TORONTO — A prominent transgender advocacy group has slammed the Miss Universe Canada pageant for its decision to expel a competitor after discovering she was born amale.

In a terse statement posted on its site Friday, Miss Universe Canada said, “Jenna Talackova f rom Vancouver, Bri t i s h Columbia, will not compete in the 2012 Miss Universe Canada competition because she did not meet the requirements to compete despite having stated otherwise on her entry form. We do, however, respect her goals, determination and wish her the best.”

Talackova’s photograph has since been removed from Miss Universe Canada’s site.

The organization did not respond to QMI Agency’s request for a phone and e- mail interview.

In an interview with QMI Agency. Mara Keisling, the executive director of the Washington D. C.- based National Center for Transgender Equality ( NCTE), questioned the pageant organizer’s motives.

A transgender- identified woman, Keisling is considered one of the leading voices for transgender equality in the U. S.

“It’s straightforward. They made a decision that they want to discriminate against transgender women,” Keisling said shortly after stepping off a plane in Charlotte, N. C. “More and more people understand this person is a woman. There’s nothing about her that should disqualify her.”

Keisling added that “From what I’ve read, it doesn’t sound like they had any rules ... Itmakes you wonder what they’re afraid of.”

The pageant will be held in Toronto onmay 19.

— Errol Nazareth, QMI Agency