In the 1990s TGForum had an expert on drag in movies who wrote a series of articles for us. Laurie Sheril was her name and she covered the instances of movie crossdressing through the different historical periods of film-making. We’re bringing her series out of the archives as a Retro Rerun beginning with her article on drag in the early years of the talkies.
Today we dig into the past for a Retro Rerun from the 1990s archives of TGForum that takes you much further into the past. Journey now with contributor Andee W to Victorian London when there were magazines that published letters from readers. Letters that discuss the same subjects that you can find in internet chat rooms today. Men would write in and extoll the virtues of dressing in female garb. Or they would write about being forced into a corset and skirts. Andee W dug up several letters from those magazines and presented them to TGF readers in a feature called Footprints From The Past.
Before there was a word describing people who are drawn to the clothing and behavior of the opposite sex the only places they could go to indulge their need was the shady, often illegal homosexual bars. The transgender people back in the day would find refuge in places like the Stonewall Inn in New York City. But the problem with going to those bars was that since they were most often illegal the police would show up, arrest everyone and shut the place down. Then one night LGBT people came out of the shadows to say “enough!” Susan Grant takes a look at the Stonewall Riot.
It’s a story that seems like a crossdressing fantasy but it really happened. A con man who was living as a woman started a bogus automobile company in California while he was on the run from charges of counterfeiting and bail jumping. He was so confidant of his female identity that she risked the public eye to head the bogus car company and court investors. Even though she wasn’t that convincingly female. It all happened back in the 1970s. Guest contributor Susan Grant tells you all the details of this amazing story.
How many times have you been around other people who were joking or commenting negatively on a trans person they have seen? Our guest contributor Sophia Swift gives her opinion on people who have to give their opinion when they may, without knowing it, be talking to a trans person — either someone who has transitioned, or a trans person projecting the opposite of their true self. No one should be forced to endure someone’s anti-trans statements.
By Kristina Mayhem A young woman is creating positive change in Michigan. She is the first transwoman to rush sororities at The University of Michigan. It’s a journey to womanhood painted from a palette of rich colors and beautiful hues. Emily Kaufman spent extra time preparing for her big day. She was representing transpeople and […]
We were sorry to learn that David de Alba’s partner Paul Ryner passed away on Sunday. He was taken from David’s side by a sudden heart attack. David and Paul had been together since 1970 and Paul was a avid supporter of David’s female impersonation career. Those who wish to offer their condolences to David […]
Merissa Sherrill Lynn, 1942-2017 Merissa Sherrill Lynn was born in Exeter and lived in North Hampton, New Hampshire. She graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1971 with a BA in Philosophy. She entered the United States Army in 1961 and served with a Ranger Battalion in Germany from 1961-1963. She was honorably discharged […]
David de Alba is The Cuban Legend. He began his career in female impersonation in Chicago clubs after a friend noted how much he resembled Judy Garland and did his makeup for a Halloween Ball. Soon David was practicing singing in Garland’s voice and working in the clubs. Then came a move to San Francisco and his years on stage at the famous Finocchio’s club. For the whole story of David’s life in dresses and heels read this article republished with permission from the Newsletter of the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society.
Every year Angela’s Laptop Lounge in suburban Philadelphia holds their Halloween Party in October. This year’s party drew a crowd of around ninety people and many attended in costume. We present a few of the notable costumes in this Halloween pictorial taken on October 21.
Everyone, or a least a substantial portion of the population, enjoys putting on a costume and becoming someone else on Halloween. That’s especially true for girls like us. Many may seek to blend in for the rest of the year but on Halloween they can become fabulous feminine archetypes and show off their glamor. As our founder JoAnn Roberts said, “Halloween is a holy day of obligation for crossdressers.” But we all want to look our best on the big night and sometimes that can be hard. Trans blogger Faith DaBrooke has put together a costume guide for trans girls and we are happy to present it here.
Joanne Meyerowitz is professor of History and American Studies at Yale. She is the author of How Sex Changed: A History of TransSexuality in the United States. She wrote a series of articles that were published on TGF in 1998 that presented the history of “sex change” before Christine Jorgensen made headlines as the “first” person to have a “sex change.” Since this is all three parts of her series be prepared to spend some time reading this fascinating history.
Dr. Aaron Devor is the Chair in Transgender Studies and Academic Director of The Transgender Archives at the University of Victoria. He has informed TGForum about the Moving Trans History Forward Conference 2018 at the University of Victoria in March of next year. The conference features an evening keynote address by Kent Monkman, a Canadian […]
(Philadelphia, PA) “Transgender people want to be treated “normally” just like other people – the key word is respect,” says transgender surgery pioneer, Dr. Sherman Leis. As people head back to school and work from summer activities, Dr. Leis, founder of The Philadelphia Center for Transgender Surgery, offers some valuable tips on enhancing a work […]
Philadelphia, July 10, 2017 – Mazzoni Center’s Board of Directors announced today a transition plan for interim and permanent leadership for the organization. The plan focuses on ensuring continued fiscal and operational stability in the near term, while also laying the groundwork for future leadership that is dynamic, innovative and accountable to the needs and […]
Jeffrey Marsh is a gender fluid, gender queer trans activist, writer, and all around nice person. Jeffrey is know as the anti-bully. Jeffrey’s book How To Be You was published in August of 2106. In April of 2017 Jeffrey gave a TEDx Talk on gender identity. It begins with Jeffrey telling the audience that they got an apology from their father for his treatment of them. If you have a gender fluid or queer identity watch this TEDx Talk.
Empower people to enhance the quality of their health and overall well-being by providing access to culturally sensitive high quality healthcare, HIV/AIDS services, health education, and social services. Bebashi – Transition to Hope, an acronym originally standing for Blacks Educating Blacks about Sexual Health Issues, is the second-oldest AIDS service organization in the Philadelphia, Pa. […]
Dear Editor, All beings on this planet have an inalienable right to express their own individual personality as long as doing so is not harmful to other members of the community. The female gender have been crossdressing without hindrance from time immemorial and are still allowed to carry it on in public where it is […]
Transgender Legal Set to Honor New York Governor Andrew Cuomo at 12th Annual Freedom Awards Hosted by Transgender Trailblazer Janet Mock Thursday, June 8, 6:30 to 8:30 PM Manhattan Penthouse, 80 Fifth Ave. (at 14th Street) New York, NY– Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund will honor New York Governor Andrew Cuomo at its 12th annual […]
David de Alba is that last performing female impersonator from the legendary Finocchio’s in San Francisco. In honor of David’s birthday on May 20 we present three videos of his gift to his fans, his August 2016 show in Las Vegas. David sings as Liza and his own stage character Boy Chic. He also tells stories of his time at Finocchio’s. If you are a David de Alba fan, or would like to become one, you won’t want to miss seeing these videos. Happy birthday, David!
There is a spectrum of sexual orientation, and a spectrum of gender identification. Finding your spot on them is important to some people. To other’s where they fit doesn’t matter so much. TWe have tons of words describing different gender expression and more words describing varying sexual preferences. Things can get confusing for those looking for a label that defines who they are. Today we bring you a post from a guest contributor, Elron Steele, and you will learn why he prefers to just tell people he is queer.
The Indiegogo campaign to establish the Louise Lawrence Trans Archive ends today. Many people have donated to support the establishment of this great source for information on trans history. If you would like to have a part in preserving trans history go to the campaign page and make a donation. Pictured here are three people […]
Mistress Samantha is a Lifestyle Mistress who has been actively involved in the Transgender/Crossdressing Community for almost twenty years. She started a successful Adult Phone Service over eighteen years ago. Since then, she’s personally advised, guided and fantasized with literally thousands of members of the Crossdressing, Transsexual, and Sissy Communities. In her TGF column, Ask Mistress Samantha, she answers your personal questions.
Trans people have been around since ancient times. In the recent past of the last 100 years society in the west did not want to acknowledge the existence of trans people. Only in the last 15 – 20 years have we begun to get more attention and recognition as legitimate human beings, not oddities and aberrations. But the very fact that people in the past had to hide their true nature and “pass” as typical members of the straight world means that much of our history has been erased. Some people have been working to save as much of our past as possible. One of those is Ms. Bob Davis. Ms. Bob has a vision for a trans history archive. Learn more about it in an article from The Bay Area Reporter by Gwen Smith. Reprinted with permission.
Welcome Head Mistress Samantha as a TGForum contributor. She has been a strong woman on the trans scene for twenty years and her advice column has appeared in several publications over the years. If you have questions concerning the sissy lifestyle, becoming as mistress or a slave, or just want to chat about girly things with a woman who can give you the benefit of her experience, Samantha is ready to take your call. Today she advises a Type A male who wants to be a sexy blonde housewife.
