‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Drops Transphobic Segment

By Jamilah King Apr 15, 2014

Logo’s hit series "RuPaul’s Drag Race" recently found itself in hot water for its repeated use of transphobic slurs.

From the Huffington Post:

During a mini-challenge on the show titled "Female or She-male," contestants were asked to identify whether a photo showed a cisgender (non trans) woman or a former "Drag Race" contestant after viewing a cropped portion of the photo. Some transgender people claimed that the segment was transphobic, as "she-male" is considered by many to be a violent word used against trans bodies and lives.

The show released a statement on the matter:

We wanted to thank the community for sharing their concerns around a recent segment and the use of the term ‘she-mail’ on Drag Race. 

Logo has pulled the episode from all of our platforms and that challenge will not appear again. 

Furthermore, we are removing the ‘You’ve got she-mail’ intro from new episodes of the series.

We did not intend to cause any offense, but in retrospect we realize that it was insensitive. We sincerely apologize.

Trans model and former Drag Race contestant Carmen Carrera issued a statement on her Facebook page taking the show to task for misusing its potential. "Drag Race should be a little smarter about the terms they use and comprehend the fight for respect trans people are facing every minute of today. They should use their platform to educate their viewers truthfully on all facets of drag performance art." Another former contestant and trans woman told HuffPo that the show’s use of the slurs was "not cute at all."

GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis reiterated the importance of the show’s decision. "Logo has sent a powerful and affirming message to transgender women during a pivotal moment of visibility for the entire transgender community," she told The Advocate. "GLAAD is committed to continuing to shape the narrative about the lives of transgender people with fair and accurate media images."