Dick Branson

[stickygirl]

Richard Branson,Virgin Air CEO, lost a wager to AirAsia X boss Tony Fernandes, and agrees to dress in drag and serve as a flight “stewardess” on Fernandes’ airline.

It is not clear if this exploitation was initiated by the writer of the source article or if Branson and Fernandes are pulling off a PR stunt, but either way, it slams trans people — ‘You lose, you gotta be a tranny,’ we’re sick of this.

It becomes apparent the writer of the article, Nelson Alcantara, eTN’s editor-in-chief, thinks Branson is doing us a favour: “While the distinction of being the first commercial airline to hire transsexuals as flight attendants belongs to Thailand’s PC Air, Branson could pave the way for airlines to provide equal opportunities for transsexuals who aspire to become Virgin flight attendants.”

Trans people don’t want to become flight attendants because they are transgender, they just want an equal opportunity at becoming a flight attendant as anyone else.

You’re just one more dick, Branson

 

[John Doe]

[...]the distinction of being the first commercial airline to hire transsexuals as flight attendants belongs to Thailand’s PC Air[...]

Seriously?

 

[PleasePeesMe]

The truth is this

When Branson owned the Virgin Racing F1 team, he and Hernandez (owner of Caterham F1 team) had a bet. Whichever team finished the season lowest in the Constructors' Championship, the owner would dress as an air stewardess and work on a Virgin Airlines flight. Branson lost the bet.

 

[John Doe]

Famously

'kay.

soz - dumb server

'kay.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Hmm... intentionally... ? They made a big PR thing of it but maybe a TG was hired elsewhere: do you know where?

Post here suggests that there have been others. Andrea Colliaux says "I have been a "steward" at AF for more than 10 years, and then I transitioned in 2001. I should have ben fired. BUT, the French Civil Aviation decided that it was a descrimination. So they gave me back my "CSS" (Certificate of Safety and Security) that you need to be a flight attendant in France and AF could not fire me k:Then, after 18 monthes at home, I went back to flights. A real nightmare !"

(TW: some transphobic comments at that page.)

edit: although obviously, that doesn't reflect a trans-friendly policy at Air France.

 

[John Doe]

Hmm... intentionally... ?

Maybe.

They made a big PR thing of it but maybe a TG was hired elsewhere: do you know where?

Newp, but then again I haven't been keeping up on the news lately.

Could have just been a PR ploy from the start or a legitimate hire later used as one. On the other, other hand it is Thailand we're talking about so if they banned transsexuals from working there they would shrink their pool of prospective employees significantly. Business pragmatism and all that.

Thanks BT. Lit is amazing - it's like some 'hive-mind' of knowledge!! Very Borg

Ew.