This performance has upset a lot of Western trans people, who find the attitude of the judges, and the singer hirself, as somehow demeaning or belittling of this person’s trans identity.
I would argue, however, that unless you’re Thai, it may be very difficult to understand the place of trans people in their own cultural context. That doesn’t mean it’s entirely 100% great to be what’s called a ladyboy (or, more properly, Kathoey) in Thailand, but the singer’s experience of being trans might be entirely different than a US trans woman’s.
Anyhoo, I think she rocks.
