seven, in Brazil the supporters of President Bolsonaro probably won't be wearing masks, much like many of the Trump supporters in the USA. President Bolsonaro is homo and trans phobic, so it is likely most of the Brazilian shemales are Bolsonaro non-supporters.

3 hours ago, blind boy grunt said:

 people are born to die. 

are you seriously telling me that  in these pandemic times all deaths are being autopsied accurately?  next you'll be telling me that because it was published in the media recently that there are, or were at the time of publication 600,000 Covid sufferers in Peru. How exactly were those figures arrived at?...via the one doctor in Peru?

you are only seeing what you want to see QG.

They are reviewing the mortality rates over the past years compared to the months that COVID-19 has been spreading recently. The rates are higher compared to previous years. This takes longer to compile and analyze - are all those additional deaths due to COVID-19? Probably not, but certainly a lot of them are. This is one area of data analysis that is not being discussed as much as it takes longer and happens months later.

Here's another video from Serena, being a "ladyboy construction worker" building up her garden in front of her house.

On 11/9/2018 at 11:30 PM, Pdoggg said:

I would fault both Boeing and Lion Air.

Whether there is a design flaw in all Max8's or whether that particular plane was a lemon, Boeing has delivered an inferior product.

Of course given the magnitude of the problem on the previous flight the airplane Lion Air should have been taken out of service until repairs were made and  a test flight completed.

It seems that it would have been very difficult for even a pilot such as Capt Sully to avoid crashing as the proper decision needed to made within 10 seconds of noticing the problem.  But then Capt Sully would never have taken off in this plane.

What is the relationship between Lion Air and Thai Lion Air?

I think I'll pass on flying Thai Lion in the future to save 500 baht!  Not that I really want to fly out of Don Mueang anyway.  

My experience was quite good with Thai Lion as I was on a nice new plane, maybe a Max8.

In the midst of the chaos that is associated with the Trump presidency, Congress has released its final report on the Boeing 737 Max. It is 238 pages long, but this Youtube video does a good job summarizing. For those Republican supporting forum members out there, I would like to know if you can continue to justify less government oversight and regulation of business, when things like this happen.

Mecca and Medina are not the same city. Mecca is the site of the Kaaba, which is the structure that houses the holy stone (thought to be a meteorite), that Muslim pilgrims circle 7 times counterclockwise for Hajj or Umrah.

Here's a good Youtube video outlining 7 tips on how to reduce the chance of catching COVID 19 during travel. This is from Dr. Mike Hansen, an internal medicine specialist, focusing on pulmonary and critical care.

Here is a study that was published in the Journal of American Medical Association about the risk of catching COVID-19 during a flight. This was also posted on the CNN website.

Quote

The odds of catching Covid-19 on an airplane are slimmer than you think, scientists say

Tamara Hardingham-Gill, CNN • Updated 20th August 2020

(CNN) — Sitting squeezed between a number of strangers on board an aircraft might feel like a risky position during these uncertain times.

But according to some experts who point to the very few documented cases of in-flight transmission, the chances of catching Covid-19 while on board a flight are actually relatively slim.

Fear of flying during the pandemic has drastically reduced global air traffic, which has also been restricted due to border closures. If new scientific claims are borne out, the perceived heightened risk of boarding an airplane could be unfounded.

In one case, about 328 passengers and crew members were tested for coronavirus after it was learned that a March 31 flight from the US to Taiwan had been carrying 12 passengers who were symptomatic at the time. However, all the other passengers tested negative, as did the crew members.

And while there have certainly been cases of infected passengers passing the virus on to an airplane's crew or fellow travelers in recent months, the transmission rates are low.

A study recently published in medical journal JAMA Network Open found evidence of the possible spread of coronavirus during a four-hour flight from Tel Aviv to Frankfurt in March.

Two passengers developed infections after flying with a group of tourists who had come into contact with an infected hotel manager and also became infected, according to researchers from the Institute for Medical Virology at Goethe University in Frankfurt.

The two who may have been infected were seated at the back of the aircraft, directly across the aisle from seven passengers who had unknowingly picked up the virus.

An earlier flight from the UK to Vietnam on March 2, in which one passenger seemingly spread the virus to around 14 other passengers, as well as a crew member, is so far believed to be the only known on-board transmission to multiple people.

One explanation for the apparently low risk level is that the air in modern aircraft cabins is replaced with new fresh air every two to three minutes, and most planes are fitted with air filters designed to trap 99.99% of particles.

Meanwhile, various new protocols have been implemented, such as face-coverings for both passengers and crew, which is mandatory on most airlines, temperature screenings, as well as more intensive cabin cleaning and limited movement in the cabin during flight.

Arnold Barnett, a professor of statistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Management, tried to quantify the odds of becoming infected with the virus while on board a short flight in a recent study that looked at the benefits of the empty middle seat policy.

According to his findings, based on short haul flights in the US on aircraft configured with three seats on either side of the aisle, such as the Airbus 320 and the Boeing 737 -- and assuming everyone is wearing a mask -- the risk of catching the virus on a full flight is just 1 in 4,300. Those odds fall to 1 in 7,700 if the middle seat is vacant.

"Most things are more dangerous now than they were before Covid, and aviation is no exception to that," he tells CNN Travel.

"But three things have to go wrong for you to get infected (on a flight). There has to be a Covid-19 patient on board and they have to be contagious," he says. "If there is such a person on your flight, assuming they are wearing a mask, it has to fail to prevent the transmission.

"They also have to be close enough that there's a danger you could suffer from the transmission."

Barnett says he took all of these probabilities into account before determining an overall transmission risk.

These figures are specifically for two-hour flights within the United States, the country currently with the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the world.

The odds will be lower for flights taken in parts of the globe with few cases and higher for long haul flights as "the ratio of proximity is a factor along with the existence of proximity," he says.

Barnett goes on to state that there isn't much of a difference in terms of risk between passengers sitting in an aisle seat on a full flight and those in the window seat.

However, the chances of becoming infected are ever so slightly higher for those in aisle seats, because they simply have more people around them.

"You're endangered by the people sitting next to you in the same row," he says. "And to a lesser extent, the people in the row behind and the row ahead.

"Statistically, the window seat is a little safer than the middle seat or the aisle seat on a plane that's full. But it's not a big difference."

Barnett's research is based on the assumption that flights are operating at full volume, but it's worth noting that many are still running at reduced capacity.

Although the US Transportation Security Administration reported that traffic through airport security checkpoints had passed 800,000 for the first time since the pandemic earlier in August, this was still a 31% decrease on the numbers for the same day in 2019.

The professor is a strong supporter of the middle seats empty policy, which has been adopted by the likes of Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways.

However, the International Air Transport Association (IATA,) describes this approach as "economically unfeasible" for airlines.

"Screening, face coverings and masks are among the many layers of measures that we are recommending," Alexandre de Juniac, IATA's Director General and CEO said in an official statement released last month. "Leaving the middle seat empty, however, is not."

De Juniac goes on to suggest that an effective Covid-19 test that can be administered at scale, and immunity passports could also be included as temporary biosecurity measures if they become available.

"We must arrive at a solution that gives passengers the confidence to fly and keeps the cost of flying affordable," he adds. "One without the other will have no lasting benefit."

Although different airlines have slightly different measures in place, the overall guidance for passengers is to wear a mask, wash their hands regularly and check in online to minimize the risks of in flight transmission.

However, Barnett recommends that travelers take things one step further by wearing a shield.

"There are various things that can be done to take the risk, which is small, and make it even smaller," he says.

"Because it (a shield) covers your eyes, nose and mouth, it lessens the risk of others infecting you.

"The science is changing every day, but my understanding is, if you wear a mask, it greatly reduces the chance of you infecting others. But it doesn't protect you all that much, whereas a shield will protect you.

"If I were flying now, I would certainly wear a shield."

This view is somewhat supported by a new research report from the UK's University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University, which concludes that using plastic barriers called personal protection seat shields will reduce the risk of Covid-19 contamination significantly, provided they are worn with face masks.

According to the "Face Coverings, Aerosol Dispersion and Mitigation of Virus Transmission Risk" report, jets of air can leak from the sides and back as well as the front of face masks.

It recommends that aircraft seats be fitted with personal protection windows (PPW,) clear plastic barriers designed by UK-based aircraft interior and exterior specialist RAS Completions, which can be secured to the back and sides of any seat on an airplane.

"Our recommendation is that airlines should make face masks mandatory, and if used in conjunction with PPW and regular cleaning of PPW, Covid-19 contamination risk is kept to a minimum," say the report's co-author Dr. Cathal Cummins, an assistant professor at Heriot-Watt University, also in Edinburgh.

"If all three measures are mandatory, together with good personal hygiene, airlines can increase passenger protection."

High-risk groups

In July, Qatar Airways became the first airline to make it compulsory for passengers to wear a face shield in addition to a face mask or face covering.

The shields, which are supplied by the carrier, are obligatory for economy class passengers, unless they're eating or drinking, while those traveling in business class can wear them "at their own discretion, as they enjoy more space and privacy."

However, all passengers must wear them during boarding and deplaning.

Philippine Airlines followed suit earlier this month, so it seems likely other carriers may choose to implement this rule in the future.

Before boarding their flight, customers traveling with the Middle East carrier will be issued with protection kits -- including face shields, hand sanitizer, a surgical face mask and disposable gloves.

Although it's clear that such precautions can greatly limit the danger of infection, which is already relatively slim, for some travelers, any level of risk is simply too much of a gamble, particularly those in high-risk groups.

Barnett stresses that it will take the development of a vaccine or a change in the care available to Covid-19 patients for those anxious travelers to feel comfortable flying again, regardless of how many safety measures are put in place.

He is choosing not to fly himself at present due to various risk factors -- at 72, Barnett has a higher risk of contracting the virus, while men are more likely to die from the virus than women.

"I miss it quite a bit," he admits. "I think flying is beautiful and under normal circumstances inordinately safe.

"But these are not normal circumstances."

CNN Health's Naomi Thomas contributed to this story

I recently had to take 2 flights, one from an Arabian Gulf country to Montreal Canada (12 hours) and then 6 weeks later return from Montreal to the Arabian Gulf Country. The first flight was 100% full, and the return flight was 90% full. On the outward bound flight, all passengers had to wear face masks except when eating. On the inward bound flight, all passengers had to wear provided face shields and face masks. I opted to use my own N95 masks for both flights. No one on these flights contracted COVID 19. The cabin crew wore full length protective suits and hoods (almost like a biohazard suit) on the outbound flight, and on the inbound flight they wore a protective coveralls, face masks and either face shield or protective wrap around safety eye googles.

The meal service was different as each item on the meal tray was now sealed. It used to be only the hot dish was wrapped in foil, the bun/bread was loose, and a slip cover was on the salad/dessert containers. I also adjusted the air stream so it was blowing just in front of me.

Here's a viewpoint from Chanya (post op ladyboy) and Warren her partner who is an Australian expat  moved to Thailand.

Have you wondered what ladyboys do when they go back to the family farm? Here's a video from Youtube vlogger, Serena. She was working as a showgirl at the SImon Phuket Cabaret Show on Patong Beach. However, since the show closed in April, with no news of a reopening date, many of the performers have given up and moved back home, unable to afford rent.

Serena's family farm is near Buriram, which is part of Isaan, northeastern Thailand.

Those who ignore history have a tendency to repeat the same mistakes. The Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918 lasted about 2 years and had 4 waves. It was estimated to have infected 500 million people which was about 1/3 of the world's population and around 50 million deaths. There is more information about this on various websites, but the Center of Disease Control is one of the more reliable ones (unless you are a conspiracy theorist believer).

It is instructional to look at what happened back then, particularly for those who think COVID-19 is just a "nasty flu" and should be allowed to run its course.

Professor Kim Woo Joo infectious disease specialist from Korea University Guro Hospital has been interviewed a few times about COVID - 19. His insights about the disease are quite valuable.

While the interviews are in Korean, the subtitles are in English, just click on the "CC" box to turn the subtitles on (will turn on a red underline).

The reports of what COVID-19 is doing when preventative measures are not implemented shows it has a great impact on economic activity than most people would imagine. Staff sick percentages between 30-40% causes major problems to companies, and worse problems for essential service workers, like police, fire, ambulance, health care workers, etc. People who are affected evenly mildly with COVID 19 are off for at least 2 weeks, and sometimes up to months if severely affected. In the US alone one organization has tracked at least 900 health care workers having died from COVID 19. When hospitals are overwhelmed with COVID 19 patients, patients with other problems face delays in treatment - which can also lead to more numbers dying. They won't be included in the COVID-19 statistics since they died from untreated medical problems.

As far as rushing vaccines to production - Russia is the first country to skip the phase 3 requirement of clinical trials - this important step is to test the vaccine in a larger population, around 10,000 plus to determine how prevalent and serious side effects are.

In countries that have strong regulations, skipping this step would definitely lead to huge multimillion dollar lawsuits of negligence, unless they pass "no fault" legislation like the US Republican senate is proposing to shield corporations and governments from such lawsuits.

Here is a good post from Sciencealert.com. So for those who don't believe masks work - you can try this experiment yourself to see what happens.

Quote

Simple New Experiment Reveals Which Face Masks Are Best at Blocking Droplets

 

PETER DOCKRILL

10 AUGUST 2020

We know that by wearing masks, we can help reduce the transmission of COVID-19, and we know that not every type of face mask is equally good at blocking viral droplets when we cough, sneeze, talk – or even simply breathe. But how can we really know for sure?

Aside from simply believing manufacturers' claims, if you wanted to somehow test different masks against one another to compare how much protection they offer in the real world, how would you go about it?

New research from scientists at Duke University shows you don't actually need all that much to devise a test. In a proof-of-concept study, they cobbled together a simple, low-cost laser device, and conducted an experiment comparing 14 different types of masks and face coverings.

The masks tested. (Fischer et al., Science Advances, 2020)

"The fundamental question is, how well does a specific mask type prevent droplets from spreading," lead researcher and molecular imaging specialist Martin Fischer says in a press Q&A.

The question is particularly relevant in the coronavirus pandemic, given many people have taken to buying fabric masks online, or making their own masks at home.

While the general consensus from experts is that all of these kinds of loose-fitting masks should help reduce COVID-19 transmission – which is why face coverings are mandated in many places around the world right now – most of the mask testing to date has been done on things like surgical masks and fitted N95 masks, and not on loose fabric masks or face coverings.

"Surgical masks are commonly worn by medical personnel and have received a fair amount of testing in clinical settings," Fischer says.

"But as far as we know, there was no quick, easy, and cost-effective way to demonstrate the effectiveness of such a wide variety of other mask types."

To fill that void, Fischer and his team devised an easy-to-make, inexpensive laser experiment, which can be used to test how different kinds of masks block tiny droplets that come out of people's mouths when they speak.

In the experimental setup, a lens turns an optical laser into a sheet of light. This light sheet, shone through a dark enclosure (made up of cardboard sheets and duct tape), reveals when droplets pass through it, with the results being filmed by a mobile phone camera.

In experiments, people would speak toward the sheet of light, saying the phrase "Stay healthy, people", while wearing 14 different kinds of face masks and coverings.

"We confirmed that when people speak, small droplets get expelled, so disease can be spread by talking, without coughing or sneezing," Fischer says.

"We could also see that some face coverings performed much better than others in blocking expelled particles."

The results showed that fitted N95 masks blocked the greatest amount of droplets released by the person speaking, followed by surgical masks, then masks made with polypropylene.

However, all sorts of other masks, including cotton masks and even knitted ones, showed an ability to block droplets, as did a valved version of the N95 mask, which didn't score as well as the fitted N95 mask due to its exhaust valve.

"These valves are closed when breathing in, but can open when speaking, hence letting out unfiltered air," Fischer says.

"In other words, they do a great job of protecting the wearer from the outside environment, but a bad job of protecting others from the wearer, and it is the second role that is the important one to reduce COVID-19 spread."

Most surprising, however, were the results at the bottom of the table. In terms of blocking droplets, bandanas were among the less effective, but worst of all is wearing a neck fleece, which the researchers found is actually worse than not wearing any kind of facial covering.

A schematic of the experimental setup. (Fischer et al., Science Advances, 2020)

That sounds counter-intuitive – and likely warrants further examination – but the researchers think the neck fleece actually makes droplets proliferate in the air.

"Common sense would dictate that wearing anything is better than wearing nothing – this was not the case here," Fischer says.

"We observed that the number of droplets increased when the speaker put on the neck fleece. We believe that the material of our fleece breaks down large droplets emitted during speaking into several smaller ones. This could make wearing such a mask counterproductive, since smaller droplets have an easier time being carried away by air currents and endangering nearby persons."

Of course, the researchers are eager to emphasise that the focus of the study is actually the low-cost testing method they developed, not their own test results of which masks are the most and least effective – as the same kind of testing could be conducted more robustly and more systematically than in the proof-of-concept study here.

That said, their own testing is certainly food for thought, highlighting again that not every mask is equal, and if you really want to protect other people and help to reduce the spread of coronavirus, you really need to think about what you're putting on your face.

The findings are reported in Science Advances.

This was published in the Bangkok Post Aug 6, 2020

Quote

The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security will table its gender recognition bill for consideration by parliament in October amid concerns it will leave behind those who do not fall into designated categories, especially non-binary and intersex people.

The move came after the cabinet approved the civil partnership bill last month. If ratified, it will legalise same-sex unions.

The gender recognition bill will establish the rights of transgender people who have been denied access to services, job opportunities, and welfare benefits on the grounds of their gender identities not matching sexes designated on their birth certificates.

Chompoonute Nakornthap, the chair of the working group on the gender recognition draft bill for the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, said her team "hit the ground running" early this year after a push for legislation came under political pressure.

She said the bill abides by human rights concerning gender identity and expression, thereby not forcing transgender people to undergo gender reassignment surgery to seek their title change.

• Civil Partnership Bill # Marriage Equality
• Last hurdle
• Marriage for everyone

"We will submit the bill to parliament before the end of the parliamentary session in October," she said.

"We have taken note of all groups, including non-binary people. We are still discussing legal details for those seeking title change, but whether or not it will come true rests with those in power," Ms Chompoonute told the Bangkok Post after the forum titled "Moving Forward to Success".

The event was held recently to discuss the gender recognition law and collect opinions at Thammasat University Tha Prachan Campus by the House committee on children, youths, women, the elderly, the disabled and ethnic groups and the Foundation of Transgender Alliance for Human Rights (ThaiTGA).

Meanwhile, Move Forward MP Tunyawaj Kamolwongwat, the spokesman for the House committee on children, youths, women, the elderly, the disabled and ethnic groups, said he had finished drafting the bill on gender recognition, which he said differs from the government's version on how those seeking title change can identify as male, females, and others.

"Nevertheless, it won't bring an end to discrimination," he said.

This was proposed before the civil unrest of 2006. Unfortunately due to the many changes of government and the coup, this legislation never passed into law, as each new session meant starting it from the beginning again. Hopefully this time it will be passed in October, as the government cabinet has approved it.

Here is a video of this year's national draft and some lbs who were exempt. The lb in the white dress is quite glamorous and was a Miss Tiffany Universe contestant.

There still needs to be more investigation. There was a patient in France who was found to have been infected by COVID 19 - with his doctor estimating he was exposed sometime between Dec 14 - 22, which was four days before WHO's China country office was notified of pneumonia of unknown causes being detected in Wuhan.

The patient had not been outside France prior to his infection - two of his children did contract COVID 19, but his wife did not show symptoms. Interestingly his wife worked at a supermarket near Charles De Gaulle Airport and it is speculated that she might have been exposed to an overseas visitor and became an asymptomatic carrier.

This story was on BBC World News, May 5, 2020.

The same article also reported that a post mortem examination of a patient in California showed that the first COVID 19 related death in the US happened a month earlier than thought.

it is easy to speculate and point fingers before all the facts are known. I think it will take a while before we know the whole story of where COVID-19 came from and where it started.

The theory that China manufactured COVID 19 is a widely circulating conspiracy theory. One thing that the propagators of this theory cannot explain is if the whole world is brought to economic ruin - then so is China's economy. What is the point of making this "bio-weapon" if it disrupts their own economy too?

Yes, China was late in reporting that COVID 19 is able to spread human - to human by around a month or so. Yes, they did try to suppress the information at the early stages as the higher levels of bureaucracy tried to save "face", but going on to say this was a deliberate bio-weapon is a leap too far, particularly when scientists from so many different countries have come to the conclusion it is not man made. 

Note that there is a life threatening interaction with "Poppers" - amyl nitrate and erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra, Levitra, Cialis. This will cause severe low blood pressure to the extent that the circulatory system will collapse and no longer pump blood through your body. This will lead to certain death unless you get immediate treatment. There has been speculation a large number of unknown deaths of older males in Thailand are caused by this deadly combination. Unsuspecting customers do not get proper counseling from the street vendor who sells the generic "Viagra" and poppers or the pharmacist may not inform unless asked. Poppers are illegal in Thailand except for medical reasons.

8 hours ago, stoolpusher said:

I just had a look on Flight tracker , it looks like just a normal day of traveling by air . https://flightaware.com/

 

They are also tracking the flights that carry freight, as well as the flights that the pilots are doing without passengers to keep their pilot's license active.

Herd immunity only occurs when around 70% plus of the population has had the infection. There are some indications that COVID-19 does not cause the immune system to develop long term immunity - antibodies are fading after a few months, and some people are testing positive more than once after recovering from the initial infection. There has to be more research done to confirm this - but if COVID 19 persists and returns seasonally like the flu, the only protection will be a seasonal vaccine, just like the flu vaccines.

There could be something missing in the translation if she actually means improper use of face masks - if she meant that, she is correct.

The proper use of face masks definitely will reduce the spread of COVID-19.

5 hours ago, Pdoggg said:

Uh-oh, a soldier in Rayong could possibly head up to SodomBy The Sea for some boom boom.  Hope he doesn't like the third gender.

 

The questions should be how did an Egyptian soldier get into Thailand as there has been a ban on international arrivals for a few months, and then why wasn't he monitored during quarantine?

If you check out some of her other videos she seems to have a pretty good sense of humor, she has a boyfriend, and has a Bachelor of Education degree. Yes, she is definitely cute!

None of the articles I read about her specify she is postop. There is one article that hints of it. One other thing is that she does not appear to have gone for breast implants - or if she did they are on the small end of the spectrum.

This Swedish postop TG, Mathilda Hogberg has some good Youtube videos explaining SRS, and hormone effects and SRS myths.

Her SRS story

Q&A about SRS

Myths about SRS

In the past there have been posts about srs that have been inaccurate, so hopefully this will educate some. While I know most forum members are preop fans, there are a few who like postops too.

Some history making here as she is the first transgender model featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit editions
 

Quote

Sports Illustrated will feature its first openly transgender model for the magazine's annual swimsuit issue. Valentina Sampaio was named a 2020 Rookie of the Year for the upcoming issue that hits stands on July 21, marking the first time a trans beauty is featured on the pages of the iconic publication.
"I am excited and honored to be part of the iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue," she wrote on Instagram. "The team at SI has created yet another groundbreaking issue by bringing together a diverse set of multitalented, beautiful women in a creative and dignified way."

The 23-year-old Brazilian called on her upbringing to highlight how far she has come, but also to shine a light on the staggering violence against trans women in that part of the world.
"I was born trans in a remote, humble fishing village in northern Brazil," she shared. "Brazil is a beautiful country, but it also hosts the highest number of violent crimes and murders against the trans community in the world—three times that of the U.S."
According to 2017 data from the National Association of Trans People and Transsexuals (ANTRA), a trans person is killed every 48 hours in Brazil.
"Being trans usually means facing closed doors to peoples’ hearts and minds," she continued in her post. "We face snickers, insults, fearful reactions and physical violations just for existing. Our options for growing up in a loving and accepting family, having a fruitful experience at school or finding dignified work are unimaginably limited and challenging."
In a statement sent to TODAY.com, the magazine said, “Our goal in selecting who we feature in the SI Swimsuit Issue is centered around identifying some of the most inspiring, interesting and multidimensional women that we can find.
"Valentina has been on our radar for some time now and when we finally met face-to-face it became apparent that besides her obvious beauty, she is an impassioned activist, a true pioneer for the LGBT+ community and just simply embodies the well-rounded woman we are proud to have represent SI Swimsuit across our platforms."
On Friday, Sampaio sat down for a conversation with GLAAD, an LGBTQ media advocacy group, to talk about her historical inclusion in this year's issue.
“Sports Illustrated Swimsuit joins institutions from the Girl Scouts of the USA to Miss Universe in recognizing the simple fact that trans women are women," Anthony Ramos, GLAAD head of talent, told TMRW. "Talented women like Valentina Sampaio deserve to be spotlighted and given equal opportunities. Her work in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit is a significant step forward as the modeling industry continues its evolution on traditional standards of inclusion.”
This is not the first time Sampaio has broken barriers for trans models.
Last year, she was hired by Victoria Secret's as the lingerie brand's first openly trans model. And in 2017, she became the first trans model to appear on the cover of any edition of Vogue after posing for Vogue Paris. Translated from French, the cover read, “Transgender beauty: How they’re shaking up the world.”
“My cover is another small step — an important step to show we have the force to be Vogue cover girls," Sampaio said in a Buzzfeed News interview at the time. "Many times transgender women find the doors are already closed for them professionally, which only marginalizes us further — but everyone has something to show.”

Good to see positive news about transgenders in the media.