Los Angeles: Canadian model Gigi Gorgeous has alleged she was detained at the Dubai airport for over five hours because she is transgender.
Recounting the incident, Gorgeous, in an interview, claimed that the immigration officer in Dubai said, "I was told you are transgender. You cannot come into the country." She also shared an emotional post on Instagram about the alleged ordeal.
"After being detained and held at the Dubai airport for over 5 hours, this was the moment my baby came to rescue me. (It) was one of the scariest moments of my entire life and I wouldn't wish it upon anyone. How you can be denied entry somewhere just because of who you are is seriously disgusting and also very scary."
Her post accompanied a picture of her hugging her friend Nats Getty at the airport. "This further proves the need for CHANGE. I am now on my way to somewhere much more accepting. Safe and sound and happy. I love you guys!" she wrote.
Gorgeous was born Gregory Allan Lazzarto, but she changed her name to Gigi Loren in 2014 and says that is the name that appears in her updated passport.
The YouTube personality said her passport describes her as female, despite airport police saying the passport has a male photo and describes her as male, reported TMZ. It has been reported that the "imitation of women by men"
is illegal in Dubai, which is part of the United Arab Emirates.
