Andrej Pejic, the androgynous supermodel who has caused international controversy for his gender-defying look, has been voted by FHM‘s readers as the 98th sexiest woman in the world, despite being born male.
Check out the homophobic gems FHM decided to write about the Bosnian-born beauty (below). Amidst backlash, the article was removed from FHM‘s website late last night. Reportedly, it will still appear in the upcoming issue. My favourite parts? “Designers are hailing him as the next big thing. We think ‘thing’ is quite accurate.” Or how about this lovely little anecdote: “The gender bender has jumped the gun in hoping he might one day be signed as a Victoria’s Secret model (pass the sick bucket).”
I’m always a little curious as to why writers and pop-culture commentators feel a need to be so acrimonious and scathing. I’m not humorless, I enjoy a good joke, and jokes at someone’s expense are usually the funniest – but there is a difference between being witty and being prejudice. Do people really enjoy reading discriminatory bullshit? Isn’t FHM‘s sexiest women list supposed to be about celebrating sexy women?
How many young gays read this kind of hate and, as a result, hate themselves? How do we overcome gay suicide, drug addiction, prostitution and homelessness, which are epidemic in our community, if we live in a world where, instead of rejoicing in what makes us different, we try to destroy it?
FU, FHM. And I mean that with love.