"America's Next Top Model" is transgender

Post by **DonnaT** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 6:05 pm

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtra ... ing-o.html

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtra ... /isisb.jpg

One of the contestants on the upcoming season of "America's Next Top Model" is transgender, according to Us Weekly. "My cards were dealt differently," Isis, a 22-year-old former receptionist, told the magazine in its current issue. The model describes herself as "a woman born physically male."

"We applaud Tyra Banks and the CW for making this historic visibility of transgender people possible," Neil Giuliano, president of GLAAD, told Us.

Cynical viewers of the show may predict that Banks will exploit the situation as she has previous contestants' trials and tribulations: previous abuse, homelessness and even female circumcision have played as large a role in some girls' stories as their portfolios. However, we should simply focus on the positive aspect of Isis bringing a new side of fierceness to the show.

--Claire Zulkey

Azurielle · Post by **Azurielle** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:11 pm

*drools*

Okay, she DESERVES to be in that competition, no matter what people say.

Gaven McLaren · Post by **Gaven McLaren** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:53 pm

I have been watching the show for quite a while. I hope that she can at least keep up with the competition that is that show. I will not hope she wins until watch the first episode of this cycle.

Carolynn · Post by **Carolynn** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 9:35 am

GLADD is sending this around. I have not found the YouTube segment yet, but will post it if I do.

Subject: Call to Action: Call on Fox News Channel to Apologize for Crude, Dehumanizing Anti-Transgender Comments
Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:53:39 -0700

From: Call_To_Action@ glaad.org

Having trouble reading this?.

New York, NY, August 14, 2008 – On August 14, Fox News Channel aired a crude and obnoxious segment concerning the recent announcement of America's Next Top Model's first-ever transgender contestant. Isis, who will begin appearing on the new cycle of the popular CW program when it premieres on September 3, was interviewed exclusively in the current issue of Us Weekly.

Fox News anchor Gregg Jarrett and Us Weekly Editor-at-Large Ian Drew spent the segment gratuitously insulting the America's Next Top Model contestant, using dehumanizing terminology, inaccurate and inappropriate pronouns and offensive references to her anatomy.

While laughing and joking, Jarrett mocked Isis' description of herself as a woman whose "cards were dealt differently, " and said, "That's an understatement! " Drew referred to recent instances of transgender visibility on reality television as "The Crying Game '08," going on to call the show "America's Next Top Tranny." Drew then said that she doesn't look any different from other contestants because "they are not exactly the most high-class group of women." Throughout the segment, Jarrett switched back and forth between male and female pronouns, and both Jarrett and Drew suggested that Isis "fooled" people by "blending in." They went on to make crude remarks about her genitalia and the pitch of her voice.

Soon after the segment aired, GLAAD contacted both Fox News Channel and Us Weekly, calling on both to apologize. Us Weekly issued the following statement: "We apologize if any group was offended by our editor's comments as it was by no means his intention." Fox News did not respond.

The segment can be viewed on YouTube.

Please contact Fox News Channel and call on them to apologize for these obnoxious, insulting and dehumanizing comments.

Fox News Channel
Gregg Jarrett - Anchor
(212) 301-3000
gregg.jarrett@ foxnews.com

Jay Wallace - Executive Producer
(212) 301-5168
jay.wallace@ foxnews.com

Tom Lowell - Senior Producer
(212) 301-3000 (outlet)
tom.lowell@foxnews. com
About GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org.

____________ _________ _________ __

Please read our privacy policy. If you no longer wish to receive GLAAD emails, click here.
GLAAD is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that depends on your support. If you are a member,
please accept our thanks. If you would like to support our important work, please visit us online.

Post by **DonnaT** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 10:34 am

I was watching the show when Jarrett made his rude comments. He knew what he was saying and doing, and no apology can makeup for it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O8y6OLIzzU

Carolynn · Post by **Carolynn** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:33 am

thanks for posting the link Donna. I finally found it too. Did you notice his diatribe about Dr. Spack providing TS kids with puberty blockers? This guy is an out and out transphobe. But what else should one expect from Fox? NEWS?

They seem to derive their "anchors" from the National Enquirer!!

Azurielle · Post by **Azurielle** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 6:19 pm

I seriously think they deserve the nickname ''Faux News''.

Miss Darrah · Post by **Miss Darrah** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 3:41 pm

Azurielle wrote:I seriously think they deserve the nickname ''Faux News''.

Isn't that a bit rash?

This is only one moron who demonstrated his ignorance and intolerance for the entire world to see.

Should he be deluged with e-mails, faxes and phone calls letting him know just how poorly received his comments were? Sure!

Should he be fired? I can't say...maybe he's a competent commentator when he's not insulting entire demographic groups. Maybe a strong reprimand would suffice.

Should the entire Fox News organization be blamed? Certainly not! Many Fox News personalities are very professional and decent. This boob just isn't counted among them.

Ladies...should we respond to intolerance with more intolerance? I say no! We should thank Greg Jarrett for showing us all who he really is, then exercise the power we hold over him by refusing to watch his program.

My $0.02...YMMV

DeeDee · Post by **DeeDee** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 5:04 pm

We had a local TV personality here, no names but rhymed with Rick Sanchez. Very abrasive and looked for sensationistic stories and finally got a job with MSNBC, but they finally dumped him. Kinda like Geraldo (who?). Guess my point is that reporters/commentators damage their own careers by being flippant as Mr Jarret and Mr Drew were. Fox is known for being right-wing, but mostly its all professional. You might see those two on a local cable station in the future...that was hardly what I call professional. They don't have to share my opinion, but I listen to other ideas and thoughts, and sometimes can see their point. This was just "having cruel fun" at someones expense and they should be unbiased reporters...not expressing their own cretinist opinions. Good luck to them if they continue like this. McDonalds needs good voices on the drive-thru voice box. My humble opinion..sorry.
Hugs
DeeDee

Jaye · Post by **Jaye** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:05 am

On a related note, I opened up the new issue of Marie Claire to find an ad for Kenneth Cole featuring the transgendered makeup artist/illustrator Nina Poon. Pretty cool stuff.

http://www.kennethcole.com/content/inde ... =550&w=898

Post by **DonnaT** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:23 am

cool, thanks Jaye.

Kimberly Kael · Post by **Kimberly Kael** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:52 pm

Is anyone else actually watching the show? I've caught the first two episodes and while there's a lot of eye-rolling worthy material there's also a surprising amount on the art of appearing feminine. It's fascinating that there is so much that the GGs on the show need to be coached and reminded about. I'll either learn a lot or waste a little time every week, but it has been interesting so far.

Oh, and Isis did very well the first week and while she was in the bottom two this week she did manage to avoid the cut. She's going to have a hard time of it, no question about that. It's interesting to see how they're choosing to tell her story, how everyone else reacts to her, and how she carries herself.