【2012 Archives】

Zeke Smith012 Archives a two-time contestant on Survivor, never planned on disclosing he's transgender on national television -- but in an emotional episode aired on Wednesday, one of Smith's contestants outed him to millions of viewers.

The troubling moment played out at the Tribal Council when Smith's fellow contestant, Jeff Varner, questioned, "Why haven’t you told anyone you’re transgender?" in an attempt to reveal Smith's “ability to deceive” others.

Upon hearing Varner out Smith, fellow contestants became extremely emotional -- some even shedding tears on behalf of Smith.

As Smith sat silent, staring and processing, those around him immediately spoke out against Varner's actions, saying things like, "That’s personal," "That is so wrong. Who are you to bring that up?," and explaining to Varner that he had absolutely no right to share the information. "That was for him to reveal to whom he wanted. Nobody has the right to out anybody," one contestant added.

After a minute, Smith spoke, shaking his head and admitting, "In two seasons I’ve played Survivor,I told nobody."

In a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday, Smith addressed the experience in his own words, also sharing that he began watching Survivorduring a difficult time in life while he was transitioning so it held a special significance to him.

"I didn’t discuss my trans status in my initial video because I wanted the show to desire me as a game player and an eccentric storyteller, not as 'The First Trans SurvivorPlayer,'" Smith shared in the article. "As someone who is not readily perceived to be trans, I possess a great deal of privilege ... because I can control — well, used to control — who knows my gender history."

"A person’s gender history is private information and it is up to them, and only them, when, how, and to whom they choose to disclose that information. Keeping your gender history private is not the same as a gay person being 'in the closet.' The only people who need to know are medical professionals and naked fun time friends," he went on.

During the episode's filming, Varner, assured his peers that he meant no harm with his words and blamed the outing on the pressure to stay in the game. "I’m arguing for my life. I feel like I’ve got to throw everything at the wall," he said to the group, adding that he fights for the rights of transgender people every day in North Carolina. "I would never say or do anything to hurt anyone here."

Despite Varner's self-proclaimed intentions, outing someone as trans is considered an act of violence, and his actions have serious repercussions.

"I assumed that everyone in his world knew," Varner said, breaking down in tears as Jeff questioned whether it was starting to hit him that he had not only outed Smith in front of six people, but the millions watching at home around the world.

Following the incident, the group decided unanimously, without going through the official voting process, that Varner would be sent home. He gave Smith a hug goodbye, saying "I’m so sorry," and had his torch extinguished.

As the end credits rolled, Varner could be heard saying, "I don’t even know what I was thinking. It was a horrible move — it was me wrapped up in this game trying to do everything I possibly could, but nobody on this planet should do what I did tonight and I’m so sorry to anyone I offended, especially Zeke and his family and his friends."

GLAAD has been in touch with Smith for months in preparation for this episode to air, and released a statement about the "gut-wrenching" consequences of outing a transgender person.

"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," Nick Adams, Director of GLAAD's Transgender Media Program, said. "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."

You can learn more ways to be a better ally to the transgender community here.