Fil-Am pageant organizer welcomes first transgender contestanthttp://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/08/13/15/pinay-first-transgender-teen-compete-bay-area-pageantABS-CBN News/By Rommel Conclara, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau
Posted at 08/13/2015 3:21 PM | Updated as of 08/14/2015 11:33 AM
"HERCULES, California (UPDATED) – The Miss Hercules pageant is making a conscious effort in accepting all contestants by allowing transgender Brandon Sooksampan to compete for this year's crown.
The 15-year-old is the pageant's first transgender applicant, and now its first transgender contestant.
Filipino-American Richard White, who is the president of the Miss Hercules Organization, said that while he was surprised to see Sooksampan's application, he welcomed it.
"Everybody said why not? If the Miss Universe Organization accepts transgenders; if the Olympics accepts transgenders; the NCAA, and the Girl Scouts of America accept transgenders – why can't we?" he said."
