Police investigating ‘hate crime’ after transgender woman turned down for porn role

[Refractive Reflections]

COPS are investigating a "hate crime" after a transgender woman was turned down for a porn role "because she has a penis".

Ria Cooper, 25, who became Britain's youngest trans person when she transitioned 10 years ago, says an anonymous photographer messaged her saying he wanted them to have sex on camera and sell the resulting porno. But when he found out Ria still has male reproductive organs he immediately retracted the offer. In messages exchanged over WhatsApp, the photographer claimed he couldn't work with her because "she has a c***".

'TRANSPHOBIC'

Ria has hit out at the "transphobic behaviour" and says she's being unfairly discriminated against in her modelling career.

The woman from Hull, East Yorks., has reported the comments to Humberside Police, which is investigating the incident as a hate crime. She previously appeared on This Morning, when she discussed how she began transitioning at 15.

Ria, who was assigned male at birth, struggled with how the hormones she was prescribed changed her, and shortly after her 18th birthday decided to live as a man. The qualified beauty therapist has now transitioned to a woman, and has opened a hair and beauty salon to help other transgender people. Ria says the man got in touch with her after she released her new glamour modelling portfolio online.

He apparently told her the industry was like a "family" and vowed to help her make her way to the top of it. Then the photographer told Ria he had just been informed by a friend that she is transgender, before saying "Playboy won't accept that". He then cut all contact with Ria, who says her social media profiles clearly state she is a "ladyboy".

Ria has described the comments as "discriminatory" and "appalling", comparing the abuse to that of a racist. She said: "When I first changed I found it really scary and very confusing. "I had no one to lean on for support it was such a massive change. But, now I'm comfortable and confident in my own skin I wanted to help others."

A spokeswoman for Humberside Police said: "We received a report of a hate incident yesterday, on Wednesday, October 16. The report has been logged and will be investigated."

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/101624...estigate-porn/