Trump Allows Transgendered Woman Into Miss Universe Pageant
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Donald Trump says his organisation is allowing a transgender woman who was born a male to compete for Canada's spot in the Miss Universe pageant - and he's wishing her good luck.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Miss Universe Organisation says 23-year-old Jenna Talackova, who underwent a sex change four years ago, can compete in the 2012 competition to become Canada's pageant contestant.
Talackova's lawyer Gloria Allred held a news conference earlier in the day demanding the organisation eliminate its rule requiring contestants be born as women.
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The Miss Universe Organisation, which is run by Trump, says it made a fair and just decision on Monday to allow Talackova's participation. The organisation says it is reviewing rules to make sure similar issues don't arise again.
Trump says he wishes Talackova the best of luck in her quest for the crown, like all contestants.
Ms Talackova had earlier complained after being disqualified from the contest because she used to be male.
In an about-face announced hours before she appeared with her celebrity lawyer in Los Angeles to protest about discrimination, the Miss Universe Organisation said it could allow her to take part.
But it said she must meet "the legal gender recognition requirements of Canada and the standards established by other international competitions."
Talackova was not happy with that wording, calling on Trump, who co-owns the Miss Universe organisation with NBC Universal, to step in to ensure that she can take part whatever Canadian authorities say.
"I am a woman. I was devastated .. I have never asked for any special consideration, I only wanted to compete. I saw the statement by Mr Trump's representative and I found it quite confusing," she said.
"I wish Mr Trump would just say in plain words whether or not I would be allowed to compete and, if I win, whether I will be allowed to represent Canada in the Miss Universe competition."
Despite being born with male genitals, Talackova said in a 2010 interview that she knew she was a woman from a young age, began hormone therapy at 14, and had surgery to change her gender when she was 19.
Talackova, who was selected among some 65 finalists for the 2012 competition, believed she was disqualified because of her sex change.
Ms Allred said Talackova was "thrilled to be selected as one of the finalists in Canada and was looking forward to the May 17th to May 19th 2012 dates, at which time Miss Universe Canada will be chosen".
"However Jenna was shocked when she was told that she (would) not be permitted to continue to compete for Miss Canada because of the rule that... requires that the contestant be a 'naturally born' woman.
"She did not ask Mr Trump to prove that he is a naturally born man. Or to see the photos of his birth to view his anatomy to prove that he was male," she said.
But Trump said he would not apologise for the initial decision.
"There will be no apology whatsoever," he told TMZ, adding: "If (Talackova) can compete that's great. If she doesn't want to compete because she doesn't think she'll win, that's fine. I couldn't care less."
And referring to Allred's comments about his penis, he added: "I think Gloria would be very, very impressed with me."
More than 28,000 supporters had signed an online petition demanding the reinstatement of the transgender model, from the western Canadian city of Vancouver.
On Tuesday she said the "naturally-born woman" rule should be cut.
"I want Mr Trump to clearly state that this rule will be eliminated, because I do not want any other woman to suffer the discrimination that I had endured."
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So yes, absolutely discrimination, but why was that rule there in the first place? That just seems douchey in the first place. I do find it kind of funny that just before she showed up with her lawyer, the comittee was like "Oh you said transgendered! We thought you said nig... uh..."
Oh, and Trump is still an ass, though:
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Gloria Allred — the lawyer for transgender beauty pageant contestant Jenna Talackova — would be very impressed with Donald Trump’s male anatomy, the real estate mogul told TMZ Wednesday.
“I think Gloria [Allred] would be very, very, impressed with me. I really do,” Trump said by phone, prompting uproarious laughter from the two hosts.
Trump was responding to a comment made by Allred at an L.A. press conference on Monday, where the celebrity lawyer said: “[Ms. Talackova] did not ask Mr. Trump to prove that he is a naturally born man or … to see his anatomy to prove that he was male.”
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