Comedian Joan Rivers is being
criticized for joking that First Lady Michelle Obama is transgender,
which makes Barack Obama the nation's first gay president.
Rivers, 81, reportedly made the joke
earlier this week after performing an impromptu wedding ceremony for
a gay couple in New York City.
(Related: Joan
Rivers performs surprise wedding for gay couple.)
In a brief on-the-street exchange with
an unidentified reporter, Rivers said she was “excited” about the
wedding.
“And I think I should do very well
because I don't charge,” she quipped.
“And do you think that the United
States will see the first gay president or the first woman
president?”
“We already have it with Obama, so
let's just calm down,” she joked. “You know Michelle is a
tranny.”
“I'm sorry, she's a what?” the
reporter asked.
“A transgender,” Rivers answered.
“We all know. It's okay.”
It should be noted that “tranny” is
considered a slur.