While trans model Andrej Pejic rocks high fashion world, a bigger story lies under the surface

Andrej Pejic (Photo: andrejpejicmodel.com)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Transgender model Andrej Pejic is being reported as the first transgender model on the cover of a high fashion magazine. Of course, with all the sources being tabloids, we’ll take this with a grain of salt as there may have been others.

However, Pejic is on the cover of the most recent issue of Elle Magazine, Serbia. This in itself is a major accomplishment for any trans person, worthy of recognition — especially how they’ll bring positive PR to the trans community. Like beauty contestant Jenna Talackova, Pejic has the potential to bring about changes in the way society thinks about us in the way we couldn’t possibly pay to have done.

While I’m leaving the details of Pejic’s magazine spread to the fashion magazine and tabloids, I am going to point out the even bigger story here: Pejic is blurring the difference between gender to the point where society’s norms about gender are shattered further. Pejic appears as either male or female (or neither, for that matter) depending on the needs of the client. Indeed, in the Elle spread, Pejic poses both as a male and a female. This certainly will give many a reader pause on their thinking of all things gender. The seeds have been planted. One day, gender won’t matter.

While we’re fighting a slow uphill battle to show the fallacy of two gender thinking with medical professionals, politicians and in the courts, Pejic and others having high public attention are positioned to win the hearts and minds of many in society who may not be persuaded otherwise.

While I’m not sure where the tipping point is where trans equality becomes an unstoppable force, but we ought to milk every opportunity to get there sooner by embracing things some may find distasteful — like high fashion and beauty pageants.

More about Pejic and additional photos: http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2012/02/11/trans-boys-girls-andrej-pelic-is-not-telling-good-for-andrej-i-say/

Andrej poses as male or female depending on the needs of the client (Photo on right: Hema)

Andrej Pejic shows why gender isn’t so black and white, isn’t it? It never was.

———–

You’re welcome to share this entire article!
Follow this topic on Lexie Cannes’ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lexiecannes
Support this site, get the transgender-themed feature film “Lexie Cannes“ DVD here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0963781332
The Guerrilla Angel Report is associated with Wipe Out Transphobia: http://www.wipeouttransphobia.com/

Filed under: Media, Positive PR, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Andrej Pejic, elle, high fashion, Jenna Talackova, model, serbia

Brazilian trans model popularity explosion tempered by high rate of transgender killings

Brazilian trans model Felipa Tavares

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — On one hand it’s gratifying to see mainstream media’s spotlight on Brazil’s transgender models, bringing positive attention and “normalcy” to the huge number of trans people in that country, while on the other hand, the media is mostly glossing over the sheer number of trans people killed in that country during 2012 — a quick google search brought numbers ranging from 68 to 115. This includes a stoning death (Madona) that I covered earlier this year: http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2012/10/28/ten-trans-people-a-month-are-killed-in-brazil-the-stoning-of-madona-is-the-latest/

Following the stoning death, a Brazilian government official said this: ‘Contrary to popular belief, most of the [transgender] murders are not crime of passion at all, but the murderers are people who didn’t know their victims.  . . . ‘People here in Brazil think that if they don’t like someone, like a trans person, they have a right to murder.

Yet, we have the media hyping up the emerging Brazilian trans model phenomena with nary a word about real-world conditions for transgender Brazilians:

Rio-based modeling agency 40 Graus Models’  Sergio Mattos: “We are in the 21st century and there is just more tolerance in the air. Here in Brazil we now have gay mayors, gay lawmakers.  So why not trans-models? The world has evolved and now discrimination is, thankfully, becoming a thing of the past.”

———-

I don’t know about Mr. Matto’s ‘discrimination becoming a thing of the past” comment, because if you ask me, killing a trans person for being transgender is the ultimate form of discrimination and Brazil had a pretty big number for TDOR 2012.

Brazil’s stoning death of Madona was remembered in my 2012 TDOR list: http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2012/11/19/courtney-odonnell-transgender-day-of-remembrance-a-reporters-list/

Brazilian trans model Lea T (Photo: bemagazine.me)

Felipa Tavares

From upcoming trans doc titled “Vice.”

More about Brazil’s trans models: Transgender models stars in Brazil – SFGate.

You’re welcome to share this entire article!
Follow this topic on Lexie Cannes’ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lexiecannes
Support this site, get the transgender-themed feature film “Lexie Cannes“ DVD here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0963781332
The Guerrilla Angel Report is associated with Wipe Out Transphobia: http://www.wipeouttransphobia.com/

Filed under: Deaths, Murder, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, 2012, 40 Graus Models, brazil, Felipa Tavares, lea t, madona, model, Sergio Mattos, tdor, Transgender Day of Remembrance

Transgender model for Toyota — yea or nay?

Trans model Stav Strashko

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Exploitation or savvy marketing? We’ve had this ruckus before. If done wrong, we’re stereotyped. If done right, a heck of a lot of positive publicity for us.

This time it’s Toyota. They’re coming out with an all-new Corolla. The ad created for the campaign apparently challenges the Corolla’s plain Jane image. The ad is only going to be shown in some markets — not the United States.

In the ad, a model struts by the car, removes a jacket and is then shown topless. Viewers do not know the model is androgynous until near the end of the commercial.

The model is 19-year-old, born in the Ukraine, Stav Strashko. Now stay with me closely folks, I’m not going have a pronoun debate about this — he identifies himself transgender and he identifies as male. But clearly he is androgynous. This is just about all the information I know at this time.

I’m thinking the ad is ok. Shocking? Yes. Positive PR for trans people? Yes. Exploitation? Not so much.

So, thumbs up or thumbs down on the ad campaign?

 Stav Strashko models for Toyota

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVwJrAr7GkY&feature=player_embedded

————–

You’re welcome to share this entire article!
Follow this topic on Lexie Cannes’ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lexiecannes
Support this site, get the transgender-themed feature film “Lexie Cannes“ DVD here: http://www.lexiecannes.com/id13.html

Filed under: Media, Positive PR, Other Health, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, ad campaign, corolla, model, Stav Strashko, toyota, trans model

Trans? Boys? Girls? Andrej Pejic is not telling. Good for Andrej I say!

Androgynous high fashion model Andrej Pejic

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Andrej Pejic is highly popular androgynous high fashion model — posing as either a female or male, depending on the needs of the client.  A stunning feat, but I especially like how Pejic throws many in society for a loop, upsetting norms for gender.

See, Pejic isn’t talking. While born a male and having trans-leanings while growing up,  Pejic isn’t saying much else. Sex reassignment surgery? No comment. Prefer men or women? “Love has no boundaries” is the answer.

This is exactly how it should be — there is no reason for anyone to know your gender preference or sexual orientation — even if you’re the hottest model at the moment. While some trans and LGB groups are claiming Pejic as one of their own, for all we know, Pejic may be perfectly happy with a male body and a preference for girls.

Regardless of whatever Pejic decides to do (or not do), I’m happy that Pejic has brought chaos to those with ancient thinking on gender — perhaps for some maybe they’ll figure out things are not so black and white after all.

More about Pejic and the fashion industry: Model’s gender-bending visage transfixes fashion industry and passers-by, but can it last? – The Washington Post.

Andrej Pejic (photo:idononline.com)

Andrej Pejic

——–

You’re welcome to share this entire article!
Follow this topic and others on Lexie Cannes’ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lexiecannes
Get the transgender-themed feature film “Lexie Cannes“ here:
http://www.LexieCannes.com

Filed under: Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Andrej Pejic, androgynous, fashion industry, gender preference, high fashion, model, sex reassignment surgery, trans model, transsexual