Trans woman Jenna Talackova open doors, trans ally Olivia Culpo wins title, anti-trans Sheena Monnin quits pageant
THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Transgender people went 3 for 3 in the positive PR department on the Miss Universe beauty pageant circuit in 2012.
Earlier this year Canadian trans woman Jenna Talackova pioneered the acceptance of transgender contestants in that pageant and last week, a cis-contestant who previously voiced her support of transgender participation back in June, Olivia Culpo, was crowned Miss Universe.
Here’s what Culpo, then Miss Rhode Island, said during the Miss USA pageant in response to this question: Would it be fair if a transgender woman won the Miss USA title?: “I do think it would be fair… there are so many people who have a need to change for a happier life. I do accept that because I believe it’s a free country.”
Culpo, a Boston University sophomore, went on to win the Miss USA title in June and the Miss Universe title last week.
Contrast that from what Carrie Prejean, Miss California (2009) USA, said back in the 2009 pageant: “I believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman, no offense to anybody out there. But that’s how I was raised and I believe that it should be between a man and a woman.”
Also. there’s this third positive bit of news from the Miss Universe pageant that ought to bring a smile to many trans people’s faces. Last week, the Miss Universe organization won a lawsuit against Sheena Monnin, former Miss Pennsylvania USA, who quit in the middle of the pageant, for, among other things, allowing transgender contestants.
This statement was reportedly sent by Monnin to the pageant officials: “I refuse to be part of a pageant system that has so far and so completely removed itself from its foundational principles as to allow and support natural born males to compete in it. This goes against ever (sic) moral fiber of my being.”
I’m not so sure if they’ll be able to collect the $5 million they’re asking for, but I like the idea that hate can be expensive.
More on Jenna Talackova, Culpo, Monnin and the Miss Universe pageant can be found here: http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/?s=jenna+talackova
Culpo’s June statement: Daily Kos: Miss Rhode Island Embraces Transgender Contestants, Wins.
Monnin’s June statement: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/47696589/ns/today-style/t/miss-usa-contestant-resigns-says-pageant-was-fixed/#.UNgSdVI_eJ8
Lawsuit outcome: http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/2012/12/donald-trump-wins-arbitration-suit-against-miss-usa-contestant
Trans woman Jenna Talackova open doors, trans ally Olivia Culpo wins title, anti-trans Sheena Monnin quits pageant
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Filed under: Media, Positive PR, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, beauty pageant, Carrie Prejean, contestant, Jenna Talackova, miss universe, Olivia Culpo, Sheena Monnin
