Miss Universe Pageant to Include Transgenders
Pageant organizers changed the Miss Universe rules on Tuesday to allow transgender women to compete starting next year.
The decision came after much public outcry stemming from an incident in which pageant officials disqualified 23 year-old Canadian contestant Jenna Talackova upon discovering she was not a naturally born female.
Talackova, a resident of Vancouver, Canada underwent hormone therapy when she was 14 and then gender reassignment surgery at the age of 19.
Upon hearing of the original decision, the advocacy group Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation urged the organization to review their decision and open the contest to transgender women starting next year.
Talackova also threatened to take legal action against the organization, enlisting the help of attorney Gloria Allred.
Allred felt that Talackova was wrongly discriminated against, saying "she is female on her driver's license, on her passport, on her birth certificate, and she's recognized in Canada as a woman. She has always thought of herself as a woman."
“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,” stated president of the Miss Universe Organization, Paula Shugart.
“We have a long history of supporting equality for all women, and this was something we took very seriously," Shugart said.
Shugart also claimed that the decision was made independent of Talackova’s threats. GLAAD’s Senior Director of Programs Herndon Graddic beamed at the decision. “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,” Graddic said.
When Canadian pageant officials initially told Talackova she could not compete because she was not a “naturally born woman” Talackova was heartbroken.“I am a woman,” Talackova claimed. “I was devastated, and I felt that excluding me for the reason that they gave was unjust. I have never asked for any special consideration. I only wanted to compete.”
Donald Trump, who co-owns the Pageant, wished Talackova the best of luck. Talackova will be competing in the 61st Miss Universe pageant later this year in December.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
