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Travis Scott criticized for removing trans model Amanda Lepore from album cover

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ winner Aquaria called the edit transphobic

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Travis Scott (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

Travis Scott is facing criticism over the removal of transgender model Amanda Lepore from his forthcoming “Astroworld” album cover.

The album art, shot by celebrity photographer David LaChapelle, shows half-naked models posed at an amusement park with a statue of Scott’s head as the centerpiece.

Astroworld 8/3 @david_lachapelle

A post shared by flame (@travisscott) on

Scott unveiled the cover on Instagram but Lepore is notably missing. Lepore posted the version with her in it captioned “It was great being part of @david_lachapelle s incredible photograph of @travisscott s album cover but Iā€™m curious why Iā€™m not on the picture @travisscott posted.”

When fans asked LaChappelle on Instagram why LePore was cut he repliedĀ ā€œshe just upstaged every one lol.ā€

Lepore seemed to accept that response and edited her original caption of the album cover to add ā€œA girl canā€™t help it! Too distracting for the eyes! Upstaged everyone in the photograph!”

Some people weren’t so forgiving including “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 10 winner Aquaria.

“Hi transphobia! I just saw transphobia gurl!” Aquaria tweeted.

She added, “Also fun fact: u can tell exactly the mindset and beliefs of (presumably) travis and (specifically) his fans by the repulsive remarks they share about a very valid complaint about the artwork regardless of whoā€™s complaining. Grab a towel. Your phobias are showing.”

Scott is dating Kylie Jenner, transgender celebrity Caitlyn Jenner’s daughter. The couple has one child together. Scott has not publicly commented on the controversy.

 

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Photos

PHOTOS: The Holiday Show

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington performs at Lincoln Theatre

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The Gay Men's Chorus of Washington perform 'The Holiday Show' at Lincoln Theatre. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington performed “The Holiday Show” at Lincoln Theatre on Saturday. Future performances of the show are scheduled for Dec. 14-15. For tickets and showtimes, visit gmcw.org.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

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Books

Mother wages fight for trans daughter in new book

ā€˜Beautiful Womanā€™ seethes with resentment, rattles bars of injustice

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(Book cover image courtesy of Knopf)

ā€˜One Day I’ll Grow Up and Be a Beautiful Womanā€™
By Abi Maxwell
c.2024, Knopf
$28/307 pages

“How many times have I told you that…?”

How many times have you heard that? Probably so often that, well, you stopped listening. From your mother, when you were very small. From your teachers in school. From your supervisor, significant other, or best friend. As in the new memoir “One Day I’ll Grow Up and Be a Beautiful Woman” by Abi Maxwell, it came from a daughter.

When she was pregnant, Abi Maxwell took long walks in the New Hampshire woods near her home, rubbing her belly and talking to her unborn baby. She was sure she was going to have a girl but when the sonogram technician said otherwise, that was OK. Maxwell and her husband would have a son.

But almost from birth, their child was angry, fierce, and unhappy. Just getting dressed each morning was a trial. Going outside was often impossible. Autism was a possible diagnosis but more importantly, Maxwell wasn’t listening, and she admits it with some shame.

Her child had been saying, in so many ways, that she was a girl.

Once Maxwell realized it and acted accordingly, her daughter changed almost overnight, from an angry child to a calm one ā€“ though she still, understandably, had outbursts from the bullying behavior of her peers and some adults at school. Nearly every day, Greta (her new name) said she was teased, called by her former name, and told that she was a boy.

Maxwell had fought for special education for Greta, once autism was confirmed. Now she fought for Greta’s rights at school, and sometimes within her own family. The ACLU got involved. State laws were broken. Maxwell reminded anyone who’d listen that the suicide rate for trans kids was frighteningly high. Few in her town seemed to care.

Throughout her life, Maxwell had been in many other states and lived in other cities. New Hampshire used to feel as comforting as a warm blanket but suddenly, she knew they had to get away from it. Her “town that would not protect us.”

When you hold “One Day I’ll Grow Up and Be a Beautiful Woman,” you’ve got more than a memoir in your hands. You’ve also got a white-hot story that seethes with anger and rightful resentment, that wails for a hurt child, and rattles the bars of injustice. And yet, it coos over love of place, but in a confused manner, as if these things don’t belong together.

Author Abi Maxwell is honest with readers, taking full responsibility for not listening to what her preschooler was saying-not-saying, and she lets you see her emotions and her worst points. In the midst of her community-wide fight, she reveals how the discrimination Greta endured affected Maxwell’s marriage and her health ā€“ all of which give a reader the sense that they’re not being sold a tall tale. Read this book, and outrage becomes familiar enough that it’s yours, too. Read “One Day I’ll Grow Up and Be a Beautiful Woman,” and share it. This is a book you’ll tell others about.

The Blade may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via this post.

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Out & About

Come unleash your inner artist at the DC Center

Watercolor painting class held on Thursday

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(Photo by ChamilleWhite/Bigstock)

ā€œWatercolor Painting with Center Agingā€ will be on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. 

In this winter-themed painting class for seniors led by local artist Laya Monarez, guests will learn about watercoloring techniques, be given a demonstration, and allowed to create their own watercolor pieces. There will also be a break for lunch and plenty of snacks throughout. For more details, visit the DC Centerā€™s website.

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