Recent Transgender Articles
A Sabrina Toon
Sabrina Symington has a spot-on cartoon for us today. As always she gets right to the point about issues of importance to the trans community. Today it’s a message to those who discriminate against trans people on religious grounds.
New Trans Archive Seeks Funding Online
Transgender historian Ms. Bob Davis has announced the founding of the Louise Lawrence Transgender Archive and launched a crowd fundraising campaign on Indiegogo. The Louise Lawrence Transgender Archive (LLTA) will house an extensive and varied collection of transgender archival materials. LLTA will make hundreds of publications, thousands of photographs, theatrical programs and recordings, now in […]
Tranny Queer, the Love of Nasty Words
“It’s only words, and word are all I have…” A line from a song. A song about the power of words, and it so happens that The Artist D’s post today is about the power of words. Like we planned it, or something. What words, you ask? Tranny. Queer. And other words that people use with differing intent. Some use the words to hurt. Other use the words to empower. Read The Artist D’s post and see if you can love the nasty words too.
How’s Your Passing Game?
Why is passing so important to many crossdressers? Trans women want to be accepted as who they are. Crossdressers are two people. They have a male face and a female face. There are some who say we shouldn’t give a damn about passing but dress as we like. Others feel that passing is necessary for acceptance by the general public. What’s so great about passing? Angela Gardner calls on her years of public crossdressing and tries to arrive at an answer to why it’s so important to many.
Songbyrd: Becoming She
We welcome guest contributor Caisie Breen to TGF. Ms. Breen has written a book about her life and we are happy to present some of it here. Ms. Breen, came into the world as William Edward Casey and lived as a male for fifty-five years. His first marriage failed at the age of 21, leaving two daughters, Michelle and Nicole, with their mother. A year later, he met the love of his life, his Brenda Sweet, they were married and eventually had two sons, Ryan and Brandon. Today, Caisie Breen lives with her wife Brenda, in Portland, Oregon and own a small plumbing business. All four children are adults.
Study of Intimate Partner Violence Among Trans Underway
Are you a survivor of intimate partner violence? Do you identify as genderqueer, nonbinary, agender, or gender nonconforming? Are you interested in telling your story? Participants are needed for a master’s thesis research study: Barriers to Disclosure for Intimate Partner Violence Survivors Outside of the Gender Binary Help inform future research about abusive relationships (including […]
The Week In Trans 1/29/17
Are you ready? It’s all the trans related news you’d ever want! We call it The Week In Trans! Today we learn that there’s a documentary film about Gigi Gorgeous. Comedian/actor Colin Mochrie has a trans daughter. The state of Wyoming will not be voting on legislation designed to make discrimination legal. David de Alba is profiled in a Las Vegas newspaper. More news from the Restroom Wars. A Marylyn Monroe commemorative stamp used a photo of a drag performer as Monroe. Sweden drops “gender dysphoria” as a diagnosis for trans people. The University of Arkansas drops trans-related healthcare for employees. An 11-year-old actress is eligible for awards in both male and female categories. There’s all that and more in this edition of TWIT!
What’s Happening with Trans Kids?
Dana Bevan looks into what’s going on with today’s trans kids. Unlike the old days when trans kids kept quiet about their gender identity today’s trans kids are coming out much sooner. Is that good for trans children? What problems will they face that are different from the older generation’s who came out later in life? What advantages will they have for coming out at a young age? Dana takes a look at the available data and provides some insights into what we know, and makes recommendations for further study.
Trump/Pence — Worse than you think!
Our political correspondent Babs Casbar Siperstein reports from the frontlines in the resistance movement. First she talks about the organizations and agencies that will possibly be able to stave off attacks on LGBTQ rights from the Trump administration. Then she reports on what went on at a meeting in Philadelphia with Senators Cory Booker and Bob Casey which brought together a number of other legislators as well as activists and LGBTQ organizations to make plans for the coming months.
Calling it Quits
Cate O’Malley has a few friends who have decided to give up expressing their true selves and go back to living as males 24/7. None of them are doing it willingly. They fervently wish they could continue to be who they really are, but circumstances in their lives have forced this decision on them. Cate shares her thoughts on how hard it must be to deny your true nature after being able to express it, at least part time, then going back to expressing your gender facade. She has advice for those faced with this decision and advice for others in the community who may not look at these people’s decisions kindly.
No Bad News, Please
Amanda would like to report on the good news in her life but for some reason the bad news seems to far outweigh the good. While she has met people on the Left Coast, and she has a couple of friends, she just can’t seem to connect with more people for friendship or for romance. Is it the atmosphere in northern California? Are people too nervous waiting for the next earthquake that they can’t see a great person in front of them who wants to engage? Whatever the reason Amanda is again thinking about the rivers and hills of Pittsburgh. Would they be a better fit for her?
Retro Rerun: Dressing to Suit Your Figure
This Retro Rerun is from the 1990s and was written by the late Roberta Angela Dee. Ms. Dee was TGF’s how-to diva and covered all aspects of feminine presentation. In this post she talks about dressing to suit your figure. What works on one body type won’t work on other body types. She guides you through how to find your body type and then makes suggestions of what styles will enhance your feminine presentation.
The Week In Trans 1/23/17
President Obama commuted Chelsea Manning’s sentence. The Canadian airport security service has new policies for trans travelers. Trans girls are now welcome in the Girl Guides. A Thai trans activist wins a personal victory with nationwide effect. Bathroom bills, federal appointments, and last minute actions by the Obama administration to help trans students. President Trump appoints an HB2 defender to the Justice Department. A DC Comics writer comes out as trans and it turns out Batman is a trans ally. Singer Anohni was nominated as best male vocalist 11 years ago. This year she is nominated for best female vocalist. Juliet Evamcho will get her gender confirmation surgery soon. And we have a lot more plus a short number of TWIT Awards in this edition of TWIT!
The Crisis
The election and recent inauguration of President Donald J. Trump has raised fears in the trans community. The incoming vice president has, as governor of Indiana, signed laws restricting the rights of LGBT people in his state and supported laws denying trans access to public restrooms. President Trump has flip flopped on trans restroom rights. No one knows what he thinks on various issues. What does the future under the Trump administration hold for trans people? Sophie Lynne is worried, scared, and ready to fight back.
Princesas de la Noche — “Caminando en Solitario de Noche por Bogotá”
We present another blog with a video by Katherine Diaz, our contributor from Bogota, Columbia. Today’s installment about life in Columbia is titled “Caminando en Solitario de Noche por Bogotá.” In English that’s “Walking Alone at night in Bogota.” Katherine does it all the time and talks about the experience en Español.
Looking Ahead to the End
Julie Guam has been sharing her memories of crossdressing throughout her life and last month she brought us up to date on her story. Her post today is about something all crossdressers need to consider, what happens after we pass away? Not to our souls. What happens to our collection of feminine attire and who will be in charge of disposing of it all? Of course that depends on who knows about our dressing up and who we care about knowing after we’re gone. Give Julie’s post a read for some if her ideas about preparing for the inevitable.
Face Your Fear
We welcome a new contributor today who brings yet another perspective to TGF. Her name is Porja Braga and she lives in Georgia with her wife. Today she blogs about how she became aware that she was different and appreciated the consequences of being different at a young age. She also has advice on how to deal with the fears that keep many trans people captive in the closet.
The Week In Trans 1/16/17
What’s the best aggregation of trans news in the land? It’s The Week In Trans! Today we learn that Hari Nef has been chosen to star in a L’Oréal Paris ad. Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense says he won’t be in a rush to change LGBT policies. So many bathroom bills! A trans women makes a bid for North Carolina’s DNC leadership role. China has a very large number of drag fans. Drag fans in the USA are becoming predominately young and female. A trans model from Nepal isn’t climbing a mountain, she’s walking the runway in Mumbai. Justin Trudeau vows trans prisoners will be housed in prisons that match their gender. Mimi Imfurst is the first USA queen to perform in Cuba. There’s all that and more plus a boat load of TWIT Awards waiting for you in TWIT.
Dina’s Diner 1/16/17
It’s cold outside. Step into Dina’s Diner and warm up with a hot cup of java. Or maybe some tea. Today Dina has a brand new list of menu specials that start with speculation about the necessity of talent to achieve your glamor goal. Then there’s a spicy exploration of trans communities around the world. Next on the list is a taste of Charles Busch. Then Dina has a spicy blend of Hungarian actresses from the ’50s, and she finishes off with musings on the way just a few millimeters one way or the other can define beauty. Come on in to Dina’s Diner!
Perpetual Change — Good Bye . . . and Thank You!
Pamela DeGroff has labored away in the humor and music departments of TGForum since the early days of this publication. All told she has been with us for 18 years. Today she posts her final Perpetual Change music column. We thank her for all those contributions over the years and wish her luck in all future endeavors. Pamela will be gone but not forgotten. You can always read her columns from the past few years right here on TGF. Just use the search box and look for Perpetual Change. And now and then we may bring back some of her older contributions from the original TGF as Retro Reruns. Thanks Pamela!
Metamorphosis: Part V
We continue the story of a man named Mark who finds himself changed by a mysterious potion into a woman named Raquel. Somehow Raquel finds her old male-self near the trees, now a separate person. How could her old self and her new self be together? Where did the old witch whose potion caused the transformation, or is it splitting, disappear to? TGF contributor Raquel Swann continues her fantasy tale of transformation with Chapter 5. Mark and Raquel must find their way to some place warmer or they will freeze to death.
Interview With David de Alba
Since I moved to Las Vegas, I have had the greatest opportunity to become acquainted with the world-famous singer and theater performer, David de Alba. David is renowned for his female impersonations as a legendary ensemble member at San Francisco’s Finocchio Club; and even in retirement, David performs two shows a year here in Las […]
Verbal Communication & Percieved Cultural Views of Gender
Today Marc Mitnick presents the differences between the male and female verbal communication. He excerpts from Julia T Woods book, Gendered Lives: Communication, Gender and Culture. Masculine speech is used to exert control and enhance status. Feminine speech is focused on feelings and relationships. Knowing the differences is important when you cross the gender border.
The Week In Trans 1/9/17
It’s time for The Week in Trans! What do we learn this week? Japan has created “genderless danshi.” Denmark declassifies transgender as a mental disorder. HBO’s Vice features two trans cops. A trans man sues a Catholic hospital over canceled surgery. A new play is about a trans woman who teaches etiquette to homeless trans youth. California gives a prisoner gender confirmation surgery. The co-founder of Trans Lifeline was arrested for an expired visa. A trans woman is running for the Virginia House of Delegates. A Chinese trans man won a wrongful employment lawsuit but they say he was not fired for being trans. All that and much more, plus a few well deserved TWIT Awards, is waiting for you in TWIT!
Monochromatic Outfits for a New Sense of Style
Monochromatic outfits don’t have to be monotonous. That’s Tasi Zuriack’s thesis in this report on fashion. She tells you all the tips and style secrets that can help you put together an outfit that utilizes a pallet of shades of one color. Properly done and accessorized you can work one color and become a fashion star.
