General: Food Network, Sandra Lee »
Semi-Homemade: Was That A Transvestite?
Published on: July 5, 2009 – 11:19 pm by Jillian Madison 
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Semi-Homemade was back this weekend with the first brand new episode in months. The real story wasn’t Sandra’s tacky bird tablescape, or the way her eyes lit up at the sight of the unopened bottle of vanilla vodka. Oh no. The real story was Sonia Williams, the Semi-Homemaker who was invited on the show to share a recipe for O’Choco Cafe Cake (whatever the hell that is).
After the episode aired, several hundred FNH readers sent us emails and twitter messages asking us one thing: is Sonya Williams a transvestite?
Answer: WE HONESTLY DON’T KNOW.
Something was clearly amiss with her voice, and her hands definitely could never be mistaken for dainty. And what about that aqua turtleneck? Was it just an unfortunate fashion misstep, or a cleverly orchestrated mechanism to hide an Adam’s apple? And how about the awkward banter with Sandra Lee about her two children? Did she actually BIRTH these kids, or did she adopt them? Sadly, the world may never know.
(For anyone interested, you can catch a few seconds of video over at YouTube)
A final note: I’m a big believer in equal rights for all people, and it bothered me to see how FAKE and condescending Sandra Lee was toward Sonya after she heard her speak and started wondering if she might be a man living as a woman. Sandra treated her like she was a leper whom she didn’t want to touch her for fear of catching something. The tension in the air was palpable, and the whole segment was one of the most awkward things I’ve seen on the Food Network in months.
Sonya, good luck to you, whoever you are. We do have one recommendation, though: next time, submit a recipe to Ina Garten instead.
Other posts on Food Network Humor:
---FIRST LOOK: Upcoming Semi-Homemade “Homecoming Tailgate” Episode---A Closer Look At A Semi-Homemade Show Intro
---Semi-Homemade Icing
---Sandra Lee’s Semi-Homemade Wedding Cake
---Sandra Lee’s Semi-Homemade Bra Fail
THIS WEEK: Ina Garten's "beginner" recipes, new Food Network shows starting in September, thumbing through an issue of Semi-Homemade magazine, Rachael Ray's daytime talk show, Aarti's "accountability group", Claire Robinson on Big Daddy's House, another sensual reading of Alex Guarnaschelli's tweets, sink or swim voicemail, and much more.
this hilarious anti-sandra lee site talks about this episode, too.
http://community.livejournal.com/semihorrible/248588.html#cutid1
I don’t think Sandra was being fake toward her at all! She was just being friendly and her usual self, she even stopped Sonya from wasting the icecream left on the spoon- LOL. When I saw this on TV I didn’t think “omg a tranny!” or anything, and I think its kind of rude to out innocent people who didn’t even do anything wrong. Sonya was probably a woman btw, stop picking on her! :D
If you don’t want to see people picked on, then I suggest you find another site to browse.
Oh another thing, I know that Sandra had her gay best guy friend on a few episodes ago so shes not like that or anything.
Birds for the ‘birdcage’ episode?
She has absolutely no hips to speak of, no tuck to her waist. She is one large column. Her breasts are too large for her body type and much to round for a woman of her age. I work with professional crossdressers and all the signs of a newbie are there. I would be very, very surpised to learn this is a natural-born woman but I suppose there is always room for doubt…
That’s a bit uncalled for. Born a man or woman, she is what she feels most comfortable being and there isn’t really any need to be that rude about it. She’s not “hilariously defective,” she’s a person, and her physical appearance shouldn’t be considered a flaw or a handicap. And as far as saying “we instinctively laugh at them,” I’m not sure what group of people you are referring to when you say “we,” but I know I would never laugh at another person based on their appearance. This site is supposed to be all in good fun, but that seemed over the line. You shouldn’t segregate a whole group of people just because you don’t understand them.
HEY’s postings need to be removed NOW. Look at yourself before you type.
yes indeed, I believe it is a he
Wow, what an insinsitive sub-creature this “Hey” is. I’m assuming he or she has never been ostracized or made fun of or put down in any way, shape or form. I guess it’s just a testament to the fact that there are still some seriously clueless, classless morons left in the world.
Sonya with man-hands? How about Sandra Lee’s hands??? They are HUGE, and I instinctively duck every time she sticks those sausage sized appendages out in a thumbs up sign.
I thought Sandra seemed tense and uncomfortable, too, though I didn’t get a tranny vibe from Sonya. But then, Sonya didn’t seem to be a particularly gushing fan of Aunt Sandy, either, so why bother to have her on the show?
BTW, has anyone else noticed Sandra’s tendency to speak in Yoda-talk? On this show, she said “… into the slow cooker this goes…” I’ve heard that several times before, as well.
That’s a man, baby.
Yes that is a man. Did Sandra not know beforehand?
@ Hey, trannies are just regular human beings like you or I. for all i know she could even be just a Drag queen as well. just because someone is different then you doesn’t mean that it is ok to ridicule them for how they feel/act. I give Sonya Kudos for not being afraid to go out in public no matter who/what she is.
Appropriate. Semi-Ho hosts a semi-homo.
She may be a transgender (aka transexual), not a transvestite. I wonder if Sandra had a WTF moment upon gazing Sonya for the first time.
I would be surprised if Sonya is a tranny. People come in all shapes and sizes. Some parts we like, but mostly we wish looked differently. I have broad shoulders and man hands, but the rest of me looks feminine. It just seems that Sonya may have gotten an unfortunate combination of gender features that doesn’t fit into our prescribed definition of male/female. Regardless, I applaud her for ability to let us look beyond physical appearance. Reminds me of a Susan Boyle moment.
It’s more than just an “unfortunate combination of gender features” Vic — that voice was definitely off.
@Kitty: “I work with professional crossdressers”
PLEASE ELABORATE!!!
I for one say we listen to Kitty! She has actual experience working with crossdressers and thinks Sonya is a “he.”
I saw on Manswers (haha, yeah. I watch it once in a while) that men’s index fingers are longer than their ring fingers, and the other way ’round for women. Apparently, that’s the *only* way you can tell!
Regardless of Sonya’s XX / XY chromosome pairings, she has a lovely smile, eh?
If you don’t know, Food Network Humor, don’t ask. And if you can’t ask, don’t open up a blog post to allow ignorant people to speculate in the comments. I realize that deriving humor from the very real experiences of others, especially minorities, is kind of standard shtick for people, but I think it says a lot about the quality of this blog if you really have to go there. I feel like I’m at the lunch table with a bunch of 8th grade boys.
Oh get over yourself, Meaghan. I for one welcome open adult conversation about adult topics. One person here made hateful comments, which were immediately deleted by the blog.
No one here is “deriving humor” by being mean.
If you don’t like it, go elsewhere.
Agreed. Meaghan, get over yourself.
I was about to comment on how tactfully FNH handled the issue. If they didn’t bring it up, they would not be doing their job.
Meaghan you’re being a bit touchy.
Allow me to say, I *AM* a transsexual, and even I did not find this post offensive. Jillian Madison came across as sympathetic to Sonya, not vice versa. And no one here has made derogatory jokes.
How is critiquing every inch of a person’s body and physique appropriate? Put your picture up on the internet and let people have at it. Allow people to speculate whether you’re “really” a woman or not. Let people casually call you a tranny when your hips aren’t wide enough. How is any of this acceptable? And not all of the inappropriate comments have been deleted, either.
This entire paragraph: “Something was clearly amiss with her voice, and her hands definitely could never be mistaken for dainty. And what about that aqua turtleneck? Was it just an unfortunate fashion misstep, or a cleverly orchestrated mechanism to hide an Adam’s apple? And how about the awkward banter with Sandra Lee about her two children? Did she actually BIRTH these kids, or did she adopt them?” IS INAPPROPRIATE.
Just because I object does not mean I need to “go elsewhere” (including Bermuda…thanks for that). I feel my opinion is just as valid as everyone else’s, which is why I share it. Keep the name calling to yourself, folks.
Oh and by the way, I am of the opinion that Sonya is a cross dresser (not a transvestite)
Yep. I’m with FNH on this one. I hear Bermuda is nice this time of year.
Gregory, thanks for being the sole voice of reason here.
Meaghan, I’d avoid Bermuda. It’s expensive and there’s virtually no nightlife. I’d recommend Jamaica instead.
God. You know what? As a lesbian, I can’t stand overly sensitive people like Meaghan. People like you set gay rights back 100 years. You search for shit to be pissed off about, even when there’s nothing there to cause anger.
My friends and I thought the same thing!!!
I’m glad this post exists. It brings to light the discrimination that transexuals and cross dressers face on a daily basis (Sandra Lee was treating Sonya like she was a cancer patient with 2 days to live). It was awkward.
Listen .. if you put yourself on TV you have to be ready for whatever comes. If someone CHOOSES to appear on television it’s fairgame. That being said, FNH was very fair to this man/woman. It’s a subject worth sharing a laugh about IMO.
Love this post Jillian but the comments here are better than the original story! LOL
Folks….PLEEEEEASE!! FUNNY SHIT IS FUNNY SHIT…PERIOD!!
That goofy-assed looking tranny on Semi-Ho made me laugh out loud at just seeing the picture on the website.
WTF? We can’t laugh anymore? We can’t make fun of our differences? People who are offended by a “humor” site poking fun of situations that are, indeed, quite humorous can please kindly fuck off. Jillian, I love you and your brilliance, please continue to do that voodoo that you do.
And for all of you sensitive PC shitheads out there, don’t even try to confront me…I’m a transexual, cross-dressing, sausage-handed, gay, adam’s apple-concealing, Korean star!!
LAUGH PEOPLE…IT FEELS GOOD!!!!
P.S. I’m Korean
Haha right on hewhosename
@HeWhoseName:
BRAVO!!! That was hilarious and I could not have said it better myself!!!
We all have differences – why not laugh at them?!
Wait… HeWhoseName is Korean? I heard Debbie is, too!
“Oh and by the way, I am of the opinion that Sonya is a cross dresser (not a transvestite)”
Actually, being a cross-dresser and a transvestite are the same thing. Transexualism is what differs-a man living as a woman or vice versa, usually with hormone treatments and/or surgery.
It’s really quite pathetic the lengths people will go to to justify being assholes. The tone of this post that there was something wrong with Sonya. I don’t think pointing out this prejudice make’s me touchy in the slightest. Nor can it be rationally said to put gay rights back in any way shape or form. What it does is fluster assholes that want to defend their supposed right to point and laugh at people that don’t fit their perceived sexual/racial/ethnic norms.
Congratulations, assholes, you’ve won yet another battle by shouting down the humorless!
I did not see this episode, but after reading the post, I was a little surprised that FNH would dicuss what I think to be moot issue. Whether Sonja is a man, women, cross dresser, who cares? Shes a cook (prolly a better one than Ms. Lee)! But lets face it, this site is dedicated to making fun of The Food Network and the people on it. There have been posts regarding the gender, race, clothing, and stupidity of many stars of the Food Network. Meaghan, I get where you are coming from, but a little humor isnt a bad thing and it was good natured (sp). And FYI, this is one of the most interesting Blogs comments section that I have read as of yet on this site. Keep it up Ms. Madison!
The folks who are angry need to lighten up. This is funny, and interesting. Sandra’s reaction was a bit odd .. and come on, if you go on tv as a transexual you are expecting people to notice.
I think (s)he looks a little like Michelle Obama.
@Jen: hillarious…!
Personally, I think “it” looks like fat Reggie, post-Valerie Bertinelli diet with a tarantula flopped on his head.
…sorry, I meant to include supporting evidence to back up my statement:
if you compare the moobs on Reggie and on “Miz Thing” they are identical.
In my best Austin Powers voice…
“That’s a man, baby!”
“Actually, being a cross-dresser and a transvestite are the same thing.”
Hey, FNFan, you’re half right. :) The two words USED to mean more or less the same thing, but have drifted apart in meaning over the years. The current distinctions are, cross-dressers just enjoy wearing the opposite gender’s clothing, while transvestites do so as a nifty sexual fetish. Some people still use the words interchangeably, but that’s mostly (but not entirely) people who aren’t part of either scene. Pretty much everyone I know in the cross-dressing and transvestite scenes use the two words to mean two different things (and I consider them the main authority on what’s proper to call them!)
Also…who cares really. It looks to me like Sandra Lee just can’t stand anyone being in her kitchen besides her…man or woman. I bet she was just worried that Sonja would move one of her centerpieces, or spill flour on the counter. GOD FORBID!
@DKM – I will just continue to call them all fags who will roast in hell for all eternity…love and kisses!
P.S. I’m Korean
P.P.S. I HOPE that you know I’m teasing…
I think after today, we are all Korean.
But I took spanish in high school? I don’t know how to speak Korean.
All that matters is that Sonya is, in fact, Korean.
That’s okay Shel, Debbie doesn’t know how to speak Korean either.
She may be Korean, but is she Southern Korean?
@Stephanie: That’s a bunch of bulgolgi!
@Erin, If you’ll believe it: it’s a part of my hobby, and no, it’s not a sexually-based hobby. I’m not sure how best to explain, but I come into contact with transexuals, cross-dressers, gays, straight, all walks of people every time I participate. I’m familiar many levels of gender bending, from professional to newb.
But, I’m certainly not an expert. Even a professional cross-dresser can get confused by another of their flock. There’s always room for doubt ’cause some people are just that good–or, just that confusing!
Oh, and Sonya is wearing a wig–Again, working with cross-dressers. Most have probably already noticed and simply wearing a wig won’t indicate properly if she is a he or not, but it’s worth throwing out.
@Lana, I saw that episode of manswers and I think you have their facts right, but I also read something online that pointer and ring finger length can also indicate if a man is gay or not. Personally, I don’t think beng gay is a “chemical imbalance in the brain” and thus the fingers grow this or that way from estrogen, but it is the common stigma that male cross-dressers are gay so–Psychological debate, blah blah. Another thing to chew on though I hope it won’t jump-start a debate other than Sonya.
i just want to try that cake… it sounds good!
Who cares? She seems nicer and more genuine and probably a better homecook that our super super simple Sandra lee. Sonia, You Go Girl!
Here, here, Sonya seems warm and genuine and the cake does sound like something I’d try myself.
I just wanted to throw in my two cents that as a lesbian myself, I too am really irritated by easily-offended and overly-sensitive people. Really, I found this post both enlightening and entertaining, and either way, Sonya was far more entertaining and friendly to watch than Sandra Lee is any day of the week :P
She had HUGE hands…
Someone (Sonya) on the Food Network that seems pleasant and genuine. Whodathunkit?
I’m not falling on either side of the current debate here, but I have to say that just because somebody has less-than-feminine features, that alone doesn’t mean they’re not female. I was born and continue to be 100% female, yet I have a very masculine shaped body – my bust, chest and waist measurements are all within an inch of one another. I have a large frame, I have pretty big feet and broad shoulders and I don’t carry extra weight on my legs – when I put on a few too many pounds, it’s always around my midsection. I have a deeper voice than most women and in fact have been mistaken for a man several times both over the phone as well as in person (in person was back in the 90’s when I was in college, the grunge look was in and I wore a lot of plaid flannel shirts, also my hair was short). However, I have given birth without the benefit of fertility treatment, and I curse being a woman for a week every month, so I definitely am a woman.
I don’t appear or sound as manly as Sonya here does, but I’m just saying…
let’s try that again… my bust, waist and hip measurements…
@ Jen: What do you mean by bulgolgi?
I think it means bologna.
@johnluvsfoodnetwork. I care .. its funny, no one is asking if she is nice WHO CARES about that.
@ Randy, in the immortal words of Ally Sheedy…”I care…”
Do some of you people even read some of the comments you write or realize just how deeply you’re immersed in white privilege?
Whether you clueless peeps realize it or not, you are playing into and perpetuating the ‘Black women are unfeminine’ stereotype that dates back to slavery.
The fact you’re slamming people on this thread who have called you out on it as ‘lacking a sense of humor’ or ‘overly sensitive’ is prima facie evidence that you are wallowing in white privilege.
Just in case it escaped you in science class, you get half your genetic material from mommy and half from daddy, and we are all blends of features from our parents.
Just as there are plenty of cisgender women who have ‘masculine’ body builds or combinations of features considered ‘masculine’, there are also cisgender men who have body builds and features that are considered ‘feminine’.
Just an FYI, unless a person declares themselves to be trans, they ain’t. Nor is it our business if they are.
Pardon my french, but Monica Roberts, SHUT THE FUCK UP.
This is a humor blog. No one here was rude. No one wants to hear a lecture on how we’re just privileged white folks.
Pretty bold to assume everyone is white, don’t you think? After all, SOME of us are Korean.
Monica,
You need a lesson in proper grammar. :)
You sound uneducated.
Hi.
I must agree too. Monica, this is a humor site. FoodNetworkHumor makes fun of EVERYTHING. YOUR sensitivity propagates controversy. Everyone on this site enjoys a laugh. BLACK OR WHITE, GAY OR STRAIGHT.
I am NOT offended and I live in NYC and am a proud Lesbian. Dont speak on MY behalf. Im GAY and loved the post.
Janis.
Monica, I’ve never heard the stereotype that black women are unfeminine. Seriously. In 37 years, not once. And FYI, using “clueless peeps” in one paragraph and “prima facie evidence” in the next one seems a little inconsistent. And maybe a little pretentious.
Can we all agree: Sonya is way prettier than fake blondie?
lollin..not sure which is funnier, the tranny or the comments here
I see that the hideous HEY sub-creature has returned. And I’d rather see a Sonya show than half the dreck they have on FN any day.
She may be a transgender (aka transexual), not a transvestite. >>>>
If so, she really needs to up the hormone dosages. Her hands look about as manly as Rachael Ray’s (BTW, as a former cab driver, I used to be in contact with drag queens all the damn time. I found them interesting, entertaining and highly amusing. Plus they tipped well. No judgment here whatsoever).
Do some of you people even read some of the comments you write or realize just how deeply you’re immersed in white privilege?
Whether you clueless peeps realize it or not, you are playing into and perpetuating the ‘Black women are unfeminine’ stereotype that dates back to slavery.>>>>>
WTF?? No honey, it isn’t that “black women are unfeminine,” it’s that this particular black “woman” is unfeminine.
Pardon me whilst I return to wallowing in Native American privilege (LOL).
The name “Monica Roberts” in Korean translates to “Clueless Bitch”. It’s all coming together now…because, of course, I’m Korean.
Gee, I THOUGHT I smelled soy sauce in the air….
I nominate HeWhoseNameMustNotBeSpoken to be the ambassador for Korea.
Monica Roberts is an uneducated unemployed former drag queen from Houston who looks NOTHING like a real woman (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kC5MT2r5U8s/RrjLiHImtZI/AAAAAAAABhU/ajryCeulBio/s320/Monica06+Trinity1.jpg). That may be why she is so sensitive on the subject.
She lives and breathes for one reason – to have people discuss her genitalia.
Monica Roberts may look and act like a man, and “she” might be overly sensitive about her very dark skin and lack of make-up skills, but she is NOT, as most people think, a “she male gorilla.”
Monica uses words like “meme” over and over to disguise her lack of White Privilege (aka education) but she also displays a Harriet Tubmund wish to “move to Canada.”
But Canada has laws disallowing felons from even VISITING, which is obviously RACIST.
Yall are so mean to make fun of Mike (”Monica”) Roberts! He may have not been Miss Gay Texas, but he at least TRIED. And now that he is stuck in BumFuck Kentucky in a small apartment with 3 other queens and living on welfare, it is easy to understand that he would wake up every morning to his “google news alerts” on anything to do with his drag name or anything “tranny, transy, black cis” etc.
This gives his life a purpose and meaning!!!
Y’all should respect an elderly trans-man like “Monica” for at least being alert “24/7″ to any percieved slight that s/he can use for fodder for his low self esteem “wanna be an internet blog star” diatribes..
I must violently disagree with prejudice affixed of the comments made to the derogatory concerning Mr. Monica Roberts’ excellent and fact-laden points of justice.
First, not one here has challenge what Mr. Robers referred to as “the myth that black women are unfeminine.”
This is exactly the kind of stereotyping when persons evaluate such Black women as:
Lil Kim
Grace Jones
Monica Roberts
Just because these women of colour are often crude, vulgar, masculine and inarticulate, this is not a proper basics to dilimneate these facts.
-Esq.
@ Lana:
“I saw on Manswers (haha, yeah. I watch it once in a while) that men’s index fingers are longer than their ring fingers, and the other way ’round for women. Apparently, that’s the *only* way you can tell!”
That actually isn’t true. I’m a male and my index fingers are shorter than my ring fingers. The difference in finger lengths occur in either gender.
So what if Serene and Venux mother and father is the same person?
It is just like how they “closed the casket” of Michael Jackson and THEN Janet Jackson showed up, so you still don’t know if they are the same person.
But, no, I do not understand why so many masculine older black cistrannies still wear HUGE shoulder pads and can’t do their make up.
Sigh…
I went to school with Sonya and all of you should be ashamed at your comments – its about the food people who cares about anyone’s gender, and for all that must know she is a female and always has been, poor woman cant even enjoy her moment because of this crap – let her be for Gods sake
agreed, ME
That was so a man
That woman is a fucking man. Holy shit.
I don’t if this was mentioned already, but if she is a transvestite, she could have had kids as a man with a woman before she went through the changes. So, it is not usual at all for a transvestite to have kids.
*”transgender”, not transvestite.
I SOOOO agree with everyone! WTF! what was that! LOL
@Monica
Tyra Banks
Rihanna
Gabriel Union
Beyoncé
Lauren London
Members of old R&B group, Vogue
Janet Jackson
Jennifer Hudson
Half of Halle Berry (many people forget she’s biracial)
…a few examples of feminine Black women. As a black woman, I have never ever heard of Black women as unfeminine. That goes against the old (and probably current) stereotype that Black women are promiscuous and were used as sex slaves for centuries. Why would a straight (usually White, slave master) man want to mess around with a Black, masculine woman? So, while there are masculine women in this world, I can’t say this characteristic is all dependent on race/ethnicity. Also, you were the first one to introduce race into the discussion. I didn’t even think of race until you put forth your ridiculous assumptions.
But Sonia isn’t a woman, not a real one anyways. She looks like a………….tranny. Lookit those shoulders and HANDS….they are MASSIVE!!!
I was totally offended by this! If she is SO WHAT! I am not sure I will ever watch this channel again. If I were her I would feel totally offended by the actions and the comments…Shame on you!
Lauren
This article is both rude and ignorant.
I have to give a big ol HAHAHAHAHAHA from looking at the picture and then at the last comment (This article is both rude and ignorant) Freakin hilarious. Now I’m off to actually read the article..
Holy ^%#$!!!!! THAT’S A MAN IN DRAG!!! WHATTA QUEEN!!!! Bet Aunt Sandy was piiiisssed to find out she was punked!!! But I looked up the recipe and it might just be worth trying out. Thanks She-Man!!
LMAO!!! This is the funniest comment page I’ve read in a long time… haha…