The Problem with Trisha Paytas “Coming Out” as a Transgender Man
photo courtesy of @trishapaytas instagram
Trisha Paytas is no stranger to drama. The 31-year-old LA “influencer” has taken her viewers along for an emotional rollercoaster full of breakups, extreme diets, crying on the floor, and even some questionable singing. It is entertainment at its finest, and no matter how hard we try, we just can’t look away. Her latest video is no exception to the drama, but a whole lot more problematic. So much so, that we almost enjoyed her singing along to the A Star is Born soundtrack.
Her video titled, “I AM TRANSGENDER (FEMALE TO MALE) follows the same Trisha pattern. In the video, she explains why she may or may not be coming out as a transgender male.
For starters, the“gender identification” Trisha mentions is based on stereotypes and complete personal opinions about how men and women are supposed to act. For her to discount the struggles of those wanting to come out as transgender and minimize the constant battle transgendered people face in society is just plain problematic. Trisha continued to say that she identifies as a gay man and is also a drag queen. In reality, Trisha is just your one toxic friend that wishes she could “date a gay man.” She then says that she identifies with gay men because she loves “glam.” In case you’re feeling a little lost by that comment, just know that being a drag queen and liking “glam” is absolutely not the same thing. And, no, just because you don’t want to wear makeup or hang out with girls, does not mean you are automatically transgender.
What Trish doesn’t understand is that gender identity is not that simple. As it turns out, you can definitely be attracted to gay men without actually identifying as one. Additionally, Trisha’s lack awareness regarding the power of her platform is extremely worrying. Based on previous content, it’s obvious that Trisha tends to follow trends, as drastic as they may be, in order to gain more views. But being trans is not just a trend, and it shouldn’t be treated as such.
Although her video seems somewhat sincere, Trisha completely overlooks the privilege she has from being rich and influential. Her decision to make a video explaining how you can “feel any gender on any day” essentially makes a mockery of people who are truly questioning their gender identity. Although she could actually be questioning, her past makes it likely that this is just another clickbait video. Being more masculine and feminine than the norm is not synonymous with being transgender, which once again makes Trisha look ignorant.
To give Trisha some credit, it seems as though she has good intentions, despite being completely misinformed. Hopefully, she can take this backlash as a lesson, and grow to realize that she’s talking about serious issues that have real consequences. If she’s genuinely questioning, we wish her all the luck in the world, but perhaps it’s a journey Trisha should take offline for now.