In honor of LGBT Pride Month,
American Apparel debuted its first-ever transgender model, former "America's Next Top Model" contestant Isis King. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation praised the clothing company for its decision to include King, and hopes that it will help promote the phrase "Gay is OK." We wanted to know if the public thinks the campaign is a great idea, or just a gimmick.
Naturally, this is a controversial issue. We'll leave politics alone in the demographics this time, because it's clearly a determining factor, but in the end most people feel American Apparel's decision to use a transgender model was a good thing. Some respondents were uncomfortable with it, but others saw it as a step forward. One commenter wrote, "People need to not care what someone else's preference is, and worry about something worth while."
The Straight Stats
Homosexual voters were all for the use of a transgender model, as would be expected, but how did straight voters respond? Filtering out the LGBT vote, we found that straight voters were less than thrilled about the ads. It was still close, but 53% of the straight vote suggested American Apparel's use of King was just a gimmick.
Females Are Fine With It
Gender was almost as divisive as sexuality. While men were largely unimpressed with the ad, female voters strongly supported it, with more than two-thirds of the vote in favor. In the past, our polls have shown that women are typically much more comfortable with homosexuality, while men sometimes tend to be grossed out by it.
Older Voters Are Against It
Usually, when there's a stark difference between younger and older voters, the shift occurs somewhere around 45. However, in this case, the age difference was a little bit young. The vast majority of people over 35 voted against the ad, while a large number of voters under 35 were impressed. The difference was enormous -- approximately 43%.
If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our poll about Isis King. We'd love to hear from you!
Why is it "wonderful" that a guy dresses up and has surgery to look like a woman?
What about men and women who have lots plastic surgeries to look more attractive? We call them freaks and tell them they should be happy who they are and how they look! Why is this any different!?
Same diseases here, different manifestations.
The same people often have multiple plastic surgeries to help achieve this image.
Transgenders are also "so dissatisfied with themselves" they would go to even greater lengths to appear to be something they are not!
They need help!
It's doesn't affect me in the least!
Not anymore than someone who is suicidally depressed, and don't tell me we shouldn't intervene on them with or without their consent!
Opinions based on facts are great, eh? I believe what is tangible. Not what is assumed to be.
It's not proof at all, just a bias on the part of the scientists and the journalist that wrote the article.
but i guess for cynical people like you, you're goig to wait around until you have "proof" there is something in our brains that is female instead of believing us? correct? when we have proof, will you accept me as a female then?
reminecint of people once believing gay wasn't real and gay was a choice. its ok, you'll learn... i guess we just need to have a louder voice? in time my little internet friend, in time...
smile