Carmen Carrera, a stand-out from “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” appreared on Monday’s episode of “Cake Boss”. However Carrera, who is now transgender, is not happy with her TLC debut.
The Advocate recaps the “Cake Boss” episode:
Carrera was part of a set-up where she flirts with the Cake Boss‘s Cousin Anthony, who does not know she is transgender. Carrera says she informed the producers to describe her as “born as a man” or a “transgender woman.” Instead, the show’s host, Buddy Valastro, informed Cousin Anthony on air that he had been flirting “With a man, baby!” Cousin Anthony then runs away in horror.
Due to the sensitivity of the issue, GaySocialites.com has decided not to post the video of Carrera’s appearance on the “Cake Boss”, but you can watch it here.
Carrera hit Facebook to express her frustrations with Monday’s episode.
“Let me make this clear. CALLING A TRANSGENDER WOMAN A MAN IS WRONG,” she wrote. “Period. It’s degrading, it’s rude, and it’s very hurtful. I may not have been born a woman, but I’m NOT a man. I told them I would[n't] mind if they said ‘born male’ or ‘was a male.’ After taking this journey it’s not fair at all to be lied to by the producers.”
Demanding an apology from the Cake Boss himself, Buddy Valastro; Carrera set-up a petition on Change.org. In part, it reads:
The plot of the episode was to use Carmen to lure one of the bakery’s employees to flirt with her as a prank. Before filming, Carmen educated producers on what terms to use and what phrases would not be offensive, i.e. “Carmen was BORN male” or “Carmen is a transgendered woman”. Producers AGREED to respect her wishes, however, when the show aired it was a blatant “THAT’S A MAN” moment – very reminiscent of (trashy) shows like Jerry Springer or Maury. Carmen’s intent was to promote acceptance of trans women and make it ok to flirt or be attracted to someone who has changed his/her gender.
Carrera has also appeared on ABC’s “What Would You Do” in an exercise to try and educate that unfamiliar with the transgender community.
TLC has evidently pulled Monday night’s episode of “Cake Boss” so that it will not be aired again.
