Recent Transgender Articles
Ladyboys Getting Older
Today Christine Burr, our correspondent in Thailand, talks with a former star of the ladyboy cabaret scene in Pattaya. Now she works as a makeup artist and is lucky to have a boyfriend who is devoted to her. For other ladyboys who make a living on the stage it doesn’t always turn out so well. Christine talks to Khun Bee about what happens to most ladyboys as they grow older.
The Week In Transgenderism 12/15/14
The 7th season cast of “Drag Race” is announced. There’s a book on the history of high heels. New York state law says insurance plans must cover treatments for gender dysphoria. A new reality show is title My Transparent Life. A trans woman in the U.K. is the first to run for Parliament. The Air Force Secretary is for letting TGs serve. The SF Transit Police are getting a TG policy. A Kinsey Sick is becoming a rabbi. Batgirl comics loses cred for a stereotypical character. There’s all that plus more and a few TWIT Awards besides, in this edition of TWIT!
Perpetual Change — Year End Music Review/Shopping Guide
Every year at year’s end Pamela DeGroff makes and list, checks it twice, and then puts it in her Perpetual Change column here on TGForum. Her list is a compilation of the music she has reviewed during the year so you are reminded of how great the artists are and will go to their websites, Amazon and iTunes to give the gift of music. She calls it the Year End Music Review/Shopping Guide.
Patty Keene — From Boy to Girl to. . . ?
A 12 year old boy, small for his age, learned he gets more respect by posing and looking like a 16-17 year old girl. He did so well at it that he was able to pass as a girl to enter a co-ed boarding school. (See parts I and II of Patty’s Story) That is, he was able to pass until nature caught up with him. Forced to leave the school he didn’t know what would be coming next.
Calls from the Bone Garden
You can always count on The Artist D to provide a counter viewpoint to almost anything in life. Today she lines up opposite the cheery, happy and bright universe to praise rainy days and dreary nights. But don’t assume it’s just doom and gloom. There’s a little gleam of light poking out a bit from behind the dark clouds. Give it and read and learn just what it is.
Inspiration — Lynn Conway at The University of Michigan
By Kristina Mayhem Over one hundred people gathered for a special presentation called Leading Inclusion: Gender in Engineering on November 18th 2014 in Chesebrough Auditorium on the beautiful University of Michigan North Campus. It was sponsored by Own It, a UofM organization of student engineers. Own It wants more inclusiveness in engineering and cited statistics […]
The Trans Military Situation
Recent changes in the military have given some hope that the estimated 15,000 plus trans soldiers will be able to serve openly in the near future. Is it reasonable to assume that since a few signs of progress have been seen that the services will quickly change their transgender policy? Babs Casbar Siperstein takes a look at the progress made.
Dawn Benedict — CD Private Eye: Sherry Pops a Fuse
Crossdressing detective Dawn Benedict was hired to investigate the murder of a woman in the restroom of a popular lesbian bar. The murder victim’s girlfriend hired Benedict since, as a crossdresser, she has a better chance of blending in with the bar’s clientele. In Chapter 2 Benedict started the investigation. Things didn’t go well. There was another murder — and Dawn was outed as a CD. In Chapter 3 Benedict found a suspect, of sorts. Will she survive Chapter 4 and catch the killer?
The Week In Transgenderism 12/8/14
Nicole Maines has won a $75,000 settlement with her former school. A US Dept. of Education memo protects trans students from the kind of thing Maines was subjected to. Drag stars are doing holiday shows in NYC all month long. Minnesota TG student athletes can pick their teams. Another photographer document Cuban TGs. India’s first trans newsreader advocates for change. Miami-Dade has extended protections to TGs. Panti Bliss gets her just reward from Stephen Fry. All that and a lot more is waiting for you in TWIT!
A Letter to My Daughters
Dana Bevan chose to “come out” to her adult daughters by sending them a letter in which she revealed that she is a trans woman. Since Dana is an expert on trans issues her letter not only tells her daughters about her gender status but gives them important information about how gender is assigned. We bring you her letter today so you can see how Dana handled telling her daughters and in hopes that you will find her technique useful if you have to come out to someone.
I Don’t Get It!
As a trans woman coming to femininity later in life there are plenty of things that Cate O’Malley is finding frustrating about her new femme lifestyle. Shoe shopping for male feet was simple. Not so with shoe shopping as a lady. And why can you try on two dresses, both the same size, and have one that hangs off your body and one so tight you can’t zip it up? Cate has other things too that make her say “I don’t get it!”
Chanelle Does Her Nails
Chanelle demonstrates a fast and simple way to attach your fake nails that won’t damage your real nail and makes it easy to remove your nails for reuse. How does she do it? You have to watch her video tutorial on mastering this simple technique.
Love Versus the Sword
Too often people on this Earth who claim to be religious and pious are instead intolerant and show bias. The worst of the religious right don’t just condemn LGBT people to Hell for being who they are. They want to put LGBT in Hell by having them executed. This is not just a trait of radical Islamists, or of Christian sects in Africa. Today Meggan Sommerville points to two “ministers” who preach hate.
Dr. Sherman Leis’s Predictions for TG Trends in 2015
(Bala Cynwyd, PA) Dr. Sherman Leis, founder of The Philadelphia Center for Transgender Surgery, one of the leading resources for transgender surgery and medical support in the United States, has identified 10 important trends that will affect America and its transgender community in 2015. “Although society has made a great deal of progress for the […]
The Occasional Woman — Fun With Fabric
A good dress is a dress that flatters your figure. No one wants to wear a dress that makes them appear bigger in the middle but the wrong choice of fabric can do that. What might otherwise be a charming frock becomes an infernal device that adds the illusion of extra poundage where it’s definitely not needed. Today Lorraine Anderson talks about using fabric in the correct manner to enhance your glamor, not your waistline or shoulders.
The Week In Transgenderism 12/1/14
It’s The Week In Transgenderism! Panti Bliss wins an award. Does a Pentagon personnel policy mean TGs can serve openly? A trans woman convicted for “walking while trans” appeals. Women’s colleges are dealing with trans issues. 19th century crossdressing! The Canadian Senate is blocking a trans rights bill. A trans woman is starring in a play about a trans woman who is outed, and the play may out her. TGs don’t get good healthcare. There’s a film called “Alaska Is A Drag.” Our Lady J is writing for “Transparent.” All that plus more — and several TWITS are waiting for you in TWIT.
Holiday! It’s Gonna be…
Sophie Lynne welcomes the holiday season with this post. She discusses greed and giving. While the greed part makes it hard to stay on a positive note Sophie manages to veer away from greed and the materialism that seems to plague the season. She suggests an excellent way to give to your brothers and sisters that is special at this time of year. And she manages to work in a shameless plug for Angela’s Laptop Lounge. Now that’s the spirit of giving.
Christine-Jane Stars in a Documentary
Near the beginning of the year we ran a post by a documentary film maker named Jamie Lee Ryan in which she asked for volunteers to be part of a program for British TV about married crossdressers. Our cartoon contributor Christine-Jane and her wife answered the call. The program has been produced and today Christine-Jane takes us behind the scenes on the show.
A Christine-Jane Cartoon 12/14
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. If the ladies in her cartoons seem familiar it’s because they are. We’ve all either met them or been them. Today: Sometimes it’s hard to get a little “me” time.
Where Have All The Slips Gone?
Today Tasi Zuriack explores the mystery of what ever happened to the women’s undergarment called the slip. Just a couple of decades ago slips were part of most women’s wardrobes. They had both practical and esthetic purposes and could be found in stores ranging from Kmart to high end boutiques. Now searching for a sexy slip can be a hard slog. Get some tips from Tasi.
Dina’s Diner 11/24/14
Dina Amberle has been working on a pot of stew to serve at Dina’s Diner and here it is for your edification and enjoyment. Today she mixed in several ingredients including how boys are discouraged from wearing feminine Halloween costumes; powerful women are relaxing about dressing more femme; high heels are sexy, and a dash of corsetry for spice. Stop into the Diner and get your fill.
Ladyboys by Degrees
A recent interaction with a group of ladyboys got Christine Burr thinking about transgenderism. The women were modeling wedding dresses at an event promoting various wedding salons to prospective brides. Christine started talking to them about what it means to be a ladyboy in Thailand. After listening to them and ruminating on transgenderism in general she has come to some conclusions.
A Visit with “TransCuba” Author Mariette Pathy Allen
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.
David de Alba Interviews FI Brian Keith
David de Alba has done many interviews with female impersonators and other celebrities. He has kindly given consent to reproduce his interviews on TGF. Today we bring you his interview with Brian Keith. (Not the actor in The Parent Trap.) Brian Keith was the last emcee of the show at Finocchio’s famous impersonation club in San Francisco. We also have a video of Keith filling in for Frank Marino in the Divas Las Vegas show.
Transgender Day of Remembrance 2014
The Transgender Day of Remembrance is this coming Thursday and Babs Casbar Siperstein blogs about the event and the its significance to the transgender community as a whole. It’s not just about hate crimes against trans people. The violence we suffer is indicative of a pervasive atmosphere of discrimination against trans people in employment, housing and civil rights. Read what Babs has to say about the progress we’ve made and the progress that is still needed.
