Recent Transgender Articles
The Week In Trans 1/8/18
It’s time for New Content on TGForum.com! First we present The Week In Trans! Today we learn that Paris Lees is the first trans woman featured in British Vogue. Housing rules for trans prisoners may be changing for the worst. There are five trans candidates running in the Democratic primaries in Texas. A car dealership “outed” a trans employee and a judge does not buy their defense. Trans people are now enlisting. A former drag performer is now a trans preacher. The book “Fire And Fury” says President Trump had no basis for his trans military ban. Scotland is working on a Gender Recognition Act similar to Ireland’s. A Spanish drag queen caused controversy by appearing in an Epiphany parade in Madrid. A speech clinic working with trans people in Utah is over booked. RuPaul is a Funko figurine. NYC drag kid Desmond is Amazing wants to create a “house” for drag kids. A Native American drag queen who lost 500 pounds has a remake of a Sylvester song charting in Billboard. There’s all that and plenty more in this edition of TWIT! Plus a few well deserved TWIT Awards!
A Sabrina Symington Toon! What Makes a Woman?
Today Sabrina Symington takes on the TERFs, that’s the Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists, who will not accept trans women as women. Which leads them to go out of their way to find reasons why transgender females are not women. Sabrina enters the fray with several verbal weapons. See how she defeats the TERF in today’s Sabrina Toon.
The Week In Trans 1/1/18
It’s a new year! We wish you and yours all the best in 2018! Now it’s time for our first TWIT of the new year! Today we learn that FX has picked up the show “Pose” which features the largest cast of trans actors in a scripted series. The DOJ has stopped fighting the enlistment of trans recruits. A trans woman who spent thousands on surgeries to look like a Bratz doll experienced an unfortunate problem. The man who stood in the way of the Texas bathroom bill is honored. Sam Smith posted drag photos on Instagram. More trans women are becoming candidates. Learn about a holiday party for trans people in Detroit. Two trans men are named male athletes of the year. Trans brain researcher Ben Barres passed away. There’s all that and more plus a few TWIT Awards to start the new year waiting for your perusal in TWIT!
Am I Gay?
Last month Cate O’Malley wrote about the worry she had when she was young that her need to present as a female might mean she was gay. She withstood taunts from bullies who called her derogatory terms for homosexual. In her confusion she thought that maybe the bullies were right. Finally she came to understand that she is not a gay man. She is a woman. This month she wonders if, since she is in a romantic relationship with another woman, her wife, does that make her a lesbian?
Worried about HIV? What you need to know about PrEP
There is a way to avoid contracting HIV and developing AIDS. Even for people who are sexually active with multiple partners. Of course if you are active you should take all steps to avoid infection. Always use condoms, for instance. But Dana Bevan has important information on another method of protection called “pre-exposure prophylaxis” or PrEP for short. PrEP is a pill taken every day. The drug is similar or identical to drugs used to treat HIV, except the PrEP drug is used to prevent the HIV virus from taking hold rather than lowering existing HIV levels. Learn more in Dana’s column.
Metamorphosis Chapter 16
Raquel and Mark, two parts of one person that became separated after drinking a strange potion, have been transported to another land. They trek to the north to do battle with “the Magistrate” but have been told by a woman named Lydia that one of them will not survive the confrontation. In a house that is a duplicate of their childhood home Raquel meets her “mother” and then her “father.” In our last chapter she was handcuffed to a bed and argues with Mark about their life. Will Raquel be the one to die? Learn more in Chapter 16 of Metamorphosis.
Getting Ready for the Ball!
Our political correspondent Babs Casbar Siperstein is preparing to attend the inaugural ball for the newly elected governor of New Jersey and she started musing about some of the other glamorous balls she has attended over the years. Everything from the Night of a Thousand Gowns in New York City to one of President Obama’s Inauguration Balls in Washington, D.C. One of the balls she attended gave her the chance to first meet Senator Frank Lautenberg and begin to talk to him about trans issues. Get your tiara and step into the glamor side of politics in Babs’ final report for 2017.
Going Out En Femme
Often time fear will keep a trans person from going out in public. Fear of taunts or even violence can persuade you to stay in the safety of your home instead of mingling with the general public. In some areas where tolerance isn’t known maybe that’s a good idea, but if your goal is to blend in with other women and “pass” as female you won’t learn the skills you need sitting in your living room. Kimberly Hirschel makes today’s topic for Kim’s Adventure Time why you should be going out en femme. You might make mistakes and have people stare but you will learn from those mistakes and become more comfortable in public asa result.
Meet Pauline Estelle — An English Lady in Canada
Today we are joined by a new contributor from Canada. Pauline Estelle is her name and she was born and raised in England where she grew up during the Second World War and began her adventure in crossdressing at the age of 12. She entered the British Royal Navy at 16 and after fourteen years she left the Navy to work in the engineering field. She and her family immigrated to Canada in 1968 and after her children were raised she began to explore crossdressing more often. Learn more about her life in this introduction blog.
The Week In Trans 12/25/17
Its The Week In Trans! Merry Christmas to one and all! Today we learn that a trans woman in Botswana will be legally female. President Trump’s Justice Department is working overtime to come up with reasons to keep trans people out of military service — but it’s not working. Judges keep blocking the ban. A report is out on the legal rights of trans people around the world. A trans woman has ridden her skateboard across the entire country — alone. A teacher in England has written books to explain transgender issues to young children. New British passports may have an X designation for gender fluid people. A trans woman in Brazil is a top female soccer star. 9-year-old queen Lactatia joins the House of Mizrahi. There’s all that and many worthy TWIT Award recipients waiting for you in this Christmas day edition of TWIT!
Holiday Party? Highlight Your Strengths
Our seamstress with fashion tips, Lorraine Anderson, proprietor of The Occasional Woman custom clothing service, has some suggestions for how to dress to impress for holiday parties without buying a whole new wardrobe. Since this is Christmas Day and the majority of Christmas parties are over use the next week to prepare for your New Year’s Eve affair. You’re sure to turn heads and make an impression with Lorraine’s budget fashion tips.
Back to Bedford Falls?
In 2010 Amanda F. Steele was living in Pittsburgh, Pa. as a male, with a wife, and a house. She came out that year and soon she was divorcing her wife, moved out of the house and living with relatives. Since then she has made a series of moves from one place and situation to another. Right now she is living in California, close to the magic and romance of San Francisco but due to the high cost of living in The City by the Bay is unable to cross the bridge and actually live there. So she lives miles to the east in a situation that is more negative than positive. At Christmas time she muses on whether she can return to her “Bedford Falls” and have A Wonderful Life.
Christmas? Humbug!
When it comes to Christmas cheer Sophie Lynne has nothing to say but “Bah. Humbug!” It’s not that she’s a Scrooge. It’s just that for her Christmas was never a time for all the good cheer and joy that is commonly presented a product of the season. Far too often the season is just about moving product and making the bottom line bigger at the end of the year. Also, Sophie works in retail and at Christmas time that can be even more stressful than during the rest of the year. In this Christmas day blog Sophie gives you some more reasons she’s not a fan of the season and she provides some historical facts about the day.
Princesas de la Noche – Damas de la Calle Rosa
Katherine Diaz writes about her evening activities in Bogota, Columbia. There is a full menu of activities for Princesses of the Night to partake of and Katherine samples the goings on at several place before walking through the rain to her usual spot. Read our Columbian correspondent’s latest report and view the accompanying video. En Espa?ol of course.
Transgender Voice Modification Therapy
So you’re all dressed up and looking good as an attractive woman should but you’re too worried to go out of the house and mingle with the rest of the world for fear that your male voice will give you away and trouble will ensue. There are two remedies for that and one requires doing a lot of work to achieve a believable feminine voice that matches your look. Speech therapist Marc Mitnick discusses the surgical and therapy options. Whether you are a part time girl or a trans woman finding your feminine voice is important.
An Australian Admirer’s Story
John Storey is an admirer of trans women and by his own admission a “Perverted Old Pansy.” He is from Australia where he still resides and he is our newest contributor on TGF. As a lusty youth in the 1960s John got sexual release from girlie magazines. One time while boarding with a married couple he was tempted to try on his landlady’s girdle which he took from the clothesline. He was instantly aroused. After meeting a woman through a introduction agency they married. Their sex life was not ideal and after an encounter with a transvestite prostitute John’s life changed. Some parts of his tale may offend those of a more delicate nature but while a bit graphic they are part of his life story.
The Week In Trans 12/18/17
It’s our weekly distillation of trans-related news from around the world! It’s The Week In Trans! Today we learn that efforts are underway to better serve the needs of Guatemala’s indigenous trans population. A study proves that trans women in the USA are 60% more likely to have no health insurance than the general female population. A drag queen is suing the Palm Springs Hard Rock Hotel for firing her. The Trump administration bans 7 words. Danica Roem got the job, now can she deliver on her campaign promise? A woman in Texas is the 26th trans woman murdered this year. Daniela Vega’s film A Fantastic Woman is nominated for a Golden Globe and may be getting an Academy Award nomination. Much trans military ban news. There’s all that and a lot more plus several TWIT Awards waiting for you in TWIT!
Dina’s Diner 12/18/17
Dina Amberle is always working in the Diner kitchen to whip up something tasty as a treat for TGF users. Today she has a mix of ingredients that will surely please the most discerning palette. First she stirs in some 10-year-old internet makeup whizzes who happen to be boys. Then she adds some trans history with Flawless Sabrina and Harlow. After that cools down for a few minutes she blends in some speculation on the existence of ladyboys in Vietnam back in the day, and then spices things up with “elevated” drag and an androgynous model from Holland. Oh! And a beautiful wedding gown. Take a seat at Dina’s Diner and get ready for another satisfying repast.
The Smell of Nail Polish and Polish Remover
Sometimes in our lives certain memories that we haven’t visited in a long while can come to the fore of our mind when we are poked by a smell or taste associated with those memories. That’s what our newest blogger Claire H. writes about today. As you can guess from the title of her blog she has memories associated with the scent of nail polish and polish remover. Read on to learn what she revisits when she smells those things.
Review: “Tranny” by Laura Jane Grace
Our Page Pundit Sophie Lynne takes a look back at a book that was published a little over a year ago but has made a lasting impression on her. It’s Laura Jane Grace’s book “Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock’s Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout.” Sophie discusses the many levels the book hit her on and why anyone who was put off by the title’s first word should put aside their feelings about that and read Grace’s story which combines pain and joy from which she emerges triumphant.
Youth View with M — Trans Music
Music is important to many people today. Trans and queer music is a sub genre in the popular music scene. What are the youth of today listening to? In particular — what are the trans/gender fluid/queer/agender youth of today listening to? We don’t know about all of them but our Youth View correspondent M introduces you to the trans and gender fluid musical artists they find appealing. And there are videos embedded in M’s blog so you can listen and view for yourself.
Are You Brave Enough to Wear Your Ruby Slippers?
Today our spiritual advisor Beverly Anne Thomas (until recently know as Tommie/Tammie Smith) looks at how The Wizard of Oz delivers a message very similar to the message of all religious and spiritual conditions. She advises that you pay no attention to the man behind that curtain and if the ruby slippers fit then perhaps you should wear them.
Meet Emily Kaufman
By Kristina Mayhem A young woman is creating positive change in Michigan. She is the first transwoman to rush sororities at The University of Michigan. It’s a journey to womanhood painted from a palette of rich colors and beautiful hues. Emily Kaufman spent extra time preparing for her big day. She was representing transpeople and […]
The Week In Trans 12/11/17
It’s time for The Week In Trans! Today we learn that model Lea T has been incorporated into an old master’s painting. The Pentagon is hoping to allow trans recruits by January 1. A teen in Ohio has sued his parents over transitioning to male. A trans woman in DC went from the thug life to the retail life when she transitioned. A 22-year-old trans woman runs for office in Rhode Island. Jeffrey Tambor may not be leaving Transparent after all. Meanwhile trans actors are being cast more often on television shows. Tinder is swiping left on trans people. Turkish trans people can change their ID without surgery. New drag performers are going beyond the bounds of lip sync glam. There’s all that plus a lot more and a few TWIT Awards to round it all out in this edition of TWIT!
I am NOT gay!
When Cate O’Malley insist she’s not gay she does admit that since she’s married to a woman there may be some lesbian tendencies. What she means is, when she started to examine her gender one of her first thoughts was if she was a gay man. It’s easy to imagine that with all the publicity the gay community has gotten that one could equate their need to be feminine with being gay. But gender identity and sexual orientation are two different things. See why Cate knows she’s not gay in her blog today.
Are You Playing Dress-Up
They say that clothes make the man. Since crossdressing is mostly centered around clothes it’s reasonable to say that clothes also make the woman. How much do different styles of attire affect us? Tasi Zuriack investigates just how clothes affect the way we feel and present ourselves to the world. She has conducted some research on which of the varied styles women have available to them that are most popular among the crossdressing community. Are you classical, everyday chic, or little girl?
