Magazine Cover Featuring Transgender Model Posing As Michelle Obama Sparks Debate
Candy Magazine, a publication that calls itself “the first fashion magazine completely dedicated to celebrating transvestism, transexuality, crossdressing and androgyny in all their glory,” is at the center of a heated debate.
The new publication’s latest issue features Connie Fleming, a transgendered model, styled to look like First Lady Michelle Obama with the headline “The Candydate.”
The cover shows Fleming, perfectly styled to look like Mrs. Obama, down to her preppy dress, pearls, and arched eyebrows, as she is being sworn into office.
It is an image that certainly has people talking.
Candy magazine Publisher Luis Venegas told Dazed Digital that the cover was inspired by the notion that a black, transsexual woman could rise to highest office in the land one day.
“I remember back in early 2007 when the Democratic Party’s nominees were narrowed down between two ‘controversial’ stereotypes never before seen for presidency: a black man, Barack Obama; and a woman, Hillary Rodham Clinton. At that time, I thought, ‘when will the time come when these archaic walls break down and the White House will be occupied by, for example, a black, transsexual woman?’”
But not everyone is feeling Venegas’ cover.
While some have called Fleming’s portrayal of Mrs. Obama beautiful and flattering, and have noted the long history of drag queens (and others) paying homage to notable women, others have called the image “a disgrace.”
In spite of the conflicting opinions about the image, the Candy magazine cover did exactly what it was supposed to do: get people talking.
not feelin it.
Neither am I.
At all!
I was going to say something quite harsh and abrasive then I read the comments above and thought about what they said. I agree that they meant no ill will, I still however feel that transgener people and transgender representations have no place in a refined, decent society. I do feel though that they should always be free to voice their opinions without the threat or fear of violence. Thats just a basic decency. But I feel that magazines like this should be kinda “underground” (does that make me mean? lol). I feel that those with body/gender dysmorphia are not approriately treated with gender reassignment surgery. I am no expert just someone with an opinion….
It doesn’t make you “mean”. It makes you hateful bigot.
“I’m a little bothered by the gay and transgendered segment of society acting like they are mainstream or should be.”
And I bet there’s a bunch of White people bothered by Black people trying to be ‘mainstream’ too.
This comment is meant for “Perspective”.
While I also disagree with Perspective’s comments, can we all please stop bringing up race when a LGBT issue is at hand. Transgenders get surgery to change their gender. Black people are born black and stay black.
I’m so disgusted. I see comments like “men trying to women” and that trans* people have no place in “refined, decent society” and I’m seriously thinking what the f! First off trans women are women, “not men pretending to be women”, and trans people can reproduce. Not all trans people get surgery, but that shouldn’t matter. Last time I checked not all heterosexual people reproduce, actually I didn’t know that reproduction was the meaning of life for heterosexuals. Maybe I got that wrong? Second this “decent” was spoken of has been and is racist, sexist, along with other things. Things are changing but being a bigoted asshole doesn’t make you decent, it makes you repugnant, and people who think like that, and those ideologies are what need to be “underground”. I can understand not liking the pictures for stylistic reason or whatever, but to be upset because the model is transgender is just wow…..you need to take a seat and reevaluate yourself. God people are stupid.
How is this transgender a woman? I think that’s the only thing that gets me with statements like this.
Concerning the pic I absolutely nothing it. Don’t hate it but don’t like it either.
How is she not a woman?
women have periods, a vagina and other different organs then man… I find it offensive when someone calls themselves a women just becuse they have a dress or makeup on… Arent you more then paint and clothes, I know i’am and to me thats not a lady…
I know I’m more then paint and clothes. I also know I’m more than my anatomy and my functions. I think it’s offensive that you think that we are defined by our genitalia and bodily functions. I think it take or than that to be considered a woman. Actually I know it does, and I would think that you feel the same way.
Yea. Cissexism is never ok.
“…in early 2007 when the Democratic Party’s nominees were narrowed down between two ‘controversial’ stereotypes never before seen for presidency…”
Um, how are President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton “controversial stereotypes”?