Another great job from GLAAD—the LGBT media watchdog org has worked with the Miss Universe Organization to reinstate that stunning transgender woman who was disqualified for being born a man.
The Miss Universe Organization, which is partly owned by Donald Trump, has done an about-face on the matter and released the following statement:
“The Miss Universe Organization will allow Jenna Talackova to compete in the 2012 Miss Universe Canada pageant provided she meets the legal gender recognition requirements of Canada, and the standards established by other international competitions.”
It’s safe to say Donald Trump, who has previously bloviated rather idiotically against marriage equality in his fake presidential candidacies, signed off on these agreements to move toward inclusion of all women.
“The Miss Universe Organization made the right decision and has taken an important first step,” said GLAAD spokesperson Herndon Graddick. “Now, GLAAD urges the Organization to include all women and use this incident to speak out in support of the transgender community.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
“So many women today do not have equal opportunities for employment, housing and safety simply because they are transgender. The Miss Universe Organization should look to state non-discrimination laws and institutions including the Olympics, NCAA and The CW’s America’s Next Top Model, which do not discriminate against transgender women,” said Graddick.
Now that Jenna can compete, it begs the question: how long will it take for beauty-pageant judges to crown the first transgender woman winner?
Photo via Model Mayhem
Andrew
(the LGBT media watchdog org has worked with the Miss Universe Organization to reinstate that stunning transgender woman who was disqualified for not being born a man.)
So she was born a woman??????
Andrew
To say it is a “mental illness” is showing how utterly ignorant you are. Homosexuals
used to be treated with electro shock therapy to treat their “mental illness”. Science
moved on and I suggest you do as well.
Muleskinner
Isn’t it odd that one never hears a peep from Glaad about gay people anymore? It’s all about the transexuals now. Looks like another organization that has been taken over, oh well.
Andrew
It’s not mutilation or lies.
I suggest you do some research before making yourself look like a idiot.
Simon
I’m glad for this woman, but this has nothing to do with gay people. GLAAD is wasting its donors’ money by pursuing causes that don’t relate to gay people and defamation. Queerty, if you want to become a trans blog, then let us know so we can go somewhere else.
Andrew
@Lumi Bast
They do not choose to be transgender, who the hell would choose that. Think about it logically, chances are that they would be heading for suicide and mental breakdown without the surgery. So therefore it is a cure for their condition.
Do some research instead of sprouting rubbish,
EmmaMTF
@Lumi Bast (@nugoyxi): I find it hilarious that, of the LGBT spectrum, the most complete body of evidence attributing an either genetic or at least scientific cause for their existence is that of Trans* people, and has been shown to be a naturally occurring phenomenon for the past 40 years of modern research.
In other words, I regardless of what you deem “mental illness”, it is a naturally occurring, relatively treatable condition and the fact that you find what trans* people do “odd” only serves to enlighten us to your deficiencies – both intellectually and emotionally.
So fuck the fuck off BITCH.
JayKay
GLAAD, as irrelevant as ever, needs a name change. They’ve clearly demonstrated that gays and lesbians are no longer their top priority. They’re more interested in playing Transgender Defense Force these days.
Andrew
@Lumi Bast
You’re not even going to attempt to learn anything are you?. No amount of therapy is going to make them “accept their real gender” (a term which is offensive on it’s own)
Therapy has never turned a gay man straight so why the hell should it work on someone who is transgendered?
Read this, it shows there are physical brain differences.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20032-transsexual-differences-caught-on-brain-scan.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news
JayKay
@EmmaMTF:
“it is a naturally occurring, relatively treatable condition”
So is schizophrenia. I’m not about to encourage their delusions either.
Lumi Bast (@nugoyxi)
@vic
I’m not stupid, and I’m not a hoe
And I very much accept myself for who I am, I love being a homosexual woman
I’m mad about them because they’re living a huge lie and I stand up for what’s wrong
rhenaiya
Lol, the lgbt community should share in eachothers victories, not whine. Many Trans people also identify as gay, lesbian or bi. It’s an ironic twist when prejudice comes from within the community. I think trans people have as much right to express their identity as they experience it and not let others try to tell them who they are, just the same as I think that it’s nobody else’s business who anybody is fucking. I hope that the haters have a chance to learn more about trans people and develop some compassion, and recognize everyones need to be true to themselves.
Obviously there are people who would love to drive a wedge between the lbg and the t as we see in the previous comments. Fortunately most people in my experience are well informed about trans issues and we have respect and support for eachother. Gotta love the people who troll this website trying to incite an argument and create a rift, if it’s not a racial thing it’s an attempt to villainize trans people. In this case I’d like to thank Queerty for reporting a positive story about a trans woman who has made history. To the haters, sorry for your failing struggle to find someone to condemn to make yourself feel better about being afraid of what you know nothing about. Hugs n kisses for everyone else.
Andrew
@Lumi Bast
It’s not mutilation it is surgery, (try saying it out loud, slowing).
Lumi Bast (@nugoyxi)
@Andrew
It’s chopping off body parts or adding wrong ones because of confusion. And if it was possible to change your genitals, it would be mutilating them.
rhenaiya
Oh! I get it now! There is a special breed of lesbian who hates men and refuses to see trans women as legitimate in any way. I don’t know all the intricacies of this opinion and don’t really want to, exclusion and the attempt to demonize any group of people is weak. Now what I do know is that most phobias about gay and lesbian people manifest when the phobic individual is witness to a person acting out of what is considered “gender-appropriate behavior” for the individual. Gay men who are overtly femme in their mannerisms, women who are visably butch, they are more often the targets of hate/violence than those who more personify the “expected norm”. This being the case shows that gender expression and a persons right to decide their identity is in fact an issue that affects everyone in the community. That feeling of discomfort or anger people experience when in the presence of lgbt people is a result of their ignorance plain and simple. Good luck addressing your issues.
Andrew
@Lumi Bast
So what is your suggestion? Sit around a fire and pray the transgender away? You are being unbelievably naive. I would suggest you go out there and actually speak to some transgendered men and woman out there.
Jennifer English
Quote “Transgender people are the ones with issues”
I believe you have some issues….
Google me. 😛
Lumi Bast (@nugoyxi)
I have no issues, I accept myself the way I am 🙂
Jennifer English
@Lumi Bast
Perhaps you might do well you try and accept other people in all their differences too…
Lumi Bast (@nugoyxi)
I don’t accept people mutilating their bodies and lying about their real gender, much like I don’t accept when people cut/self harm or do drugs.
GreatGatsby2011
@Lumi Bast (@nugoyxi): So by your logic, homosexuality (which our opponents still say is a “mental illness”) is perfectly fine as long as we don’t act on it. The physical attraction we feel is perfectly normal, however it would be “unnatural” and “disgusting” to act on these desires and do something about them. Do you even realize how hypocritical you sound spouting the very same ridiculous arguments that fundamentalists use to deny you your rights? Get your mind out of other people’s underwear, it has no reason to be there.
what?
@Lumi Bast (@nugoyxi): since you have no medical or legal background, your input is pretty much worthless. i bet you probably don’t even have a clue as to the first thing about psychology. i’m willing to go out on a limb by stating that you have no clue as to the ethics of allowing autonomy and beneficence either. let’s do a little research before we speak. and for now, there is only lgbt. if you’re unsatisfied, split off into your own faction since you really only care about your own rights and not the rights of all individuals.
rhenaiya
so if u have no problem with androgeny or people behaving outside the lines of gender expectations. And you, as a lesbian, claim dominion over your own body and who you sleep with in spite of what others might think. Would it be safe to say that trans people also hold dominion over their own bodies and have the same right to persue happiness and be true to their nature? You telling trans people they should try to conform to their birth-sex is no different than someone telling you to conform to “straight” sexuality. I noticed you called trans people “liars”, which is a broad claim. While there might be some who would like to decieve people in some cruel way (like mavies like to portray), many trans people are open and honest, and like myself proud. When I met my partner I was open about my trans status from the get-go, we have been together for 3 years and are engaged to be married. I have never been happier in my life since beginning my transition and starting a life based on honesty. So, really what does that leave for you to have a problem with. I think I know (just a guess though). I suspect you have a fear or have experienced attraction to a trans person, you are angered by the potential that you could be attracted to someone you would label “male”. I think rather than accepting that the person is attractive to you, you would see yourself as having been “duped”. That isn’t someone lying to you, that is you lying to yourself. As far as the bathroom/changeroom issue, aside from haters being uncomfortable I can’t think of one incident where a trans person was guilty of anything other than trying on clothes or relieving themselves, so that argument is a dud too. I think you have a strong sense of identity linked to your lesbianism and feminism which can be called into questionby your peers the moment you are suspected of being attracted to a trans woman. Now here is where you say you don’t care what other people think, but you do. I do too, that is why we are writing our comments, so we can start a discussion or get feedback. It’s ok, natural for people to want to be accepted. We want our opinions to be accepted too, but it’s unrealistc to think everyone will agree. While your opinion is what it is, it’s effect on the bigger picure is pretty small, as is mine in this forum. I wish I could enlighten people and take the edge off some of the ignorance out there, but at the end of the day I am a transexual woman to be true to myself and be happy in my life, not to give a fuck what anyone else ultimately chooses to believe. Feels good 🙂
Riker
@Lumi Bast (@nugoyxi): Gender identity disorder is a mental/neurological disorder where the victim’s brain doesn’t match their body. All available evidence indicates neurological differences between natural born men and trans men, and the same for women. The contradiction between brain and body is what causes them mental/emotional pain and suffering.
Since we don’t have the technology to fix the brain (and even if we did, it would be ethically questionable), the most humane thing to do is change their bodies to resolve the inconsistency and end their suffering.
Gays are very different because while our desires are wired for those with the same gender, it doesn’t create any inherent neurological problem. If left untreated, homosexuals would live happy, productive lives, whereas trans people need treatment to feel happy.
While I also believe that GLB and T should go our separate ways (but remain allies), they aren’t something to be hated/despised.
Lumi Bast (@nugoyxi)
@Riker
That’s why they need to be treated to be able to accept their gender then
Jacob
@what?: No kidding, right? “IT’S WRONG BECAUSE I SAID SO!”. No, you ignorant ass.
Andrew
@Lumi Bast
So by your logic any plasic surgery is mutilation? As that’s the way people were born? They should just learn to accept it?
Jacob
@Lumi Bast (@nugoyxi): “since you have no medical or legal background, your input is pretty much worthless.” It seems as though you just skipped that part.
Lumi Bast (@nugoyxi)
@Andrew
No, because the people who get it aren’t attempting to change their gender, and aren’t completely taking off/adding body parts they shouldn’t have
@Jacob
And you all do? Sure….
Lumi Bast (@nugoyxi)
taking off body parts they should have/adding body parts they shouldn’t have*
WillBFair
Why let a nut job like lumi hijack this thread?
Jacob
@Lumi Bast (@nugoyxi): Nope, but I’m positive that the majority of people who do would tell you that you’re wrong.
Andrew
As for the bathroom issue, get a grip. Most of Europe has unisex toilets, we are old enough to know that everyone shits.
Lumi Bast (@nugoyxi)
I’m not a nutjob. If I was a nutjob, I’d say I wanted them killed (I don’t). If I was a nutjob, I wouldn’t support LGB rights (I do).
Lumi Bast (@nugoyxi)
@Jacob
I don’t care whether you think I’m wrong or right. Oh and if you tell me I have no place to speak on it since I’m not involved in the medical field, then you have no place to speak on it either.
@Andrew
I’m not from Europe. Here in the US, the guidelines are clear- MEN’s Bathroom, WOMEN’S Bathroom. It shouldn’t be so complicated. If you’re a natural man, you go in the men’s bathroom, if you’re a natural woman, you go in the women’s bathroo.
Andrew
Another issue not mentioned is that often being male or female is not so simple.
People are born with Klinefelter’s syndrome or Swyer syndrome generally show traits opposite to the sex genetics says they should be.
You @Lumi Bast could be genetically a man but suffering from Swyer syndrome and be utterly unaware.
As we don’t know the genetics of Jenna Talackova I suggest we be happy for her, I’m sure she didn’t want her medical history to shown all over the press and probably just wanted to be treated like the woman she is.
Jacob
@Lumi Bast (@nugoyxi): “I don’t care whether you think I’m wrong or right.” yes I know, but what about what medical professionals think? That’s the part that doesn’t seem to be registering with you. I never said you have no place, I was only agreeing with what “What?” had said; to quote ” your input is pretty much worthless”
Lumi Bast (@nugoyxi)
@Andrew
I have breasts, a vagina, a female body shape, a fairly feminine face. I don’t feel like a man. Who knows?
My issue is that with people who have say, male DNA AND the male body, and then changing it to female.
@Jacob
Like I said, when you can change your DNA, and get the complete proper body parts (including genitals) then we can talk, I might be a little more accepting (still won’t be completely because I believe you are what you are) but for now, it doesn’t work.
Clockwork
Actually it’s hard to tell how hot she is from just that photo.
I’ve seen a lot of transsexuals/genders both online and in person.
Transsexuals are almost always hotter in pics or porno than real life.
Never seen one that can out hot a genetically born female babe.
EmmaMTF
@JayKay: Good argument, but slightly off. Both occur in the DSM, but Schizophrenia produces a spectrum of functioning (barely, with medication) to non-functioning schizophrenic conditions which occur from chemical imbalances in the brain. It’s easy to point and say “they’re both in the DSM, therefore alike”, but it’s apples and oranges here. A transperson has nothing physically “wrong” or non/alternatively-functioning in the brain, unless you consider incorrect self-schema and gender mapping “wrong”.
But then the “wrong” may either be interpreted as body, or brain, but not in functionality, but in placement, which gives rise to the cliche “woman/man trapped in a man’s/woman’s body”.
Either way, the individual is functional, usually well adjusted apart from their gender problems, and capable of functional life without medication.
Leonard
@Lumi
What about people born, xxy, or xxx? What about people born intersex? (That means they were born with a varied combination of both male and female parts, in case you were not familiar with the term.) Sometimes parents make a decision and the child is raised one sex but they feel like the other. Should they not attempt to be the gender they feel given the parts are inconclusive? How can you say what a ‘real’ man or woman is, what authority do you have over another person’s body? What you are trying to dispute is a person’s SEX, and calling it GENDER. Sex is the biological genetic trait, Gender is a socially constructed label that consists of behaviors and expectations. That is how straight people call effeminate gay men less than ‘real’ men, because they don’t comfort to the list of behaviors associated with GENDER. Similarly, you are stating that people can’t be the gender they choose because it is a lie, but gender is only a social idea. Are you saying we have to have the same definition, sounds pretty close minded. Also, you say you abhor mutilation. What about an operation to remove a woman’s breast or a man’s testicle due to cancer? That is technically a form of mutilation. What about plastic surgery to fix scars or disfigurement after and accident. By your definition that should be mutilation too. What about a nose surgery for a deviated septum, it changes they way their nose looks, and so a lie, so it must be mutilation. Do you dye your hair? Mutilation since it’s a lie. Do you cut your hair or nails? Must be mutilation too. Do you see how words and ideas can be manipulated around to fit our skewed ideas of what we think SHOULD be. Your idea of not lying is absurd. I bet you’ve lied fifty times today and not even thought about it. And you might say it’s not a lie if you think it’s true. Well how can transgender say they are lying about their GENDER if they know it’s true they live in the wrong body? Theres something to say about voicing your opinion, but when you do it to defame something you have no clue or personal interest in makes you as bad as those homophobes. It’s 2012, be a bit openminded ma’am.
azalea_k
I don’t see the point of arguing with Lumi anyway. Her brand of bigoted ignorance has been doing the rounds for decades, and Greer, Raymond et al will continue regardless. It’s nonetheless a (small) minority view in most mainstream LGBT and feminist spaces.
Sweetbrandigirl2004
@Andrew: Andrew I agree with everything you said except for one thing and that is she isn’t Transgender she’s a Transexual and yes there’s a difference. Transexuals have a condition known as GID (gender Identity Dysphoria) and are born with the brain gender of the opposite gender, they under go therapy hormone replacement therapy and eventually Gender reassignment surgery. Transgender don’t have the need of GRS surgery and rarely go to therapy before taking internet hormones. Most will live as women but won’t legally become women. This women completed the transitional process ie: having GRS and therefore that is why she has grounds to be admitted into the contest. She is a legal female and as such is due ALL the legal rights of any genetic born female.
David1950
Agreed Muleskinner, you don’t hear anything from GLAAD about gays, bisexuals, or lesbians. Whoever said that most of Europe has unisex bathrooms has never been to Europe.
AngryDykeInTexas
Great, what’s next, people in dog costumes participating in dog shows? Making involuntary commitment illegal has done irreparable harm to the people who need it the most. Nobody who voluntary mutilates a functional body part in order to change a biological fact which is fixed and determinate can rightly be called a balanced individual. You can’t change your sex anymore than you can change ethnicity.
Transgenderism allows men to participate in a sick parody of womonhood that basically amounts to dressing up for kicks. It is the worst kind of appropriation and it devalues real females by reinforcing the notion that we are just walking vaginas. It is the phallocracy’s trojan horse.
They openly violate the identities of womyn everywhere by co-opting a narrative that doesn’t rightly belong to them. In reality, all they’ve done is negate the most obvious means by which MEN subjugate, degrade, and attack womyn. Every transgender is in fact raping womyn and our identities. And the funfems are totally complicit in the transtapo’s endless campaign of thuggery that keeps women under the jackboots of the patriarchy.
It would be in the interests of females everywhere if the practice of gender transition were to be mandated out of existence, and all these wasted resources reapportioned to vital womyn’s health services that are vastly underfunded.
Clockwork
@AngryDykeInTexas:
Not fooling me with this post: Nice try on the dyke/womyn parody.
rhenaiya
Wow, now that is some pretty venomous bullshit right there, AngryDykeInTexas. Just like a pile of crap on the sidewalk, I’ll just point at it and say “ewww”, step around it and continue on my merry way. Keep fighting for your lives my trans brothers and sisters, don’t let anyone else try to tell you who or what you are, you deserve to be happy and live a full life xoxo
Dana
Do people understand what transphobia is? It looks like homopobia but is directed at trans*.* people. The GLB have fought decades to educate the public that being gay or lesbian isn’t a choice. There has been an incredible and fundamental change in society and it is a good thing. So tell me why is it that If I want to go see the most transphobic voices in society, I go to a gay blog? People should be ashamed of themselves.
Sweetbrandigirl2004
@AngryDykeInTexas: While I accept your right to your opinion I feel that your opinion is antiquated and pure B/S. I’m guessing you didn’t get the memo the feminist movement died with the last bra burning in the mid 1970s…its time you get over it and grown the F^&* up. Transexuals are NOT transgender they are in fact born with a legitimately documented medical condition. They are born with the brain gender of the opposite sex, Im sorry if thats science that goes way over your head or is to advanced for you to understand, but it’s a proven fact. Once they complete a SOC transitional process they are legally woymn’s and as such are deserving of every legal right accorded any genetic woymn.
Normal
@AngryDykeInTexas I am with you! Totally! All of this stupid LGBT stuff. Take gays and lesbians and the same sex marriage thing. If we allow same sex marriage. What next? Can you legally marry your pets? Pathetic! I am totally on your side with all this crap.
Normal
@AngryDykeInTexas those god damned queers and all their gay lifestyle choices! Everyone knows being gay or lesbian is a choice! It is a lifestyle choice and laws should NOT be passed to protect these confused people. Totally disgusting. I am on your side, AngryDykeInTexas! BTW, what does Dyke mean? I live in Texas. Maybe you and I should hang out sometime.
Geri
@Lumi Bast (@nugoyxi): “I stand up for what’s wrong”
Finally you said something I can agree with 🙂
Andrew
@Sweetbrandigirl2004
Thank you for correcting me.
Geri
@Sweetbrandigirl2004: I confess that I don’t really agree with you. As far as I’m concerned “Transgender” is an umbrella term and “transsexual” is a somewhat problematic term because it sounds too much like a sexual orientation – which of course it isn’t because gender identity and sexual orientation are not the same thing.
What does wikipedia say?
“Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles.
Transgender is the state of one’s “gender identity” (self-identification as woman, man, neither or both) not matching one’s “assigned sex” (identification by others as male, female or intersex based on physical/genetic sex).[1] “Transgender” does not imply any specific form of sexual orientation; transgender people may identify as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, polysexual, or asexual; some may consider conventional sexual orientation labels inadequate or inapplicable to them. The precise definition for transgender remains in flux, but includes:
“Of, relating to, or designating a person whose identity does not conform unambiguously to conventional notions of male or female gender roles, but combines or moves between these.”[2]
“People who were assigned a sex, usually at birth and based on their genitals, but who feel that this is a false or incomplete description of themselves.”[3]
“Non-identification with, or non-presentation as, the sex (and assumed gender) one was assigned at birth.”[4]”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender
Transsexualism – Relation to gender roles
Transsexual men and women (referred to as a trans man or trans woman respectively) desire to establish a permanent gender role as a member of the gender with which they identify, often pursuing medical interventions as part of the process. These physical alterations are collectively referred to as sex reassignment therapy and may include female-to-male or male-to-female hormone replacement therapy, or various surgeries such as orchiectomy, facial feminization surgery, sex reassignment surgery, trachea shave and mastectomy. The entire process of switching from one physical sex and social gender presentation to the other is often referred to as transition, and usually takes several years.
As well as conforming to the heterosexual lifestyles and gender roles, transsexuals are now conforming and identifying according to a lesbian or a homosexual identity.[9] Gender identity still takes precedent over morphological sex.[9]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transsexualism#Relation_to_gender_roles
I can’t really agree with that last paragraph above either as most of the trans people I know personally are bisexual/queer identified and don’t really conform to heterosexual or homosexual lifestyles and gender roles at all.
Rad Fem
GLAAS is a Joke because GLAAD dose not listen to Lesbian women. It only listens to the most sexist, homophobic Transsexual by the name Monica Roberts. Here’s an Example from this blog
https://gendertrender.wordpress.com/2012/03/02/glaad-fails-own-mission-hosts-sexist-violent-homophobe/
Sophia
I am upset about this. He should not be allowed to be on this competition. He is not a women he may look like one but she is still a man. It is not fair that she is in it because if we went under the knife we would look like a Barbie too. It should be about real women not men who are confused in there life and want to change their sex. I worry for my children one day to be in a world of horrible change.
Sophia
I will never watch these shows again. I BOYcott.
rhenaiya
lol Sophia, if you don’t realize that practically all the women in the competition have been surgically enhanced you are kidding yourself. Also, I’m quite sure the vacancy you leave as a fan of the competition will be filled by some newly interested transgender women. The rest of us who are somewhat more enlightened on the topic of the transgender experience also worry about your kids, when they one day try to tell you who they are and you reject them because it’s not what you want for them. We hope they are strong enough to be themselves and forgive you for trying to impose your outdated and uneducated values on them.
On another note, one thing that should be considered is that in spite of societal backlash, media sensationalism and misrepresentation; millions of gender variant people will continue to just go about their lives. From the little girl who is called a tomboy for wanting to have short hair and play with the boys, to the woman nobody will ever know was born differently. They are the owners of their bodies, the masters of their own identities and aren’t willing to hand over control of their own lives.
The recent study about homophobia being linked to supressed homosexual feelings makes me wonder if there is a similar pattern to transphobia. I know some gay and lesbian individuals condemn transexualism because they think it is a way out for people who are too scared to identify as such, which is funny because I am a transexual woman AND a lesbian. My lesbian fiance can attest to that. Maybe some of these folks are supressing some trans feelings of their own?
So go ahead, tell me who I am. Obviously you must know me better than I do. Between what your priest and mama told ya and what you learned on cable television, I’m sure you could solve all the worlds problems with some kind of final solution.
Yes I just called you a gender Nazi.