Thailand Elects Its First Gender Queer MP!

While Pauline Ngarmpring failed in her bid to become Thailand's prime minister, it was still a historic election night in the Land of Smiles.

Filmmaker Tanwarin Sukkhapisit on March 24 became the first genderqueer person elected as an MP in the Thai House of Representatives. LGBT Thai's make up 13% of the electorate in the country.

Sukkhapisit was initially announced in many media outlets as trans,  but in a subsequent interview made it clear they identified as genderqueer and used they-them pronouns

They ran as a candidate with the Future Forward Party, which is projected to become the third largest party in the Thai government after all the ballot are counted.

If their name sounds familiar, it's because they just fought a successful five year legal battle to get their film  Insects In The Backyard on the Thai silver screens after it was censored and accused of moral indecency.  Once an agreement to cut a three second nude scene of struck, the film was allowed to be shown.

After that negative experience fighting film censorship, Sukkahpisit decided to run for office with the Future First Party, and said that the desire to fight for TBLGQ rights in their nation drove them to run for public office.

Tanwarin has been discussing political themes in their movies for over 20 years, and now feels it's time to establish new laws that address the changing mores in Thai society, starting with changes to Section 1448 of the Civil and Commercial Code to allow marriage equality

We'll see what happens as Sukkhapist begins their new role as an MP.  It will also be interesting to see is a Thai trans person finally breaks through and gets elected to the Thai House of Representatives .

The New Miss International Queen Winner Is Black!

“I want them to see that we are beautiful, we are educated, we are talented and we can maneuver in society just like everyone else.”-Jazell Barbie Royale, MIQ 19 

I guess the Miss International Queen Pageantry system peeps have been reading my posts blasting their long history of anti-Blackness and never having a Black winner of it.

History was made in Pattaya last night just in time for International Women's Day as 31 year old Jazell Barbie Royale became the first ever Black winner of the Miss International Queen trans beauty pageant.

In addition to her becoming the first ever Black winner of MIQ in its 15 plus year history, she also became the first American to snatch this crown since Mimi Marks did so in 2005.

Like Mimi Marks, she is also a Miss Continental pageant titleholder, having won that title in 2016

First runner up was Kanwara Kaewijn from Thailand (another Miss Tiffany's pageant winner) and second runner up was Yaya from China

When she's not competing, the Florida native is an HIV advocate, and said in an interview that what she would like to do if she won is become a trans advocate, especially to those not well educated about trans issues.

She also noted the pageant being devoid of Black contestants, as I have pointed out more than a few times over the years as the perceived anti-Blackness has discouraged Black trans contestants around the globe from even attempting to compete in it.

"There is no one else in the pageant that has won that looks like me, there is no one in the pageant that looks like me. I would be able to inspire so many other people out there,” she said in a Travel News Asia interview .

Well, the Miss International Queen Pageant FINALLY has a Black queen.   Still isn't going to stop me from calling out the other problematic elements of the pageant.

But this is a nice start.   Congratulations Jazell for making history and becoming Miss International Queen..   May you be just the beginning of more Black trans women from around the world who capture this title

  .   

Will The Miss International Queen Pageant Finally Get A Black Queen?

'The anti-Black, pro-Asian and pro Miss Tiffany showgirl bias has got to end in order for the Miss International Queen trans pageant to have international credibility with people around the world who are thinking about competing in it.'
-TransGriot, March 2, 2018 

Since 2004 the Thailand based Miss International Queen pageant has billed itself as the most prestigious transgender beauty pageant on the planet.   It has grown to that status in large part because until recently, trans women were barred from participating in the major pageants systems like Miss World and Miss Universe.

The 2019 edition of the Miss International Queen pageant will be crowning its newest queen in Pattaya on March 8 (March 7 our time). 

It also has a dubious distinction that smacks of anti-Blackness..  In the decade plus history of the MIQ pageant, it has NEVER crowned a Black winner.

Two have been first runner up (2011, Miss SaHHara, 2015, Valesca Dominik Ferraz).  Stasha Sanchez finished as a second runner up in 2010.

There are peeps, myself included, who still believe Miss SaHHara was robbed of the 2011 MIQ title. The Thai contestant, Sirapassorn Atthayakorn horribly botched her final interview, but STILL shockingly won.

Then again it shouldn't have been a shock, since she like all four Thai MIQ queens, she won the Miss Tiffany's pageant.   Tiffany's Cabaret in Pattaya is the host venue for that Thai trans only Miss Tiffany's pageant that produces the Thai rep to MIQ and the Miss International Queen one.

This history of shady MIQ anti-Blackness and favoritism for Miss Tiffany Cabaret showgirls has discouraged many Black trans contestants from even plunking down their hard earned money for entry fees and attempting to make that long trip to Thailand to attempt to snatch that crown.

That shady treatment of Black MIQ contestants is a major reason why I stopped writing posts about this pageant as well.

This year Jazell Barbie Royale is the lone African descended contestant in this 2019 Miss International Queen event.   She captured the 2016 Miss Continental title, and is attempting to break that negative MIQ cycle, rep the USA and make some history as its first ever Black winner. 

If she does so, she would also become the first American winner since 2005 when Mimi Marks took the MIQ crown.



Wishing you the best of luck, Jazell.

We'll see if Jazell does so, or is just the latest Black contestant to fall victim to the anti-Blackness permeating the Miss International Queen pageant system.

Thai Trans Businesswoman Running To Become Thailand's Prime Minister

Been saying for a while that trans people in the US needed to run for public office so that we help craft the laws that govern us.

Out trans cousins around the world are adopting the same attitude, and since 1999 in six nations, New Zealand (Georgina Beyer), Italy (Vladimir Luxuria), Uruguay (Michelle Suarez) , Poland (Anna Grodzka), Venezuela (Tamara Adrian)  and the Philippines (Geraldine Roman), trans people have managed to get themselves elected to their national legislatures with others falling short of doing so. 

Now comes word from Thailand that a trans person is aiming to lead their national government..

Before she transitioned, 52 year old Pauline Ngarmpring was a corporate CEO, parent  and a sports promoter who was well known in the world of Thai soccer.  Now she finds herself on the verge of being a potential trans political history maker, and she's eagerly accepting that challenge. 

Ngarmpring wants to bring hope to the transgender and other marginalized communities of Thailand and pave the way for the next generation of trans and same gender loving politicians in the Land of Smiles.

She's fine if she doesn't win, because in her words, "she was the first one who dares enough to announce 'hey, we can do this'."

"We are not saying we are better than male or female," says Ngarmpring. "We are just want to say we are equal ."

She is one of three candidates put forward by the Mahachon Party for prime minister in the upcoming March 24 general elections despite only having been a member of it since November

The Mahachon Party hopes its human rights platform that includes legalizing prostitution,  will appeal to Thailand's large TBLGQ and sex worker population .

In those elections 200 of the 500 seats in the Thai House of Representatives are being contested by the party, and 20 of the candidates it has put forward are openly part of the TBLGQ community.

Ngarmpring since her transition three years ago has taken on the personal mission of educating Thai society.   But there are people who view TBLGQ rights and her candidacy with skepticism.

Sometimes political fortune and history favors those who are bold enough to act.   We'll see if Pauline Ngarmpring makes history next month. 

Proud Of You, Angela!

"What an honor a pride to be part of the history of @missuniverse.  This is for you, for those who have no visibility, no voice, because we all deserve a world of respect, inclusion and freedom.  And today I am here, proudly representing my nation, all women and human rights."
-Angela Ponce 

While she wrote those words on her Instagram page in Spanish, they were clearly understood all over the world.
.

The eyes on much of the world were turned to Bangkok and the 2018 Miss Universe Pageant to see if Angela Ponce could become the first ever trans feminine Miss Universe.

And yeah, admit it. Some of you were tearing up like I was when she made that solo walk on the Miss Universe stage last night to a standing ovation. .

Heavy favorite Catriona Gray of the Philippines was one of the last two women standing onstage at Miss World two years ago and didn't win.    The 24 year old had a much happier result this time, becoming the fourth Filipina to capture the crown 

While Ponce didn't make it to the Top 20 semifinalists, can't say enough how proud I am, trans feminine kids, and trans women around the world are that a girl like us was repping her country and us in the world's premiere beauty pageant.

Yes, elements of you hate on trans feminine women for irrational reasons.   Elements of you also hate on beauty pageants for a lot of reasons. 

For the trans feminine people who compete in them, pageants are a way to have who we are and have always known ourselves to be affirmed to the entire world.

Many trans feminine pageant contestants have been standing a lot taller this week knowing that a girl like us achieved a dream many of them had to one day compete in a premiere pageant like Miss Universe.

Trans women around the world were also standing a little taller as well.

Angela Ponce shook off the haters and represented us with class and dignity from the moment she won Miss Spain in June to competing in Miss Universe.   And while we didn't get to see trans history made on that Bangkok stage last night. it's just a matter of time before some trans girl walks away from a future Miss Universe pageant with the crown.

And note to the willfully ignorant haters out there, trans women are women. 

Ponce said in the runup to the pageant, "I don't need to win, I just need to be here."

But by just being in this year's Miss Universe competition and being on stage, you won in so many ways not only for yourself, but an entire community.   It also by you being on stage expands the horizons for what trans feminine kids can dare to dream about and accomplish. 

Ms. Ponce blazed a trail and set a standard that a future trans Miss Universe winner must acknowledge when she does win that title   

Angela Ponce- Miss Universe National Costume Contest

Getting closer to the live televised Miss Universe pageant, but the preliminary contest will happen on December 13. 

All 94 contestants will participate in evening wear, swimsuit and an interview portion in front of judges.   The scores they earn during that portion will determine who the 20 semifinalists will be competing on Sunday. 

On December 10 the National Costume Show was held.  It's a Miss Universe tradition in which all 94 delegates get to choose a national costume that best represents the culture of their nation. 

Y'all know I'm rooting for Angela.   Here she is repping Spain



If you wish to watch the entire show, have the video here for you pageant junkies.

Angela's Headed To Miss Universe 2018!

"I’m competing because it’s what I’ve wanted to do since I was a little girl. I’m showing that trans women can be whatever they want to be: a teacher, a mother, a doctor, a politician and even Miss Universe."-Angela Ponce

Miss Spain Universe Angela Ponce is headed to Thailand to hopefully make more history.

The 27 year old has already done so as the first out trans woman ever to win a national Miss Universe pageant, and is seeking to become the first trans winner of the 67th edition of the world's most prestigious beauty pageant when it is held in Bangkok on December 17.

She's had some loud transphobic haters, like Miss Colombia Universe 2018 Valeria Morales and Lupita Jones, the head of the Miss Mexico Universe organization.   But Ponce also has her supporters in Spain, the Miss Universe Spain organization, others within the Miss Universe pageant world such as Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, and Miss Philippines Universe 2018 Catriona Gray.

Most importantly, her family and her trans family around the planet support her as well.

She's headed to Thailand now because there is a preliminary portion of the pageant that whittles down the  94 delegates to the sixteen contestants you'll see on stage during the live broadcast once again hosted by Steve Harvey and Ashley Graham

Safe travels Angela and good luck to you during the Miss Universe 2018 pageant! 

The Miss International Queen Pageant STILL Has An Anti-Blackness Problem

"I said this on the MIQ FB page and I will repeat it   If the Miss International Queen Pageant is going to claim it's an international trans pageant and wants to have ANY international credibility in the trans pageant world as a fair pageant, from this point forward it is imperative that an international panel of judges be assembled to determine the winner and make sure that any Thai judges that are part of the panel have no ties to Tiffany's show or are severely limited."-TransGriot, November 4, 2011 


Another edition of the Miss International Queen Pageant has kicked off in the Thai resort city of Pattaya and I predict that when the pageant has concluded on March 9 Thai time, a trans girl with dark skin will NOT be the winner of it.

Since the pageant started in 2004. no trans woman with African heritage or dark skin has won this pageant. 

The few times this has come close to happening or an African descended trans women has even placed in the MIQ event top three was in 2010, when the USA's Stasha Sanchez finished as the second runner up, 2011 when Miss SaHHara repping Nigeria finished as the first runner up (and should have won it), and in 2015 when Brazil's Valesca Dominik Ferraz also finished as a first runner up.

The 2011 MIQ pageant was the most controversial one.   Miss SaHHara, representing Nigeria, was presumed by many people, especially after the Thai finalist horribly botched her final interview to be the person that would finally make that history. 

But people in Thailand watching on live TV, in the Tiffany's Theater in Pattaya and around the world on the online feed were shocked when the Thai contestant still won despite blowing the interview. 

That ignited a firestorm of criticism and gave credibility to the allegations brought by Thai and Philippine contestants there was not only an anti-Black bias from the all-Thai judging panel, but an anti-Filipina one as well..

In 2015 Brazilian beauty Valesca Dominik Ferraz almost broke the color line in this pageant, but just as Miss SaHHara had done four years earlier, she wound up as the first runner up to Trixie Maristela of the Philippines. 

What I wrote back in 2011 when I blasted the Miss International Queen pageant about that shady 2011 result is sadly still valid today.   Out of the 12 winners of the Miss International Queen title, eight of them have been from Asia,  and four of the eight Asian winners have been Thai. 

Also to add another things that make you go hmm layer to this, all four Thai winner have worked as Tiffany's cabaret showgirls.   Tiffany's BTW, is one of the sponsors of this pageant. 

The other Asian MIQ winners have been from Japan, South Korea and two from the Philippines.

The other four contestants non Asians who have won the Miss International Queen pageant title have come from South America (Brazil and Colombia) and North America (US and Mexico) 

It's obvious that the Miss International Queen pageant has an anti-Blackness problem, and the immediate fix for that is to have an international panel of judges that doesn't have ties to Miss Tiffany's Cabaret.

And when I say an international panel of judges, I don't mean just grabbing judges from other parts of Asia because that won't fix the glaring anti-Black bias problem.   Y'all still have a continent wide problem in Asia of considering white skin as the penultimate in beauty.

It's why the Miss Universe pageant not only has a diverse judging panel, that panel also includes former titleholders because what is considered beautiful is different in different corners of the world, and yeah Miss International Queen, dark skinned women are beautiful as well. 

If this pageant is going to claim that it is the premiere international pageant for transgender women, some of those trans women are going to be dark skinned ones with African heritage. 

The anti-Black, pro-Asian and pro Miss Tiffany showgirl bias has got to end in order for the Miss International Queen trans pageant to have international credibility with people around the world who are thinking about competing in it.

Because no one is going to travel halfway around the world or put their hard earned money towards entering a pageant that they believe is unfairly rigged or they won't have a shot at winning because the judges are biased against them.

Miss International Queen 2017 Is..

Another Thai winner.  

Jiratchaya  Sirimongkolnawin was crowned on March 10 as the newest Miss International Queen winner.  The runner ups in Miss International Queen 2017 were a pair of girls from South America. First runner up was Nathalie Oliveira of Brazil and the second runner up was Andrea Collazo of Venezuela.



While I ain't mad at those girls who won or were the first and second runners up, I've had a problem with Miss International Queen on a lot of levels since 2011.


My dissatisfaction with this so-called most prestigious premiere international pageant for trans women has only increased since I wrote this post in the wake of the controversial end of the 2011 pageant calling for Miss International Queen to have an international judging panel.

I have serious questions about the impartiality of an all Thai panel with uncomfortable connections to the host Tiffany's venue, and also have serious concerns that those Thai judges have a cultural bias against dark skin girls.

If that's not the case, then why has there in the history of this MIQ pageant NEVER been a Black trans woman to win it, and only three who have even placed in the top three of the pageant since 2004?

Black trans girls across the African Diaspora don't even bother trying to enter the Miss International Queen pageant because of the perceived anti-Black bias.

It's also problematic when all four Thai winners of the Miss International Queen title also won the Thai only Miss Tiffany's Thai pageant that year, and the Tiffany's show bar in Pattaya is the host venue for Miss International Queen.

So nope, still going to be giving Miss International Queen the side eye until they decide to make the changes necessary that will take the pageant to the next level, make it a truly international event, and people who wish to compete in it don't feel like it's rigged in favor of a Thai or Asian trans girl.

Thailand's Apple Modeling Agency Opening All-Trans LA Branch

The Bangkok based Apple Modeling Agency back in November decided to open up a branch of their local office there dedicated specifically to promoting trans models.  

Business must be booming, because they are now opening up a trans specific branch office in Los Angeles.

While trans models have had a long distinguished history in the fashion world, we are at a moment in time in which people, designers and corporations are openly soliciting for their services.  

Jazz Jennings is the face for Clean and Clear.  Carmen Carrera has signed with Elite Models and has made clear her desire to become the first trans Victoria's Secret Angel.  . Lea T has signed a deal to become the global face of Redken beauty products, and trans models like Ines Rau, Arisce Wanzer, Geena Rocero, Isis King and Andreja Pejic are popping up on runways from New York to Milan in catalogs and elsewhere..

Apple Model Management LA is set to open under the guidance of Cecilio Asuncion and already has six transgender models on their initial roster and are looking for more. 

“We see trans individuals as beautiful,” says Apple's LA  agency director Cecilio Asuncion. “Our strong commitment to developing them as successful models is never about quantifying or qualifying their gender. It's never a question of if they are women or men, it's about their passion and commitment to being the best possible models they can be.”

So if you are a trans woman  5'8" or taller or a trans man who is 6’ or taller and are interested in being represented by them, you can apply by following the application guidelines at the Apple Model Management website.

 

Application materials and photos may be emailed directly to Apple Model Management L.A. Director Cecilio Asuncion at cecilio@applemodels.com.

H/T  The Advocate

Thai Modeling Agency Starts Trans Division

The long stylish line of trans models gets an assist in extending its legacy for another generation from Thailand.

With an ever increasing list of trans models coming out like Andreja Pejic, Ines Rau and Geena Rocero,  others are getting steady work including our sis Isis King,

LeaT brpke new ground by signing a deal to become the face of the global beauty brand Redken, while Rau became the first trans woman since 1991 to pose for Playboy.

The Bangkok based  Apple Modeling Agency, one of the leading and largest agencies in Thailand, announced on November 11 they were launching a transgender model division that already has 18 girls on its books.

Director of the Apple Agency Siwaporn Hotarapawanond stated the agency has three physical types of trans models.  "First is the transgender model who is all natural.   Second, the transgender model who has had breast surgery only.   Third, the transgender who had complete surgery." 

Here's an interview drag queen Pangina Heals conducted with ten of the Apple trans division models as they participated in a photo shoot for Thai based Lips Magazine.

This seems to be the tipping point moment when trans feminine women in photo shoots or ripping the runways is not seen as a exotic element, but a fact of life in the fashion world. 

'We have three physical types of transgender models,' said Siwaporn Hotarapawanond, director of the agency.
'First, the transgender woman who is all natural. Second, the transgender who had breast surgery only. Third, the transgender who underwent the complete surgery.'
Transgender models are fast becoming a
- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/thailand-launches-worlds-first-transgender-modeling-agency141114#sthash.dB5swmax.dpuf

2009 Miss Tiffany Winner Detransitions To Become A Monk

Back in May 2009 I wrote about Sorawee 'Jazz' Nattee becoming the latest person to wear the Miss Tiffany's crown and become Thailand's representative in the upcoming Miss International Queen Pageant that November.   

Nattee ended up not placing in that Miss International Queen competition won by Ai Haruna of Japan but did finish third in the pre-pageant competition.    

The interesting news that came out of the Land of Smiles ironically right about the time the Miss Tiffany pageant is held in Thailand is that the now 24 year old Nattee traded her crown for the orange robes of Buddhist monkhood.

Since only males can become Buddhist monks, that meant Nattee had to detransition to do so. 

The international trans community has been hearing about disturbing cases in Thailand in which families who are majorly resistant to their trans children transitioning to live as women or their gay ones being forced to become monks.

According to Nattee, this isn't what's happening in his situation.  ‘It’s not that I’ve become a monk to run away from problems, but I’ve studied dhamma for two years and now know what it truly is.’’ 

Nattee also said in the Bangkok Post article he was doing so to repay his parents.

Genital surgery is optional for a contestant in the Miss Tiffany's and Miss International Queen competitions, and according to Nattee's family the only surgery Jazz had at the time of competition were breast implants..

Nattee removed the implants and took the ordination name of Phra Maha Viriyo Bhikku as he entered a monastery in his home southern Songkla province. He didn't hide the fact that four years ago he was wearing the Miss Tiffany's pageant crown.

"I want to be a monk for the rest of my life and I’m ready to leave my worldly possessions behind,’’ Jazz said after becoming a monk at Wat Liab

I and everyone else in trans world hope that Nattee freely made this decision and wasn't pushed into it by his parents or other outside influences.   If it's what Jazz truly desires and made the conscious decision to do so, then best of luck in his life and spiritual journey.

But if he didn't, I definitely along with people in Thailand won't be surprised to see the return of Jazz

Miss International Queen 2013 Is...

Since we won't have any trans contestants competing at the Miss Universe pageant (that we're aware of) taking place in Moscow on November 9, my attention for the moment shifts to Pattaya, Thailand where 25 transfeminine contestants from 17 countries gathered for the Miss International Queen Pageant

The finals were held last night (November 1 Thai time) and this year's winner is Marcela Ohio, representing Brazil.  First runner up was Shantell D'Marco of the US and second runner up was Nethnapada Kanrayanon of Thailand (big surprise).

It's not only the first time a representative from South America has claimed the title, she is the second Latina to do so after the late Erica Andrews who represented Mexico in 2006.  Her win was only the third time since the pageant's start in 2004 and the first since Erica Andrews did so that someone not from the Asia-Pacific Rim nations has taken home the Miss International Queen crown. 



And yeah, it extended the Miss International Queen title drought for African descended trans women.