Pop star Ke$ha may have a few mistaken ideas about the transgender community.
In a recent interview with The Advocate, Ke$ha states:
“I am a huge fan of the transgender community. I am so not a proper, good female. I can't dance in high heels and I'm just so not girly, but then I see these men with these banging bodies, dancing in heels, singing, and having so much fun with so much make-up on. That makes me honestly want to be a better woman. It is so fascinating that someone can commit their whole entire lifestyle to being such a fantastic woman when I'm such a bum about it.'”
There’s a small problem here, even if we overlook the fact that Ke$ha considers dancing in high heels and being girly part of being a “proper, good female,” and thinks that becoming a better dancer in high heels and wearing more makeup will make her a “better woman.”
In referencing the trans community, she seems to be referring to drag queens — men dancing in heels, men singing, men with so much makeup on, committing “their whole entire lifestyle (not life, but lifestyle) to being such a fantastic woman.”
While some drag queens may consider themselves part of the transgender community, many — possibly most — do not. And if she’s referring to trans women, the reference is inappropriate and incorrect. Trans women are not men in heels.
So it’s not clear from this interview exactly what Ke$ha’s definition of the "transgender community" is. It may jibe with a very broad definition of transgender, but it’s a rather narrow view of the community.
According to The Advocate, her not-yet-released music video for her song “Backstabber” was cast almost entirely with transgender people. What that means might become apparent when the video is released.
It’s quite possible that Ke$ha is a friend to the trans community, but her concept of our community leaves something to be desired.
Comments
I have a feeling her heart is in the right place but she just doesn't understand all the issues surrounding the definition of transgender. I would imagine the majority of the world population literally has no clue.
Dana, I think you're right--I think her heart is in the right place. She just needs to brush up a little on the various facets of the trans community.
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