Recent Transgender Articles
A Christine-Jane Cartoon 2/16
Christine-Jane has been commenting on the crossdressing lifestyle for years. First appearing in trans-magazines and newsletters before there was an Internet, she now comes to TGForum to skewer crossdresser foibles and fears with her pens and pencils. Today she veers toward unabashed whimsey.
Them Old Workplace Blues
Amanda has been laboring in the fields of Big Box Land for too long. The demands of the job are becoming greater and the pay is not going up. Today was one of those days when she almost told some entitled, over paid, “guest” to do something that it would be best not to tell someone to do. If you want to keep your crappy job, that is. Will she ever make it to the Continent of Careers? Or will she stay stuck in the low paid Land of Jobs?
Meet Pa. Trans Activist Daye Lily Pope
There’s a new voice in Pennsylvania engaged in the fight for LGBT rights. Daye Lily Pope is a young woman who has the title Transgender Rights Organizer at Equality Pennsylvania. Equality PA is a state-wide organization working to assist LGBT people. We had the opportunity to interview Ms. Pope and asked her to define her organization’s […]
The Occasional Woman: Makeup!
Lorraine Anderson, the seamstress behind The Occasional Woman custom clothing business, wrote last month about something she is not an expert on. She took on the subject of makeup. — something she normally wears very little of. But, at the prodding of friends and family, she decided to write about makeup both before and after a professional makeover. Today, after she visited the Urban Decay makeup counter and had the makeover, she talks about the experience and which products were used to update her look.
Opinion Editorial — Why Spread Bad Information?
A wise man once said it’s important to know your enemy. While there are many people that could be considered enemies to members of the trans community the hardest ones to understand are not those who are totally ignorant. Ignorance can be a factor in why someone would treat trans people badly. The ones that are hard to understand are those who have been a part of the community and left to advocate for laws allowing discrimination against trans people and telling the world that there is no such thing as transgender and trans people are deluded and sick. One such person is anti-trans activist and writer Walt Heyer.
The Week In Transgenderism 2/15/16
It’s The Week In Transgenderism! This week we learn that trans and gender nonspecific models are a trend. A Canadian trans teen finds comfort in cheerleading. A trans man will be on the cover of Men’s Health Germany. Blindness didn’t stop one drag performer. RuPaul’s Drag Race heads into season eight. Bathroom bills and restroom wars abound. A New Zealand Maori drag performer is honored. A digital transgender archive is now on the Web. Honey Labronx is a vegan queen. Trans people are now welcome in the Australian Defense Force. All that plus a lot more and a ton of TWIT Awards awaits you in TWIT!
Dina’s Diner 2/15/16
Come in out of the cold and take a seat at Dina’s Diner. Have a hot cup of coffee or a bowl of Dina’s delicious chicken soup and warm yourself while she tells you what’s going on. Today her specials include the tale of a young woman who believes she is a cat. There’s the dish on a new modeling agency for trans models; the story of how Justin Bieber’s feminine beauty (he’s like a prettier Miley Cyrus) got him his record deal; Dina’s appreciation of the “snow bunny” winter look, and some dish about weather women and weight loss commercial stars. Are they enhancing their figures? Read Dina’s Diner and learn!
Perpetual Change: CD Review, Mood Swings by Jennifer Leitham
Today Pamela DeGroff reviews the latest CD from trans woman, jazz musician and composer Jennifer Leitham. It’s called Mood Swings and features original compositions and Leitham’s take on the songs of others, including The Beatles’ You Won’t See Me. Then Pamela brings us info on upcoming performances by some trans performers and reviews a new CD by a group called Chairlift. The CD is titled Moth. Tune in for music news and commentary and check out Perpetual Change.
Podcast: Part 2 of The Jennifer Leitham Interview
In December Pamela DeGroff featured Jennifer Leitham in her year end music buying guide and we ran an interview that Ms. Leitham did for the YourTrueGender podcast. Today, to compliment Pamela’s review of the Mood Swings CD we present Part 2 of the Jennifer Leitham interview. Ms. Leitham responds to questions about her music, her […]
Can We Just Pee? Please?
Diane Hutchinson transitioned in 1999 and has been using the lady’s rooms in public spaces for years. She doesn’t often think about the ginned up “controversy” over trans people using the restroom that matches their gender. She just walks right in when she must. But recently she had the experience of hearing two people she knows and likes talking about the issue in a misinformed manner. Find out what she purposes as one way to attack the bills being introduced to ban trans people from the restrooms that match their gender in her opinion piece, Can We Just Pee? Please?
Retro Rerun: Shopping 101, Wigs and Coats
Jessica Brandon was the TGForum in-house bargain shopper back in the 1990s. She had a BS degree—Bachelorette of Spending—from What’s A Matta U. Even though you have to add a few dollars to the prices she quotes for wigs and coats we find that her advice on shopping for those items remains relevant today to the girl who is just starting to explore crossdressing and needs to find bargains that fit her crossdressing budget.
David de Alba Interviews Criselda Crescini
David de Alba, the Cuban Legend, is not only a female impersonator par excellance but also has conducted many interview with other performers who practice the art of impersonation and female illusion. Today David has allowed us to reprint an interview with Criselda Crescini, a performer from the Philippines who now lives and works in Germany. Ms. Cresini is a star of the European drag world. David has a show coming up in Las Vega on April 24. We include details of that appearance at the end of the Cresini interview.
The Week In Transgenderism 2/8/16
It’s The Week In Transgenderism! Today we learn about the beauty pageant queen who became a man. A Girl Scout whose neighbor wouldn’t buy her cookies from “a boy in a dress” sold 3000 boxes after she took her story online. The Nicole Maines case decision is being ignored by Maine’s governor. A trans girl in Australia is lobbying for change. A woman in Russia is suing over lost value of her GRS savings since the ruble sank. A new report says trans kids in the restroom are no trouble. The military adds medical care for trans soldiers. Students in a California high school dress as the opposite gender to protest the dress code. There’s all that and a load of TWIT Awards waiting for you in TWIT!
I Am the Non-Binary Boogieman
It’s a big, wonderful world and it’s full of possibilities. Why should we be limited to expressing only two gender identities? That’s the question The Artist D poses today. Why not be able to be femme one day, masculine the next and a mixture of both, or none, on another day? The Artist D wants to shake the gender identity tree and see what falls out. See if you agree.
“Message from Stan’s Wife”
They are called “chasers” or “admirers.” They are men who are attracted to trans women. While they may get married to cis women and have families they are always looking for love on the down low with a trans woman. But when they’re not discreet about it their secret can get out. An e-mail to a friend of Linda’s gets her friend into a prolonged conversation with the wife of one of her ‘admirer’ friends. Does the phrase ‘eternal triangle’ come to mind?
Dr. Sherman Leis: Let Intersex Children Choose
Children With Ambiguous Genitalia Should be Given Time to Decide Which Gender They Identify With (Philadelphia, PA) – Children with intersex conditions — those born with genital ambiguity – should be allowed time for their brains and gender identity to develop naturally before their gender is decided, says Dr. Sherman Leis, renowned transgender surgeon and the founder of The Philadelphia Center […]
Research Study Needs Your Help
A research study on sexual preferences is looking for input from the trans community. I you would like to participate your contribution will remain completely anonymous. Here is the call for participants: My name is Bogdan Kostic and I’m an assistant professor of psychology at Missouri State University. I’m doing research on people’s sexual preferences […]
The Week In Transgenderism 2/1/16
From around the world and down your street, it’s The Week In Transgenderism! All the trans related news gathered in one place for easy consumption. Today we learn that Jaden Smith wants people to stop being scared. Jazz Jennings is writing a memoir. Holly Woodlawn bequeaths money to a trans youth charity. Caitlyn Jenner is not responsible. Michelle DuBarry is the world’s oldest performing drag queen. More backlash for Jeremy Clarkson’s comments. The FAA makes it easier for trans pilots. Arguments are heard in Gavin Grimm’s lawsuit. Comic Louie Anderson plays a female character on TV. Family Guy’s TS episode is okayed by Britain’s oversight organization. All that and a few TWIT Awards are currently waiting for you in TWIT!
Medical Help for Transgender Military: Call to Action
The U.S. military is currently examining the ban on transgender people serving openly. But directives issued last year by the Department of Defense make it clear that the military is aware of its trans soldiers and is going to let them serve openly. Dana Bevan believes that while the road to trans acceptance in the U.S. military is going to be short one the various branches of the service are not at all prepared to deliver medical care to trans soldiers, sailors and airmen/women. Does she think they can get their act together? Read on and see.
Do You Have the Secret to Great Style?
It’s fairly obvious what constitutes fashion. It’s the designs, the clothing and accessories that make the woman. But what is “style”? That’s a concept that is a bit less concrete. It’s possible to wear thrift shop chic and have style. It’s equally possible to wear a designer suit and not have style. Today Tasi Zuriack writes about style and tells you about a Style Contest.
First Event 2016 — A Blast!
TGF Contributor Christine Zee travels a lot and in the course of her travels she visits events around the country. Her first report for 2016 is about her time at First Event 2016, the thirty sixth occurrence of this annual event in Boston. Find out how it went and view a slideshow of photos in our Event Correspondent’s report.
Political Platforms — Just the Facts, A Stunning Tale of Two Parties
Babs writes about the differences between the two main political parties when it comes to how they view the trans community. One party works diligently to add protections for the rights of LGBT people and the other party puts even more effort into trying to suppress LBGT rights. Even when that party tries to be more inclusive they just can’t seem to go all the way. Babs has all the info on where they stand.
I Like Hats
If blending in and passing is what you strive for when you’re out and about in public then this column is not aimed at you. Cate O’Malley has made a decision to not adhere to the dictates of fashion or to just blend in. She has firm likes and dislikes and when she dresses to go out for the day she dresses the way she likes. She also urges others to do fashion their way. Will that approach work for you?
The Week In Transgenderism 1/25/16
What’s in the transgender news? A six-episode web series called Her Story has debuted online. A big name check printing company writes a large settlement check over trans discrimination. Pre-op trans athletes are cleared to compete in the Olympics. Kate Bornstein is on the road. An all-girls school features two former students on their alumni mag cover — they’re trans men. The costume designer for The Danish Girl is nominated for an Oscar. Lypsinka performs as a man. The benefactor behind the U of V trans studies chair. A trans modeling agency opens in India. Rebecca Root’s TV series is renewed. The Montana governor signs an anti-discrimination executive order. Caitlyn Jenner is writing a book. Edinburg University bans offensive Halloween costumes. All that plus a whole raft of TWIT Awards is waiting for you in TWIT!
“I Know How You Feel”
Sophie Lynne has been wondering whether people who tell her they know how it feels to be treated differently because she is transgender means can really have an understanding of what it’s like. As a trans person she admits that she doesn’t know what it’s like to have been born with a female body. How can cisgender people have a clue about what it’s like to be trans? Sophie has one idea.
The Occasional Woman: Makeup! Part 1
Today the head seamstress of The Occasional Woman, Lorraine Anderson, drops the subject of clothing to discuss something many of us could use help and advice about: makeup. It’s not that she’s an expert in the area of face decoration and enhancement. Far from it. Her usual makeup routine is basic and, routine. When she was a teen her paint was extreme. Now it’s minimal and she wants to learn how to do more, but not too much. Dip into cosmetics with her in this first of a two-parter on makeup.
