Miss Universe changes rules to include transgender women

Tuesday 10th April 2012 – 3.00pm
Author: Staff Reporter
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The global Miss Universe competition has today announced a dramatic change in policy to allow transgender women to participate in the competition.

As of next year women who are not "naturally born female" will be allowed to enter the beauty pageant. The decision by the competition owned by Donald Trump comes just weeks after Canadian contestant Jenna Talackova, 23, was disqualified because she is transgender. The disqualification sparked outrage from the media, the public and rights groups which is thought to have forced Miss Universe to follow the Olympics, America's Next Top Model and the American Girl Scouts which have all accepted transgender women into their female gender classification.

The competition have also reversed their decision to disqualify Jenna Talackova and she will now be allowed to be a contestant in this years events.

A spokesperson for rights group Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has said:

"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.”

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