Recent Transgender Articles
A Christine-Jane Cartoon 4/14
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: a lesson in hearing what you want to hear.
TransVocalizers — Great Drag Music Videos — and more
In TransVocalisers Pamela DeGroff presents two music videos — “Princess Boy” by Aline Queen and “Animal” by Berlin that feature males in drag interacting with the female singers. Then she brings you a good sized helping of new music reviews of Billy Porter (Lola from the stage production of “Kinky Boots”), Sevyn Streeter, and Christina Perri. Check out videos and audio clips.
Weak or Strong?
Today Nikki Nicole asks if you think TGs are weak or strong. She asks because she’s noticed that some of the community seem to embrace the word “sissy.” Are you a sissy if you have male parts but dress up like a woman? Doesn’t it make you a strong person to face the trials that crossdressing can submit you to and isn’t it being a sissy to hide in your closet? See what Nikki thinks and read Weak or Strong?
Tasi’s Take on Spring Fashion Trends
Spring is here. The weather is warming, the stores are stocked with spring fashions, the fashion mags have told us about all the new trends (too many to keep track of) and the runway shows are over until the fall. How do we make sense of it all or do we really even care? Some […]
Labels and Myths: Part 2
Continuing on from my last column, where I looked at some of the (many) labels often attached to people from within our community, let’s now look at some of the key myths we are plagued with. Coupling labels and myths together, it’s no wonder that we are grossly misunderstood by the public at large — […]
PERPETUAL CHANGE — “High Maintenance” by The Sexual Side Effects
Our hard working music columnist got her hands on a copy of The Sexual Side Effects’ new EP “High Maintenance” and she reviews it today. Listen to clips of the band’s music while you read Pamela’s review. The Sexual Side Effects leader Amber Taylor is out in front of the band and an out TG rocker. Their music is flavored by ’80s and Alt rock ’90s styles. Pamela also has mini reviews of new music from Kylie Minogue and re-released music from Cyndi Lauper. Plus other TG music news!
How to Love You
As the transgender world is dug into like an Alaskan snow drift it’s revealing all sorts of things to the world. The community is opening up to a world of questions from the media. With every positive outing there is always a negative shadow lurking somewhere in some other article. I see so much negativity […]
Moving Trans* History Forward Symposium Reviewed
Our occasional contributor and TG icon Dallas Denny participated in the Moving Trans* Forward Symposium last month at the University of Victoria on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Also in attendance were several other TG icons including another occasional TGF contributor Ms. Bob Davis. Dallas posted a review of the event on her website and has […]
Book Review: Men Can Wear Dresses Too
Our contributor Nikki Nicole reviews a book that has just been released by another of our contributors, Catie Maye. The book is titled “Men Can Wear Dresses Too” and Catie says it “…represents not just my personal journey but a journey taken by everyone who in some way does not conform to the society definition of ‘normal.”
Transphobia in New Hampshire?
The fight for equal rights for transgendered people has hit another snag in the state of New Hampshire. A gay legislator is working to enshrine “sexual orientation” into the language and excluding “gender identity.” Meanwhile the Human Rights Campaign says there’s no need for a new law protecting TGs in New Hampshire. All TGs there have to do is file their discrimination complaint using being trans as a disability. Get the story from Babs!
The Audio History of Finocchio’s with David de Alba
David de Alba, the last of the entertainers from the golden years of the San Francisco impersonator club Finocchio’s to still be performing, has always been aware that unless it is preserved the story of the club and the performers of that era will fade away. In order to keep that time and those people […]
A Fall TG Weekend in Michigan
The Dunes Resort, the “Midwest’s largest GLBT Resort & Entertainment Complex” is “proud to be the place to come and be who you want to be.” If you are looking for a Midwest transgender friendly getaway this fall the Dunes Resort, near the sister communities of Saugatuck/Douglas, MI, may be the place for you to […]
I Was There: Keystone Conference 2014
The Keystone Conference in Harrisburg, Pa. is recent history. Our Sophie Lynne was there, with a new hair-do, and she has filed a report on the much anticipated weekend. She couldn’t be everywhere at once so she missed some of the goings on but what she does manage to do very well is give a feeling of the event.
Jason’s Transformation: One Small Step and One Giant Leap
Today Linda Jensen continues the story of Martin/Mary and his grandson Jason. When last she wrote of them it was to cover Jason’s makeover at a professional transformation service. It was the first time in complete femme mode for Jason and, thanks to Mary’s experience, they had brought along an outfit for Jazzy to wear on the trip back to Martin’s condo. Of course she didn’t want being dressed to end. Where do they go and what do they do in this installment? Jason picks a femme name for one thing. Read on.
Night of 1000 Gown 2014
Our political reporter Babs Casbar Siperstein is not all politics and activism. She likes to slip into an ostentatious outfit now and then and what event is better for that than Night of 1000 Gowns. That’s the Imperial Court of New York’s coronation of their Emperor and Empress. Babs was there this past Saturday night and she filed a report and a photo gallery.
My Confession
Dr. Dana Bevan has a confession to make. For fifty years she identified as a non-transsexual transgendered person. And as such she kept her TG feelings and desires hidden. She concentrated on service to her country and things stayed that way until the end of the cold war. That’s when her identity had to change and she realized she was a transsexual person. That’s when she also came to feel that no TS should put down non-TS TGs.
Video Fashion Tip — Eye Makeup Removal
Today Victoria Williams talks to us about eye makeup. Specifically she talks about how to remove eye makeup when you don’t have any of the specialized eye makeup removers. There you are, ready to get your makeup up off so you wash your face and it’s clean but there’s that stubborn eye makeup refusing to go away. Check out Victoria’s tip for a must-have item that will take it right off.
Dressing Up With The Occasional Woman
People often counsel others to keep thing in proportion. Usually they’re pontificating about some weighty, large seeming problem. The advice is good for most things but it’s essential when you’re trying to define your style. Some of the rules you need to know are self evident. Don’t carry a gigantic purse is you’re five foot zero. Other things need to be learned from a good teacher. Like Lorraine Anderson, proprietress of The Occasional Woman.
David de Alba Interviews Holly White
In 2001 David de Alba reconnected with former Finocchio’s star impersonator Holly White. After leaving that premier San Francisco nightclub Holly had gender reassignment surgery, continued to perform in venues in Europe and the USA and has settled down in her hometown state, Hawaii. David talks to her about her history from Finocchio’s to now.
A Christine-Jane Cartoon 3/24/14
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. How many have had today’s problem?
“How I Did It”: My Transition Plan
Today we say farewell to someone we first got to know several years ago. But we are not sad because his departure has opened the door for the full time existence of Sophie Lynne. Today is the last day the departing male will be around. On Tuesday Sophie begins her new life, full time, with no net. How did she get to this point? She tells all in her post today.
TransVocalizers — Pam Reviews the New Boy George CD
TransVocalizers is our column devoted to transgender singers. Today Pamela DeGroff reviews a new CD from Boy George. While the Boy isn’t exactly a transgender vocalist he was an inspiration to many CDs and TGs when he appeared in decidedly feminine makeup and attire with Culture Club. Pamela also provides you with some music news from TG artists who are active in the music scene.
Style Lessons from the “Mean Girls”
Style lessons from the Mean Girls or how to dress like a teenager, not that some of you need this advice. Still there are some fascinating takeaways from this smart, sassy and snarky comedy that describes how female high school social cliques operate and the effect they can have on girls. Of course what drives […]
A Case of Mistaken Identity
Grayson Perry, also known as “The Transvestite Potter,” has been in the UK news recently after being invited to Buckingham Palace to receive a CBE from Prince Charles. He wore a blue Italian “Mother of the Bride” outfit for the occasion, with a hat so large that the Prince couldn’t get the medal over his […]
Walk The Talk
Nikki Nicole makes a case today for members of the transgender community to not just talk the talk, but walk the walk. Or as she abbreviates it, “walk the talk.” What is her basic thesis? If you’re going to go out in public en femme then don’t dress like a hooker. Check out Nikki’s reasoning and let us know what you think of her thesis in the comment area.
Dina’s Diner 3/17/14
Dina’s Diner is serving up a heaping helping of Dina Amberle’s thoughts and rumination on items she sees in the ordinary press of this great land. She carefully plucks the items out, washes them and adds her own spices and secret sauces, transforming them into nutritious dishes for the Diner menu. See what she’s serving up today.
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