It’s strange how certain words or phrases come into vogue, slip into “fashion,” reoccur in regular usage–perhaps initially being used by a small group of people, and then becoming adopted by the wider community at large. Language is always evolving and we’re forever seeing new “tech” words or words or phrases, which often begin as […]
Return with us now to the Roaring ’20s when men were men — and men were women. Female impersonation acts were booming in the early 20th century (as they are in the 2st). Most of those acts have disappeared into the backstage of history but some names remain. One of those who is remembered as not being afraid to be seen as gay, and who is reputed to have inspired Mae West’s persona, is the magnificent Bert Savoy.
TG musician and songwriter Beth Isbell has a new CD and our music columnist Pamela DeGroff interviews Isbell for this edition of Perpetual Change. Isbell was a civil rights attorney in Oklahoma when she transitioned and could no longer find employment in that field. Since she had a life-long interest in music she decided to go to music school and pursue a career in the music business. In this interview she talks about her musical influences, the musicians she worked with and her plans for touring to support the project. Pamela also covers some TG music news and gives us a mini-review of a new CD from Natalia Kills.
Feminism is often a difficult word to swallow and has been cruelly abused over time for numerous campaigns. The fight of feminists has been a flag taken up by many transgender male to female comrades. Depending on the feminist we are either welcome or completely banned from the club for ever being tainted with any […]
An active member of the TG community in the Mid-Atlantic region, a person who seemed to be happy and adjusting well to her transition, committed suicide this month. Sophie Lynne, her friend, had attended Southern Comfort with Lisa Empanada at the beginning of the month and then had to face losing her on September 16th. Why did it happen? What could have been done to prevent her act? Sophie touches on all that but mainly she grieves for a departed sister.
Our contributor RachelX is a woman of many parts. She is a member of the fetish/S&M scene, she has firm opinions on many things and is not afraid to express them and she is a rock and roller who is just adjusting to being a “rock chick.” Rachel and her band Touch The Sky played last weekend at a beer festival in Newtown, Pennsylvania. How would the festival crowd, who had seen her before with the band as a rock dude, accept her in her new persona? Read about Rachel’s day “Out & About” and view some photos.
Dee A. Levy was deceived by her crossdresser husband who hid his dressing and chose to reveal it at possibly one of the most inopportune moments — ever. So Dee has become an advocate for crossdresser’s wives everywhere by demanding honesty and consideration of the wive’s needs. Today she comments on an article she read that celebrated the rising acceptance of “varied genders.” Dee asks, “What about wive’s?”
Sophie Lynne made it to the Southern Comfort Conference this month and for her it was “living the dream.” SCC was on her agenda for a few years but something always stood in the way. This year it was SCC or bust. Today Sophie covers her experience at the conference. She attended seminars and talks. Ate hotel food. There was karaoke and too many cocktails. Amid all that Sophie connected with people, people she’d heard about and admired to people who were fans of hers. Take a trip back to early this month and visit Southern Comfort with Sophie.
It’s a Catie Doodle! Catie Maye is a heterosexual crossdresser of over forty years, who has written a book that destroys the myths surrounding crossdressing. It’s titled Men Can Wear Dresses and the book and her company Transgender Doodle Limited, she hopes to raise awareness and dispel the negative mythology surrounding crossdressing.
Style. A short word but it carries a large impact. Fashion and style work together to show you at your best. If you simply follow fashion and forget to take style into account you can end up being mocked on the Internet. Just because a particular fashion looks good on one person is not guarantee that it will look good on you. To integrate the fashions of the moment with your particular style is a process. Fortunately for you Tasi Zuriack is here today to guide you on your style journey.
Dr. Dana Bevan believes that being transgendered is not a choice. She also believes that most of the choices we make are not made by our conscious minds but by the bits of programming and wiring that integrates our nervous systems with our brains. As she puts it, most people believe there is a “little person” inside their head that makes decisions for us. They call it a soul or spirit. Evidence though points to our “decisions” including acting out TG behavior, are all made by parts of our brains that are not under our control. Food for thought indeed.
If you are a bit prudish about fluid sexuality you may wish to skip this tale from Linda Jensen. She tells a story from Cindy, a late 40-something crossdresser, who is belatedly embracing her interest in all things TG. The last time Linda talked to Cindy she learned that Cindy spent part of her long summer holiday in Vancouver, Canada taking care of her sister’s home and living 24/7 as Cindy. Her sister had an off beat way of paying the landscapers and Cindy would be expected to pay the bill.
The lady in charge at the Southern Comfort Conference, Alexis Dee, has sent TGF a report on how it all went this year. According to Alexis over 800 people attended this year and a good time was had by all — from the “Princess Day” on Wednesday through the luncheons, dinners, karaoke and many programs to the Casino Night, trip to a local club and the special guests, it was all good. Get all the details direct from Alexis Dee’s perspective — and find out a bit about the next SCC.
Victoria Williams has been working on her feminine presentation for several years. She has gone from dreaming about mingling with others in public en femme to actually doing it. Along the way she has picked up knowledge and today she shares some of the things she has learned on her journey. She wishes she had known them at the start and hopes she can pass them on to her sisters so they don’t have to learn the hard way.
Sophie Lynne takes a walk on the rough side of town to deliver on an assignment she was handed by a tough editor. It’s all about Noir, and a former cop who’s now a lady detective. All the standard Noir characters are there but some of them take a few twists and turns. Sure, there’s a murder. Maybe two. It’s noir, baby. The book is called One for an Old Friend. Check out the banner ad that pops up on the right side of the page now and then. And give Sophie Lynne’s review a look see, see? Or we’re not sure what might happen.
Babs Casbar Siperstein has been reappointed to the Democratic National Committee and was re-elected to the DNC Executive Committee. She reports today on other transgendered people who are involved in politics and touches on the history of TGs working for change through the political process. She also discusses how things have changed since the time when Democratic Party felt that adding TG rights to the Party platform would scare people away. Trans-inclusive language was added to the Democratic Party platform for the 2008 convention.
Our music reporter Pamela DeGroff re-visits an artist she introduced to TGF readers in 2009. Today she interviews Francis UK, leader of the “Frockabilly” band The Frantastics. The three-piece band performs all over England and Francis has appeared on stages a diverse as Paris and New Orleans. They specialize in Americana music with elements of early country, early rock and roll and rockabilly. Read the interview with Francis and listen to music clips and watch a video in today’s TVocalizers. Pam has other TG music news, too!
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 corssdresser foibles with her pen. If the ladies in her cartoons seem familiar it’s because they are. We’ve all either met them or been them. See if you recognize her subject today.
The Southern Comfort Conference has always been about encouraging growth and new experiences for the CDs, TG’s, TSs, FtMs and all the other alphabet soup of members in our varied community. Many a t-girl has taken her first steps out to restaurants, nightclubs or shopping while attending the four-day conference in Atlanta. Our reporter Linda Jensen just attended her first SCC and has chosen to report on another aspect of outward growth happening at the conference — the SCC Golf Tournament. Eleven SCC attendees invaded the sometimes macho world of sports and came away smiling.
Dr. Danielle Kaufman has some thoughts on the new law in California which allows students to use the restroom and locker room facilities appropriate for their gender identity. Dr. Kaufman, author of Untying the Knot, has just recently come out as a transgendered woman and from that perspective she comments on the reason the law was needed and deflates the ludicrous fears of those who oppose the law. This is Dr. Kaufman’s first contribution to TGForum and we welcome her thoughts and insights.
One of the leading advocates for recognition and respect for transgendered people in the United Kingdom has died. Yvonne Sinclair passed away in Queen Elizabeth Hospital on August 6. Yvonne had suffered from emphysema for the past three years caused by smoking and had been ill for the past two months. Sinclair worked tirelessly for […]
Do you have limited dollars to spend on shoes or have a hard time finding shoes in your size so you make do with just a few pairs? Would you like to expand your shoe wardrobe in practically unlimited ways without spending tons of money? Then you simply must read Tasi Zuriack’s revelations about a fashion accessory that you have to add to your wardrobe — shoe clips! Shoe clips add touches of flash to a plain pump or flat and with just a few basic pairs of shoes and a drawer full of shoe clips you can make it seem like you have a gigantic shoe collection. Read all about shoe clips!
Fresh from my Hong Kong trip, I spent a few days in Bangkok, where I tracked down a contact I’d been given by a friend living in Hong Kong — the Bangkok based person being someone who works for a quasi government body, and is working to help minorities and other disadvantaged people. The reason? […]
Linda Jensen has sent us this: Ottawa, Canada had its annual Gay Pride Week and parade last week. The local TG support group, Gender Mosaic, is very closely allied with the local gay community. As you can see by the report below one of the GM’s most active members, Amanda Ryan, was chosen as one of the parade marshals, the Lifetime Achievement Parade Marshal. Here is her report to the Gender Mosaic members.
Many thanks to David de Alba for sharing this interview he did with noted female impersonator Gypsy, a.k.a. James Haake. Haake was an actor and female illusionist who appeared in several films in and out of drag, starred in La Cage, and was one of the main attractions of The Carnival Cabaret in Lake Tahoe. How did a boy from Montclair, New Jersey make it to Hollywood and some of the most prestigious drag venues? The answers are in the David de Alba interview with Gyspsy.
