Jenna Talackova’s passport lists her gender as female
A would-be Canadian Miss Universe contestant who was born male says the rule used to ban her should be dropped.
Jenna Talackova, 23, was kicked out of the contest last month after organisers said she did not meet the requirement of being “naturally born” female.
Miss Universe said on Monday it might allow her to compete after all, provided she met her country’s “legal gender recognition requirements”.
Ms Talackova, who was born male, underwent a sex change four years ago.
She previously competed in Miss International Queen, a contest for transgendered women, in Thailand.
‘Incomprehensible’
The Vancouver resident held a press conference in Los Angeles on Tuesday with celebrity lawyer Gloria Allred.
Ms Allred said Miss Universe and its owner – Donald Trump – must definitively say whether or not Ms Talackova will be allowed to compete in the May contest.
“Otherwise, we are considering all of Jenna’s legal options,” said Ms Allred.
“I wish Mr Trump would just say in plain words whether or not I will be allowed to compete,” Ms Talackova said, “and if I win, whether I’d be allowed to represent Canada in the Miss Universe competition.”
“I also want Mr Trump to clearly state that this rule be eliminated, because I do not want any other woman to suffer the discrimination that I have endured.”
One of Ms Talackova’s lawyers, Joe Arvay, called the statement from the Miss Universe about Canada’s legal gender recognition requirements “incomprehensible”.
He told the Associated Press they would file a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Commission. He argues the pageant’s “natural-born” requirement is not allowable under Canadian human rights legislation.
In its statement, Miss Universe also said Ms Talackova would have to meet “standards established by other international competitions”, but did not clarify which contests would be used.
According to the Vancouver Sun, gender recognition requirements differ by province.
In an earlier interview with the Sun, Ms Talackova said her initial disqualification “doesn’t make sense because since I was conscious I always felt this way”.
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