Congressman Rob Andrews, a 12 term member of the House from New Jersey has resigned from office to go into a private law practice. While in Congress he was a staunch supporter of equal rights for the LGBT community. Today Bas Casbar-Siperstein thanks Congressman Andrews for his efforts on behalf of the community and in specific for his efforts to include transgendered people in anti-employment discrimination legislation.
Since no one has any idea of why transgendered people exist, other than we are born that way, there are theories that circulate. One of them is that while in the womb a fetus is subjected to “baths” of hormones and too much of one or too little of another gives the child masculine or feminine gender mapping in their brain. The hormone theory is based on research that you may find shocking, and Dr. Dana Bevan says it is just plain wrong.
The Artist D is never one to lack an opinion. Today she has an opinion about words. As The Bee Gees said before they went disco, “It’s only words….” Words can have power. Words can hurt. The Artist D feels that words only have the power to hurt you if you let them. Today her opinion is about the word “tranny” and whether those who use it are automatically doomed to the ranks of the transphobic.
Those new to the transgender community may not have a grasp of what it was like for transgendered people before the advent of the Internet. Information about crossdressing, transsexualism, gender identity and all of the many issues and conditions under the transgender umbrella was hard to find. It was out there in pamphlets, books printed on mimeograph machines and office copiers. Some tomes were published by actual publishers with hard covers but copies could not be found at your local library. Much of what was printed by and about TGs from those days would be lost without the establishment of transgender archives. Dallas Denny tells of one such effort.
In 2001 legendary female impersonator and celebrity interviewer David de Alba sat down with impersonator Jimmy James for a “David de Alba On…” interview. Since that time James has moved beyond female impersonation with costume, hair and makeup to work on a music career that utilizes his vocal impersonation skills. He has released several albums since 2001 and has had a hit single with “Fashionista.” Read what he had to say to David de Alba in 2001.
Friend of TGForum, David de Alba, has an extensive and comprehensive collection of interviews he has conducted with famous stars of female impersonation. From time to time with Mr. De Alba’s kind permission we bring you one of his interviews. Today we bring you his late 2000 interview with British impersonation royalty Danny La Rue. Mr. La Rue was a star of all media from the 1960’s through the 2000s. He passed away in 2009. Enjoy a trip back in time to the glamor and beauty of Danny La Rue, courtesy of David de Alba.
David de Alba, legendary female impersonator who performed for years at Finocchio’s in San Francisco has received honors and accolades throughout his 48-year-career. Recently we learned that he will be getting another honor at his next show at The Onyx Theatre in Las Vegas on November 24 — this time from his Spanish speaking fans. […]
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.
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 […]
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.
Linda Jensen takes a chance path along the Internet and finds herself reconnected with a little-known autobiography from a little-known figure in TG history. Linda recalls how the book and its photos influenced her interest in developing a femme persona. When she was young she came across the autobiography and thought that it might turn out to be her story too. Puberty brought a different path but Linda remembers the excitement that came from reading that book.
We use words to describe people and things but many times there are disagreements about the words, or the way we use the words describing ourselves. The gay community has fought over the use of “queer” by some of its members. Others don’t want to be called “gay.” In our neck of the woods we have had the “cross dresser vs. transvestite” battles. Now there is conflict over how to use the word “transgender.” Should it ever have an “ed” added? Giving a bit of history around TG terms and speaking her mind Angela Gardner takes this topic on in “Transgender or Transgendered?”
A young man is taking a course in Western Civilization at a community college. One day his professor, a tall woman with large shoulders and an odd fashion sense, takes him aside and offers him a job as a live-in caretaker. Ross Eliot moved in and learned that Babette Ellsworth was a lady with a past. A male past.
In 1998 TGForum featured an essay by Dallas Denny on the idea of the “transsexual script.” She discussed the Harry Benjamin model of the “perfect” TS and talked about how that standard began to change in the early 1990s. After taking a look at both models Dallas still has questions.
This is the last in a series about Linda’s experiences at the Queen Mary Show Lounge in Los Angeles. From 1964 to 2001 it was the crossdressing equivalent of the Muslim’s Mecca –- everyone should visit at least once in a lifetime. To Linda it was more like the Jew’s Miami Beach –- she visited every winter.
Drag icon Vicki Rene interviewed The Cuban Legend David de Alba back in 2003. The interview was posted on Vicki’s website but when she passed away it disappeared from the web. Thanks to the devotion of one of David’s friends who found a copy and gave it to David we can present The Lost Interview.
Linda Jensen continues her series on the former Queen Mary Show Lounge in Los Angeles. Today she is stalking the “admirer” in his natural habitat. Linda profiles the admirers from The Queen as they would have been seen through the eyes of a popular television show from the past.
History is happening all the time and those who take the time to preserve their part of it do a service to future generations by letting them know where they came from. The TG community has a long, rich history but much of it disappeared into the mists of time. Dallas Denny tells us how to preserve our history.
The legendary cartoons of Christine-Jane have appeared in many transgender community publications in years gone by. They are part of our TG history and now they have found a home here on TGForum. Her work is a glimpse into the world of crossdressing in days gone by.
Miss Gay and Miss Transsexual have been crowned in Australia. Irish TGs may be getting some respect from health care providers. London police abused a sick TG in the street. There are controversies about TGs competing on “Drag Race” and in The Imperial Court. All that and more in TWIT!
We reported that San Francisco may honor Vicki Marlane, a performer from the old school of drag who was a female impersonator from the early ’50s ’til her GRS in the early ’80 when she became a TG performer. Vicki passes away in 2011. David de Alba wrote to share some memories of Vicki.
Kylan Arianna Wenzel recently competed in the Miss California pageant. She did not advance in the competition but her story of how she made the journey from abused boy to becoming a beautiful, articulate woman is inspiring. We got an exclusive interview with Kylan and bring it to you today.
If you haven’t been able to get to Las Vegas to see one of the shows performed by The Cuban Legend — David de Alba — here’s your chance to experience a bit of the talent and glamor through your computer screen. David’s fans have recorded his performances with their smart phones and cameras and […]
Dallas Denny takes us on a pictorial trip back through the decades and examines how passing, for some, has become easier thanks to modern makeup and other enhancements. From Boulton and Park right up to today. Dallas takes a look at Crossdressers Across the Decades.
Among the legends of the drag world one of the biggest is the Queen Mary nightclub in Los Angeles. With a show bar in the front and a back bar for fun the Queen was the place to be in L.A. Linda Jensen spent many happy hours there. Today we present the first in a series about Linda’s adventures at the QM.
