Dear RuPaul,

I would like to express my frustration with your show.  I have, over the years, enjoyed the show mostly due to the fact that so many of friends have participated in it one way or another. At the current time I am just exhausted.

Don’t get me wrong, I do understand the drag culture very well and first hand but I find the show’s constant use of offensive terms to be deplorable and unacceptable. I assume that there is no intent to offend and I am aware that the use of such words is common place on stages all across the globe, yet that doesn’t make it right. I myself have had an evolving relationship with those words over the years, but what baffles me is that a program of your visibility and that is supposedly LGBT supportive can even think of using such language.  I know for a fact that you or at the very least someone on your crew is aware of the standards put forth in the GLAAD Media Reference Guide – Transgender Glossary of Terms. So, why do you and your team constantly use terms deemed “Problematic” and “Offensive”? Do you, like many who have the luxury of “cis-privilege” feel that all the Political Correctness is getting out of control?

I keep hearing Cisgender people talking about how the “PC Police” are out in regards to language that surrounds and is associated with Transgender people. I’ll admit that I am so sick of hearing people who are LG&B get angered by the fact that those of us who represent the “T” (transgender), wish to have a say in the words that are specifically about US.

I live my life proudly, in all parts of the country as a woman. I accordingly live my life proudly in all parts of the country as a trans-woman. Every morning I wake up and put on my face and at the end of the day I take that face off, but I can’t take off being Trans! This is NOT an illusion. This is not a Costume. It is intrinsically WHO I am, so when I draw offense to a word or phrase, as a human being, I would expect for those with whom we’ve allied for so many years to take our side and join US in the struggle with which we joined you in the past whilst having our agenda’s put aside for “the greater good.”

This is ME. I am NOT a tranny. I am NOT a she-male. I am NOT a *drag queen. I am NOT a chick with a…well you know. What I am is a woman. A woman who lives her life as authentically as possible at every turn. So, as that person, I ask you RuPaul and Cis-Gender people of all sexual orientations, to join with us as humans to start obliterating these offensive terms as the ones we have fought to remove from our vocabulary as the F’ word and words that hurt. Take a stand in the media to exemplify a front of solidarity. Additionally, through out the journey forward, as we get to find OUR voice in the media and as a community I ask that you remain patient as our dialogue evolves and changes as we have with you. We are finding our voice because we are finally being visible and sharing our stories.

Thank you!

Dina Nina Martinez

 

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*Clarification: I do not feel that the term “Drag Queen” in itself is offensive. I have been called Drag Queen and that is offensive to me, because I am not a drag queen, I am a stand up comic and advocate. So it bothers me because I don’t take off a costume and return to male form again at the end of a show or the night. So, when referring to trans people who are not showgirls or female illusionists then that term should be avoided, not obliterated. Now I do feel that most entertainers who are considered drag queens should be called a term less “common” if you will, such as female illusionists and showgirls because it is an amazing and beautiful art form.
 
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