree with Willam
gskorich
it is the world we live in yes but we still an have a choice on who we can date. as a gay man I prefer or should I say , I am attracted to men who have a penis. its the way I was born and people should respect my lifestyle choice.
marcus_collack
While thats interwsting… dont see the relevance to her question as she was informed that he was trans, she chose to date him anyway.
SailorVenus14
Hey dear writer, that twitter account desn’t belong to Jinkx Monsoon. Here’s Jinkx’s real account: https://twitter.com/JinkxMonsoon.
Chris
If after dating someone, you discover that said individual lacks (or, for that matter, has) a piece of genitalia that you want (or not), then it’s up to you to take the next step. In Ann Landers’ immortal words ask yourself: “Am I better of with him/her in my life or not?” And then, act accordingly……And don’t let anyone else tell you what the right decision is.
Dymension
Yup!
am_psi
His statement of an empirical fact is ‘at best ignorant’? I think it might be time to give up the ‘Right’ and ‘Left’ descriptors for people and switch to ‘Rational’ and ‘Delusional’.
Xzamilloh
Here’s the deal: if you are a transgender woman, I will call you by female pronouns and respect you as a woman:
If you are a trans man, I will call you by male pronouns and respect you as a man.
However, I refuse to deny science because it is inconvenient for someone’s subjective reality, and the reality is, genetically, they are male or female, but that does not mean that they identify as that genetic gender. I also refuse to waiver on one point, and that comes to transgender children. I will NEVER support children making that kind of choice because if they are not capable of consenting to adult relationships, how would they be capable of making an adult decision concerning their gender?
Also, these new genders? No thanks. If your pronouns are “ze” or “zim” or “they” or “them” or these other made up pronouns, I’m good.
Gargramel
I agree some of this is getting ridiculous.I too respect people’s pronouns but it does not change what is between their legs until they have that surgery!
dash_board1
Agree 100%. Everyone is deserving of respect and should have the right to make their own decisions.
However, this insistence that we ignore science and reality is really frightening. No amount of cosmetic surgery or hormone treatment will ever transform a biological man into a biological woman, or vice versa. That is not hate speech or transphobia, that is simply the truth. You have the right to identify however you please, you do not have the right to tell others that we have to agree that identity trumps biology and science.
I also have real concerns about the identification of children as trans. Every study shows that the vast majority (like 80%) of children who exhibit gender dysphoria simply grow out of it, and many of these grow up to be gay/lesbian.
If an adult wants to make an informed decision to transition then so be it, but I don’t understand how it could possibly be ethical for children. We don’t know the long term effects of puberty blockers. We do know that hormone treatments are carsinogenic and cause sterility. Why is this not discussed more, especially as it relates to children?
Murabbi4
They/Them is not a made up pronoun, it is a verified useable and workable pronoun in the english language. This is also true with ze/zim they are used to refer to people who identify as non-binary, genderqueer or any other gender identity. Why must I use male or female to identify myself when I surely do not identify as male or female? You are not allowed to make that choice for others when they ask you to identify themselves as such. You can be male with female sex/genitalia, you can be female with male sex/genitalia, you can be non-binary with either genitalia. Genetically someone has male or female sex, it doesn’t mean they are automatically male or female.
Xzamilloh
“You are not allowed to make that choice for others when they ask you to identify themselves as such.”
I’m damn sure allowed to roll my eyes at you and tell you to get your wishy washy ass out of my face with non-binary bullcrap. They/Them is plural, and refers to multiple people. You use whatever dumb crap you want, but don’t expect others to adapt to your worldview… that’s fundie nonsense of imposing your personal beliefs on others, and if I won’t tolerate it from the religious right, I damn sure won’t tolerate it from you. So you call yourself Them/They/Ze/Zim and all the like, but don’t be surprised if I just walk away from you.
God, can you imagine having a collection of friends like this? It would be absolutely exhausting making sure you didn’t trip all over yourself not offending them. Nope
JaredNorthcutt30
Why should the religious right adapt to your worldview? Sounds like you’re taking a page from the fundie right-wing Christian handbook, sweetie.
JaredNorthcutt30
They/Them has been used by the English language as a singular pronoun for centuries. It’s fascinating when gay dudes get their rights and refuse to fight for everyone else’s. Now the homosexuals have become the right-wing Christians. Interesting times.
JaredNorthcutt30
We might roll our eyes at you. “You’re really married. Isn’t that special?”
jack_werner
Here is how I see it, what gender someone identifies as or what pronoun that they wish to be address by has no bearing on my life in anyway, no should it matter to anyone else..My legal name is not Jack but is the nickname I use and prefer, however I had an Aunt who insisted on calling me by my legal or she said “Baptismal” name..It was just dismissive of my wishes and was just plain rude. I am not comparing it any of the struggles trans folks face but offer it as a point of empathy. If you ain’t in a relationship with someone what’s going on in their pants don’t affect you and not addressing them as they wish to be address, no matter what you think of it, is just plain rude AF.
Prax07
I love Willam, I agree with Willam. Just because you want to be a boy doesn’t change the fact your a girl and will always be a girl.
Gargramel
i agree with part of what william said and part i do not agree with! i believe in respecting calling them by their chosen identity, however it does NOT change the science. if tou identify as a man but have a vagina then you are still sexually and scientifically still a women and.vice.versa for men with penises com. i could identify as a dog, and grow my hair out and go around barking like a dog and humping peoples legs, but it will NOT make me a dog!
JaredNorthcutt30
What makes you gay again?
inthewalnut
Oh Transty (sorry, I meant Queerty)….
Caine
I’m sorry the trans community seems to always get up on their PC horse.
The controversy over the use of she-mail on RPDR still ticks me off.
Go after people who are actually transphobic and not allies who may have misspoken and then apologized.
And queerty you are no better for turning this into a thing.
DJRM
Yet another moment of overreaction. I am not saying I agree with William, as I don’t think your body defines who you are, but this is hardly anything to get up in arms over.
These are just silly comments…clearly, William is not transphobic….oy vey.
Murabbi4
These may be “silly comments” but those comments are heavily transphobic. This is not an overreaction, what was said actively oppresses the trans community especially comments from a RPDR contestant. It actively oppresses the trans community because it lets people with an outsider perspective believe what is being said just cause it comes from someone well known. Now more people will believe it or reaffirm their information on trans people which is highly ignorant and wrong.
Ummmm Yeah
He’s right. And it’s past time we stopped being bullied into lying. You can’t change your sex.
JaredNorthcutt30
Can you change your sexual orientation? I did.
Luna1979
Go William! I read an article calling drag queens transgender recently and my eyes popped out. It was a left-leaning news site. I’ve never thought of queens as such and I’m glad William set it straight, as it were. They are performers. The issue of gender is something else altogether, and honestly, it’s scary to see the direction it’s going especially with children. We will have a generation of kids who won’t know who they are. I don’t know how they will function.
JaredNorthcutt30
Kind of like how Jerry Falwell said that about gay kids in 1998.
Luna1979
Jared, if a child really has gender identity issues, it’s serious and of course parents should support them. I’m referring to parents who think it’s trendy to try to raise a genderless child (in case they might be trans, even though the child has exhibited no signs)
Chris
People who keep referencing “the science,” should read up on it. We used to think that the science dictated that people who were born visibly male or female were intended to be heterosexual; not true.
Now some claim that the science dictates that our DNA dictates our bits with 100% accuracy; again, not true. Think of people born with three sets, instead of two, of chromosomes. Or people born with both sets of genitalia. Or people, like that a South African runner, born with male chromosomes whose body remained female because she is resistant to testosterone and hence never transitioned from female to male while in utero.
The science tells us how things tend to happen. It doesn’t dictate what will always happen.
Having said so, I still think that while an individual has a right to any form of identity expression, those who encounter said individual have ever right to decide whether or not to engage in social (or other) intercourse with the former.
fredo777
This level of transphobia is dangerous, considering the already troublesome status quo of violence against trans persons. Shameful, especially coming from members of an often bullied/oppressed minority.
Prax07
Why is calling someone by what they are shameful? It’s shameful to coddle and humor these nutballs. Sorry Johnny, but you were born a male, you have a dick, you have make genetics, I’m not calling you she or her or they or zim or zam or whatever you make up in your head. And even if have your bits removed, get boob implants, and go on hormones, your still a dude, not referring to you as an actual female. If that hurts your being or is transphobic then too F-in bad. Get mental help and get medicated. Better than indulging this nonsense.
AndThenTheresMax
Good on ya William!
Finally someone else has said what I’ve been saying for years about transmen. Real transmen and I’m not being transaphobic because even my transmen friends will say this, “If you bleed once a month (still) and use your front hole to give birth, you are still a woman!”
This quote from William is my everything today, “Here’s the thing, he’s not your boyfriend if he’s not a boy and he’s not f**king you… just because someone says they’re a boy, doesn’t make them a boy.”
Again, our “free to be you and me culture” has given transmen the “green light” to assume that just because you cut your hair short, and wear boys clothes you are a boy! Got news for you. Biological men don’t bleed once a month and can’t get pregnant (though we have fun trying).
If you still use tampons and want to “have a baby” don’t waste your time and money going on hormones. You are still biologically a woman. If you want to be considered a man remove your breasts, stay on your treatments, get a full hysterectomy, get the gender reassignment surgery and TADA you’re a guy!
But showing up in boys clothing, acting like (what you think a boy would act like) and saying, “I was born this way; respect me” doesn’t work. Remember what happened in Boys Don’t Cry.
If you want to be man, then go all the way. If you are not then you’re a just a woman posing as a guy. Got news for you Madonna has already done that.
You go William!!!
Curtispsf
WTF is everyone getting their panties in a bunch over what trans individuals wish to be called? A pronoun is JUST a pronoun but if it means THAT much to a trans individual, I, for one, am going to respect that person’s choice of pronouns. As a southern boy, anything less would be impolite…and it doesn’t cost anybody a cent to show some respect. Respect, people. Respect. That’s what it’s ALL about.
marcus_collack
Im not going to go out of my way to be rude. If i choose to associate with you then i will address you as you have asked me to address you. I have a friend named sam, 6 months in, found out his name was patrick. I asked was sam a nick name, nope, is sam your middle name nope, and i still call him sam, why call him patrick now, i dont, theres nothing to gain from that.
Sidenote: he saild brandon could have told them. Her, sure, them no, its none of their business. Obviously brandon was right for not telling since then he was assaulted, raped, and murdered!
He BGB
I have had friends both trans and drag queens but today’s drag queens, I just don’t get it. I’m just an old guy who was thrilled by Christine Jorgensen, Jim Bailey and Rachel Wells….sad isn’t it? Lol.
Brian
Who knew I’d find my tribe in the Queerty comment section? This gender identity movement has gotten out of control. I guess in a world full of special snowflakes, people needed to find a new way to stand out and make themselves even specialer, and it’s so much bullshit. Transgender people, fine. I can’t relate to that at all, but I assume that if somebody goes through hormones and surgery and all the BS they have to deal with from living as the opposite gender to get to the point where they feel like they want to feel, then it’s for a reason. I’ll respect that. But all this genderfluid/nonbinary and the 20 other new gender identities we’ve suddenly come up with? Utter bullshit. I don’t care whether you identify with being neither male or female, or both male and female. You’re one or the other, and we all have typically male or female elements to our personalities. I’m not going to call you “they”, and I sure as hell ain’t gonna call you “zie”. Luckily, if you are one of these morons, I’m not going to spend very long interacting with you anyway, so pronoun usage isn’t gonna be an issue. You’re not more interesting because you’re a guy who likes to post pictures of you in a skirt on social media, you’re just an attention whore.
NateC
Look at all the fellas being hypocrites in the comments. Won’t even respect the people within your own community. You are aware that trans women fought for the rights you have now, you know, with them having led the Stonewall Riots and all? All hell breaks loose when a homophobe gets on your behinds, but you all completely regress into the Stone Ages when the topic of trans people comes up. Screaming SCIENCE when which one of you queens has had sex for its primary scientific purpose recently? Procreation, anyone? Dick + dick doesn’t equal baby. Or are y’all planning to have an anus baby sometime soon? Isn’t that the main “SCIENTIFIC” reason homophobes make your lives harder than it needs to be? Oh, yes, trans people are too much for you to handle when you’re all over here sword fighting against science.
throwaway82
This conversation has been bothering me since the Free Pride debacle. I have always supported trans inclusion since I was out in the 90’s. I still believe in anti discrimination laws for them and I do not believe that any violence should come to them. They should be able to live however they want to in safety. However there has been a lot of craziness and frankly homophobia in the trans narrative lately. For example I was in a large LGBT group and I said that I couldn’t have sex with a trans man who had a vagina still. I was told that I was “reducing him to his genitals” and that I was shallow essentially because “some men have vaginas; that’s a mans vagina”. Also I should deconstruct my transmisogynistic biases against male vaginas. Some will go as far as to say that I should stop calling myself gay but rather a penis fetishist. Some lesbians told me that that was called the cotton ceiling. Also gender dysphoria isn’t required to be trans anymore because it perpetuates the narrative of the sick trans person. So what is it based on then? Subjective feelings? Stereotypical behavior? Clothing? Apparently all you need to do is simply say you are a man and you are one no questions asked or you are Hitler and want all trans people dead. Manhood and womanhood is merely a feeling you can try on whenever you want, just like the hundreds of other genders. It’s a deeply flawed ideology and it causes me worry about our future. Of course there are a lot trans people who disagree with the new narrative (they are often called truscum). So there is hardly uniformity in the movement. There needs to be more dialogue and less censorship about these issues or else there is eventually going to be huge rifts in the community IMO. I still considered trans people as part of my family, but like family we don’t always agree. If anyone thinks I am lying feel free to google it. I wouldn’t blame you for your doubts. It seems unbelievable.
gab1991
To this day I am still being told by most people I know that I am not gay, even by therapists of all sorts, so… Even if you have your opinion related to transgender people, it is just lack of empathy to tell someone who they are, you do not know how they feel and we as society do not know yet enough scientifically of where this comes from. Some evidence suggest it has to do with genetics, while some people just call it a mental disorder, just like they called gay people a few decades ago.
Scotty2Naughty
Wow. The ignorance on this board.