Film! Music! TV! Trans Media Arts
Rodriguez after the brutal surgery.
Hello everyone! I’m coming to you from the Mile High City, Denver. Yes, even on vacation, I bring you all of the latest transgender entertainment news. I hope the altitude doesn’t go to my head. Not much happening here in the Denver area in terms of trans media, so we go to the world for the latest happenings.
Forced feminization?! In a film! Like…in 2016? Yeppers. A new film starring Michelle Rodriguez is creating quite the stir with its salacious, creepy, and insensitive plot. In the new film called (Re)Assignment, the filmmakers position Rodriguez as male hitman Frank Kitchen, who is tricked into undergoing gender reassignment surgery by a rogue doctor, played by Sigourney Weaver, who turns him into a woman. After the apparently violent surgery, the newly female Kitchen goes on a hunt for revenge. The new film is directed by Walter Hill, indisputably an iconic film genius who brought us The Warriors and Alien (Ridley Scott directed, Hill was a producer) among other classics. But Hill’s crime fantasy that makes gender reassignment surgery seem like a violent assault to be inflicted upon unwilling victims is being blasted online by transgender people and advocates who say it’s insensitive and propagating ignorance.
Caitlyn waves bye bye.
It’s official, Cait got Das Boot! There will be no more I Am Cait on the E! network. While some are disappointed, a lot of trans people are applauding. The show had some good moments, but ultimately it just showcased how removed Cait is from reality. Her wealth and privilege did not play well with Main Street transgender folks and her conservative views were not taken well either. In a statement released to Variety, an E! spokesperson said: “We are incredibly proud of the two seasons of I Am Cait, a groundbreaking docu-series that sparked an important and unprecedented global conversation about transgender people, their struggles and triumphs. Caitlyn and E! have mutually decided not to move forward with another season at this time. She will always remain a part of the E! family, and we look forward to continue following her journey as she appears on Keeping Up with the Kardashians.”
America’s Next Top TRANS Model? The premier of Strut, a show featuring the world’s first transgender modeling agency, Slay Model Management, is due to hit the airwaves on September 20th. The show follows 6 budding trans models as they strut their stuff for the agency and beyond. The show is being brought to us by Whoopi Goldberg. Whoopi says about the the show, “This show is important right now, because for all of the positive advances the community has made and continues to make, transgender is still a hot-button word that gets people hysterical,” Goldberg said in a statement. “People tend to focus on the stereotype instead of the person, and this series will give viewers a unique opportunity to spend time with real people who are struggling with the same challenges we all face as we make our way through the world. You may even be surprised to discover that you have been seeing and interacting with transgender men and women in ways you didn’t even realize!”
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Howard (L) and Richards.
A new film titled More Than T that follows the lives of 6 trans folks and directed by Silas Howard and written by Jen Richards, is being produced by The MAC AIDS Fund. Yes, that is the MAC cosmetics company which I am sure many of you are aware of. Jen Richards, was on I am Cait, and co-wrote, starred in and produced Her Story, which was nominated for an Emmy. (I have featured Her Story in a past column.) Director Silas Howard, a transman of Transparent fame, says he wants the film to resonate with trans people and cis people alike. “So often, I feel like the trans representation in early stages is about representation in isolation. They’re alone and trying to do this thing, and there’s not really anyone around them, and that’s the sole focus of their lives; that they’re trans. These stories should be inspirational to anyone of any identity, because it’s about how can I be active in the world and engaging the world for change with passion and authenticity? Everyone in this film is doing that, regardless of whether or not they’re dealing with homelessness or any kind of economic, racial or sexual oppression. We really need these stories to recover our humanity these days and to connect us, especially with what’s going on in the world.”
Darcelle
An 85-year-old drag queen in Portland has been crowned the world’s oldest performing drag queen by Guinness World Records. Guinness awarded Darcelle XV the designation this week. Walter “Darcelle XV” Cole will turn 86 in November. Cole is the owner and operator of Darcelle XV Showplace in the Chinatown area of Portland. Guinness reports Darcelle XV Showplace is home to the West Coast’s longest running drag show. Darcelle performs there at least four times a week. She said the designation is an honor and she doesn’t even mind being called old. Celebrate Portland!!
In late July, Adele brought drag queen impersonator Kristie Champagne onstage with her at a concert. On Saturday night in Los Angeles, the British superstar brought yet another drag queen lookalike on stage, and the resemblance is so uncanny, it’s almost scary.
Delta Work, who was a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race, often lip-syncs as Adele in Los Angeles, matching her looks exactly and nailing her performance style. You can see the video right here.
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Category: Media, Music, Transgender Community News, Transgender Fun & Entertainment
About the Author (Author Profile)
I am a transwoman originally from Pittsburgh, PA. I have been living full time for 5 years. I work in retail but am an artist/Graphic Designer and aspiring writer. I tend to address the controversial in my writing. I would love to change the world one article at a time. I moved to The San Francisco Bay Area to start over, again. But recently moved back to the East Coast. The adventure continues...Subscribe
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