MAGNET Boycotts RuPaul's Ongoing Bullying & Misgendering of Transsexual Women; 'Drag Race' October 29th Episode Mocks Transsexualism; (memo: Gay Men Don't Get Free Pass On Transphobia, Hypocrisy & Sexism)

Last night, October 29^th 2012, on RuPaul’s All Star’s Drag Race, gay male entertainer RuPaul once again used his show as a bully pulpit to mock and misrepresent what the medical condition transsexualism actually is, despite the last few years of transsexual and transgender advocates protesting his use of offensive pejoratives such as “tra**y” and “she-male” .

Comedienne Vicki Lawrence asked, “Hey Ru, what’s the difference between a drag queen and a transsexual?” 

RuPaul laughingly replies, “About twenty-five thousand dollars and a good surgeon.”

RuPaul should realize there’s nothing funny about misinforming millions of people about an oppressed community in urgent need of public understanding, acceptance and lifesaving resources. Transsexualism is actually a legitimate medical condition recognized by the American Medical Association where a woman or man is born in the wrong body and undergoes medical treatment to better align their anatomy with their mind and true gender, whereas a drag queen is a gay male dressing up as a woman for entertainment and/or professional purposes.

Ashley Love, an organizer with Media Advocates Giving National Equality to Transsexual & Transgender People (MAGNET), is not surprised, “RuPaul’s unapologetic transsexual-phobia reaches millions who feel if gay men can attack women born with transsexualism, then they can too, which further marginalizes and endangers our well-being and healthcare needs. Many gay male celebrities are very big on calling themselves “anti-bullying” advocates, yet very light on understanding that misgendering women born with transsexualism by making dehumanizing ‘trans-face’ comments equates to bullying as well. Will the ongoing hypocrisy, sexism, transphobia and bullying by RuPaul and other gay male public figures ever stop? ”

RuPaul’s unchecked mistreatment and public humiliation of women who happen to be born different must be addressed as his comments mislead society to think it’s acceptable to bully little girls, teens and women born with transsexualiusm. MAGNET calls on the mainstream and LGBT media, human rights non-profits and community members to not give gay men a free pass on bullying transsexual and transgender people. Until RuPaul and his show’s production company, World of Wonder Productions, take responsibility for their ongoing public assaults on the dignity, accurate narratives and well-being of women of transsexual medical history, we ask all allies to join our boycott against RuPaul’s misgendering and bullying of our community.   

TAKE ACTION In 3 Steps:

1: BOYCOTT RuPaul’s Drag Race:

- Urge your friends and family to stop watching this show

- Post MAGNET’s boycott announcment in your social networking sites and email to ally groups:
http://themagnetsource.blogspot.com/2012/10/magnet-boycotts-rupauls-ongoing.html

2: JOIN COVERSATION:

-  Join Facebook Group: ‘Boycott RuPaul’s Bullying, Transsexual-phobia & Misgendering’ :
LINK: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/groups/427114894015880/?fref=ts

Let’s talk about it, together! United we can end the misgendering and bullying that harms transsexual and trandgender people!

3: WRITE & CALL RuPaul & His Production Company, World of Wonder Productions:

-          EMAIL World of Wonder Productions CEOs Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey: 
        Barbato:  rbarbato@worldofwonder.net   Bailey: fbailey@worldofwonder.net  

-          ADDRESS (World of Wonder): 6650 Hollywood Blvd # 400. Hollywood, CA, 90028.

      -          TELEPHONE (World of Wonder): 323-603-6300

 For more information/press inquiries:

Contact MAGNET: MAGNET.Advocacy@gmail.com

Media Advocates Giving National Equality to Transsexual & Transgender People (MAGNET) is an anti-defamation organization dedicated to educating the media about transsexual, transgender & intersex issues, as well as pushing for more authentic and positive portrayals of transsexual, transgender & intersex people in the media.

MAGNET Boycotts GLAAD’s & American Apparel’s 'Transsexual Erasure' & Misgendering Campaign

Boycott GLAAD’s & American Apparel’s Non-Affirming and Misgendering Campaign



GLAAD and American Apparel are partnering on a ‘Pride Month’ campaign with Isis King (Tyra Bank's America's Next Top Model’s first contestant born with transsexualism) modeling T-shirts that read “Legalize Gay”; however, Isis is a heterosexual woman, not a “gay” man. Gender identity or a transsexual medical condition is not the same thing as sexual orientation. The word “gay” is not interchangeable with the word transsexual. The advertisements, perhaps unintentionally, send misleading and nonaffirming messaging about transsexual and transgender realities. All we ask for is accuracy, which includes reforming GLAAD’s media guide section on transsexual related representation.

TAKE ACTION in 3 steps:

1) BOYCOTT-- MAGNET and other transsexual, transgender, intersex, feminist and ally groups are boycotting GLAAD’s and American Apparel’s pride month t-shirts due to their problematic messaging. We call our campaign: 'Transsexual' Will Not Be Censored

2) REPRESENT-- We ask those who support our educational campaign against misrepresentation to go online to purhcase  environmentally safe t-shirts (or design and create your own) which read one of three slogans:

• Legalize Transsexualism 
• We Will Not Be Erased
• 'Transsexual' Will Not Be Censored

3) JOIN CAMPAIGN-- You're Invited to Join Our Online Discussion / Get Updated Info:

'Transsexual' Will Not Be Censored Facebook Group page:  https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/242017769243699

Ashley Love, a MAGNET organizer, explains, “GLAAD fights the good fight for us many times, yet this time they’ve irresponsibly made a decision that appeared to not consider the confusing messaging that the ad could send to the public. They inadvertently went against their mission statement by validating the transphobic misconception that Isis and other women like her are “gay” males, instead of who they really are - women, period. The constant misgendering of women of transsexual experience by GLAAD and other ‘LGBT’ groups derails accurate education on transsexualism and must stop.”

Professor Joelle Ruby, PHD. of New Hampshire University, a transsexual advocate, was recently on two panels about feminism in the transsexual and transgender communities during the Philadelphia Trans* Health Conference and made a public statement on Facebook about this story:

“[GLAAD] hire TRANSSEXUAL model Isis King to model…t-shirts that say "Legalize Gay" and "Gay is OK". They erase King's transsexualism (AND TRANS RIGHTS in general) to forward their gay-centric agenda. And then they wonder why we critique Gay, Inc.???"

Chanel Jessica Lopez, transsexual and transgender communities based counselor at New York City’s Anti-Violence Project, personally objects to GLAAD’s and American Apparel’s campaign and stands with the boycott:

“As my past and present experience working with the community has taught me, those of us who are straight don't like to be considered anything other than a heterosexual woman. Just as damaging as physical violence could be mental violence, like erasing one’s accurate identity, such as misgendering, causing psychological abuse. I support equality for all; however, Isis should respectfully be recognized as a woman, not a commodity to be co-opted for a gay and lesbian only demographic.”

Messaging and images that promote (whether intentional or not) ideas of segregation and sex discrimination are serious matters which must be addressed. GLAAD's messaging in their advertisements feed invalidating and inaccurate misperceptions. We hope our campaign will foster affirming and forward messaging.

For media inquiries or information:

Contact Ashley Love, MAGNET Communications Organizer, Email: Magnet.Advocacy@gmail.com

Media Advocates Giving National Equality to Transsexual & Transgender People (MAGNET) is an anti-defamation organization dedicated to educating the media about transsexual, transgender and intersex issues.
MAGNET’s website: http://www.themagnetsource.blogspot.com/