Bud Light faced major backlash from customers after featuring transgender social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney in an ad campaign — and now it seems to be Sports Illustrated’s turn.
The magazine, known for its sultry bikini shoots, featured Kim Petras on the cover of its swimsuit edition.
Petras is a transgender pop star who caused an uproar accompanying Sam Smith on stage at the Grammys during what many, including Lauren Chen, found to be a “satanic” performance.
Chen admits that while she’s not the target demographic, she’s not sure actual readers of the magazine are going to be thrilled.
“I’m not sure how Sports Illustrated readers actually feel about that, but I can only assume that they’re on board with it, because there’s no way in 2023 that a brand would ever do something that goes against its target audience just for, well, virtue points” Chen jokes.
While trans activists are applauding the magazine for championing the LGBTQ+ community, Chen believes that many more actual readers will be critical.
“I’m sure that Sports Illustrated could feel really good that they’ve gained new fans in those 40 or 50 so people out there,” however, she says there are “some criticisms to be had over the fact that they would choose to feature a trans woman for a magazine that caters largely to straight men.”
Chen brings up that most straight men are simply not attracted to trans women, regardless of whether or not they “pass.”
She says this is because “attraction is based on biology, not gender identity, and you know, Kim Petras, she’s, he’s male.”
Petras underwent gender confirmation surgery at just 16 years old, and Chen sees this as making the entire situation even worse.
She says, “Not only is Sports Illustrated pushing the trans agenda, but they’re also pushing the idea that yes, children can consent to being permanently mutilated and, yes, sterilized.”
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