Trans beauty pageant dedicates gender surgery prize to dead teen
A trans beauty pageant dedicated a controversial ‘prize’ of gender surgery to a transgender teen who took her own life.
22-year-old Jai Darra Latto won the tiara and a controversial surgical ‘prize’ at the pageant this weekend, which was due to be hosted by former boxing promoter and UKIP candidate Kellie Maloney. Ms Maloney is understood to have withdrawn from the event, however.
The pageant saw a number of trans girls competing for the title and £5000 cash – but came under fire for offering the winner a voucher for an all-inclusive trip to a surgical clinic in India, where they can undergo free gender procedures.
Trans activists hit out at the “insulting” prize, accusing the pageant of taking advantage of the trans healthcare crisis as people are forced to wait years for surgery on the NHS.
The outspoken organiser of the pageant, Rachael Bailey, told Planet Transgender that the prize was dedicated to Leelah Alcorn – a 17-year-old Ohio trans girl who took her own life earlier this year.
She said: “The old trans folk just won’t take time off their keyboards to show support for the next generation as if they are just jealous.
“This is very sad, but haters will always hate. We need to move on together but all the community seems to do is fight with each other. My ladies will prove their worth.”
Of Alcorn, she said: “She wanted her name put in history [and] I hope to do that.”
Ms Latto, from Walkerburn in the Scottish Borders, wrote: “I’ve been crowned the winner of Miss Transgender uk 2015…. I WON!!! Thank you Rachael Bailey for this life changing experience.
“It’s been amazing. And ive met great people along the way and the support from everyone, I can’t thank you all enough xxx”
