Research into the incidence of HIV infection in trans women seemed to indicate that it was widespread. One study concluded that nearly 30% of transgender women were infected. It would be an appalling number–if it were true. Dana Bevan maintains that such high numbers are not representative of what is actually going on. And she proves it with information about how researchers went about gathering the data they used and how their methods could be tainted by bias.
When Char came out to her boss as a trans woman he listened to her story then looked her in the eye and told her that he could support her during her transition but she had to “own it”. At the time Char didn’t have a firm idea of what that entailed but now she knows what it means and shares it with you in this blog.
Whats in the news? A Black trans woman runs for city council in New Orleans. An anti-trans faith-based group loses a case in Virginia. A court finds against the wedding planner who refused to work for same-sex couples. The murderer of Tameka Washington is convicted. Des Plaines, Illinois has just now removed its anti-crossdressing law. Over 900 transgender people hold elected offices in the U.S. A Pew survey finds that 42% of respondents say they know someone who is transgender. Trans athletes are competing in the Olympics. Jamie Lee Curtis’s 25-year-old is now her daughter. Kate Bornstein is still a gender outlaw. Jack Daniels has a reality show featuring three of the Drag Race queens. LGBTQ people in the Dominican Republic hold protests for their rights. The government of Ghana seeks to punish gender activists with up to 10 years in prison. We get a report on the oral history of transgender project underway at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. There is all that and more plus several TWIT Awards waiting for you in TWIT!
Lorraine Anderson, owner of The Occasional Woman custom clothing and alterations operation in suburban Philadelphia investigates the “must have” summer trends. She looks at bucket hats, square toed sandals, and other fashion items deemed by the fashion cognoscenti as totally in and lets you know what she thinks of that assessment.
It’s 1956 and Ramona is a transgender girl from Texas trying to make her way in the big city. To get by she has to utilize what she has at her disposal. This evening Ramona has gotten mixed up with some fashion buyers and one of them, a cat named Box, wanted her to act nice to another buyer to his benefit. When Box decides she’s not doing the assignment he goes looking for her. Another buyer, Jack, steps in to defend her but it’s Ramona who puts Box out of commission with the pointy toe of her high heeled shoe. What’s next? Read on.
Christy Lewis writes about the joys of femininity. As with most of us on TGForum she finds joy in a pretty dress, visits to her hair stylist’s, and other feminine pursuits. And it may have all gotten started when she was 6-years-old and asked her mother to paint her nails just like her sister’s. Who’s to say?
Shelley Anne interviews the author of a new book titled Trans Right. The “right” of the title is the conservative movement in the U.S. and the author is the trans woman who transitioned and kept her conservative values. Even as she admits that the members of the GOP all hate her and other LGBTQ people. Learn just what conservative principles she stands by and how she reconciles her need to be her true self with the attitude of the majority of conservatives.
Savannah disappears for Kenny’s senior year of high school. Her friends and the fella she was dating wonder where she went and why they don’t hear from her. Kenny keeps his nose to the grindstone and studies hard. All the while missing his life as Savannah. Will things get better in college? Who will be attending? Kenny or Savannah?
TGForum brings back user photos! Not like we did in the ’90s. Now you can upload a photo and after its approved (no nudity or other naughtiness) it will be added to our new TGForum User Gallery. (300MB maximum size.)
In the dusty halls of the TGForum Archives there are to be found many pictures of the female impersonators of days gone by. In the 1990s TGF editor Cindy Martin put together photos to create pictorials of those long ago stars. Here are just a few.
Here’s all the news in The Week In Trans! Leyna Bloom blossoms on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. Laverne Cox would like to play a super hero. Billy Porter announces the cast of his upcoming directorial debut. A judge puts a hold on Arkansas’ anti-trans athlete bill. Same thing happens in West Virginia. Louisiana legislators keep working to overturn their governor’s veto of their anti trans legislation. The Senate confirms a trans woman as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness. Some transgender people are self-medicating with illegal drugs. Kid Cudi paints his nails and gets hate on social media. A magician talks about canceling her shows for children due to animosity against her. Bob the Drag Queen runs afoul of the TSA. There’s all that and more plus several TWIT Awards waiting for you in TWIT!
While Claire Hall found a bit of inspiration when Caitlyn Jenner came out to the world as a trans woman some of the things she did after she transitioned were upsetting. Claire blogs about how she feels regarding Ms. Jenner in today’s Hello World!
It’s 1956 and Ramona is a transgender girl from Texas trying to make her way in the big city. To get by she has to utilize what she has at her disposal. This evening Ramona has gotten mixed up with some fashion buyers and one of them, a cat named Box, wanted her to act nice to another buyer to his benefit. Looking to avoid a confrontation she retreats to the ladies room but Box is waiting for her. Jack steps in to defend her by punching Box in the face but Box retaliates and makes Jack’s nose bleed. Who will protect Ramona? What happens next?
Sabrina Symington continues her series of voice training videos that give you the vocal tools to sound in a way that matches your look. Whether you crossdress now and then or live fulltime in your preferred gender speaking as a woman can boost your confidence when you interact with members of the general public. Sabrina has a lot to say on the subject of sounding like you look.
Rabbah Rona Matlow points out that many people who consider themselves to be Christians fail to follow the words of Jesus. He said to love God first and after that love your neighbor as you love yourself. So many find justification in the Bible to allow them to hate, senselessly. Listen to what the Rabbah advises.
In the 1990s Brittany Rose was TGForum’s comic book expert. She revealed the numerous times that male protagonists adopted female disguise (looking at you Jimmy Olsen) in or to defeat villains. And when male villains used female disguise as part of their nefarious plots to take over the world. Or at least steal a lot of money. This Retro Rerun is from June of 1998 and is about the amazing way that latex masks can completely transform a man into a beautiful woman. Key thing to know, they can’t. Except in the comic book world.
First up it’s all the news from the transgender community in a feature we call The Week In Trans! What’s going on? Mj Rodriguez is nominated for an Emmy. GLAAD finds that major motion pictures don’t have much, as in none, transgender representation. A new documentary looks at LGBTQ+ people who have survived hate crimes. A teacher fired for dead naming a student loses his lawsuit against the school. Legislators in Louisiana are determined to over ride the governor’s veto of the bill banning trans girls in sports. The Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference will be online this month. Alaska’s Medicaid program now covers transgender health needs. This past Wednesday was International Non-Binary Persons Day. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina are required to cover facial feminization surgery and voice therapy. Out has a list of 28 people who came out as non-binary this year. A trans woman from Nicaragua has been released from ICE custody after two years. Among new proposed emojis is one of a pregnant man. There’s all that and a couple of tons more news that affects the trans community waiting for you in TWIT!
Our girl out and about, Julie Slowinski, hit the streets of Chicago for a weekend of crossdressed fun and she shares all the details with you. From the art museum to live jazz and of course dining and sipping ladylike libations, Julie lets you in on her fun.
Linda goes back through her memory and emails to find and lay out what she has learned about those men commonly called admirers and how they are drawn to admiring t-girls/ crossdressers/trannies.
It’s 1956 and Ramona is a transgender girl from Texas trying to make her way in the big city. To get by she has to utilize what she has at her disposal. This evening Ramona has gotten mixed up with some fashion buyers and one of them, a cat named Box, wanted her to act nice to another buyer to his benefit. Looking to avoid a confrontation she retreats to the ladies room but Box is waiting for her but Jack steps in to defend her by punching Box in the face. What happens next?
Mj Rodriguez in nominated for an Emmy! Carmen Carrera wants more roles for transgender actors. Josie Totah and Zión Moreno have roles in reboots of older shows and their characters just happen to be trans. Does Loki in the show of the same name have transgender tendencies? Spike Lee uses trans actors in a promotional spot for bitcoin.
Our Retro Rerun comes for 1996. Julie Freeman was a significant other who was active in the transgender community for many years, particularly with the significant others and couples groups. She wrote this article about the importance of self-esteem, the self-esteem of the crossdresser’s partner.
What’s new in transgender news? A German trans woman is running for a seat in parliament. States keep moving on anti-trans bills. RuPaul reveals who seems to be an unlikely fan of Drag Race. Stress from discrimination causes more heart problems among transgender folks. A trans woman has won the title Miss South Africa. Pose star Angelica Ross works outside show biz to “curate courage.” The actor who portrays Princess Diana on The Crown is nonbinary and promotes a brand of binders. Megan Fox’s son gets harassed at school for wearing dresses. Spain has passed its new Transgender Equality Law. An LGBTQ history museum is being planned for New York City. There’s all that and much more waiting for you in TWIT!
How many times has your desire to wear women’s clothing made you anxious and obsessed? How often have you seen a woman wearing a certain shoe, or a dress that you can’t stop thinking about? Many of us have been there. Sometimes to the point at which the attraction to feminine clothing interferes with our daily lives. Kandi Robbins has been there. Done that. Today she writes about what it was like suppressing her feminine desires when she was in the closet.
Dana Bevan looks into the early research going on to determine when children begin to learn about gender and find what their gender is. Science is making a beginning to investigate this area and is the research is benefited by the rise of more transgender children who are supported by their families.
Shelley Anne interviews the artist whose graphic novel 1956: Sweet Sweet Little Ramona is serialized on TGForum, Fiona Mallratte. Find out how she got her name, explore her body of work in the alt comics world and get her advice on how to make a career in art.
