Category: Transgender Community News

A Visit with “TransCuba” Author Mariette Pathy Allen

| Nov 24, 2014 | Reply

Ever since she ran into a group of crossdressed people during Mardi Gras in 1978 photographer Mariette Pathy Allen has been documenting trans people in photographs and assembling the photos into books. In 1989 her book “Transformations: Crossdressers and Those Who Love Them” featured members of Renaissance. Her latest book is “TransCuba.” Recently she was honored at Fantasia Fair with the 2014 Pioneer Award. Jan Brown visited Allen in her Manhattan home and introduces you to her.

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The Week In Transgenderism 11/17/14

| Nov 17, 2014 | Reply

Lypsinka is back! Philadelphia drag performers attempt to set a world record. Elle Fanning portrays a trans teen boy. Miami-Dade County is set to enact trans protections. Mexico City simplifies name and gender change. Australia is urged to treat trans kids differently. Andreja Pejic is in the news. A Thai modeling agency reps trans models. Hijra in Bangladesh celebrate pride. TDOR is this week. Drag queens cavort at Indochine. College drag shows! RuPaul’s makeup man has a photo exhibit. Another photo exhibit documents the East London drag scene. L.A.’s Bad Suns release a music video on gender identity issues. All that and more is in TWIT!

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Dr. Sherman Leis on the Rarity of Sex Change Reversal

| Nov 17, 2014 | Reply

(Philadelphia, PA) Recently, there has been much controversy in the news surrounding the issue of, “how young is too young for transgender teens to undergo sex change operations?” As more and more transgender people, including teenagers and children are becoming more comfortable outing themselves in today’s society, this question often arises once they begin to […]

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The Week In Transgenderism 11/10/14

| Nov 10, 2014 | Reply

Loki the Trickster is gender fluid. The trans candidate in Nevada lost. An artist does a show about (possibly) transgender saints. Lea T has an historic new gig. Discovery Life Channel has a TG docu-series coming next year. Starbucks in Canada uses “Drag Race” stars in a commercial. Chelsea Manning files a lawsuit. Why do trans men get pregnant? A trans woman is the 2014 LGBT Engineer of the Year. A trans boy raps about being TG. Malaysia moves toward stopping mistreatment of TGs by the law. All that and much more is waiting for you in this TWIT!

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Sirena Attends the Fair — FanFair 2014

| Nov 10, 2014 | Reply

We welcome Sirena Rivera as a TGForum Contributor. Sirena was at Fantasia Fair 2014 last month and she promised to write something for us about her experience there. It took her s few weeks to get settled down from the feelings of liberation and peace that she found there so it’s taken till now for her to share her report with us.

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The Week In Transgenderism 11/3/14

| Nov 3, 2014 | Reply

The Miss International Queen pageant is under way. There’s only one out trans attorney in Dallas County. The High Heel Race happened in D.C. Kye Allums is in a new documentary. Aetna will start covering GRS. Scotland hosts a gender conference. A trans woman is on the ballot in Nevada. Elle Fanning will portray a trans man teen. All that plus a lot more and several TWIT Awards is waiting for you in TWIT!

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The Henri David Halloween Ball

| Nov 3, 2014 | Reply

Every year on Halloween night Henri David, a local jeweler in Philadelphia, throws his Halloween Ball. What started as a house party in 1968 now attracts a crowd of over 2000 people in the ballroom of a downtown hotel. Among the many fantastic fantasy costumes you can always find many males in female attire. Some […]

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Angela’s After Halloween Party

| Nov 3, 2014 | Reply

The Philadelphia area was loaded with Halloween costume parties all week long but even after the big bash, Henry David’s Halloween Ball, there were still a few hardy TGs who wanted to get into costume one more time. So Angela’s Laptop Lounge obliged with a Saturday night, After Halloween Party on November 1. Here are […]

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The Week In Transgenderism 10/27/14

| Oct 27, 2014 | Reply

Meet the “queens” of Scotland. A trans woman has won a landmark determination against the Army. A teacher comes out to the whole school. A trans fire fighter is a poster person. Jane Doe is suing. The star of “Transmormon” is happy her church condemns her. Sharon Needles tells all. Miz Cracker offers Halloween drag advice. Rhode Island makes it easier. Geena Rocero spoke at the HRC’s annual dinner. Fallon Fox is making waves. All that and more plus a couple of TWIT Awards is packed into this edition of TWIT!

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The Week In Transgenderism 10/20/14

| Oct 20, 2014 | Reply

It’s all the TG news we could find as we scoured the publications of the world! NYC Comic Con had a panel on trans in comics. A trans man doesn’t meet the requirements to head the diversity program. Jazz is on the list of 25 Most Influential Teens. A former male radio host’s fans want her back on the air. We’re getting a vibration — a drag psychic will have her own TV show. Voter ID and trans voters. “Transparent” is looking for trans writers for the second season. All that and more is waiting for you in TWIT!

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The Week In Transgenderism 10/13/14

| Oct 13, 2014 | Reply

From every corner of the world, which has no actual corners, come the TG news of the day! Makeover maven Jodie Lynn is featured in Cosmopolitan U.K. NYC makes is easier to change your documents. The club scene in NYC gets a makeover from Ladyfag. Is the world ready for a all trans girl group? There’s a drag school in New Orleans. A trans girl in Georgia needs a new dress. She’s on the homecoming court. Canadians debate one word in a discrimination bill. Trans kids in New Delhi can go to school for free. All that plus more and a few TWIT Awards are waiting for you in TWIT.

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Let’s be Frank About Barney Frank and ENDA

| Oct 13, 2014 | Reply

The Human Rights Campaign recently apologized to the transgender community for not working for a trans inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Babs Casbar Siperstein was there fighting for that inclusion in 2007 and 2010. Congressman Barney Frank told her he supported trans inclusion but did he? Babs says it seems that had, and possibly still has a problem with trans inclusion due to recent statements he has made to the press.

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The Week In Transgenderism 10/6/14

| Oct 6, 2014 | Reply

A drag performer in South Africa satirizes the government, 20 years later. No more “homo panic” or “trans panic” defense in Cali. Facebook apologizes to the queens. Trans candidates stand for election. A fashion show featuring a trans model is canceled. Hijra participate in an Indian festival. Walton Goggins was changed by his role as Venus Van Dam. A trans girl in Canada gets support after being bullied. Who makes those hot drag videos? An Amazing Race contestant is a drag queen. Grayson Perry is in the news. All that plus a bunch of TWIT Awards is waiting for you in TWIT!

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Ladyboy Gangs Rounded up in Pattaya

| Sep 29, 2014 | Reply

Pattaya, the beach resort in Thailand, has its share of ladyboys. Most of them are trying to better themselves and get legitimate jobs but there are only so many spots in show biz. Other’s are hoping to meet that wealthy foreign gentleman and move out of Thailand live as his wife. While that does happen from time to time the more likely ending is one of prostitution and crime. Christine Burr takes you on a visit to Pattaya today.

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The 35th Annual First Event

| Sep 22, 2014 | Reply

If you want to start your conference/convention/dressing fun early next year check out First Event 2015 which is moving to Waltham, Massachusetts this  coming January. First Event has always produced a good event with lots of happening things. Here is a press release from First Event with more information on the 2015 gathering. From Konnor Crewe Announcing the […]

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Fun at Southern Comfort 2014

| Sep 15, 2014 | Reply

This was my very first Southern Comfort Conference and SCC certainly did not disappoint, as attendees received a wonderful dose of “Southern Hospitality.” The conference attracted transgender friends from across the nation, as attendees from California, Seattle, Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Georgia (of course), and Florida (even from Norway) to name just a few, all gathered […]

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Bad Decision? Maybe.

| Sep 15, 2014 | Reply

Dallas Denny is one of the founders of the Southern Comfort Conference. She was appalled to learn that the Conference is heading over 600 miles further south for next year’s event. Will this move help a gender conference that has been loosing steam? Or will the move mean a faster route to the extinction of SCC? See what Dallas thinks and be sure to post your comments.

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Dr. Leis on TGs and The Affordable Care Act

| Sep 8, 2014 | Reply

(Philadelphia, PA) – The transgender community celebrated the groundbreaking U.S. Government’s recognition of gender dysphoria and its coverage of transgender surgery under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  However, as the law begins to be implemented and real transgender people attempt to use its coverage, they are starting to discover its acute limitations, even to the […]

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Sleep Well, Cerise

| Sep 1, 2014 | Reply

The trans community was stunned recently by the announcement that Dr. Cerise Richards had passed. She had been battling leukemia for eighteen years, and it resurfaced, taking her quickly. I met Cerise many times. And every time she took the time to talk with me. She read this blog and seemed to know everything going on in […]

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Movie Review: Lady Valor

| Sep 1, 2014 | Reply

I was fortunate to get a seat at a private screening of an upcoming CNN movie called Lady Valor.  It’s the story of Kristin Beck who was a 20 yr. Navy SEAL/veteran and is now a transgender champion for lots of different things.  The screening was held in the Time Warner Building on 58th St. […]

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The Breast Form Store — It’s So Much More

| Aug 18, 2014 | Reply

Our Canadian correspondent, Linda Jensen, takes a trip to the place where all the breastforms come from. On a visit to Vancouver she drops in at The Breast Form Store and learns that it’s a lot more than a place where you can buy a nice looking chest. They carry everything that the discerning crossdresser needs to put herself together. From breasts, to hips, to makeup, wigs and more, The Breast Form Store has it all. Including a $1300 item called “Gurl Shorts” that gives you a feminine lower torso.

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A Big Week For TGs in America

| Jul 28, 2014 | Reply

The last full week in July was an incredible week for transpeople in America. On Monday July 21, 2014 President Obama signed an executive order doing 2 things.  First, it added “gender identity” to an existing executive order protecting gay and lesbian federal workers from discrimination thus protecting transgender federal workers. (It institutionalized and strengthened […]

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Out & About — T-Girls @ Hamburger Mary’s, Long Beach

| Jul 14, 2014 | Reply

Sexy, sultry, cheap, matronly, are just a few ways to describe the attire of the T-Girls at Hamburger Mary’s In Long Beach, California. The big event is the first Saturday night of every month. Sometimes it’s themed, for example “Jungle Night,” where everyone is encouraged to wear animal prints or jungle attire. My close friend Jamie Jameson […]

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Fantasia Fair Memories!

| Jul 7, 2014 | Reply

It’s July already and that means that the longest running, longest duration transgender event is rapidly approaching. It’s Fantasia Fair on Cape Cod and while it doesn’t happen till mid October you know you have to plan ahead, picking out every outfit for each day’s many activities. And then you’ll need to buy more suitcases. Read a review of last year’s event and think ahead to October on Cape Cod.

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Why Paul McHugh is a Menace to TGs

| Jun 23, 2014 | Reply

Paul McHugh is a former Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins who denies the existence of trans as a real condition. He claims it is a disorder that is all in the mind and that transgendered people don’t deserve to have their civil rights guaranteed. He believes SRS is a waste of money and doesn’t resolve gender dysphoria. McHugh can believe what he wants but when he publishes his beliefs in a major newspaper as fact he does major harm to trans people. Dana Bevan tells us why.

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Want Shoe Variety? Try High Pheels

| Jun 23, 2014 | Reply

You are packing for a long weekend en femme and you realize that you’re going to need a whole separate suitcase to carry all the shoes you simply must bring to go with every perfect outfit. It’s been an unavoidable fashion burden for years. Now there’s a solution to this fashion burden. They’re called High Pheels and they offer women, and other devoted wearers of women’s fashions, a simple way to change their shoes by just changing the covering using High Pheels “skins.” Read on and learn more.

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