Today Tell Shelley Anne interviews the owner of our sponsor, The Breast Form Store. Oren Perry has been the CEO of a world-wide operation that provides the finest breast forms, and other accessories, needed by the trans community since 2010. How does a polite Canadian businessman come to be one of the largest providers of faux breasts on the planet? Shelley Anne asks that question and more in her interview with The Breast Form Store CEO, Oren Perry.
Julie Slowinski is our Contributor from Chicago. In a normal time she would be writing about all the fun she has in the Windy City expressing her femme side in various venues. From dining out to attending concerts, going to nightclubs and other activities that are the beat she covers for TGForum. In this time of Covid-19 she has been unable to get out and about very much. So this month Julie shares a tale she wrote several years ago. It’s a conversation between a butterfly and a chameleon.
Time for all the trans related news available in one place, The Week In Trans! Today we learn that two suspects in the attack on three trans women in L. A. have been charged. The family of the trans woman who died while in Rikers has won a settlement with the city. Several court decisions on trans rights cite the Supreme Court’s recent decision on Title VII. The Marine who murdered a Filipino trans woman in 2014 may be released from prison early. Kenosha police shooting victim Jacob Blake’s trans man cousin gets transphobic threats after speaking out. Star Trek: Discovery features a trans character and a non-binary character in the next season. Behind the scenes secrets from the making of To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar. A total Harry Potter fan sells all her memorabilia from the books and films and donates the money to a trans kid’s charity. There’s all that and so much more waiting for you in TWIT!
Back in 2014, Dana Bevan made some estimates of transgender population numbers based on observed population frequencies. Looking back at them and thinking about they are recently changing, she feels that they can help us understand some of the medical and social issues for transgender people, particularly non-transitioning transgender people.
Chrissy Gann continues her “No Smoking Gun” series on why we are the way we are. While there is no one thing that determines whether an individual will be transgender or not there is research going on all around the world looking in to the possible reasons. Chrissy takes a look at some of it for you.
Today we learn that Gavin Grimm wins his court case. Trans people can run into trouble trying to vote. A trans woman who survived bing shot is helping other trans people. Marsha P. Johnson gets recognition. Catholics compassionately invalidate trans identities. Health Magazine explains what transgender means. Jennifer Lopez has a non-binary “nibling.” There’s a non-binary actor in the new Bill and Ted movie. Kate Bornstein and Ryan Cassata play a therapist and a troubled teen in the film Two Eyes. Violence against trans women of color continues. California prisons could soon allow trans inmates to pick where they will be incarcerated. There’s all that and a ton more news in TWIT!
Today we welcome back Ashli Kleier, author of Emily and The Cedar Chests. Ashli has new story about a young boy who lives in a small town about an hour East of Atlanta and an hour south of the Chattanooga National Forest. Young Kenneth is attracted to the feel of the soft, silky fabrics of his older sister’s lingerie. He enjoys it so much he gets caught in her lingerie drawer once too often and she decides to punish him by dressing him up as a girl. Where might this go? To find out you’ll just have to read the first chapter of My Life as Savannah.
Before the schools were shut down because of the pandemic our Contributor Christy Lewis went to a high school in her town to speak to the students about transgender issues. She looks at it as mentoring and she did it for an LGBTQ student group of about 30 members. In the course of telling us what she talked about she provides some mentoring to our readers on 10 good rules to follow. Read on to see what she told the LGBTQ+ students.
What do we learn in TWIT? The court’s are popping with rulings on transgender issues. A trans elected official is a Democratic Convention delegate. More violence is reported against trans women and some of the perpetrators are caught. While it’s known that medicines can affect male and female bodies differently there is not much information on how trans bodies would react. Two transgender “influencers” are tossed out of a party for being trans, then the party is shutdown for breaking pandemic rules. Randy Rainbow is a bad, bad boy. Keanu Reeves had no idea there was a transgender theme in The Matrix but he’s cool with it. Cyclists in the U.K. have a Tour de Trans to race. An Australian MP published a birth announcement for his 25-year-old trans daughter. There’s all that and a host of well deserved TWIT Awards waiting for you in TWIT
You’ve perfected your femme look, nails done, hair coifed, you’re dressed appropriately for where you plan to go. There’s only one thing that might make people call you sir — a manly sounding voice. Today we launch a series of videos on voice training so you can not only look like a woman but speak as one. The series has been put together by our talented contributor Sabrina Symington. She’s not just a cartoonist and graphic novel creator, she’s a voice coach. She has a complete method that allows you to sound like you really want.
How often when you were young did you run across something in comic books, a movie, or a TV show that thrilled you because a male character impersonated a woman, or was transformed into a woman? Even though it was fiction the thrill came from realizing that it might be inspired by reality. For Claire Hall that inspiration came in a Superboy comic book in a story that saw him transformed into Super-Sister!
TransTainment is about transgender people in entertainment and the arts. Today we cover a 69-year-old transgender comic, the expansion of the Drag Race empire into The Netherlands, the passing of a Philadelphia drag performer, a documentary film covering four trans activists and artist who came out of the NYC underground scene, and more!
People all over the United States have been “Crowing” joyously because of the selection, and now nomination, of Kamala Harris as the candidate for Vice President. As a transgender activist I could not join the celebration. Like many trans activists, I see her as a transphobic tool of the carceral prison-industrial complex. I know these […]
Time for The Week In Trans! What do we learn today? Gender rights are working their way through the courts. The New Jersey governor affirms trans women. 26 trans women have been killed so far this year. A drag performer in South Korea learns that people are blaming queens for the spread of Covid-19. Angelica Ross will be keeping an eye on how VP nominee Kamala Harris does on trans issues — Harris invited her to do so. Danica Roem and Sarah McBride will be among the speakers for the Democratic National Convention. A Swedish study finds that mental health issues for trans people decline after they fully transition. YouTube makeup maven Nikkie de Jager is robbed at gun point. Drag queens form Spice Girls 2.0. A major protest of Britain’s effort to undermine the Gender Recognition Act by “reforming” it will happen on the 5th of September. A trans woman who was misgendered by a restaurant staff will be giving the staff training on how to treat trans customers. There’s all that and much, much more, along with a few well earned TWIT Awards, waiting for you in TWIT!
When last we read about Joe, aka Joseph Thomas, junior, he was sitting in a compartment on the Amtrak Autotrain heading north out of Florida. He had just spent two weeks in Florida attending his birth father’s funeral and helping Nora, his new-found stepmother, wrap up his father’s estate. Let’s back up a bit. Let’s back up to the days after the funeral service when Joe and Nora, his dad’s second wife, got busy winding up the estate and learning about each other.
Our interview expert Shelley Anne talks with transgender event hostess Hannah Olsen about her events in Oklahoma. This year will be the 14th Heartland Transgender Fall Party & Music Festival. The event is set for November. Read on to learn more about Hannah and the Heartland event.
Guest contributor Jessica Blackler, founder of Jecca Blac and makeup artist for the trans community, gives her recommendations on how to do one of the most importnat steps in male to female transformation — prepping your face and covering beard shadow.
Time for The Week In Trans! All the trans-related news we could find, presented in an easy to read digest format. What do we learn today? Janet Mock is the cover girl for British Vogue. A trans woman looks like she could be a winner in a race for a seat in the Kansas legislature. More violence toward trans women of color and some justice as well. Republicans are attacking Joe Biden wielding his stance on trans rights as a weapon. The president stands behind his ban on trans in the military but Congress may have a different idea. Lily Wachowski says The Matrix is loaded with transgender themes. Canada has a new talent agency representing drag artists. Athletes in women’s sports line up on both sides of the trans women in women’s sports issue. J.K. Rowling’s attacks on trans people have resulted in increased donations to a trans children charity. The U.K. is ranked with Poland on mistreatment of trans people. Trace Lysette goes behind the camera to produce a documentary series. There’s all that and a bunch more waiting for you in TWIT!
YouTube talks show host Joe Rogan has gone too far. Several times he has had quests on his show who present skewed, or just plain made up “facts” about transgender people. These guests clearly have an axe to grind when it comes to the very existence of trans people. Dana Bevan has had it with Rogan’s promotion of false information and she is calling him out. How will the duel be fought? With science of course.
Chrissy Gann devotes her The Butterfly Chronicles blog to exploring why we are who we are. She feels there is no “smoking gun” that we can point to and say ‘look here is proof that being transgender is not a choice or lifestyle”. In every study that has been done they have concluded that while the study in itself is not positive proof, still there is something going on we don’t understand.
Time for The Week In Trans! What do we learn today? The House of Representatives passes a bill that would declare the military ban on trans people null and void. Both the mayor of New York City and the governor condemn the treatment of a trans woman by plainclothes officers who threw her into a van as if she was being kidnapped. An inmate gets state provided gender confirmation surgery. More violence is directed at trans women of color. Police reports misgender them. The trans man who was involved in a school shooting is sentenced to life. After eight months in ICE custody a Cuban trans woman is granted asylum. A couple who had a lesbian wedding are now man and wife. World Rugby considers restrictions on trans women players. The cast of Pose gets an Emmy snub. GLAAD gives them some love. Gigi Gorgeous and Gottmik are cover girls for Out. Janet Mock will write and direct a film about an affair between Sammy Davis, Jr. and Kim Novak. There’s all that plus much more and several TWIT Awards (7 to be exact) in this edition of TWIT!
Our resident fashion consultant and seamstress Lorraine Anderson takes a look at the Fall Fashion Trends. It may seem strange to be talking about what to wear this fall but it’s only a few short months away. Lorraine tells you what’s big for fall, what’s supposed to be hot but is not, and how you can work elements of the trends into your wardrobe.
Sophie Lynne, Penn State University graduate student got and email from the school with the subject line, “Are You Prepared? Real Talk About Race and Identity in the Classroom.” The talk will be by Dr. Seria Chatters and will take place over Zoom. Participants are to submit questions ahead of time. Sophie felt it incumbent on her to ask the doctor what about transgender students on the PSU campus? How “safe’ can a transgender or non-binary student be at PSU? Read the full text of her question today and in coming weeks she will, if she gets one, post the answer.
Our Correspondent in Thailand, Christine Burr, files a report on how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the the transgender women known there as ladyboys. Since much of their employment is found in entertaining tourists, working in hair salons and doing makeovers you can imagine that things are not bright for them. Christine tells you more in today’s dispatch.
Once Kay got the bat in her hand she unleashed the rage, anger and pain over the things their kidnapper inflicted on them both and she beat his body till it was broken beyond recognition. But, the battered, mashed, practically pulverized corpse continued to chuckle madly. How could this be possible? Because of it being another dimension? Were the mysterious observers responsible? Was it over? Would it ever be? Read on for Episode 42.
Today we learnt that 23 state Attorneys General join a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s new definition of “sex” in the ACA. Only three members of the U.S. military were considered for discharge because of the president’s ban and none were discharged. The Pentagon policy banning the Confederate flag also bans the rainbow flag and trans pride flag from military bases. A Roma sex worker is running for office in Romania. Legal wrangling over trans rights continues. A trans woman is running for the Florida state Senate. A Catholic hospital has refused to do a hysterectomy for a trans man in Maryland. World Rugby may ban trans players based on a study that maintains lower testosterone doesn’t cause trans women to lose muscle mass and strength. Bob the Drag Queen challenges Dave Chapelle to stop makes jokes about trans people. Actress Angelica Ross returns to her roots hosting the third TransTech Summit. Todrick Hall pledges $100,000 to the National Black Trans Advocacy Coalition. There’s all that and much more about transgender in the news, and a few TWIT Awards, waiting for you in TWIT!
