From Snapped To Snipped

International News, By dreadcircus, 18th November, 2008

Isis King, the first transgender woman on America’s Next Top Model has been given a gift than many could only dream about. Tyra Banks announced that Isis would receive a free gender reassignment surgery compliments of one of the world’s leading surgeons Dr Marci Bowers, who happens to be a post op transgender woman also.

Isis was selected to appear on America’s Next Top Model at a time where she was homeless and desperate to make enough money to change her gender. She made headlines around the world as she bared her soul on television, chasing down her dream of becoming a model. She took on a fair bit of discrimination on the series as other genetic females laughed behind her back, something which she has faced for a long time.

Gender reassignment surgery is complex and expensive. Not only are the sex organs changed to the desired gender, other surgeries like breast augmentation and facial feminising surgeries are also needed. Isis remarked when quizzed why she had not already had the surgery on Top Model answering “It’s just the finances, it costs a lot of money, between $20,000 and $35,000.” Many transgender men and women struggle to come up with the money to complete their transition and some will do anything to reach that goal.

Isis broke down on The Tyra Banks Show as she was asked about how it felt each day to look between her legs and see her current genitals. “It’s something that I’m really passionate about and I feel like I really was born in the wrong body.” Not only is Isis receiving a complete gender reassignment surgery but also plastic surgery thrown in. She is definitely one of the luckiest transgender women On the planet right now.

Your Thoughts

datkindagal

said ages ago

trying to get trannies to take an interest in their community is like pulling teeth. When everthing goes ass up then we are the ones who cop the flack. I'm not speaking for the Gender Centre rather myself as some who has always taken an interest.

Asherbella

said ages ago

Lovely gesture, Tyra, but the spirit of this benevolent act perhaps comes from a desire for RATINGS and not genuine support? I don't like acts of kindness when kindness is a PR stunt.

FlipX[disabled]

said ages ago

Lovely gesture, Tyra, but the spirit of this benevolent act perhaps comes from a desire for RATINGS and not genuine support? I don't like acts of kindness when kindness is a PR stunt. I don't think Isis is complaining though. :) If we help others in the course of accomplishing selfish goals, is it still not helping others? (Shame, introspection and integrity are different matters, but do not diminish the help provided to the beneficiaries.)

weathervain

said ages ago

Lovely gesture, Tyra, but the spirit of this benevolent act perhaps comes from a desire for RATINGS and not genuine support? I don't like acts of kindness when kindness is a PR stunt. It's a pretty "out on a limb" progressive PR stunt, you have to give her props for that, Oprah wouldn't do that shit

Asherbella

said ages ago

I don't think Isis is complaining though. :) If we help others in the course of accomplishing selfish goals, is it still not helping others? (Shame, introspection and integrity are different matters, but do not diminish the help provided to the beneficiaries.) If Tyra Banks was not the host of America's Next Top Model, she would not have instigated this operation for Isis.

homoraz

said ages ago

I think the important thing here is not whether Tyra Banks is a self-serving publicity hound or a saint, but that someone who normally wouldn't have any hope in hell of being able to achieve her goals has now been given that chance. People are generally self-serving, and yeah, Tyra may not have instigated this if it weren't directly linked to her show.....but just because she's getting something out of it as well, doesn't diminish the fact that it's a good thing to do....

Shanej

said ages ago

I was a little unsure about this story when I first heard about it, the premise sounded a little unethical. But after actually watching the whole Tyra episode on YouTube I felt that it was a wonderful thing. I think that both Tyra and Dr Marci Bowers made a strong point that it was Isis's decision, and I think that is important. What I found even more amazing than the whole story of Isis on that episode was the Transgendered girl, Cara, who went out on a date on air with a guy. What I found amazing, impressive, was that this man put himself on an international stage and went on a date with a Transgendered person. This just sends out an amazing message of acceptance which I don't feel has really ever been told in this way. I know that shows have featured the lovers of Transgendered people, but this was a regular guy, who had never met a transgendered person before, who was happy to go on a date, on TV, and not have any issues or make any jokes about it. Kudos to him. To me this is a symbolic step forward. I was also blown away by his statement that 'maybe it's a new area of sexuality', to hear this come from a jock-looking American male.... wow! I am not sure if my amazement says something about me, or about men? This act has definitely shifted my opinion.

dreadcircus

said ages ago

I was a little unsure about this story when I first heard about it, the premise sounded a little unethical. But after actually watching the whole Tyra episode on YouTube I felt that it was a wonderful thing. I think that both Tyra and Dr Marci Bowers made a strong point that it was Isis's decision, and I think that is important. What I found even more amazing than the whole story of Isis on that episode was the Transgendered girl, Cara, who went out on a date on air with a guy. What I found amazing, impressive, was that this man put himself on an international stage and went on a date with a Transgendered person. This just sends out an amazing message of acceptance which I don't feel has really ever been told in this way. I know that shows have featured the lovers of Transgendered people, but this was a regular guy, who had never met a transgendered person before, who was happy to go on a date, on TV, and not have any issues or make any jokes about it. Kudos to him. To me this is a symbolic step forward. I was also blown away by his statement that 'maybe it's a new area of sexuality', to hear this come from a jock-looking American male.... wow! I am not sure if my amazement says something about me, or about men? This act has definitely shifted my opinion. Gotta agree 100%. The entire episode was amazing and it really is great to see such things. I too was really blown away by the guy who went on the date. Stirring stuff that put a little hope back in my day. :) As for Tyra and ratings etc. If I had a television show like that I would be doing the same thing. It doesn't really matter if Tyra's motives were self serving because she has contributed to people being educated and even given Isis the chance to truly feel comfortable in her skin. Anybody who brings these issues to light is fantastic. I'd rather see a celeb like Tyra contribute to society like this than to not do it at all. Ash... thankfully Tyra is a celebrity and the host of Top Model. For without her Isis may have gone down a diff path to get this needed surgery and that alternate path isn't always a picnic in the park by a long shot. Goodwill is goodwill regardless if its for ratings if the will is genuinely good!

Shanej

said ages ago

I don't think things need to be viewed with such polarity. I think there were probably many contributing factors to Tyra telling this story. It was not JUST because it was good for rating, or JUST because it was a nice thing to do. Peoples obsession with one or the other is actually a much bigger deal than people realise. It crossed all boundaries including sexuality and gender. You are either Male or Female, your either Gay or Straight, it was either this way or that way...your either Black or White... none of these statements are accurate and the sooner people start living outside the black and white polarity and inside the truth of all the colours that lye with in the sooner we will have greater understanding through acceptance.

taylor-dayne

said ages ago

tyra has done a wonderful thing. sure, ratings are involved, but at least she's a woman who is DOING SOMETHING with the platform she's given. who else is pushing the envelope like this? real gifts don't exist anyway. the giver always gets something out of it - even if it's just that they feel generous for a while... that's how the world works.

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