Recent Transgender Articles
Open Letter to J.K. Rowling
Dear Ms Rowling, You say you only want to be heard. That is a reasonable request. I read your essay. You say that you are being attacked, and are even receiving threats of violence. I’ll start my response by promising no violence, and the sincere hope that you don’t feel attacked by me. Tempers can […]
C’mon Girls Let’s Have Some Fun
Pauline Estelle recognizes that we are all going through some tough times. She has one suggestion for how to make things more bearable. She suggests that we all get dressed up! And she provides a blue print for just how to celebrate in a glamorous manner in the isolation of your home.
Community Pride Groups Help Make Change
What is “Community Pride”? I think in the context of the LGBTQ it is a combination of stereotypes, truths, contradictions and drag queens. Anyone who has any experience within the community can recognize it sight unseen: the effusive interactions, over-the top grandeur and effete snobbery; but also the loving camaraderie. Oh, but let’s not be […]
New Column: ‘Tell Shelley Anne’ is Coming
For the past six years, California-based journalist Shelley Anne Baker has engaged with the transgender community and loves it! She came out big time when she decided to reveal her feminine side to her wife and family and has never looked back. She’s not shy about telling trusted people, who will listen, about her life’s […]
The Week In Trans 6/8/20
Time for The Week In Trans! Today we learn that battles are still underway in state legislatures to block trans rights. In the streets the safety of trans people is still threatened everyday. The protests against the killing of unarmed black people includes the killing of black trans people. The Los Angeles Pride parade is canceled because of the pandemic but now a march along the parade route will be held on June 14 as part of the protest marches. Three trans women candidates are running for office in Vermont. A woman who founded a high tech company writes about being a trans woman in the tech industry. Lilly Wachowski speaks to The Hollywood Reporter about the how her and her sister being trans influenced The Matrix. How much prize money has been handed out on RuPaul’s Drag Race? Out has the numbers. L’Oreal, the company that dropped a trans spokes model for commenting on white supremacy, tweeted out a BLM positive message. The times they are a changing. There’s all that and a veritable plethora of other news waiting for you in TWIT!
Drag in Cinema – The Early 2000s
We pick up Drag in Cinema in the year 2000 with the Ving Rhames made-for-TV movie Holiday Heart. The early years of the 21st century featured several films that show cases male actors adopting drag, from comedy drag like Big Momma’s House, to the more realistic female impersonation of Juwanna Man. And of course the problematic Sorority Boys. Join us for a walk down the history of drag in cinema for the early years of the 21st century.
Sabrina Symington’s “She” Episode 34
Kay has found her way to Natalie at last but as she enters the “savoring” chamber where she find her there is a strange sensation, like bursting through a membrane. And instead of being happy to see Kay Natalie is appalled that she has entered the chamber. Now she is in danger, too. Up above their heads there are dozens of inimical wraithlike things that gleefully watch the two helpless women who are totally within their power. Could things get worse? Oh, yes.
The Occasional Woman — A Woman Needs a Plan
Lorraine Anderson isn’t wasting her time isolating at home on foolishness like baking sourdough bread or watching everything streaming on NetFlix. Nope, Miss Anderson has a plan to dump the old wardrobe items she hasn’t worn in years and refurbish the really great items. The plan has been put into place on every floor of her house and it’s yielding items that need no work and fit perfectly, so she’s gaining wardrobe items that were taking up space in the attic and dumping out the things that no longer fit or need too much work with a needle and thread. Check out her plan in today’s edition of The Occasional Woman.
A Psychoanalytic Model of Transgenderality
Over the past century or so various learned individuals have arrived at theories of what makes a man and what makes a woman. To some of these (male) theorists it was apparent that women don’t really exist. Just and example of how over thinking is never a good thing. Today Kristina Leigh explores several of the theories of sexuality and gender that were arrived at years and years ago and influence people’s perceptions of why men are men and women are. . . And of course the existence of transfeminine people totally upsets the theorists. Are you ready? Here is A Psychoanalytic Model of Transgenderality.
The Week In Trans 6/1/20
Today we learn a small town in France elects the first transgender mayor in that country. Trans student’s deadnames are used in online learning, when they were told those names would not be used. A black trans man at the scene of a murder is shot to death by police who thought he reached for a weapon. The US Department of Education says trans female high school athletes violate the rights of cisgender athletes. A teenage dancer holds the trans pride flag while performing on TV. Gavin Grimm has graduated and moved on but his case moves back to Circuit Court for an appeal by the school board. Mj Rodriguez and Zaya Wade are named women of the year. Trans Maryland has a new program that will pay the cost of a name change in that state. Being Bucky is a children’s book about a transgender chicken. Georgina Beyer is awarded Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. A Columbian trans woman model goes viral with a photo of her kissing her pregnant husband’s baby bump. There’s all that and a lot more, plus a couple of TWIT Awards waiting for you in TWIT!
Dina’s Diner, June 1, 2020
Dina Amberle has been on the kitchen at Dina’s Diner cooking up a passel of good brain food. Some of her ingredients in today’s fare includes a trans woman who went from wearing frilly clothes, heels and makeup to being comfortable with herself in no makeup and more androgynous clothes. Then she stirs in several paragraphs on the male geishas of Japan, blends in some dish on a man who gave up med school to make copies of all of Madonna’s video costumes so he could wear them, and spices it all up with the inspiration she found in What’s My Line? and an experiment that put men into women’s bathing suits. To savor the full taste and aroma of today’s dish you have to step into Dina’s Diner.
TransTainment!
TransTainment is all the news about transgender people in show business. Whether trans actors, or trans characters we cover it in TransTainment. Along with transgender musicians and singers, and television stars. Today we have news about Kim Petras’s new pandemic isolation video for her song “Malibu’, the story of how Richard E. Grant suffered in his custom heels to portray a drag queen, a trans woman character in a Mexican NetFlix show, and more!
Sabrina Symington’s “She” Episode 33
Kay finds Natalie, her missing wife, in a strange, organic-like space. First she fears that Natalie is rejecting her when Nat yells “No!” Then she learns that she and Natalie are not alone. Above them malevolent shades peer down into the cage, for it is a cage, that holds them. Natalie warns Kay that there is no escape. As the murky darkness dwellers above them watch all Kay and Nat can do is cling to one another and wait for what’s to come.
Trans Spirituality
Rabbah Rona Matlow, our spiritual correspondent, writes about faith in the current virus epidemic. Some people feel cut off from their spiritual anchors because they are unable to gather with others of their faith. Others deny faith as not being helpful and turn to science for instruction and information. As a former scientist, and current spiritual counselor who works with people of all religions — or none, Rabbah Rona shares more of her thoughts on the subject.
The Cedar Chests, Finale!
For eight chapters Mary Jo has pushed her husband Tom into feminizing and engaging in lady type activities. it all started when Tom found a number of cedar chests full of women’s clothing from the 1800s in a house on his parent’s property that he was renovating. No one remembers much about who used to live there and the place was empty for years, hiding the trove of dresses, corsets and shoes. Mary Jo was inspired to dress Tom in one of the gowns and soon he was growing his hair, having facials and getting his nails done. Today the tale of his transformation into Claire comes to a close. Or does it?
Two More Isolated Beauties
Two more isolated beauties to our Isolated Beauties feature. If you haven’t sent your photo yet, or if you have a different photo in another outfit send it along.
The Week In Trans 5/25/20
It’s The Week In Trans! Today we learn that Elon Musk has apparently taken the “red pill.” Joe Biden vows to protect civil rights for LGBTQ people. A trans woman was denied a job at a chain restaurant because of her gender. The Puerto Rican legislature approves its civil rights code, but there may be a problem. Victor Orban makes “birth sex” mandatory on IDs. Idaho would like to start enforcing its ban on changing birth certificates for transgender people so they have asked a judge to say it’s okay. They didn’t get satisfaction on another issue as the Supreme Court refused to stop a prisoner in Idaho from getting state paid GCS. Pop singer Demi Levato declares “Trans rights are human rights!” Ten trans women who made a dangerous journey through Central America and Mexico to seek asylum in the U.S. have won their case. Skittles will be white for Pride Month because only one rainbow counts. There’s all that and a ton more waiting for you in TWIT!
Makeup Memories
Given our Chicago correspondent’s home situation isolating at home has meant no feminine activities. She hasn’t put on makeup in three months and she fears that when she is finally able to paint and primp she may have forgotten how it’s done. To fight that feeling Julie has written her blog on her beautification process. If she can remember all the steps after three months she will stop worrying about losing the knowledge. And she posts a blog filled with her makeup tips!
Sabrina Symington’s “She” Episode 32
After weeks of being told that Natalie has just deserted her and left Kay has finally found her missing wife. But, she has found her in some strange dimension where the landscape is a labyrinth of corridors and a crazed monster with sharp instruments does vivisection on live people. Natalie is in some sort of illuminated space, which appears empty except for her. As Kay rushes to embrace her Natalie seems to reject her with a cry of “No!” Kay feels hurt but only for a moment. Her hurt turns to a deeper fear when Natalie shows her they are not alone. Prepare yourselves for Episode 32.
Giving It Up
Linda Jensen has found an unexpected benefit to being isolated at home. She is getting in touch with people she met earlier in her life. They are reaching out to her to comment on her posts here on TGF. One lady she hadn’t heard from in years wrote to comment on one of Linda’s posts and also to wonder how some of the people they both know were able to put their femme side away while quarantining with family that had no knowledge of their femme side. And, Linda’s friend is benefitting from isolation as now her wife is not worried that anyone will be stopping by their house so Linda’s friend is able to dress everyday.
Fantasia Fair
Last October I went to Provincetown, Massachusetts with my friends, David and Jerry. No, because of David and Jerry. Provincetown, or Ptown, is a resort town all the way at the tip of Cape Cod. It is owned and operated largely by members of the LGBT community, and a well-known vacation spot for the nation’s […]
Never Argue With the Judge
In our legal system the judge is the top dog. The big kahuna. The big boss with the hots sauce. In other words they are in charge, totally. Kristine Holt learned early in her legal career that arguing with a judge is not a good idea, if you want to win the case. She did however disagree with a fellow attorney (who ironically is now a judge) and it turned out Kristine was right. How she disagreed led to a positive outcome in a later case. Read on and learn how.
The Week In Trans 5/18/20
I’s time for The Week In Trans! Today we learn that a transgender Navy enlistee has gained a “waiver” to remain in the service. The State Department is ordered to reconsider issuing a passport with an “X” for an intersex individual. Moving lessons online has been a problem for some trans students. Aimee Stephens, the trans woman who sued her former employee for firing her, has passed away. Presidential candidate Joe Biden was scheduled to call Ms. Stephens on the day she passed away. More lawsuit news, and violence against trans women reports. It’s impossible to socially distance in the ICE detention center. A metal band member comes out as a trans woman. A non-binary dominatrix is doing their dominating in an online game. Calvin Klein is featuring trans and non-binary people in its new ad campaign. There’s all that news and more with a few TWIT Awards just waiting for you in TWIT!
Some New Isolated Beauties
More Isolated Beauties photos have arrived and we bring them to you for your enjoyment. Why haven’t we posted your photo taken while you dress up in your favorite outfit while you isolate at home? There should be plenty of part time ladies, as well as trans women, who would like to share what they wish they were able to wear for travels out and about. Set up your tripod or take a selfie with your smart phone and share your fashion sense with everyone.
The Occasional Woman — A New Fashion Accessory?
This month Lorraine Anderson talks about the advantages for male to female crossdressers presented by the new rules requiring masks. Could masks become a coveted fashion accessory? Anything can happen in the world of fashion! Lorraine also discusses how to wear your mask, the difference between mask styles, and reminds you that as the owner of a custom clothing business she can sew you a mask in any pattern you like.
