You seem confused.
(1) The fact the girl used the catfish show doesn't negate all the manipulation that happened before she got them involved.
(2) She was barely in her 20s and people at that age may think they know everything, but most are still profoundly naive.

Also:
(3) The bible literally does not use the word homosexual. In fact, the word 'homosexual' did not even exist until about 100 years ago when it was specifically popularized as a way for uptight europeans to pathologize a wide variety of human behaviours they considered icky. The bible has a handful of verses that condemn pretty much just one behaviour and being transgender isn't it. Furthermore, there are way more verses in the bible about things like pre-marital and adulterous sex. Why do all the people on catfish looking for a hookup get a bible pass, but not the trans person?

If I'm "confused" it's because I'm not used to someone with such zany ideas on the boundaries of what is right and wrong. First off, I don't even give it a 2nd thought when couples are 15 -20 years apart, and neither do most people, or the bible. But in 2 passages in the Old Testament, and 3 passages in the New Testament, the bible makes it very clear that homosexuality is heinous. I do recall the word "abomination" being used to describe the act.

The "trans" in the episode in question was conceived as a male. Thats what "he" is genetically, even if "he" now wants to be designated a "trans". So by bible standards, the pursuit of another man by that individual is homosexual in nature. And vile and disgusting. By comparison, the older gentleman hitting on the younger woman in this episode is quite trivial.

And if you feel so strongly about people on Catfish looking for a hookup getting a bible pass, that I can agree with you more on. But then you should direct your rants towards other episodes where that actually happened. It did not happen on this one. In fact, the older gentleman wanted to move forward and have a very serious and committed relationship - he even had purchased an engagement ring for her.

But in 2 passages in the Old Testament,

You mean the chapters in Leviticus that also say eating shrimp and wearing blended fabrics are equally heinous? Why does eating at Red Lobster and wearing fashionable clothes get a bible pass when true love doesn't?

3 passages in the New Testament,

Nope. Two of those are low-grade, modern translations of the Greek word "arsenokoitai" and the other can be equally interpreted to mean going against one's own true nature, which for gay and transgendered people would mean faking being straight.

then you should direct your rants

I am not the one ranting here.

In fact, the older gentleman wanted to move forward and have a very serious and committed relationship - he even had purchased an engagement ring for her.

Yeah... a narcissist being a narcissist doesn't really help your argument here. The fact that he spent money doesn't prove he's honorable, it just proves he's really committed to his self-serving delusions.

LoL, I'm not going to try to dissect subjective text (especially when not even related to the topic) within the bible as that's been going on and on for centuries. The direction is very clear on homosexuality.

I'm in complete agreement with you that this guy was a narcissist, delusional, and had all sorts of psychological problems. That was immediately recognizable! And your commentary now fully supports my "rant" on this topic.

Just like the trans who needed help and support for their mental health, this guy needed it in droves!! And illustrates my original point on what a hypocrite and a jackass that Max was. When the trans "catfished" as a natural woman and was out-ed on the show, Max had nothing but emotional support, help, and hugs to give out. But when he encountered the desperate guy on this show he had nothing but disgust and condemnation for him, almost to the point of extreme arrogance. HUH???

Really despicable of Max, as this guy needed help and understanding in the worst way. And unlike all the other episodes where they follow up by Skype to see how the catfisher might be doing/recovering, they just left this misfit out to dry. Utterly diisgraceful.

LoL, I'm not going to try to dissect subjective text (especially when not even related to the topic)

Yeah, I am such a dummy for bringing up an unrelated subjective text!! What was I thinking?

Just like the trans who needed help and support for their mental health

Being trans is a serious mental health problem, just like being left-handed. Max is truly despicable for ignoring the plight of all those poor lefties on the show. What a scumbag.

The trans they had on that show had all sorts of mental and identity issues. Did you even see the show? In fact, Nev and the MTV producers even made a special public announcement at the end of the show to highlight this social issue. They also provided a hotline number and website address for transgenders to reach out to for help.

So again(!) overreach and overkill to help out the trans, and zippo (!) for the narcissistic, delusional middle aged guy.

So you agree that being trans itself is not a mental health problem.

Now if I can just figure out how to get you to acknowledge the power imbalance inherit in an age difference.

Regarding trans being a mental health issue, I'm neutral on it, and can hear arguments either way.

Actually, I do agree on power imbalance inherit in age difference, but much more so with minors. I'm much less concerned about it when you hit your 20s. And regardless, that's not what this episode was about.

This was about a 40+ year old guy who was a misfit with no social skills whatsoever around girls in real life. He was too shy and introverted to meet up with her, and used the Internet as a crutch/outlet to have any contact with girls. He really needs support and professional help. Not scorn and indignation.

The problem wasn't his social disability. It was his exploitation of the power imbalance by lying about his age. When someone lies about being trans they aren't exploiting a power imbalance.

100% disagree on two counts. Even if it was about the usage of "power imbalance", he had no intentions of meeting her!! So not only do I disagree on the principle in this instance, as she was a full adult, but that was not even his objective or motive. He was indeed a social misfit.

I never said the trans was exploiting a power imbalance, that's silly. The trans fully changed their identity to fraudulently pose as a woman, and then exploit that sexuality to ultimately traumatize the innocent young man. This catfishing was vile, sick, and gross.

he had no intentions of meeting her!!

lolwut? People don't buy wedding rings when they have no intention of meeting.

I never said the trans was exploiting a power imbalance,

Ya think? You have some other irrelevant complaint about the trans person based on an unrelated subjective text.

My assumption on the wedding ring is he bought that when he finally conceded to meet with her at the urging of the Catfish crew. I imagine it was a huge step for him to concede on the meeting and take that chance. Although yes, delusional on his part to think he had a shot. And then during the meeting when he talked about trying to stop his catfishing ways, thats when Max just totally scumbagged him. But if you were a trans doing far more despicable catfishing, hey that's totally cool!

The complaint is totally relevant as I dont agree on the context of the OP's comments, and drew a bonafide comparison. I also opened up a separate thread on this topic here also.

Circular argument is circular.

I have presented 3 different facts to back up my argument, hardly circular. While the circular argument is yours - based only on your lone "power imbalance" viewpoint.

Further, in this rather lengthy discussion, you have not made one single negative comment against the transgender's fraudulent masquerade of a woman to ensnare/traumatize the innocent young man. Which means you probably either support it or have no problem with that (??!!). Enough said.