Recent Transgender Articles
The Authenticity of the Sloven Beast
Today The Artist D looks at the price of fashion and beauty. Not how much it costs in dollars to look fabulous. She’s talking about the work you need to do in order to walk out that door drop-dead gorgeous. So many people seem to think that it’s okay to go out in flip flops and a torn t-shirt. The Artist D believes that it happened because people wanted to be “authentic.” They don’t want artifice to obscure who they really are. Then someone had to go to the supermarket in pajama pants and it’s been down hill from there.
GRS: More than a little penectomy, orchiectomy, and vaginoplasty
Canadians have the advantage of getting their healthcare taken care of by their government. There is no need for health insurance in Canada as each citizen has government paid healthcare. But, and you knew there just might be a “but,” trans people in Canada can get their GRS covered — and nothing more. The government plan does not pay for removal of testes, hormones, breast implants, trachea shaves or voice surgery. Linda Jensen tells the story of one woman, along with several comments from other trans women, and lays out the case for the health plan to cover more.
When they call Us selfish
Sometimes it seems like trans folk are held to a different standard than everyone else. Today Sabrina Symington uses her cartoon art to comment on other people who can be just as “selfish” when it comes to their lives.
Diversity
If you look at the trans community as an outsider you see a vast range of gender identities. There are people who claim no gender and their are people who are gender-fluid, going back and forth between binary poles. Feminine one day and later that day butch as a pro wrestler. It can be confusing and Christine Burr thinks is contributes a bit to the negative reactions conservative, judgemental people have when they read about or meet people from across the gender spectrum. Will the conservative mind ever be able to appreciate the beauty of the trans spectrum?
Hair Today — Epilators: A Review
In her ongoing battle with body hair Emyli Evyrling obtained a device that some liken to a medieval torture machine — an epilator. The epilator has spinning discs or springs that grab leg hair (or other body hair) and swiftly jerk it out of your skin. Longer lasting smoothness is one benefit of the epilator method of hair removal but is it worth the pain? Emyli tells us today about her new Phillips epilator and how it gets the job done.
The Week In Trans
Time for The Week In Trans! Today we learn that two notable personalities in the trans community have passed away: The Lady Chablis at the age of 59, and Alexis Arquette at the age of 47. GRS is now legal in the United Arab Emirates. RuPaul will give an inspirational talk. The creator of Susan’s Place has transitioned. Airbnb promises to stop discrimination in its rentals. A trans woman is running for the Washington state legislature. A defaced Bettie Page mural is fixed and Divine joins her on the wall. Andreja Pejic attended Burning Man and it was hot. Trans Bolivians can get correct gender ID. Melissa Sklarz joins the team at the TLDEF. All that plus more and a load of TWIT Awards is waiting for you in TWIT!
Mayer and McHugh Part II
A recent report in The New Atlantis, a quarterly journal with conservative or skeptical tendencies was about a “study” done by two individuals, Mayer and McHugh, who oppose the idea that trans people are real. They ascribe trans behavior to mental illness or a phase of child development. Their “study” has been picked up and disseminated by right wing media outlets. Our own scientist in residence, Dr. Dana Bevan, has been going through the Mayer and McHugh “study” point by point and reveals how the authors cherry picked their data. Today she argues that the Mayer & McHugh Report seeks to bring about the end of gender.
Visit to a Trans Sex Party
Contributor Jamie Fenton attends a sex party in San Francisco that welcomes trans people and those who are “trans attracted.” Jamie is suitably attired for the evening’s activities in panties, a slip, and thigh hi stockings. The rest of the crowd is either also scantily clad or naked. What went on at the party? Jamie let’s you know in this post, and she gives you the information you need to find such a party in your area. Be advised that this post is about sex so if you are easily shocked it may be a post you should skip.
Being “Out” Is Now In
Our political correspondent Babs Casbar Siperstein has met a number of trans women who have worked hard, gotten educated and made their way successfully in the business world. Now she is happy to report that two of them have decided to leave their mainstream jobs behind to devote themselves to working for the trans community. What’s exciting is that there are now organizations that serve trans people’s needs that can hire people for real salaries. Meet two of Bab’s friends who are now gainfully employed in a trans organization.
One of the hardest thing you’ll ever do!
What’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do? Cate O’Malley believes that it’s coming out as trans. Today she blogs about a book and TEDx Talk by a straight man who, as an experiment, “came out” to his small religious community as a gay man. While he conducted his year-long experiment he was met with all of the reactions from friends and neighbors that you might expect, from being ignored to being the object of anger and scorn. All of that is pretty darned bad but Cate feels that it might just be harder to come out as trans. See what you think after you read her blog.
The Week In Trans — 9/5/16
What do we learn in this edition of The Week In Trans? Mexico is making progress on trans rights but it’s still a dangerous place to be trans. Mark Ruffalo is getting attacked for casting a cis male as a trans woman in a movie he is producing. Protests occur at Manchester Pride. A trans woman activist files a lawsuit against a school that expelled her for being trans. More restroom war news and an in-depth look at Gavin Grimm. Where to see a good drag show in London. A look at drag in 19th century London. A trans newspaper editor covers the trans restroom battle in his town. Lady Bunny says some semi shady drag queen stuff. A four-year-old in Australia is switching gender. There’s all that and more plus a few TWIT Awards in this edition of TWIT!
The Occasional Woman — Better Check Twice
What’s the last thing you do before you leave the house? Check your lipstick? Make sure you have everything in your purse? Ascertain that your cat has food in its bowl? In showbiz when the actors are ready to go on the set to shoot their scene the hair, wardrobe and makeup people all take what’s called a “last look.” That’s an overall check to make sure everything is right. That’s what The Occasional Woman recommends you take a moment to do before you walk out the door for you next adventure en femme. It can save you some embarrassment.
Rent is Due
Today Sophie reflects (some would say broods but that’s too harsh) on life as she approaches her 2016 birthday. As John Fogerty sang “Big wheel keeps on turning…” so go the years as we travel around the Sun on our small planet and Sophie looks back on the previous revolutions of the cosmic wheel and what she has done with those years. She also lets us know how she “pays the rent.” Today’s post is a moving column that will touch everyone — and it lets us know that we need to start planning her surprise birthday party.
Rocky Mountain High
Amanda blogs about her eight day vacation in Denver. She flew out, with some trepidation that she might have an anxiety attack on the plane, and arrived in Denver with no problems. She was picked up at the airport by her ex-partner Jess and she stayed with her friends Joan and Mary. After adjusting to the high altitude air and settling down from the flight she got to do some fun activities, including the kind of thing you can do legally in Denver, and she writes about it all today.
Crossdresser Memories #3
Julie Gaum is 91. She’s been crossdressing since she was 15, after an earlier incident at age 7. Now she has written a book to share her story with the world. The book is called “Never Climbed His Mountain.” Julie shares more of her crossdresser memories today with TGForum users as she takes you through her life telling about all of those years of having a secret joy.
Adventures in Androgyny
While Falecia runs her errands, walks the dog and then picks up some household items, she is subjected to compliments from people passing by. Did they mean it? Falecia dresses “androgynously” in women’s jean and booties with feminine touches in the accessories. Are people becoming more accepting of males who present themselves to the world in a more feminine look? See what compliments Falecia got and what she thinks about dressing androgynously as a substitute for going out completely en femme in her latest post.
The Week In Trans 8/29/16
Welcome to The Week in Trans! You may wonder where the ‘genderism” went, and we are happy to answer. Dropping that part made sense since it’s easier to type “trans” than “transgenderism.” Also, the term “transgenderism” is outdated and offensive to some. What do we learn in TWIT today? A trans woman performance artist is suing Chicago so women can bare their breasts in bars. A research study shows that trans people’s brain structure is different. What does the Bible really say about trans people? Samoa prepares for its annual drag pageant. The DOJ creates a training video for police interactions with trans people. HB2 news! Courtney Act interviews people at a Trump rally. Steven Colbert revives that video with Rudy Giuliani in drag. Wigstock sets sail. All that and more plus a load of TWIT Awards is waiting for you in TWIT!
Everybody is an Activist
The advanced technology world makes everyone capable of expressing their opinion about any event anywhere in record time to millions of people. Twitter and Facebook, the “social media,” make everyone able to let the world know how you feel about everything, from which movies you think suck to your grief over the latest senseless murder atrocities. All you have to do is type it up and hit Post. Then you get that satisfying feeling of having done something that “matters.” The Artist D suggests that maybe your opinion doesn’t really matter the way you think it does. See if you agree.
A Recent “Scientific” Report is Harmful to Trans People
The conservative on the right wing of our nation’s politics don’t handle difference and change very well. They look at trans people as aberrations and deny that there is such a thing as a trans identity. Certain political groups know that these people are among their constituents and they work to reinforce their constituent’s feelings that trans people, along with the rest of the LGBT people, are a threat to conservatives. They use bad science to back up their assertions that trans people are a danger. Two of the right wing anti-trans “experts” published a report last week that claims there is no scientific basis for transgender identities. We refute that today in this editorial and in an essay by Dr. Dana Bevan.
Cherry Picking is Not Science
Last week a report was published in The New Atlantis, a quarterly journal with conservative or skeptical tendencies. It was about a “study” done by two individuals, Mayer and McHugh, who oppose the idea that trans people are real. They ascribe trans behavior to mental illness or a phase of child development. Their “study” has been picked up and disseminated by right wing media outlets. Our own scientist in residence, Dr. Dana Bevan, goes through the Mayer and McHugh “study” point by point and reveals how the authors cherry picked their data.
Perpetual Change: Rev. Yolanda, Part 2
The Rev. Yolanda Mapes is a drag queen musical minister whose live show “Rev. Yolanda’s Old Time Gospel Show” mixes that old time religion with gospel music and eastern philosophy. Last month Pamela DeGroff interviewed Yolanda about her upcoming projects. Today she presents Part 2 of that interview along with some musical news concerning Cyndi Lauper and does a review of new music by female rocker Kaye. It’s all in our TGF music column, Perpetual Change.
Go Gamer Girl, Go!
Before TGF contributor Diane Hutchinson identified as a woman she identified as a nerd. She was the kind of nerd who memorized the dialogue from every Star Trek television show and carried novelizations of the series around with her. Another big part of her nerd identity was board games. Not Monopoly or Risk though. Diane was an expert in more serious games that called for tactics and strategy. When she decided to transition she stopped gaming for six months but then returned as a girl gamer. Today she tells us how that went.
Don’t Be Outed By Your Voice!
Today we’re honored to present the first post about how to express your true gender with your voice by Marc Mitnick, MS, CCC-SLP, Board certified and licensed Speech, Language and Voice Pathologist and Director at Your Speech Therapist, Inc. Marc is based in Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach, Florida. In this first post he discusses the differences between male and female voices and how voices can be modified. We’re happy to present his expertise to our TGF readers.
The Week In Transgenderism 8/22/16
It’s The Week In Transgenderism! All the trans related news gathered in one place for your convenience. Today we learn how actor Mark Rylance created the character of Olivia on stage. I Am Cait bites the dust. Target will spend millions to add single occupancy restrooms. A trans model from the ’60s goes back to work. Federal buildings overseen by the GSA must let people use the restroom of their choice. Tricare will start covering health needs of trans military. Is your lipstick bad for you? A new documentary show about gender change in Britain. Names in the news: Castor Semenya, Ruby Corado and Dr. Aaron Devor. All that plus a lot more news, and a few TWIT Awards, is waiting for you in TWIT!
There Is No Joy in Mudville
Tasi Zuriack, our fashion guru, laments that the United States just isn’t a world leader anymore in the attire of its citizens. The malls are filled with people in t-shirts, ripped jeans, and flip flops or plastic shoes. And don’t even get her started about the kind of things you’ll see in a Walmart. According to Tasi this descent into fashion hell began in the 1960s and ’70s and by the ’90s all was lost. She feels it may be one reason that a well dressed crossdresser gets more attention at the mall. Her stylish outfit stands out from the drab ripped jeans and graphic t-shirt crowd. See if you agree.
