bdmetronews Desk ॥ When Rachel Slawson competes for the title of Miss USA later this year, she will reportedly be the first openly bisexual contestant to take the stage. Earlier this week, Slawson was crowned Miss Utah USA 2020 and GLAAD is calling it “a huge win for LGBTQ visibility.”
“As an openly bisexual woman, Rachel Slawson being crowned Miss Utah is a huge win for LGBTQ visibility,” Anthony Ramos, GLAAD’s head of talent, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “Rachel’s presence on the Miss USA stage later this year will most definitely send a powerful message to LGBTQ Americans and Utahns, especially those in the bisexual+ community, who feel like they have not seen themselves represented in that space before.”
Yahoo Lifestyle reached out for comment to Miss USA, but did not immediately receive a response. Miss USA is part of the Miss Universe Organization, which differentiates itself from the non-profit Miss America Organization by being a for-profit company owned by Endeavor, having no talent competition and by being formerly owned by Donald Trump.
Days before the competition, Slawson made it clear on social media that “being Queer is not a ‘platform.'”
“The reason I waited so long to come out as a member of the LGBT+ community was that I didn’t think who I choose to love should define who I am,” she shared on Instagram. “Life is short. And I have more questions [than] answers, but one thing I’m sure of is that we came here to love.”
She added, “And if the people I’ve loved means I am ‘queer’ or ‘bi’ or whatever they call it, then I am proud of that. … I may be LGBTQ, but that’s just one detail on the list of things that make me Rachel.”
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Taryn Ryder
Yahoo Lifestyle
January 23, 2020
