Transphobic ad? Here's SkyeHigh's reply

Tue 11th Dec, 2012 in Features

http://www.samesame.com.au/features/9247/Transphobic-ad-Heres-Skye-Highs-reply.htm

A new ad campaign by Bearded Lady bourbon is certainly taking the p--- – but the drag queen pictured has been surprised by the ferocity of reaction to the cheeky toilet humour.

Prepared to be seen soon in Maxim and Zoo magazines, one ad shows what appears to be a man in a dress peeing into a urinal – with the tagline "Stay Strong." It's one of three campaign ads shown above, two of them featuring Melbourne drag personality Miss Skye High.

[...]

So here is Miss Skye High's response to the situation. She wants to point it that she's not attempting to "hit back" at those who hated the ad, but simply to state her perspective on a campaign she's proud to be a key part of.

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts on the ads I recently featured in. Firstly let me start by saying I was not portraying a transgendered person in the Bearded Lady Bourbon advertisement. I am in fact a gay man that dresses in drag as an artist, to which I've been doing for over 20 years. This has been made very clear on all levels of social media.

At no point have I ever considered myself or portrayed myself as a transgendered individual, nor would I ever do so, nor do I hold any "phobia" to any individuals. I would also like to highlight that throughout the entire shoot for this campaign I was treated by the entire crew with the utmost respect and dignity just as any professional artist would be. Regardless of my own sexual identity, there was never any pretence that I was a transgendered person, nor trying to be one.

I do not see any transphobism. I see a an actual denunciation to what transwomen have to face; namely: forced to use the males bathroom (left picture), and "profiled" for cavity search (on the right picture).

The advertisement appeals to the consumers with the message of "stay strong in the face of adversity," "by drinking our whiskey"

My reaction to this add was to smile, no offense taken, of course this is just my opinion, and as  every knows I am a thought bitch with a thick skin 

Honestly, I just thought that it was stupid, like all other alcohol ads. I really don't care, though, since tons of groups are made fun of on ads. It's not like we're the only ones.

I second peky's thick skin sentiment. 

I followed the link and read Skye High's statement.  I think it was well-reasoned and presents a point of view that is often overlooked.  We should all be accepted, despite our idiosyncrasies.

If you don't like the ad you can always not  buy the product.

Quote from: peky on December 15, 2012, 09:35:05 AM
I do not see any transphobism. I see a an actual denunciation to what transwomen have to face; namely: forced to use the males bathroom (left picture), and "profiled" for cavity search (on the right picture).

The advertisement appeals to the consumers with the message of "stay strong in the face of adversity," "by drinking our whiskey"

My reaction to this add was to smile, no offense taken, of course this is just my opinion, and as  every knows I am a thought bitch with a thick skin 

To be honest, this was my first impression of what it was saying. I may be missing something, but I'm not particularly troubled by it.