Christian Siriano, winner of this season's Project Runway, was know for categorizing looks on the popular show as a "hot tranny mess."
Then in a recent interview with Time Out New York Christian said. "If you think of heterosexuals, they have white-trash women and trailer parks, and we have drag queens and trannies." Umm...wow.
Christian then pulled the I-have-transgender-friends card, and made a statement to GLAAD saying, "I mean no disrespect to the transgender population and I never will. Some of my close friends happen to be transgender and I think they are some of the most inspiring people in my life ... I completely support the fabulousness and amazing fashion inspiration that most transgender people provide."
Christian also says that his quotes were taken out of context in the article because some comments weren't used - we're guessing one of which was a qualifier that made his hetero : white trash :: homo : tranny analogy not offensive.
Please. So not fierce.
Photos: Getty Images/WENN
adri leya says:
i understand the issue with, you know, the stereotyping and everything...but let's be honest; aren't gay guys kind of allowed to say certain things in that vein? i know i know, he's not transexual - but he's a hilarious bitchy gay guy that likes to shock with those (what he thinks to be) hilarious bitchy gay guy expressions. maybe I'M messed up because i wasn't offended by his comments in the least....
l says:
I'm so happy that as a trasgender woman I can be a fashion inspiration to Miss Siriano. This is why I exist, why I live to provide priveleged white gay men with inspiration. All the harassment and political disenfranchisement I experience is all worth it if I can inspire a young fashion designer. I can die now.
L says:
OH and another thing, the gay community doesn't have me. Gays have consistently demonstrated politically that they aren't interested in whether trans people have rights. Mr. Siriano in his strangely well intentioned statement comparing me to trailer park white trash was indicative of how he and so many other gays just don't get it.
The phrase hot tranny mess which I personally found both slightly offensive but also funny is a phrase that is funny because to be a hot mess is certainly not desirable but in a transphobic cultural context being a hot tranny mess is perhaps one of the least desirable things. Mr. Siriano isn't sophisticated enough to concede that one of his catch phrases is dependent on a patriachal, transphobic cultural context that he's is inept at challenging or critiquing. A context that he feeds into and perpetuates with those kinds of oh so funny bitchy phrases.
I still love you Christian. I can be bitchy and politically incorrect too but hopefully with more self awareness and true pastiche.