Miss Universe Competition Transgender contestants can take part in Miss Universe Competition Rules Changed

Miss Universe Competition Transgender contestants can take part in Miss Universe Competition Rules Changed

The Miss Universe pageant is changing its rules and will allow transgender women to take part in all of its competitions starting in 2013, the organization and gay rights group GLAAD said on Tuesday.




Following consultations with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), Miss Universe “discussed a policy change that includes transgender women in time for the start of this fall’s 2013 pageant season

Two weeks ago Transgender beauty pageant contestant Jenna Talackova who was a finalist from the upcoming Miss Universe Canada was disqualified because she was born male and was not naturally born female.

Talackova has a Canadian passport, driver’s license and other documents that identify her as a woman

Talackova 23, who underwent gender reassignment surgery when she was 19, was reinstated to the Canadian competition last week by the Miss Universe organization.

In an appearance on ABC's 20/20 on Friday, she told Barbara Walters she knew she was "in the wrong body" when she was just four years old.

She said she started hormone treatment at age 14 and later underwent the "terribly painful" sex change surgery along with breast implants and the removal of her Adam's apple to complete her transformation from a boy named "Walter" to the stunning model who became one of 65 finalists in the Miss Universe Canada competition.

Said GLAAD spokesperson Herndon Graddick:

“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. We appreciate that he and his team responded swiftly and appropriately. The Miss Universe Organization today follows institutions that have taken a stand against discrimination of transgender women including the Olympics, NCAA, the Girl Scouts of America and The CW’s America’s Next Top Model. 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.”

Photo of Jenna Talackova




Watch the video Jenna Talackova tells her story to Barbara Walters in an exclusive interview.



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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Tags – Miss Universe 2013 Transgender