Donald Trump's strange response to Miss Universe transgender controversy
Posted: Apr 10th, 2012
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Jenna Talackova photo from Twitpic
Transgender beauty queen Jenna Talackova's public fight against disqualification from the Miss Universe Canada pageant has led to a landmark rule change that will allow transgender women in all competitions starting in 2013, according to gay rights group Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).
Talackova, a Vancouver resident, was disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada pageant last month because she was not a "naturally born female." After weeks of public outcry and media attention, however, the beauty pageant -- owned by U.S. businessman Donald Trump -- has changed its rules to allow transgender contestants to compete, GLAAD said in a statement on Tuesday.
Reactions on social media were mostly positive, although a tweet reaction from what appears to be Donald Trump's official twitter account on LongTwit (allowing over 140 characters) suggested mixed feelings:
"Jenna changed her name from Walter to Page and then to Jenna so that now her name is Jenna Talackova. If you take the first 3 letters from Talackova and add them to Jenna, it's Jennatal (genital?). Is there something a little strange going on here? In any event, I have given the okay for her to compete in the Miss Universe Canada Pageant. It will be a wild evening with ticket sales through the roof--lots of interest!"
Others, however, congratulated Talackova on twitter while taking a swipe at Trump and Miss Universe:
"CONGRATS to Jenna Talackova," tweeted @MattRett. "Boo-hiss anyway to Donald Trump,"
"Yay GLAAD! The outdated sexist/racist beauty pageant isn't transphobic," tweeted @MatthewMaddox.
(2) Comments
Jenny Uechi
Jenny Uechi is the Managing Editor of The Vancouver Observer. She is a writer and editor with an interest in mixed cultures, art and social issues. She recently worked as a news director at NHK World...
The fact that transgender women are born are as males should have no bearing of whether these individuals get to compete, because the pageant isn't about whether if one is born with male organs or not but if they approximate the esteemed attributes of a winning female contestant at present and just because such individuals may have been apart from their current sexuality doesn't mean we should discriminate and punish them as a society for it. Congratulations Jenna.
http://scallywagandvagabond.com/2012/04/miss-universe-pageant-relents-an...