Update: GLAAD, MISS UNIVERSE ANNOUNCE POLICY CHANGE TO ALLOW TRANSGENDER WOMEN
Just finished reading this article in the Huffington Post about Jenna Talackova, the 23-year-old Miss Universe Canada finalist who was disqualified. Why? Because she’s a transgender woman. The rules apparently stipulate that contestants must be a “naturally born female.” A statement from Miss Universe Canada stated that Jenna “did not meet the requirements to compete despite having stated otherwise on her entry form.”
Fortunately, Jenna’s now lawyered up and fighting this blatantly transphobic and discriminatory disqualification. What does it matter if the contestants are cisgender or transgender women? And what is the difference between a rule that’s clearly designed to specifically discriminate against transgender women and those which discriminate against individuals based on other characteristics - for example, the color of one’s skin?
Perhaps Miss Universe doesn’t realize that there aren’t just two clearly separated and defined genders. For example, there are women-born-women with no visible male anatomy. These girls often don’t realize they are genetically XY until years later. Is Miss Universe going to start tediously screening for variations like this? Would this also be absurd grounds for disqualification? Why would it be, aside from transphobia?
In any case, I wish Jenna the best and commend her for fighting this,discriminatory boo-shit and pursuing it legally.
Read the article >
Fortunately, Jenna’s now lawyered up and fighting this blatantly transphobic and discriminatory disqualification. What does it matter if the contestants are cisgender or transgender women? And what is the difference between a rule that’s clearly designed to specifically discriminate against transgender women and those which discriminate against individuals based on other characteristics - for example, the color of one’s skin?
Perhaps Miss Universe doesn’t realize that there aren’t just two clearly separated and defined genders. For example, there are women-born-women with no visible male anatomy. These girls often don’t realize they are genetically XY until years later. Is Miss Universe going to start tediously screening for variations like this? Would this also be absurd grounds for disqualification? Why would it be, aside from transphobia?
In any case, I wish Jenna the best and commend her for fighting this,discriminatory boo-shit and pursuing it legally.
Read the article >
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