Aretha Franklin’s classic “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” is targeted by a transgender activist group based in Norway. According to The New York Post, the group requests the song’s removal on both Apple Music and Spotify, citing the single’s lyrics as offensive.
The Norway-based group, The Trans Cultural Mindfulness Alliance, stated that single is a source of harm against transgender women.
“Aretha Franklin’s 1968 song ‘Natural Woman’ perpetuates multiple harmful anti-trans stereotypes,” the organization tweeted. “There is no such thing as a ‘natural’ woman.”
The tweet adds, “This song has helped inspire acts of harm against transgender women.”
This song has helped inspire acts of harm against transgender women.
TCMA is requesting it is removed from Spotify & Apple Music.
— TCMA: Trans Cultural Mindfulness Alliance (@TransMindful) January 20, 2023
The TCMA is newly founded and is stated to be found exclusively by trans individuals and is “promoting cultural changes to ensure the inclusivity of trans individuals.”
The group also cites “Lady Marmalade” by Patti LaBelle as transphobic, stating that “only cisgender women can be sex workers.”
Missouri has conducted the first execution of a transgender woman in the U.S. The AP notes that Missouri inmate Amber McLaughlin was put to death for a 2003 murder.
McLaughlin was convicted of stalking and killing a former girlfriend and then dumping her body in a portion of the Mississippi River that runs through St. Louis.
Before her execution, McLaughlin offered a final written statement: “I am sorry for what I did. I am a loving and caring person.”
McLaughlin spoke with a spiritual advisor before her lethal injection, took a few deep breaths, and passed away.
Since the mid-1970s, the anti-execution Death Penalty Information Center stated 1,558 people had been executed. All but 17 were men, and before McLaughlin, there was no record of an openly transgender inmate as an executed person.
McLaughlin was convicted in 2006 and began her transition behind bars. During her time in prison, she also petitioned for clemency, but Gov. Mike Parson denied it.
As transgender athletes continue to champion for rights and access in the sporting world, the World Boxing Council is currently planning to create a category specifically for transgender boxers.
Speaking with The Telegraph about the decision, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said, “We are going to put out a global call for those who are interested in 2023 and we will set up the protocols, start consultation and most likely create a league and a tournament.”
French boxer Enzo Bonio has his gloves put on by a member of his team ahead of his World Championship kick-boxing fight against Portugal’s Fabio Da Vega of Portugal, in Sarcelles, north of Paris, on December 11, 2019. – Bonio won the fight to take the title. (Photo by Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP via Getty Images)
“It is the time to do this, and we are doing this because of safety and inclusion. We have been the leaders in rules for women’s boxing – so the dangers of a man fighting a woman will never happen because of what we are going to put in place,” he continued.
On the WBC’s plan to debut a transgender category, the official added, “We are creating a set of rules and structures so that transgender boxing can take place, as they fully deserve to if they want to box. We do not yet know the numbers that there are out there, but we’re opening a universal registration in 2023, so that we can understand the boxers that are out there – and we’ll start from there.”
Several transgender fighters have been making a name for themselves in recent years. According to ESPN, Patricio Manuel made history in 2018 when he became the first transgender man in the United States to professionally compete in boxing.
Fallon Fox has also found success in the professional fighting field, becoming the first openly transgender woman to face off in mixed martial arts.
According to a confirmed report from TheBalst, NBA star Dwyane Wade has filed a court petition to legally change the name and gender of his transgender daughter, Zaya Wade.
According to documents obtained from the L.A. County Court, Wade is asking a judge to officially change his child’s name from Zion Malachi Airamis Wade toZaya Malachi Airamis Wade. Zaya is a transgender, however, being that she is under 18 years of age, her father has to be the one to officially request the change in court.
The petition mentions Zaya’s mother, Siohvaughn Funches, but says that Dwyane Wade has full authority to make the decision. “Pursuant to the terms of the Final Custody Judgment, (Wade) has full authority to make decisions on behalf of the petitioning minor, and he is not required to receive consent from Ms. Funches-Wade. As a courtesy, Ms. Funches-Wade has received notice of this petition,” the document reads.
In the filing, Wade asks that the court legally issues a decree recognizing that the minors’ gender is changed to “female. It also specifically cites the reason for the change as “to conform with gender identity.”
The multi-millionaire athlete admits he is shocked by his daughter’s confidence in this area, saying, “I went years without telling my chef that I don’t like cilantro on my burger — as an adult, it took me years to have the confidence to say that…My daughter, at 8 years old, had the confidence to say, ‘This is who I am. This is who I want to be.’”
The Fierce Awakens,” the 15th episode of the fifth season of Raven’s Home, premiered on Friday, and episode writer Nori Reed posted to Instagram to commemorate the occasion, writing that she “may have created the first ever trans character for the Disney Channel.
Transgender actress Juliana Joel makes history by portraying the first trans character in Disney’s Raven’s Home.
Juliana Joel is an actress, known for Truly, Madly, Crazy!, Full Beat (2018), and Always. Additionally, actress Juliana Joel is well-known for her work on American Gigolo (2022), Absolute Dominion, and Disney Television Discovers Talent Showcase (2021).
In addition, she is currently in the headlines after she is portraying the role of a transgender in Disney’s latest show called the Raven’s home. Moreover, this has received so much media attention because this is the first live-action trans character on the network.
On her Instagram page the actress writes:
1st out Trans character on Disney Channel? I can finally share that I’ve joined the season 5 cast of Raven’s Home on Disney Channel !
A personal story I shared with Raven on set:
Growing up as a kid in Florida (like many other kids) I dreamt of being on the Disney Channel, specifically on That’s So Raven. It was my favorite show & Raven Baxter was my best friend in my mind. It was my escape from what I was going through internally. Coming from a typical Puerto Rican family, I didn’t think being an actor was possible esp for someone like me, I thought you had to be born into that world. Fast forward to becoming an actor I then told myself I wasn’t young enough to be on Disney anymore & even if that wasn’t the case I’m TRANS! I’d never seen an out trans actor or character on the Disney Channel. EVER. Needless to say I cried in my dressing room after walking onto that set the first time. It was a moment where it hit me that I not only get to live out my childhood dream on a version of my favorite show…I get to do it as my authentic self and with a character that is openly trans. But it was really more than just being on the show. With all of the anti-trans hate and narratives in media and society, it was a win. I claimed a dream and space for myself while so much of the world is trying to erase me & my community. And now I get to be that person I wish I had to watch on TV growing up. So never tell yourself it can’t happen because it can, in ways you never dreamt possible.
Massive shout out to @norireed the writer of this episode who created my character Nikki. She is such a talented, badass person and comedic genius.
And of course thank you to the entire cast & crew for being so welcoming, every episode was such a blast to be a part of. Go check out the crazy talented main cast of the show.
Ready to meet Nikki?! Make sure to tune in to tonight’s episode “The Fierce Awakens” directed by @ianreedkesler 6PM PST/ 9PM EST on @disneychannel & @disneynow
An all women’s prison in New Jersey launched the liberally progressive move of allowing transgender inmates to be house with the other female inmates, but now the prison is in hot water after two of the naturally-born female inmates were impregnated by a transgender inmate.
It was reported that some of the 27 transgender inmates at the Edna Mahan Correction Facility have been having sex with the biological female inmates, however, there have been no reports of rape because all of the incidents of sexual relations have reportedly been consensual.
“While DOC cannot comment on any specific disciplinary or housing decisions that may be considered in light of these events, the Department always reserves all options to ensure the health and safety of the individuals in its custody,” said NJDOC External Affairs Executive Director Dan Sperrazza.
Last year, to female inmates filed lawsuits against the prison claiming that the transgender inmates were having sex with the biological female inmates, but the legal director over at the ACLU has maintained their support of the prison reform that now allows transgender women to be housed with biological women.
“[It’s] in line with New Jersey’s strong anti-discrimination laws that prevent discrimination and harassment on the basis of gender identity,” said Jeanne LoCicero.
