A close look at the Republican candidates for president shows that the only one of them who has been at all sympathetic to trans people is Donald Trump. He let a trans woman compete in the beauty pageant that he owned. As for the rest? They are not so good on trans rights. Find out how they all stand and how the Democratic candidates stand in our political contributor Babs Casbar Siperstein’s latest blog.
In this TGF Re-run we bring back a series on trans people in America history written by former TGF contributor Lauren Rene Hotchkiss. The series was published originally in the 1990s. Today Lauren introduces an example of female to male crossdressing with Mountain Charley, and touches on crossdressed males playing female roles in The Hasty Pudding Theatricals at Harvard.
A few weeks ago while researching stories to include in TWIT Angela Gardner came across a story about a trans woman folk singer who was upset about how she was treated at an open mike event. She got both kinds of mis-gendering; mis-gendering through ignorance of what might be offensive and through just plain rudeness. Angela has mulled it over and has a few thoughts on how to handle it if you are mis-gendered while out and about.
What have we been watching in the news? Lots and lots of trans news items. We learn that Nicole Maines and her family are the subjects of a new book. Puerto Rican schoolboys are allowed to wear girl’s uniforms. Conservatives in Canada are blocking passage of rights legislation for trans people. The TSA’s treatment of a trans woman is causing changes at the agency. Isis King was featured in Teen Vogue. Canada’s Girl Guides accept trans girls. Linda Gray portrayed one of the first TS roles on TV. There’s even more but it won’t fit in the allotted space. We haven’t even mentioned the TWIT Awards!
Tasi Zuriack lives on the fringe. Actually she lives in Mexico but she enjoys the fashion trend that has brought garments and accessories with fringe back into style. Today she teaches us all about fringe fashion, from the fringe on flappers’ dresses to the latest uses of fringe adorning skirts, accessories and even jewelry. Tasi takes you on a tour of the fringe phenomena that will leave you knowledgeable about all that is fringe.
Long-time TGForum writer Linda Jensen is in the middle of telling us about an interesting dating experience she had with a TG friend when both were in Montreal to attend a Canadian political convention. However, this week we put that story on hold to bring you the breaking story of an interesting encounter Linda had at the recent Southern Comfort Conference. It seems not all learning happens in the seminar rooms. The series Turnabout is Fair Play returns in four weeks.
Our late founder JoAnn Roberts called Halloween a holy day of obligation for crossdressers. It is the one day in the year that regular guys can experiment with wearing women’s clothing without repercussions from their friends. The Artist D believes that Halloween should happen everyday and what the world needs is more straight men wearing dresses. If they did that the whole world would shift and anything would be cool.
Emmy Award-winning trans filmmaker and long-time Las Vegas resident, Deborah Richards, is preparing to direct her latest film and she needs your help. Her goal is to make an organic, poignant tale about success and ambition.” Send Hollywood My Love,” set for a 2016 release, is a comedy that will poke fun at the Hollywood film industry. Amanda interviews her about her online fundraiser and her passion for film.
The writer who has been with TGForum longer than anyone, Pamela DeGroff, has another of her in depth musical columns for us today. First up is a review of the latest CD release from eccentric trans artist Baby Dee. Then Pamela has music news from David de Alba and Georgie Jessup, and mini reviews of new albums by Duran Duran, Leona Lewis and The Young Professionals.
Kimi Cole is a trans activist and Chair of the Douglas Country Democrats in her home state of Nevada. Recently her cellphone rang and when she answered it the person on the other end of the call was Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Why was Mrs. Clinton reaching out to Kimi Cole and what did they discuss. Kimi shares the detail with us.
For some reason many religious people, who claim to follow God’s laws, find that judging LGBT people is just fine. Even though it says in the Bible, “judge not….” And most of the time they judge us to be sinners. That leads to LGBT people who believe in God being abused and mistreated by their fellow Christians. They are tossed out of their congregations and must wander in the wilderness trying to find the promised land. Today Josy C blogs about her experience with religion.
The stars of Tangerine are on track to the Oscars. Landon Patterson’s schoolmates chased away the Westboro Baptist Hate Group. VP Joe Biden supports trans in the military. Geena Rocero admits she felt pressure to conform to beauty standards. Meggan Sommerville has a win against Hobby Lobby. More Brit shows ad trans actors. Nikki Araguz Loyd is honored by the President. Democrats are upset at the TSA. There’s all that and more waiting for you in TWIT!
Dana Bevan has been asked to speak to a youth group at her church on what her life has been like as a trans person. Today Dr. Bevan presents us with the outline she intends to follow for her talk. As you might expect from a person of scientific orientation she will tell the group of the scientific evidence she has gathered showing that being trans is not a choice but something you are born with.
Christine Zee has been blogging about her transition journey all summer and now in the fall of the year she is nearing the end of her trek. In this month’s installment Christine’s mother shows some progress is accepting her. Her legal name change is now in the works and she is set to take a several business trips in the next few weeks during which she will come out to more of her colleagues and associates.
Gen Zed is a new animated show that is set to debut this fall. It stars trans voice actor Julie Rei Goldstein as the trans comedian and blogger, Shona. Shona’s online friends all move in with her since they feel like there will be an advantage to having all those room mates. But…. Learn more about Julie Rei Goldstein and Gen Zed in this interview by Amanda F.
After hearing the advice “follow your dreams” for most of her life Cate O’Malley has decided that is good advice by it needs to be amended. Not everyone will want you to chase your dreams. There will be those in your life, those you care about deeply, who will not understand your dream. See what Cate advises if that happens when you try to follow your dream.
In addition to being our TGF cartoonist Christine-Jane is also an actor in amateur theatricals. It was while performing in one of those that CJ met the woman who would become her wife. After many years together, with her wife knowing all about CJ’s feminine side, they were approached by the producers of a documentary […]
It’s almost time for Halloween and the ghosts, goblins and ghouls will be competing with the Donald Trumps for as much Halloween candy as they can get. Sophie Lynne has mixed feelings about Halloween. On the one hand it’s the holiday that let her true-self out of the closet. On the other hand now that she’s out and living as her true-self she doesn’t want to be anyone else.
Our contributor and gal pal Christine Zee went to the Southern Comfort Conference in the Fort Lauderdale, FL area. This is the 25th year of this venerable event and there was concern that moving it from Atlanta to Florida would change the tone of the conference. Some were concerned that it wouldn’t attract attendees. Find out how it went with Christine’s report and some photos from the event.
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 illustrates how CD can mean more than one thing and that can lead to awkward situations.
The only constant is constant change. Amanda has been on a journey, both in space and time, and in gender. From the east to the south and then off to the west, Amanda has been on the road. San Francisco always called to her and now she lives near that city by the bay. Will she stay or does her journey continue?
For many trans people who come out while they are married their expectation is that the marriage will be dissolved. This is often true but it doesn’t have to be. When a husband is becoming a woman their wife has many fears, questions, and concerns. Sara, the leader of the TransCentralPA’s spouse support group has some advice on what trans husbands need to do to possibly save their marriage.
Lorraine Anderson is a seamstress and theatrical costumer who has been making clothing for the crossdressing community for many years. What started as a sideline to help her crossdressing friends has become a business called The Occasional Woman. Tell Lorraine what kind of dress you want and she can make it for you. This is a re-run of her very first column for TGF. The advice is still good.
Step back in time and see a video of Rene de Carlo, the International Dancing Star, performing onstage at the legendary Finocchio’s in San Francisco in 1980. No, we don’t have a hot tub time machine. The video was recorded by David de Alba’s long-time partner Paul Ryner and it presents a clip out of the heyday of female impersonation in the City by The Bay.
Heads up! It’s The Week In Transgenderism! Today we learn that a waitress had the perfect answer for a little girl. There are children in the Dominican Republic who are raised as girls but grow a penis at puberty. Kylie Jenner without makeup is a lesson for CDs. Jersey City adds health benefits for trans workers. A Thai kick boxer is a ladyboy. A trans man is in the top 5 to be on the cover of Men’s Health. A trans prisoner has won a lawsuit against the prison for horrible abuse. A trans man teen has won homecoming king. All that plus much more, and a few TWIT Awards, is waiting for you in TWIT!
