Tyra Show Seeks Asexual Couples for Upcoming Program

The Tyra Banks show is seeking asexual couples to appear on an upcoming show on unconventional relationships. The show is set to tape on August 25th in New York and travel and accommodations will be taken care of for any interested participants.

This is a great opportunity for a large audience to learn about asexuality, and romantic asexuals in particular. Please click here for more details and to find out contact info for the show.

Tyra Banks Renews LGBT Ally Vows?

This year has been a bumpy road for the LGBT community with regards to the Tyra Banks Show. While, many of us "gays still love Tyra, and Tyra loves the gays" there have been a few shows that have struck nerves such as the bi-phobic, and "ex-gay" ones along with those who "hate being gay"

Tyra Banks has been praised on this blog in the past as being an LGBT ally and with this upcoming show it is our sincere hope that this will unfold a new leaf in the shows representations of LGBT people, and no longer pander for shock value nor ratings when it comes to compromising our stories.

ARE YOU A TRANSGENDER WOMAN WHO WAS INSPIRED BY TOP MODEL’S ISIS?

Are you a transgender teen or young adult who was inspired by Isis, the transgender woman who appeared on “America's Next Top Model” during Cycle 11? Did Isis inspire you to come out as transgender to yourself, your family, your friends or to the entire world? Did Isis' success encourage you to pursue a modeling career or otherwise reach for a dream that you once thought was unachievable? If you are a transgender young woman who was inspired to change your life by Top Model's Isis. (Tyra Show)

Please thank Tyra for this show which seeks to be a positive portrayal and inspiration for transgender folks, and encourage her to continue on this path.

To comment on the show please click here.

To contact her via her fan mail please use the following email address:
tyrabanks@studiofanmail.com

To suggest other LGBT-friendly shows click here.

Is The Tyra Banks Show Promoting Bi-phobia and "Ex-Gay" Myth?

Tyra Banks often has gay people and stories on her shows, which can be seen as positive. As of late however the topics seem to be getting more offensive. In the past few months, the Tyra show seems to be giving a lot of airtime to debating whether sexuality can be changed, and to insinuate that orientations like bisexuality are fake!

A recent poll on Tyra Banks website called "Flip the Gay Switch?" asks whether viewers believe it's possible to stop being gay. Is it appropriate to even ask this question in light of scientific findings that one cannot alter their orientation? How about some reverse psychology, is it possible to stop being straight, or any of the other reverse questions heterosexuals should ask themselves?

Also caving into bi-phobia is another poll question asking about the reality of bisexuality. Titled Bisexuality: Real or Bogus? The question alone is highly offensive, it not only insinuates that this orientation is not valid or legitimate, but it also goes so far as to suggest that bisexual identified people are liars.

The Tyra Banks show has received praise from this blog for her past commitment to accurately portraying the lives of LGBT people. But with the recent polls above, and other shows seeking "ex-gays" or programs on people who "hate being gay" and want to change, one seriously needs to re-evaluate whether Tyra Banks is just aiming for shock-value and ratings, and taking advantage of the LGBT community.

Tell Tyra Banks to use her show to accurately and positively discuss LGBT people as she has done in the past, and not to go for unscientific and offensive programs such as "ex-gays" or questioning of whether bisexuality is real.

To comment on the show please click here.

To contact her via her fan mail please use the following email address:
tyrabanks@studiofanmail.com

To suggest LGBT-friendly shows click here.

Open Forum: "I Hate Being Gay" Program on Tyra Banks Show

The Tyra Banks Show has hosted a program called "I Hate Being Gay" and the program is split over 5 clips that can be seen below, please double click the videos to see it in full screen.

The program has received a mixed reaction from the gay community, some feeling that the show is a trophy for the right wing which seeks to demonstrate how psychologically damaging the "gay lifestyle" is, and to reintroduce terms like "sexual orientation disturbance". Others feel that the program highlights serious issues many gay people face at some point in their lives and that it is a healthy discussion to have.



The program begins by featuring one young man who finds being gay disgusting, he hopes to become "straight" by the age of 30 in hopes of having a family. He feels he can be emotionally attracted to women, but not as sexual as he would like to be.

The next clip shows a guy who feels very intimidated by gay men. Tyra sends him out to meet with some gay men and helps increase his confidence and he reported feeling better about his identity.

Following that a man is introduced who identifies as gay but has fallen in love with a woman and decided to marry her. The couple occasionally brings an additional man into the bedroom, and they are unsure as to whether their relationship will prevail.

Finally, the last man is conflicted about being gay because he also desires a family. On the request of his father, he attends an "ex-gay" seminar only to find out that it takes years and thousands of dollars and would only help to possibly supress his desires as opposed to change his orientation. He seems conflicted as to which path in life he will ultimately take.

Tyra Banks has traditionally been very gay supportive, and always says "the gays love Tyra and Tyra loves the gays." But, recently she had a program on "ex-gays" and now this program also toys with the idea of "orientation conversion." Tyra Banks continually throughout the show makes positive statements about how orientation cannot be changed and that these men should accept themselves.

Some in the gay community are outraged that Tyra is showing a few "dysfunctional" people and that this reflects poorly on many in the community who never questioned their identity. Should we shun the voices of those who are struggling and pretend everything is just fine, or is it ok to discuss openly how some people are struggling and how some experience sexual fluidity in the hopes of making the public more aware how ingrained in our lives sexuality is and how complicated human sexuality really is, regardless of orientation?

WTF? Tyra Banks Show Seeking "Ex-Gays"

Maybe I spoke too quickly when I said that Tyra Banks is a true ally of the LGBT commmunity.

Now the Tyra Banks show is looking to host a program on "Ex-Gays"

"I WANT TO BE AN EX-GAY

Are you a gay man or lesbian who wants to be straight? Do your friends or family disagree with your gay lifestyle and wish you were straight? If you ever wish you could erase your same-sex attractions and not be gay?" (Tyra)

The Tyra Banks show has been inclusive in featuring gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in her shows in a positive light. Unless Tyra Banks seeks to prove on her show how "conversion therapy" and "ex-gays" are nothing more than a myth and people who are in denial or outright lying, this show is a bad move.

Click here to send actual good show ideas to Tyra.

Click here to leave a comment telling Tyra Banks either not to make a show on "ex-gays" or to make one which exposes the myth that is the "ex-gay" movement. If the show just shows so called "ex-gays" and religious fanatics it will further confuse people in the closet and legitimize a movement that is based in fear and hate and not grounded in science, psychology or reality.

Trans Bashing on Fox News Over America's Next Top Model

UPDATE: I received an email from Greg Jarret anchor at Fox News, saying he apologized for his transphobic remarks on air 4 days ago. Thanks for taking action to hold the media accountable. Below is a clip of the apology.

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Tyra Banks made history this week by announcing that her show America's Next Top Model will feature Isis a transgender model among the contestants.

Fox News (the gay & trans bashing network) can't seem to go a week without making provocative comments about the LGBT community. Below watch as Greg Jarrett anchor of Fox News discusses the upcoming show with Ian Drew of Us Weekly. The conversation is transphobic, and inappropriate. Jarrett continually makes references to Isis as a she/he, him/her and focuses the conversation on the irrelevant genitals of the contestant. He also goes on to say he was "fooled" by her. This conversation is completely trans-misogynist. See for yourself.



GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) has issued an action alert asking the community to please contact Fox News Channel and call on them to apologize for these obnoxious, insulting and dehumanizing comments.

Fox News Channel

Gregg Jarrett - Anchor
(212) 301-3000
gregg.jarrett@foxnews.com

Jay Wallace - Executive Producer
(212) 301-5168
jay.wallace@foxnews.com

Tom Lowell - Senior Producer
(212) 301-3000 (outlet)
tom.lowell@foxnews.com

Tyra Banks a True Ally to the LGBT Community

I just watched an episode of The Tyra Banks Show featuring Transsexual models from the world famous Trantasia Trans beauty pageant documentary. In the words of one of the guests who thanked Tyra she said "thanks for not exploiting transsexuals but merely educating."

The Tyra Banks show has consistently portrayed Bisexual, Transgender, Gay and Lesbian people in a positive light and has done a lot for the visibility of our movement and to share our stories.

In that spirit please join me in thanking Tyra Banks for her commitment to sharing our stories and educating about the lives of LGBT people.

Email Tyra! (Tyra sends all who email a free autographed photo as a special thank-you gift)