Posted on 03/03/2025 11:41:29 AM PST by simpson96
ATLANTA (WANF/Gray News) - For the first time, an openly transgender woman has announced her intention to compete for the Miss Georgia USA title.
The decision is sparking controversy, but Bella Bautista says she is optimistic about competing in the competition.
The Cartersville native is currently Miss Buckhead USA and is dreaming even bigger.
“I was like, this could honestly be a true reality for me. This dream could one day come true. And just because there hasn’t been a first in Georgia, I could be that first,” she said.
In 2021, Kataluna Enriquez from Nevada made history when she became the first transgender woman to compete in the Miss USA pageant.
But not everyone has been accepting of Bautista’s journey to Miss Georgia — especially on social media.
“It had over a thousand comments in less than 30 minutes of people saying that I shouldn’t be in this world, that I’m just a man, that I’m mentally ill, that I don’t belong in this pageant,” Bautista said.
On Thursday, the Georgia legislature voted to move forward a bill that would bar transgender women from competing in women’s sports.
Bautista spoke out against the bill as she is a cheerleader.
“It’s heartbreaking to know that the elected officials are stripping away my civil rights and opportunity for happiness because being a cheerleader makes me happy,” she said.
But Bautista isn’t focused on the hate. She is getting ready for the competition she’s dreamed of for years.
“I’m just going to sign up. I’m going to wish for the best and hopefully, that I am treated fairly and scored fairly as well,” she said.
A Mexican woman has also never won Miss Georgia before.
The competition is scheduled to start on June 12.
Bautista said she is focused on preparing speeches and walks in the coming months.
Not much of one....a biological male at the very most.
So tucked then?
Schrodenger’s tuck.
In the General/Chat forum, on a thread titled First transgender woman to compete in Miss Georgia USA pageant, Deaf Smith wrote: Re: Post #36 You walked into the restroom and found a physical threat.
Why did you wash & dry your hands instead of instinctively fleeing the threat?
*Fight or Flight.
I think it was the behavior of the other women - they 'normalized' remaining and we all anxiously shuffled around and left as soon as we could. If they were 'ok' then I would question my judgement if I bolted. Sadly, I recall experiments wherein a group sat in a waiting room while smoke came under the door of the dentists' office. Those who were actors in this experiment continued to read their magazines despite the smoke. The person who was being tested without their knowledge was anxious, checking the faces of the others, but remained because if the rest of the 'herd' was communicating all was well, that lone person didn't want to seem like they were over reacting. LOTS of smoke in that room and no movement to leave.
I recall reading a woman's account of using the restroom in a state park. She walked in and found a man in the bathroom - he was dressed in a way to make it hard to say whether he was trans or straight male. The woman was angry that it was normalized to the point where it paused her natural fight or flight because she'd seen so much 'cancellation' by trans activists in her workplace.
*If one walks into a public restroom and there is a obvious minor or young child inside and no adults, we are to turn around and walk out until that minor leaves.
There will be no washing of hands.
No. That ain’t right.
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