Grady Broyles
Jul 27, 2017 · 1 min read

Thank you for this very thoughtful piece.

I want to question the trans-phobic nature of the Trump-in-makeup images. It seems reasonable, as with any kind of art that there is discussion about the art’s meaning or effect on different viewers.

On one hand, I completely agree that if one sees the make-up as implying a feminizing (in a male-dominated society’s judgment of the inferior feminine) of him or that it’s trying to trans-ify him in a way that insults him by depicting him as trans.

If, however, it’s depicting him in “drag” (not as a trans person) in light of his homophobia it has a different meaning.

If it were me choosing whether or not to utilize that imagery, i personally would err on the side of caution given the touchy ambiguities in it’s messaging. I’m careful (I think) to avoid the risk of giving off a message that I didn’t intend. Like a subtle, unintended flexing of privilege.