{"id":52109,"date":"2017-04-12T22:00:59","date_gmt":"2017-04-13T02:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/glaad-responds-to-outing-of-cbs-survivor-contestant-zeke-smith\/"},"modified":"2017-04-12T22:00:59","modified_gmt":"2017-04-13T02:00:59","slug":"glaad-responds-to-outing-of-cbs-survivor-contestant-zeke-smith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/glaad-responds-to-outing-of-cbs-survivor-contestant-zeke-smith\/","title":{"rendered":"GLAAD responds to outing of CBS 'Survivor' contestant Zeke Smith"},"content":{"rendered":"

GLAAD responds to outing of CBS 'Survivor' contestant Zeke Smith<\/b><\/p>\n

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Tonight’s episode of CBS’\u00a0Survivor<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>was a gut-wrenching \"CBS\"look at the consequences of outing a transgender person against his will. At Tribal Council, contestant Jeff Varner told his tribemates\u00a0that\u00a0fellow contestant\u00a0Zeke Smith<\/a> is a transgender man<\/a>. Zeke Smith played in the previous season “Millennials vs. Gen X” before being\u00a0brought back immediately for the current season “Game Changers.” During both seasons, Zeke has played as an out gay<\/a> man<\/a>, but chose not to disclose his gender history to his tribemates or to the viewing audience.<\/p>\n

Nick Adams, Director of GLAAD’s Transgender Media Program,\u00a0said:<\/p>\n

“Zeke Smith, and transgender people like him, are not deceiving anyone by being their authentic selves, and it is dangerous and unacceptable to out a transgender person. It is heartening, however, to see the strong support for Zeke from the other people in his tribe. Moments like this prove that when people from all walks of life get to know a transgender person, they accept us for who we are.”<\/p>\n

GLAAD’s Transgender Media Program<\/a> worked with Zeke Smith and\u00a0CBS for several months\u00a0to ensure that when the\u00a0episode aired Zeke would have the opportunity to speak for himself about his experience.<\/p>\n

Read about Zeke’s story in his own words in People<\/em><\/a> and in The Hollywood Reporter<\/em>. And tune in tomorrow to see Zeke on CBS’\u00a0The Talk\u00a0<\/em>at 2:00 pm ET \/ 1:00 pm PT. You can also follow Zeke’s continuing adventures on social media:\u00a0<\/p>\n