Video – Meet Paige Elliot Phoenix – Australia's Transgendered 2011 X-Factor Contestant

It seems that 2011 is the year for reality shows to welcome female to male transgendered contestants.

Last week it was announced that sex reassigned Chaz Bono would be competing on Dancing with the Stars, and now Australia is following suit.

Meet Paige Elliot Phoenix.

Paige is a 35-year-old female to male transgendered human that auditioned for the Australian version of the “X Factor”.

The video kind of blew us away because we didn’t even see it coming until he told the judges about his “situation”.

Paige says,

“My decision to live as a man has been the best decision ever for me. Living as a female was really hard and painful. The transition I have been through has completely enabled me to become the person I am today. I had a voice before but I never felt fully authentic - it wasn’t me. I never could have auditioned for X Factor as a woman.”

The setup includes him having a video chat with his girlfriend, and the voice, muscles, looks and tattoos made us think he was a man from the beginning of the piece.

Watch Paige Elliot Phoenix on Australia X Factor


The judges seemed fine with his voice, tone, looks, and professionalism and voted him through to the next round.

Australia in general seems to be taking the entire thing in stride and seems to think it’s no big deal.

So what’s the problem with the United States?

Chaz Bono

When Chaz Bono announced last week she was participating in DWTS the haters came out of the woodwork saying that families would be harmed, advertisers should be boycotted, and all life as we know it would probably end if Chaz was allowed to compete as a man.

She ultimately had to go on national TV to defend herself to the world.

Related: Chaz Bono to appear on DWTS – Video
Related: Chaz Bono speaks out about DWTS - Video

It seems as progressive as we think we are in the United States there are certain issues we just can’t seem to conquer.

It’s sad really.

Asia, on the other hand, not only accepts the matter but embraces it and has built an entire culture around sex reassignment.

Last year Bell Nuntita tried out for their version of “Thailand’s Got Talent” and was embraced by the nation.

Related: Thailand’s Got Talent - Transgender Contestant Shocks Judges – Video Goes Viral

It seems that the issue is KNOWING a person is transgendered more than the fact the he or she is.

If Paige Phoenix would not have told anybody and competed, and maybe won, as a man – nobody would have said a thing.

Page Elliot Phoenix

If we didn’t KNOW that Chaz Bono used to be a female we wouldn’t care about her on “Dancing with the Stars.”

But because we KNOW his history it becomes a problem.

Maybe 2011 will be the year that the World learns that people are people and love is love.

Hate is not wanted or deserved, and until you walk a mile in somebody else’s shoes you have no right to judge anybody - or open your mouth.

He who is without sin may cast the first stone in our comment section below.

That’s what I thought.

Follow @InfoStar on Twitter – We get it.

Video - Chaz Bono Finally Speaks About “DWTS” Controversy

Transgendered dancer Chaz Bono finally sounded off this morning in her his first public appearance since it was announced he would appear on “Dancing With The Stars this season”.

Since the announcement, several organizations have come forward denouncing the move saying it will confuse our children and harm our social moral fabric.

While others have even gone as far as to organize online petitions in an attempt to have would be viewers boycott the show.

Some are targeting the advertisers in an attempt to hit the network where it hurts the most – in the wallet.

And to make matters worse, infamous ding-bat lawyer Gloria Allred held a press conference this morning saying she was going to fight for each and every transgendered person who has ever felt discriminated against.

Oh brother…

Well, this morning on ABC’s Good Morning America Chaz finally spoke out about the matter.



Cher – Chaz’s biological mother took to twitter last week in support of her son/daughter saying,

“I support him no matter what he wants to do. The vast majority of viewers will be happy to see Chaz on DWTS”

Since his transition, Chaz has written a book and announced he is engaged to be married to a woman he has been with for almost two years.

For his part, Chaz thinks that this DWTS issue is a much bigger deal to everybody else than it is to him saying he is glad he accepted the job at “Dancing With The Stars” and America needs this kind of wake up call.

Maybe.

It took too long for our country to finally accept gays and even today there is not total acceptance – most bullying is done under a shroud of somebody being gay – or somebody THINKING someone is gay.

News DWTS Cast Announced - See Who They Are!

The decision by Chaz to appear on television as a man just might be what we need to show first-hand that people are people, have real lives and emotions, and real problems and afflictions – even if we don’t know them personally.

It kind of reeks of bias and sensationalism that people would make such a big deal out of this.

Riddle me this:

If nobody in the world knew who Chaz Bono was, and had never met him, seen him, or ever heard of him and he appeared on the show – nobody would care.

The only reason people care is because they know he is different now.

And it’s that being different that will get you every time.

Just ask anybody who has ever been bullied.

Our Advice:

If you think this is bad for the country and going to harm your children and cause you emotional distress, then don’t watch the show and move on – but don’t drag the rest of us into your personal insecurities.

Go get ‘em Chaz, we wish you the best of luck on the show and a great life as your new self.

What's YOUR advice? Please tell us below.

Follow @InfoStar on Twitter – We can’t dance…

Dancing With The Stars Announces New Seasons Dancers! Wow, Shockers...

It’s finally here!

The season 13 new cast members for ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” have been announced and there are some shockers.

There have been a bunch of rumors over the last few weeks that can now be laid to rest

These people are NOT include in the season 13 cast - Snooki, Anthony Weiner, Casey Anthony, Rob Kardashian, Dina or Lindsay Lohan, Nick Jonas, Charlie Sheen, Donald Trump, and Regis Philbin – not gonna happen.

ABC has officially announced the new lineup and they are:

• Chaz Bono (New transgendered male)


• Elisabetta Canalis (Nickname: The Italian beauty)


• Hope Solo (The Soccer hot shot celebrity)


• J.R. Martinez (Soap opera star)


• Nancy Grace (Courtroom and hosting disgrace)


• Ron Kardashian (Reality show looser)


• Ron Artest (NBA superstar and champion)


• Ricki Lake (Washed up daytime talk show host)


• Kristin Cavallari (Television bit player and reality star)


• David Arquette (Scream star and rehab expert)


• Chynna Phillips (Pop singer and actress)


• Carson Kressley (Queer Eye star and fashion guru)

Oh brother, I’m thinking this is going to be a hard season to settle into.



If we had to pick a winner we would think Carson Kressley might have a shot because he ‘sings’ and ‘dances’ and is ‘fabulous’.

Chaz Bono and Ricki Lake will probably struggle. David Arquette might have a chance if he can stay out of rehab. Nancy Grace will fall and break her leg and then sue somebody, thus disqualifying her.

Ron Artest is quick on his feet and probably has a chance.

The others? It’s anybody’s guess.

Season 13 starts on September 19th on the ABC network and is sure to be a blowout for the first few shows.

Queue the music, dancers, and the hype machine!

Follow @InfoStar on Twitter – We can’t dance either…