The Miss Universe Organization on Tuesday announced that it is changing its rules and will allow transgender women to take part in all of its competitions starting in 2013.
The announcement comes just weeks after contestant Jenna Talackova, a transgender woman, was disqualified from competing for the title of Miss Universe Canada because she was not a “naturally born female.”
Jenna Talackova
Following the move to disqualify Talackova, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) contacted the Miss Universe Organization, and called on pageant officials to open the competition to transgender women.
Last week, pageant officials indicated they might reverse their earlier decision as long as Talackova “meets the legal gender recognition requirements of Canada” and other international competitions.
But by then, U.S. businessman Donald Trump, owner of the Miss Universe Organization, overruled pageant officials, and said Talackova would be allowed to compete in the Miss Universe Canada competition, but until now, the organization had not announced any change in its official entry requirements.
“For more than two weeks, the Miss Universe Organization and Mr. Trump made it clear to GLAAD that they were open to making a policy change to include women who are transgender,” said GLAAD spokesperson Herndon Graddick. “We appreciate that he and his team responded swiftly and appropriately.”
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“Jenna and all of the LGBT advocates who have called for this change and spoken out in support of transgender women are to be commended. At a time when transgender people are still routinely denied equal opportunities in housing, employment and medical care, today’s decision is in line with the growing levels of public support for transgender people across the country.”
Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, credited GLAAD with leading the discussion that resulted in today’s announcement:
“We want to give credit where credit is due, and the decision to include transgender women in our beauty competitions is a result of our ongoing discussions with GLAAD and not Jenna’s legal representation, which if anything, delayed the process. We have a long history of supporting equality for all women, and this was something we took very seriously,” Shugart said.
Talackova had enlisted the help of Los Angeles-based attorney Gloria Allred, a high-profile legal advocate for women’s causes, in demanding to be allowed back into the contest.
“No one likes it when they’re left out of something because of who they are. This is especially true for transgender people — people like Jenna Talackova — who are denied opportunities because they’re told that who they are is ‘unnatural,’” said Mara Keisling, Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, in a statement.
“So I get that Jenna probably still doesn’t feel good about the situation. But it’s a noteworthy thing for a group like the Miss Universe Organization and Donald Trump to switch positions allowing Jenna to participate, and to commit to developing transgender inclusive rules. This is a good thing, and it’s a sign of how more and more people get trans issues,” Keisling said.
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as they shood be
Yes after that last girl being banned it is right they should be allowed
Baby steps….
wooohoooo!
Yay!
win!!!
Shes pretty enough
she is very pretty. Good luck.
NOW THAT’S AWESOME
Yay!
SWEEET!!!
Good it’s time that they shld know that we r people too n to show that we can do mor in life than others realize!
Awesomesocks! :)
said it before, yay for equality, meh for objectification of women…
It’s about time they accept all women!
AMAZING!
Right on
We killin it!!! Yeah!!
And a Native peep at that! :)
I think most people reailze a Miss Universe pageant member should be her own person as hard as that can be. Do you think this reinforces that or not?
That’s the way if should be….. no judgements
She’s HOT! :)
well done!
From boring old beauty pageant to circus side show….good going trannies.
That’s so awesome Were all human. And most trans girls are more put together then the real thing. I’m so hope she makes it
That is all fine and dandy but what about Transmen who want to compete in things like Mr. Universe? and bodybuilding competitions?
no one would have guessed ..if ya hadnt told me……
is it wrong I’d love to be able to buy a copy of penthouse featuring her??
We have heard “The Rules”. What are they? How many are there? The Olympic Committee used genetic testing to define male / female players. Why does “Miss Universe” not do the same? If you take away the hormone therapy,masculine traits reappear. The defining xx and xy genetic code does determine male / female. Why not use the genetic code for the pageant? People need to realize,this is more than “pageant rules”. I only wish the best for all.
w.e carol ann.. wow you are filled with hate..
Shakes my head, when a trans person has SRS surgery biology goes out the door. DUH!
@ John. Sorry you mistake biology for hate.
And in all fairness they should give her the title!
That’s what I call growth! Yes!!!!
FUCK YEAH!
she is so far beyond a 10 it’s sick… if I wasn’t married I’d so want to date this woman!
wow! That’s really cool
Woooooooooooooo@@
Congrats for all.. Don’t judge period.. Love one another….
it’s weird for me to comment this way but i think it will still be best to keep the pageant exclusively for women.Donald Trump should establish a separate pageant that caters to TG only unless he really wanted controversy there’s nothing we can do about it we all know he’s only after the money…
if ya got a y chromosome, don’t matter how much cosmetic surgery you’ve had.
They had to take it that far to allow it ! Well the result is here and this is the most important part of it
I can’t stand Donald, but I do have to say he made a good move, he knew he’d have a whole lot of hell on his hands if he made a different decision!
Zaretome Isoka, so you consider trans women to be men then? Trump doesn’t need to make these decisions for money, he’s richer than sin.
Fantastic!!! :D
Isn’t she transexual not trangendered?
yayy :D
Yes! We won the battle and we’ll win the war.
I don’t know why transexual women think it’s boobs, make-up, stilettos and big jewelry that make you a woman. There’s much more complexity to being a woman than sporting false eyelashes and wearing a dress. A snip snip here and a snip snip doesn’t change the natural dynamics of a person. Sexuality is beyond the grasp of a surgeons knife, it’s in the essence of your being.
That’s a pageant I want to see!
Maybe finally the United States is beginning to see the light.